Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Friday, September 30, 2005

Dubya in the docket, 21st century slavery, cats named Frank, & much more

Posted by Mickey Z on 09/30 at 07:02 AM

Great post today, though I was hoping you would include some form of your Meth-odist joke from yesterday.

I love Youngfox’s line of the day.

I think we all spoke about being wary of the media’s exagerated stories as soon as they came out. Speaking of...Judy, Judy, Judy had enough of life in prison and gave up her source, Scooter:

http://tinyurl.com/d6qyx

What happened to the martyr of the media? What will people say? Better question would be...why did she protect Scooter so defiantly (in the end, all for nothing) and not Iraqi citizens, US troops or US tax dollars that could have been used to shore up levees, to feed the poor, to educate or to do any number of good things?

Yet, there she is smiling.

Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 09/30 at 07:37 AM

Sure Judy’s smiling. Imagine the advance her agent is negotiating as we speak.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 07:59 AM

Wow, truly an eclectic post today. Frank and I are truly humbled. Or at least I am; he’s a hopeless narcissist now. Don’t worry Mickey; I’d never use your books to hold up cat furniture. 50 AR is the perfect size for a coaster, so I’ll need a whole bunch more for my next party.

In case anyone missed it:
http://homepage.mac.com/trorb/iMovieTheater81.html That’s enough feline vanity now. I mean, promotion of alternative transportation.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 09/30 at 08:02 AM

Englehardt’s interview of Cindy Sheehan can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/947su

Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 09/30 at 08:08 AM

Cindy talking about how they got her son to enlist:

Back then, my son was promised a $20,000 signing bonus. He only got $4,000 of that when he finished his advanced training. He was promised a laptop, so he could take classes from wherever he was deployed in the world. He never got that. They promised him he could finish college because he only had one year left when he went in the Army. They would never let him take a class. They promised him he could be a chaplain’s assistant, which was what he really wanted to do; but, when he got to boot camp, they said that was full and he could be a Humvee mechanic or a cook. So he chose Humvee mechanic. The most awful thing the recruiter promised him was: Even if there was a war, he wouldn’t see combat because he scored so high on the ASVAB [Career Exploration] tests. He would only be in war in a support role. He was in Iraq for five days before he was killed in combat.

Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 09/30 at 08:27 AM

Tillman loved Chomsky?
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509290001

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 08:43 AM

Watching Ann Coulter makes me think of Youngfox’s quote even more. Um, you know I was kidding about the coaster thing…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 09/30 at 10:52 AM

I can overlook the coaster comment because you were kind enough to call today’s post “eclectic” instead of disjointed, scattered, or impossible to follow.

Gotta run...I’ll check back in later and try to catch up.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 10:55 AM

Mickey, your brief essay about the plight of the poor in Brazil is haunting. A few generations ago, most of those people were wandering about in relative innocence, within those vast, marvelous rain forests. Now, they serve the vast corporate machine, which seeks to grind us all within its terrible machinery. The Big Brain sloggs along…

A haunting tale also, JOS, about Cindy’s son. Same terrible machinery, same Big Brain, same result.

Posted by joe on from Oregon 09/30 at 02:10 PM

Along with Mickey’s explanation of the exploitation in Brazil, I recommend the book by John Perkins, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN. You can pull up my interview of Perkins on the Internet. The Corpocracy spreads evil in all directions. There is no longer a line between big business and government. I guess that that is why so many call it “fascism”.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/30 at 03:28 PM

I truly believe that when such connections are laid bare, it’s an opportunity to reach people with alternative info. Until we i nthe affluent societies can each comprehend our role on this mortal coil, we’ll never change.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 03:35 PM

Another great post, Mickey! ‘Crimes Against Humanity
Committed by the Bush Administration of the United States’ - sounds interesting! Also love the catblogging and all those ‘moving pictures’.

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 09/30 at 03:43 PM

I agree Mickey. Part of the problem has been that the connections are veiled in secrecy. Those in Power must retain the comfort of deniability. Meanwhile people all over the globe are dying because of US policies. Think about the Black Budget, it serves a purpose that Congress is kept in the dark. That way they all have deniability and NO ONE can be held responsible.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/30 at 03:46 PM

Life is so much simpler believing the “home of the brave” crap but with each 9/11, New Orleans, Pat Tillman, etc., more and more Americans are peeking behind the curtain to see who’s pulling the strings. It’s just happening so damn slowly.

Hi Helga. Good weekend to you, too.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 03:50 PM

RMJ and anybody else who is interested, here is the transcript of an interview with John Perkins broadcast on Australian radio a few months ago:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1388750.htm.
And JOS, thanks for your enlightening comment re Cindy Sheehan and her son!

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 09/30 at 03:51 PM

For some reason this conversation triggered photo-like memories for me of people’s faces (whether in the workplace, at a family gathering or anywhere) while they spoke about the goodwill of “America.” Many of these memories are from right after 9/11...the faces are zombie-like, as if the people were drugged. Why does the propaganda work so well, I wonder?

Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 09/30 at 03:57 PM

Thanks for the Perkins link, Helga. “Corporatocracy” seems to say it all, don’t it?

Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 09/30 at 03:59 PM

Maybe you’ve noticed I’ve been a little bored at work today…

Anyway, I was very happy to learn that the Army’s recruited it’s lowest number of potential soldiers in 26 years:

http://tinyurl.com/7ren7

Posted by JOS on from Café Jos, een uniek Café in Nederland 09/30 at 04:11 PM

‘Sure Judy’s smiling. Imagine the advance her agent is negotiating as we speak.’ Bears repeating Mickey!

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 09/30 at 04:11 PM

JOS, ‘corporatocracy’ does say it all ..
OT: here is a real good send-up of Schwarzenegger from the Echidne of the Snakes blogspot:
Der New 2005 California State Employee Handbook

By Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sick Days

Ve vill no longer accept a doktor’s shtatement as proof of sickness.
If you are able to go to the doktor, you are able to come to verk.

Personal Days

Each employee vill receive 104 personal days a year. Dey are called
Saturday and Sunday.

Lunch Break

Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more, so
that dey can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch
to get balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Fat people get
5 minutes for lunch, because dat’s all der time needed to drink der
Shlim Fast.

Dress Code

It is advised that you come to verk dressed according to your salary.
If ve see you vearing $350 Prada sneakers, and carrying a $600 Gucci
Bag, ve assume you are doing vell financially and derefore you do not
need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your
money better, so dat you may buy nicer clothes, and derefore you do
not need a raise. If you dress in-betveen, you are right vere you need
to be and derefore you do not need a raise.

Bereavement Leave

Dis is no excuse for missing verk. Dere is notting you can do for dead
friends, relatives, or co-verkers. Every effort should be made to have
non-employees attend to da arranchments. In rare cases vere employee
involvement is necessary, da funeral should be scheduled in da late
afternoon. Ve vill be glad to allow you to vork troo your lunch hour
and subsequently leave vone hour early.

Restroom Use

Entirely too much time is being spent in da restroom. Dere is now a
shtricht 3-minute time limit in der shtalls. At der end of tree
minutes, an alarm vill sound, der toilet paper roll vill retract, the
shtall door vill open and a picture vill be taken. After your second
offense, your picture vill be posted on der company bulletin board
under da “Chronic Offenders” category.

Tank you for your loyalty to our great shtate. Ve are here to provide
a positive employment experience.

Tank You, Der Governater

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 09/30 at 04:18 PM

Thanks for the Cindy quote on Casey’s recruitment - I hadn’t seen that. I am collecting recruiter lies as part of my efforts to get our school to present at least something to balance the relentless recruiter presence. Not making much progress, but no one’s shot at me yet…

Rosemarie, I am curious about the “Churchill for Prez headquarters” - I doubt you’d get Ward to run, but sign me up anyway.

Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 09/30 at 04:23 PM

Thanks John...you have inspired the first campaign slogan, “DRAFT CHURCHILL FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. DRAFT THE REPUBS AND DEMS FOR ABU GARIB”....just fooling around. That one would offend too many people. It would be a major accomplishment if we could just get him enough support so that he would be allowed to participate in the Debates.....but then I remember what they did to Nader.
Helga, thanks for the link. I was impressed with Perkins. He seemed so genuine and nice.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 09/30 at 05:14 PM

RMJ: I just told someone who knows Ward to ask him about you idea. We’ll see what he says.

In the meantime, check out the questions to download a trial version of Oracle
http://tinyurl.com/cm3oh

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 05:44 PM

In the Engelhardt interview, Cindy Sheehan gives a great answer herself to a question Mickey asked us yesterday regarding her presumed support for the Democrats. She doesn’t. Not as long as they want war. Excerpts:

CS: [The democrats have] been very weak. I think Kerry lost because he didn’t come out strong against the war. He came out to be even more of a nightmare than George Bush. You know, we’ll put more troops in; I’ll hunt down terrorists; I’ll kill them! [...] instead of seeing the failure Kerry was with his middle-of-the-road, wishy-washy, cowardly policies, the rest of the Democrats have just kept saying the same things.

Howard Dean came out and said he hopes that the President is successful in Iraq. What’s that mean? How can somebody be successful when we have no goals or defined mission or objectives to achieve there? They’ve been very cowardly and spineless…

...We’re going to target every single congressman and senator to show their constituents exactly where they stand on the war. People in the state of New York, for instance, should look at their senators and say, if you don’t come out for bringing our troops home as soon as possible, we’re not going to reelect you.

[Hilary Clinton’s] position is still to send in more troops and honor the sacrifices of the fallen, which sounds like a Bush position…

Posted by KBN on from The Hague 09/30 at 05:50 PM

Thanks, Keir. It’ll be a powerful boost to the anti-war movement if Cindy maintains that stance throughout the 2008 campaign.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 05:58 PM

Rosemarie’s graphic reminds me of something I saw driving from Ghent today (no picture, unfortunately): a massive white banner on a bridge with the words “What have you done to make things better?” in black block letters. I automatically assumed this was the work of ideological allies. Would the righteous Right (hardcore or Democrat variety) ever take time away from its 24/7 war-making, dignity-depriving, racism enforcing, corporate, plastic smile, all is good, wave that flag conformism to ask such an understated, confrontational, subversive question?

Posted by KBN on from The Hague 09/30 at 06:08 PM

Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Libya, North Korea, Syria:

The Oracles of Evil?

Posted by JOS on from The Island of Enchantment 09/30 at 06:36 PM

I’m glad it was you and not me who said that, JOS. You know, I was thinking: a very chic version of your name would be J-MOS. Very hip-hop...or at least, “Entertainment Tonight.”

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 06:47 PM

I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment, but let me tell you, I’ll take it. lol

As I am in Puerto Rico by way of NYC, it seems appropriate in it’s similarity to another Nuyorican...J-Lo.

Posted by J-MOS on from Café Jos, een uniek Café in Nederland 09/30 at 06:57 PM

Part J-Lo, part Mos Def.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/30 at 07:00 PM

I’m worried about Cindy...I think I see some of my old hopeful Democrat dreams. But, man, she is working hard isn’t she? I am keeping the faith.

Posted by J-MOS on from Café Jos, een uniek Café in Nederland 09/30 at 07:02 PM