H/T Kimberly Wilder
Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was the Green Party candidate for President in 2008. Ms. McKinney traveled aboard the boat “Dignity”, which tried to bring doctors and medical supplies to Gaza, as a humanitarian response to the recent bombing of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli government.The Dignity is a project of www.freegaza.org. Ms. McKinney writes:
December 30, 2008: Oh What a Day!
I’m so glad that my father told me to buy a special notebook and to write everything down because that’s exactly what I did.
When we left from Cyprus, one reporter asked me “are you afraid?” And I had to respond that Malcolm X wasn’t afraid; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t afraid. But little did I know that just a few hours later, I would be recollecting my life and mentally preparing myself for death.
When we left Cyprus, the Mediterranean was beautiful. I remember the time when it might have been beautiful to look at, but it was also filthy. The Europeans have taken great strides to clean it up and yesterday, it was beautiful. And the way the sunlight hit the sea, I remember thinking to myself that’s why they call it azure. It was the most beautiful blue.
But sometimes it was rough, and we got behind on our schedule. We stayed on course, however, despite the roughness of the water and due to our exquisite captain.
There were no other ships or boats around us and night descended upon us all rather quickly. It was the darkest black and suddenly, out of nowhere, came searchlights disturbing our peace. The searchlights stayed with us for about half an hour or so. We knew they were Israeli ships. Who else would they be?
They were fast, and they would come close and then drop back. And then, they’d come close again. And then, all of a sudden there was complete blackness once again and all seemed right. The cat and mouse game went on for at least one half hour. What were they doing? And why?
Calm again. Black sky, black sea. Peace. And then, at that very moment, when all seemed right, out of nowhere we were rammed and rammed again and rammed again the last one throwing me off the couch, sending all our food up in the air; and all the plastic bags and tubs–evidence of sea sicknesses among the crew and passengers–flew all over the cabin and all over us. We’d been rammed by the Israelis. How did we know? Because they called us on the phone afterwards to tell us that we were engaging in subversive, terroristic activity. And if that if we didn’t turn around right then and return to Larnaca, Cyprus, we would be fired upon. We quickly grabbed our lifevests and put them on. Then the captain announced that the boat was taking on water. We might have to evacuate. One of my mates told me to prepare to die. And I reflected that I have lived a good and full life. I have tasted freedom and know what it is. I was right with myself and my decision to join the Free Gaza movement.
I remembered my father’s parting words, “You all will be sitting ducks.” Just like the U.S.S. Liberty. We were engaged in peaceful activity, a harmless pleasure boat, carrying a load of hospital supplies for the people of Gaza, who, too are sitting ducks, currently being bombarded in aerial assault by the Israeli military.
It’s been a long day for us. The captain was outstanding. Throughout it all, he remained stoic and calm, effective in every way. I didn’t know how to put my life jacket on. One of the passengers kindly assisted me. Another of the passengers pointed out that the Israeli motors for those huge, fast boats was U.S. made–a gift to them from the U.S. And now they were using those motors to damage a pleasure boat outfitted with three tons of hospital supplies, one pediatrician, and two surgeons.
I have called for President-elect Obama to say something. The Palestinian people in the Gaza strip are seeing the worst violence in 60 years, it is being reported. To date, President-elect Obama has remained silent. The Israelis are using weapons supplied to them by the U.S. government. Strict enforcement of U.S. law would require the cessation of all weapons transfers to Israel. Adherence to international law would require the same.
As we are about to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, let us remember that he said:
1. The United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, and
2. Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matter.
I implore the President-elect to not send Congress a budget that contains more weapons for Israel. We have so much more to offer. And I implore the Congress to vote “no” on any budget and appropriation bills that provide more weapons transfers, period.
Israel is able to carry out these intense military maneuvers because taxpayers in the U.S. give their hard-earned money to our Representatives in Congress and our Congress chooses to spend that money in this way. Let’s stop it and stop it now. There’s been too much blood shed. And while we still walk among the living, let us not remain silent about the things that matter.
We really can promote peace and have it if we demand it of our leaders.
–
The shock, awe and heart attacks that followed Madoff’s confession that he was ‘running a Ponzi scheme’ drew as much anger for the money lost and the fall from the moneyed class as for the embarrassment of knowing that the world’s biggest exploiters and smartest swindlers on Wall Street, were completely ‘taken’ by one of their own. Not only did they suffer big losses but their self-image of themselves as rich because they are so smart and of ’superior stock’ was utterly shattered: They saw themselves as suffering the same fate as all the schmucks they had previously swindled, exploited and dispossessed in their climb to the top. There is nothing worse for the ego of a respectable swindler than to be trumped by a bigger swindler. As a result, a number of the biggest losers have so far refused to give their names or the amount they lost, working instead through lawyers fighting off other losers.
–James Petras
“And advanced forms of biological warfare that can ‘target’ specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool.”
–PNAC, Rebuilding America’s Defenses, p. 60
The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can “throw the rascals out” at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.
–Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in our Time
peace, peace, peace, peace
peace, peace, peace, peace
Kimberly Wilder
Long Island, NY
Our family web-site of politics, art and culture:
http://www.onthewilderside.net
Independent Greens have a right to exist and post! Just do not equate them with real lefties and any one with a logic plan of thought, and then use them as rationale for undeserved reputations of balance and fair ness………
I hate defending Israel, and I’m sympathetic to Hamas (at least some of their goals), but I don’t believe McKinney is sincere. If she were she would demand that Egypt, which is complicit in Israel’s aggression, open its border with Gaza to allow the free flow of humaniarian provisions and medical supplies. It is much easier and efficient to deliver these supplies by land than by sea. Obviously McKinney pulled this stunt for her own publicity and to cast Israel in the most unfavorable light.
Given Hamas is not totally blameless I cannot fault the Israelis for preventing private vessels from breaking the blockade since it is just as easy to deliver rockets by boat as it is to deliver medical supplies. There is no practical way for Israel to verify if a boat is carrying medical supplies without stopping and searching every single one. And if Hamas decides to send a hundred small boats, some carrying medical supplies and others carrying rockets, how are the Israelis supposed to know which ones to stop? In this instance the Israelis are caught between a rock and a hard place; they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. And I’m sure McKinney is aware of this.
The real culprit here is Egypt and Mubarak who wants Israel to destroy Hamas and do his dirty work. Mubarak has reason to fear Islamic extremists in general and Hamas in particular because he would never have ascended to the presidency if his predecessor Anwar Sadat had not been assassinated by the same kind of extremists Israel is trying to destroy.
If McKinney is sincere about trying to deliver medical supplies to Gaza she should go to Egypt and demand that they open their border crossings to allow humanitarian shipments. After all, Hamas isn’t firing rockets at Cairo or Alexandria. If she doesn’t do that she simply shows herself for what she really is; an anti-jewish political opportunist.
“The guy is visibly ignorant, makes misstatements, and keeps defending the indefensible, namely that TPW and IPR have never been ‘fair and balanced’ [thank you Fox News you 21st Century Media Fascists] and have from days one, always been pro Libertarian /Lib Lite, neocon, paleocon, and theoon, at the expense of others! ”
Iv invited leftists several times to blog here–they aren’t interested. I cant force anyone to blog here,or blog here more often.
11 of the 15 posts on the frontpage are about leftist parties or personalities. 6 are about socialists/communists. 5 are about Nader or the Green Party. The other 4 are: 1 about environmentalist/antiwar/LGBT communities, 1 housekeeping posts, 1 about Constitution Party, and one about the America First Party.
So you were saying?
What does it mean theoon?
And isn’t it pointillism?
What does it mean, internet terrorism?
hey lookit, y’all have open comments now
By popular demand.
Open comments is stupid. It invites internet terrorism.
As if it’s hard to register for comments?
Don,
You will be ignored from now on unless you point out what misstatements I have made. TPW and IPR are two very different sites with different policies. They have both gone through several changes of editor each.
Leftists are welcome to blog here, and have been asked. If they choose not to, I can’t force them.
I consider myself a leftist, by the way, and do a lot of posts about left parties.
Finally, when you point a finger, four point back at you. Perhaps you should look in the mirror to find what you are looking for.
OK, you’ve had more than enough of my attention.
at the close of 2008 [Oh, what a year it COULD have been for non Democans and non Republicrats] it seems that local bull shitter Paulie Cannoli has achieved a P hD in Steer Manure from the National Ag College.
The guy is visibly ignorant, makes misstatements, and keeps defending the indefensible, namely that TPW and IPR have never been ‘fair and balanced’ [thank you Fox News you 21st Century Media Fascists] and have from days one, always been pro Libertarian /Lib Lite, neocon, paleocon, and theoon, at the expense of others!
Instead of ‘mea culpa’ Paulie fires illogical blanks with ‘non sequiter’ snarkie comments to hide his [Fruit of the Loom] short commings; Because of this he is also endowed with the National Farts Institute ‘Master of Fine [Brain] Farts’ and his senior project was ‘Pointallism with a 4 Inch Brush………..’
Open comments is stupid. It invites internet terrorism.
hey lookit, y’all have open comments now
Major kudos to Cynthia McKinney! That was very heroic of her to face the Israeli Navy like that!!!
+1
It’s a tradeoff, but for the most part I think it’s a plus.
Okay. This site has taken a dive since the registration was opened.
McKinney’s got balls.
The Independent Greens do deserve to be covered here. They have had a lot of candidates running in Virginia and their attempt to get Ron Paul and Mike Bloomberg to run together was certainly noteworthy.
As for Cynthia McKinney, though we opposed her presidential run, the Catholic Trotskyist Party continues to express solidarity with her mission to Gaza and all non-violent anti-Israeli sentiment everywhere.
Happy New Year to all readers, writers and commenters of IPR, the website which, like the ancient nation of Israel, is God’s chosen website for preaching and anointing the Catholic Trotskyist message. May God show his favor particularly on the saintly sinner Paulie Cannoli and the future king of Louisiana Trent Hill, and please pray for President Obama’s success to heal our economy and our world in general in 2009. I promise in the name of the father and the sun and the holy spirit that the Catholic Trotskyist Party will start having a more independent presence this year, and will at least have a website up by the end of January. The Catholic Trotskyist Party is not expected to have a presence outside of the Internet in this 2009 year, but in 2010 it hopes to make itself known to the wider public, with a joint fundraiser for Robert Milnes and Tom Knapp, acquiring its own show on MSNBC, and beginning the party chairman’s hip-hop career, with guest appearances on albums by Ludacris, Li’l Wayne, and T.I., expressing the greatness of the Catholic Trotskyist message and lifestyle. The party’s next project, however, after the creation of its website, is to present the future cabinet for when the United States comes under the Catholic Trotskyist New World Order, inspired by the potential cabinet lists made by Brian Moore and Angela Keaton. The chariman of the Catholic Trotskyist Party is also having an essay published in a book this year, though the title of the book is not being released to the public at this time.
Amen and god bless, and contento auld lang syne.
SOME SCARY STUFF
“And advanced forms of biological warfare that can ‘target’ specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool.”
–PNAC, Rebuilding America’s Defenses, p. 60
“I have called for President-elect Obama to say something. The Palestinian people in the Gaza strip are seeing the worst violence in 60 years, it is being reported. To date, President-elect Obama has remained silent. The Israelis are using weapons supplied to them by the U.S. government. Strict enforcement of U.S. law would require the cessation of all weapons transfers to Israel. Adherence to international law would require the same. ”
ASKED & ANSWERED ! NO REAL CHANGE !
“The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can “throw the rascals out” at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.
–Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in our Time
Real Time Politics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTahZE4q90U
OH FOR THE DAY…
“peace, peace, peace, peace
peace, peace, peace, peace”
Kimberly Wilder
Long Island, NY
Don, I can’t make heads or tails of your drivel. As best I can tell, what you are spouting off about is that we had some posts that covered the Independent Greens (assuming they were even our posts – no link) and maybe some comments from them. So what? We’ve had many more posts about the regular Greens, many of those by me. I post about lots of parties I don’t belong to or even agree with.
We have not had any bloggers who are Independent Greens. That was TPW. Not that we necessarily wouldn’t, but we have not.
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/?page_id=2 plus GE Smith – that’s it.
Don, you are the only one who is ignorant, not to mention insane. Please take your meds and have a great 2009.
…………. NOT MUCH ANY WAY!
Lake: “YOUR [IPR AND TPW] non right wingers have been so fakey [so called, not really Green ‘Independent Green Parties’] or so lame…… much less the next to useless Z Polls and Cody Qurik’s criminal activities!”
No idea what you are talking about, Don (I guess that makes two of us). No
Independent Green was here at TPW. Our Green is Gregg Jocoy, who is a regular SC Green. I asked Ronald Hardy, Kimberly Wilder and others, we would certainly welcome more Green and Left bloggers.
Postings [that every one but the ignorant few knew about………..]:
“Trump invited to host Independent Greens nominating convention for Bloomberg’
[AND TISH FIRMISS AND DON LAKE INVITE OBAMA TO VIEW THE INAUGURAL AT THEIR PLACE, YEAH!]
The following is a media release from the Independent Greens of Virginia:
For Immediate Release
Monday August 25, 2008
Contact: Joe Oddo 703-338-0200, Independent Greens of Virginia
http://www.VoteJoinRun.us
[email protected]
Donald Trump invited to host Bloomberg nominating convention [NEVER RSVP’d, NEVER SHOWED, LESS THAN A DOZEN IN ATTENDANCE………..]
Independent Greens of Virginia publicly invite Donald Trump to host an Indy Green nominating convention in New York City.
Last week the Virginia state board of elections confirmed the Independent Greens had successfully collected thousand of signatures to put Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President.
The Indy Greens immediately urged America’s three major minor parties to nominate Bloomberg/Paul. Indy Greens want Green, Constitution, and Libertarian Party nominees to form alliance with Michael Bloomberg and Ron Paul.
The Indy Greens are now inviting that great American Donald Trump to join their effort.
“Politics is the art of addition. Trump = success. Having Donald Trump leading our effort to convince other Independent, Green, and third parties to nominate Michael Bloomberg would mean success.” Carey Campbell State Chairman, Indy Greens
Fake Post: Independent Greens of Virginia have Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President, and Congressman Ron Paul for Vice President in Virginia.
Fake ‘Green’ Post: Indy Greens call on Green Party’s Cynthia McKinney, Libertarian’s Bob Barr, and Constitution Party’s Chuck Baldwin to form a post partisan, independent unity alliance with Michael Bloomberg and Ron Paul to form America’s Third Major party.
How: The Green Party could reconvene their convention, and nominate Bloomberg/Paul, as could the Libertarian and Constitution Parties.
[OH COME ON……….]
Indy Green state Chairman, and national chair of the Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg for President http://www.DraftMichael.com, Carey Campbell, “Michael Bloomberg is our choice. ”
[NOT TRUE!]
Joe Oddo, [NOT TRUE!] campaign coordinator, “ Michael Bloomberg is America’s leading Independent and Green. Michael Bloomberg offers positive solutions for America. ”
Gail “for Rail” Parker.”
Carey Campbell, State Chairman, Independent Greens of Virginia http://www.VoteJoinRun.US
National Chair, Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg for President http://www.DraftMichael.comj
703-916-0945 (home), 703-338-2553 (cell)
5522 Hinton Street, Springfield, VA 22151
[email protected]
Glenda “Gail for Rail” Parker, State Secretary Independent Green of Virginia
703-960-5602 (home), 703-585-0512 (cell)
[email protected]
Responses to “Trump invited to host [Fake] Independent Greens nominating convention for Bloomberg”……..”
2. “MPM Says:
August 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Wow what kind of political candy land are they living in? Bloomberg doesn’t even want to run………”.
3. “Bill Moore Says:
August 25th, 2008 at 8:35 am
What an idiot this guy is?”
[Carey Campbell? Paulie Canolie?]
4. “Stefan Says:
August 25th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Carey Campbell seems to want to generate a media event, with some seriousness also, but it seems to be going a bit ridiculous.
Well, if Bloomberg could fund a third party eventually. I think he wants to run of governor of NY under the Independence [Frank MacKay] Party ticket. The could be an agreement with him in the future, if he leaves the Independence parties in other states to do their own thing.
5.” Anonymous Says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Again, Carey Campbell is trying to garner media attention [and not for real Greens!]. Pay no attention to this.
Joe Oddo, campaign coordinator, “ Michael Bloomberg is America’s leading Independent and Green. [Yeah, Right, Sure, right Paulie Canonli?]
Since when is Bloomberg a Green? He never has been. But if he wants to join GPUS and his state party he needs to espouse the 10 Key Values.
Maybe he’ll share some of his personal wealth with us? 🙂 ”
6. “Anonymous Says:
August 26th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Would the real Nader Ballot Access Coordinator stand up?
Would the real campaign coordinator for Bloomberg stand up?
Which campaign do you work for?”
[Ask Paulie Cannoli, he knows EVERY THING!]
7. “Rick Sincere Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
The Independent Greens treat other political parties with a cavalier attitude that is nothing but disrespectful.
Inviting the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Constitution Party to consider nominating Michael Bloomberg (who shares few of those parties’ policy positions………”
In other words, [fake leftie and non Green] Carey Campbell wants these third parties to break their own rules. He wants them to act like the Democrats.
That is what I call disrespect.”
Lake: “Like I said, no real progress made for left of center or centrist blogs……..”
How is bringing hospital supplies to Gaza a false cause? Donald O’Brien why do you support the nationalist socialist Israeli government?
Plenty og blame on all sides, but humanitarian aid is a good thing for everyone.
Taking humanitarian aid to Gaza is “subversive, terroristic activity.” The Israeli government is composed of nationalist socialist fascists, militarists, and pigs.
Don. You forgot to take meds…again?!@
Phil Sawyer is a self described CPUSA Communist, not a centrist at all. Again, he is more than welcome to blog here if he wants to and if Trent wants him to. I don’t run IPR, I’m just a writer.
We have never had a independent Green blogger. You are confusing us with TPW, which had Campbell. There’s nothing to document. You are simply confused, as usual.
I don’t know if we have had Independent Green commenters. They are welcome to comment here if they want, just like everyone else. If any of them want to write here, it’s up to Trent. Hasn’t happened yet. Show me one post, Don. And yes, we probably covered them at some point – so what?
I’m not ignorant, but I wish I could say the same for you. Happy new year. Don’t forget those meds…
“the next thing you will be telling us is that TPW is/ was not fake. ”
That’s not for me to speak on. I haven’t posted here since may.
************GEE THAT SURE SPEAKS VOLUMES******************
“I suggested YEARS ago, Sacramento’s [email protected] would be an excellent centrist”
Self described member of the Communist Party is a centrist?
**********
Chuch Decon, former American Independence Party/ Constitution Party member, former Reform Party of California member, former Green. Yes he has been all over the map, and I personally, —– direct email, person to person phone calls ——— find him extremely irritating. But hey if you want middle of the road stock quotes just reprint party public relations mail outs! Is Phil one of a kind and a force of nature? Hey other bloggers will not be bored!
*****************
“YOUR non right wingers have been so fakey [so called, not really Green ‘Independent Green Parties’] or so lame……”
************A number of these Frank MacKay Independence Party, Unity08, Chuck Baldwin, Mike Bloomberg, Donald Trump especially Independent Green Party of Virginia! Well documented over the months. Just because you are ignorant does not mean it does not / did not happen!**************
No idea what you are talking about, Don (I guess that makes two of us).
Independent Green was here at TPW. Our Green is Gregg Jocoy, who is a regular SC Green. I asked Ronald Hardy, Kimberly Wilder and others, we would certainly welcome more Green and Left bloggers.
*********Again, just because YOU are ignorant………..***************
contact.ipr at gmail.com if anyone is interested.
“SELECTED technical difficulties”
Bullshit. You are paranoid.
******** Just because you are ignorant *************
Major kudos to Cynthia McKinney! That was very heroic of her to face the Israeli Navy like that!!!
Don, like I told you on TPW
Lake,
“the next thing you will be telling us is that TPW is/ was not fake. ”
That’s not for me to speak on. I haven’t posted here since may.
“I suggested YEARS ago, Sacramento’s [email protected] would be an excellent centrist”
Self described member of the Communist Party is a centrist? LOL
In any case, I’m not management, but he can write Trent Hill if he is interested. He’s welcome to blog at IPR as far as I am concerned, but it is not up to me.
“YOUR non right wingers have been so fakey [so called, not really Green ‘Independent Green Parties’] or so lame……”
No idea what you are talking about, Don (I guess that makes two of us).
Independent Green was here at TPW. Our Green is Gregg Jocoy, who is a regular SC Green. I asked Ronald Hardy, Kimberly Wilder and others, we would certainly welcome more Green and Left bloggers.
contact.ipr at gmail.com if anyone is interested.
“SELECTED technical difficulties”
Bullshit. You are paranoid.
“IPR may be more open and objective than TPW, but what is THAT mean?”
Not good enough for ya, Don? Start your own, please. You should be able to do better, right?
“Fairness, balance, inclusion”
Yep, IPR is all about that. Give us some competition and see if you can do better if you disagree.
Happy new year!
First of all thx for coming to your senses and doing the fakey dakey censorship via registration routine. If some one is super foolish, anonomously or with a moniker, then every one but newbies will take their past behavior into account.
Then also be aware that left, right, or center, lots of us are so knowledgeable of the unfair slant of this [so called] wide spectrum non Democan and non Republicrat web log.
The other Don, oh come on…. I am no ‘Left Hook Lucy’ fan, but you are painting lies with a broad, broad brush! And the Israeli Defense Forces, this is just the latest USS Liberty massacre of innocents by six pointed star thugs!
McKinney is not perfect, but your comments are unfounded, and full of biogtry!
McKinney will do anything for press – she’s a joke. our country, the world knows shes a joke so she gets behind false causes. She surrounds herself with anti-white, racist, nation of islam officers and there’s a reason why she’s lost all of her recent elections . . . she gets no respect from anyone.
Right on, Cynthia McKinney! Right on!
The Israeli government are shameless criminals.