Amy Goodman Arrested at RNC Convention

Conspiracy to riot? You be the judge.

"Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department. Charged with conspiracy to riot. Footage from Rick Rowley and Brandon Jourdan."

( Video clip of Amy's arrest . . . )

Amy Goodman Arrested at RNC Convention

Conspiracy to riot? You be the judge.

"Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department. Charged with conspiracy to riot. Footage from Rick Rowley and Brandon Jourdan."

( Video clip of Amy's arrest . . . )

The Palin Effect

Since folks got a good dose of what Obama's preacher was about, maybe the same should be true for Palin's. It also should be clear why McCain went for Palin in terms of the internal GOP strategy.

Palin and Her Pastors - Harper's Magazine - 30 Aug 08

"Christian conservatives like Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, and James Dobson have hailed McCain’s selection of Palin. Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family, vowed earlier this year never to support McCain. However, within hours of Palin’s addition to the G.O.P. ticket, he had changed his tune, saying, he had 'not been so excited about a political candidate since Ronald Reagan.' Given the viewpoints expressed by Palin’s pastors, it’s easy to understand why Christian conservatives are so excited."

And less we forget our history, recall that McCain got into political trouble after dissing the Relgious Right in 2000. I guess he has had an epiphany.

McCain Assails Religious Right on Pat Robertson's Home Turf - CNN - 28 Feb 00

"'I am a pro-life, pro-family fiscal conservative and advocate of a strong defense, and yet, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and a few Washington leaders of the pro-life movement call me an unacceptable presidential candidate,' McCain said in speech to some 1,500 people at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. 'They distort my pro-life positions and smear the reputations of my supporters because I don't pander to them, I don't ascribe to their failed philosophy that money is our message.'

Robertson sponsored automated phone calls to voters prior to the Michigan Republican primary last week criticizing McCain's record on abortion, and calling key campaign aide Warren Rudman a 'bigot' for criticizing Christian conservatives."

Finally, if anyone wants a feel for how much fundamentalist Christians impact what's going on at the state level the somewhat old paper noted below would be a good start. That influence has waned some in recent years as Bush and his administration has disappointed this group.

Less than Conquerors: The Christian Right in State Republican Parties

"Figure 1 illustrates the Index of Christian Right Influence, revealing that in 1994 the Christian Right had a great GOP organizational presence in eight southern states, ranging from North Carolina to Texas. Strong influence existed in two more southern states, Arkansas and Mississippi, and farther west in Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah. On the other hand, the movement had contested influence in the far west, including all five states of the Pacific Rim, Idaho and Arizona. This category also included Iowa, Minnesota and Virginia in other regions.

Next, the Christian Right enjoyed modest influence in some other Midwestern states, centered on Ohio, as well as in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maine, Montana and Nevada. Finally, the Christian Right was weak in the east, in several parts of Mississippi Valley, Northern Plains, Rocky Mountains, and in one southern (Tennessee) and one border state (West Virginia)."

The Palin Effect

Since folks got a good dose of what Obama's preacher was about, maybe the same should be true for Palin's. It also should be clear why McCain went for Palin in terms of the internal GOP strategy.

Palin and Her Pastors - Harper's Magazine - 30 Aug 08

"Christian conservatives like Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, and James Dobson have hailed McCain’s selection of Palin. Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family, vowed earlier this year never to support McCain. However, within hours of Palin’s addition to the G.O.P. ticket, he had changed his tune, saying, he had 'not been so excited about a political candidate since Ronald Reagan.' Given the viewpoints expressed by Palin’s pastors, it’s easy to understand why Christian conservatives are so excited."

And less we forget our history, recall that McCain got into political trouble after dissing the Relgious Right in 2000. I guess he has had an epiphany.

McCain Assails Religious Right on Pat Robertson's Home Turf - CNN - 28 Feb 00

"'I am a pro-life, pro-family fiscal conservative and advocate of a strong defense, and yet, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and a few Washington leaders of the pro-life movement call me an unacceptable presidential candidate,' McCain said in speech to some 1,500 people at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. 'They distort my pro-life positions and smear the reputations of my supporters because I don't pander to them, I don't ascribe to their failed philosophy that money is our message.'

Robertson sponsored automated phone calls to voters prior to the Michigan Republican primary last week criticizing McCain's record on abortion, and calling key campaign aide Warren Rudman a 'bigot' for criticizing Christian conservatives."

Finally, if anyone wants a feel for how much fundamentalist Christians impact what's going on at the state level the somewhat old paper noted below would be a good start. That influence has waned some in recent years as Bush and his administration has disappointed this group.

Less than Conquerors: The Christian Right in State Republican Parties

"Figure 1 illustrates the Index of Christian Right Influence, revealing that in 1994 the Christian Right had a great GOP organizational presence in eight southern states, ranging from North Carolina to Texas. Strong influence existed in two more southern states, Arkansas and Mississippi, and farther west in Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah. On the other hand, the movement had contested influence in the far west, including all five states of the Pacific Rim, Idaho and Arizona. This category also included Iowa, Minnesota and Virginia in other regions.

Next, the Christian Right enjoyed modest influence in some other Midwestern states, centered on Ohio, as well as in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maine, Montana and Nevada. Finally, the Christian Right was weak in the east, in several parts of Mississippi Valley, Northern Plains, Rocky Mountains, and in one southern (Tennessee) and one border state (West Virginia)."

Is Palin Qualified? Let's Make Stuff Up

The GOP has gone completely Onion on their responses to this question. Via the Anchorage Daily News' Gov. Sarah Palin page.

Is Palin Qualified? Just Look, Says GOP - ADN - 01 Sep 08

"Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: 'Palin is commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard.' The state’s Guard has about 4,000 members."

"Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin 'extremely responsive and smart' and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder. But in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations."

( Campbell Brown from CNN Takes on Tucker Bounds' B.S. On Palin's Alaska National Guard Role )

And this related tidbit via Andrew Sullivan's blog, "The Daily Dish".

Palin: Surge? What Surge? - The Atlantic - 31 Aug 08

"Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

Is Palin Qualified? Let's Make Stuff Up

The GOP has gone completely Onion on their responses to this question. Via the Anchorage Daily News' Gov. Sarah Palin page.

Is Palin Qualified? Just Look, Says GOP - ADN - 01 Sep 08

"Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: 'Palin is commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard.' The state’s Guard has about 4,000 members."

"Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin 'extremely responsive and smart' and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder. But in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations."

( Campbell Brown from CNN Takes on Tucker Bounds' B.S. On Palin's Alaska National Guard Role )

And this related tidbit via Andrew Sullivan's blog, "The Daily Dish".

Palin: Surge? What Surge? - The Atlantic - 31 Aug 08

"Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

More Horror Show Stuff About Palin

The incoming weirdness of this VP pick just keeps rolling in . . .

Mayor Palin: A Rough Record - Time - 02 Sep 08

"At some point in those fractious first days, Palin told the department heads they needed her permission to talk to reporters. 'She put a gag order on those people, something that you'd expect to find in the big city, not here,' says Naegele. 'She flew in there like a big-city gal, which she's not. It was a strange time, and [the Frontiersman] came out very harshly against her.'

Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. 'She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast.' That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving 'full support' to the mayor."

More Horror Show Stuff About Palin

The incoming weirdness of this VP pick just keeps rolling in . . .

Mayor Palin: A Rough Record - Time - 02 Sep 08

"At some point in those fractious first days, Palin told the department heads they needed her permission to talk to reporters. 'She put a gag order on those people, something that you'd expect to find in the big city, not here,' says Naegele. 'She flew in there like a big-city gal, which she's not. It was a strange time, and [the Frontiersman] came out very harshly against her.'

Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. 'She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast.' That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving 'full support' to the mayor."

Reporters Detained? What Reporters?

Police information officials at work. Cripes.

"Glenn Greenwald asks questions about the arrest of Amy Goodman of Democracy Now at the RNC protests, September 1, 2008."

( Video behind cut . . . )

Reporters Detained? What Reporters?

Police information officials at work. Cripes.

"Glenn Greenwald asks questions about the arrest of Amy Goodman of Democracy Now at the RNC protests, September 1, 2008."

( Video behind cut . . . )

Deja Vu All Over Again

From the Chicago 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Seems like old times.

The History Channel clip is very excellent.

History Channel: 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention - YouTube
Dan Rather Punched in Stomach on Convention Floor - YouTube
Strong-arm Tactics at 1968 Democratic Convention - YouTube
CHICAGO 10 - OFFICIAL TRAILER - YouTube

Deja Vu All Over Again

From the Chicago 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Seems like old times.

The History Channel clip is very excellent.

History Channel: 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention - YouTube
Dan Rather Punched in Stomach on Convention Floor - YouTube
Strong-arm Tactics at 1968 Democratic Convention - YouTube
CHICAGO 10 - OFFICIAL TRAILER - YouTube

When Palin Became Mayor

How it went down in Wasilla in 1996. Gun nuts and Right to Lifers to the rescue. And we don' need no stinkin' museums.

New Mayor, Sharp Knife - Anchorage Daily News - 03 Oct 96

"'A big part of my agenda is cutting out things that are not necessary,' Palin said Wednesday. 'What I'm going to be known for is getting the basic necessities, the bare bones that Wasilla has needed for years and years.' That means more funding for roads and perhaps less for the local museum, she said."

"Palin's victory was seen as a major upset. Stein has been mayor since 1987 and was seeking his fourth term. He lost by more than 200 votes, with a final tally of 616-413. Palin, 32, said her candidacy tapped into the same anti-incumbency feelings that helped throw out longtime legislative leaders Sen. Jay Kerttula and Rep. Ron Larson in 1994."

"Stein said Wednesday he was disappointed voters rejected his years of experience as city mayor. He said he thought residents were influenced by issues such as gun control and abortion that aren't decided at the local level."

When Palin Became Mayor

How it went down in Wasilla in 1996. Gun nuts and Right to Lifers to the rescue. And we don' need no stinkin' museums.

New Mayor, Sharp Knife - Anchorage Daily News - 03 Oct 96

"'A big part of my agenda is cutting out things that are not necessary,' Palin said Wednesday. 'What I'm going to be known for is getting the basic necessities, the bare bones that Wasilla has needed for years and years.' That means more funding for roads and perhaps less for the local museum, she said."

"Palin's victory was seen as a major upset. Stein has been mayor since 1987 and was seeking his fourth term. He lost by more than 200 votes, with a final tally of 616-413. Palin, 32, said her candidacy tapped into the same anti-incumbency feelings that helped throw out longtime legislative leaders Sen. Jay Kerttula and Rep. Ron Larson in 1994."

"Stein said Wednesday he was disappointed voters rejected his years of experience as city mayor. He said he thought residents were influenced by issues such as gun control and abortion that aren't decided at the local level."