Tiberi Seeks to Silence the “Free” Press
I had made preparations to record this evening’s public debate of local, state and federal candidates which was held in a publicly-funded local school. But evidently, as a premise for Tiberi’s appearance, Tiberi agreed to come only if sponsoring groups would agree that no recording devises would be permitted–without an exception granted even to the press. The question is, if Pat Tiberi exercised his influence to abridge the freedom of the press right in his home district, could he be trusted to defend it when he goes back to Washington DC?
A Gift for a Generation: A U.S. Financial System of Our Own
Last week, I posted ten points (that were by no means exhaustive) for Congressional action immediately in the wake of the financial crisis now gripping our country. At that time, the Democratic leadership of Congress was prepared to adjourn the current legislative Session to campaign, without taking any action at all to put policies in place that protect U.S. taxpayers and the global community that has accepted U.S. financial leadership. Those ten points are as follows:
Federal Real ID: A Solution Looking for a Problem
This has been a solution looking for a problem.
But what it’s doing is it’s giving the federal government the opportunity and the right to track when you get on an airplane, where you are going, when you got there and when you got home; and I haven’t found a 10-year period when the federal government hasn’t violated individual civil liberties. This is information that should not be held by the federal government–because you can’t trust them. They’ve demonstrated that for the past 100 years and I suspect the next 100 years would be the same.
All American Race
David Robinson is a first-time candidate who has pledged devotion to the Constitution and is leading an all-volunteer group of supporters in an attempt to dislodge the four-term incumbent, Pat Tiberi, a Bush-loyalist.
Foiled Obama Assissination Plot Gets Little US Coverage
Far away from the Democratic National Convention hype, USSR’s KGB successor, the Russian FSB uncovered an apparent plot to assassinate United States Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Barack Obama during his acceptance speech in Denver.
Anthrax Could Terrorize Again
There is today in existence a stockpile of super, weapons-grade, anthrax that is under the control of the original perpetrators of the Anthrax attacks of October 2001 and that stockpile can and will be used against the American people.
Proclaim Jubilee Throughout the Land!
Inscribed on the Liberty Bell is, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Lev. 25:10). The next verse reads, “It shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possission, and ye shall return every man unto his family.”
As our government reaches ever further into our wallets with corporate buyouts and printing even more money, greater burdens are heaped upon our collective backs. American taxpayers will now carry the debt loads of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, making us slaves of debt we never agreed to pay.
If we were to view our government optimistically, we could view it as leading by example, reminding us that forgiveness is the only way out of the failed obligations of others. Yet it is radical — is it not — that our leaders actually called for the forgiveness of debt? On the other hand, as a nation that professes to be Christian, that is exactly what Jesus taught his followers to do.
The Lord’s Prayers says, “… forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…” This passage is reverently spoken by most Christians–ostensibly 85% of the American population, and reminds them to forgive those that lie, steal, hurt, cheat, kill and to forgive even the worst of sins: choosing to serve power and money over God. In other words, the Lord’s Prayer is a reminder that we are called to forgive even the people who run our government.
Hope for Impeachment
The House Judiciary Committee held a Congressional inquiry on allegations of Executive Power Misconduct yesterday, July 25th. As the room filled, audience members cheered as Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich entered the room. Harry Waxman was caught smiling. But there were many others that didn’t appear quite so happy.
Chairman John Conyers called the committee to order and said, “We face few issues more difficult, complex or important than separation of powers in general, and excesses of the executive branch in particular. As our first great civil libertarian…Thomas Jefferson wrote, ‘The greatest calamity which would befall us would be submission to a government of unlimited powers.’
“And so it’s for that reason that the founders gave Congress the power to oversee the Executive branch as well as the power of the purse: the power to decide when the country goes to war and the power to remove–through the constitutional process, officers who may have violated their oath. And so it’s for these same reasons that the founders created independent courts to operate as a check on the [other] two political branches and to serve as the final protector of our precious rights and liberties. …
The Invitation
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow; If you have been opened by life’s betrayals or
have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain!
The Religious Right Is AWOL From The Real War
I want to begin this column with one of my all-time favorite quotes. It comes from the great German reformer Martin Luther. He said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
Luther’s trenchant statement reminds us that today’s Christians, especially our Christian leaders, are conspicuously absent from the field of battle. Oh, they may host large crowds in their gatherings; they may deposit multiplied millions of dollars in their financial accounts; they may receive thunderous applause from politicians, but they have fled the battlefield at the point of attack.
Nalliah Thayabharan: 
Edward G. Nilges: 
