Wednesday, June 9, 2010

We SALUTE Helen Thomas !


A Groundbreaking Career Filled
With Asking The Tough Questions

Excellent New Interview Looks Into The Mind of a TRUE LEGEND


Interview By Steve Lafreniere

This interview with Helen Thomas was conducted in March. We were holding it for an upcoming issue of Vice magazine, but in light of what’s going on with her now, we’ve decided to run it online today.


“Uh, wait, what’s going on with her now,” you say. Oh, you live in a cave. OK then. Helen Thomas just made some comments about Israel that Israelis, President Obama, and a lot of other people vehemently didn’t like. Not to put too fine a point on it, she pretty much said that Jews need to “get the hell out of Palestine” and go home to “Poland, Germany and America.” A tad indelicate, yes. But not surprising given her reputation for being headstrong and outspoken. And has Helen Thomas ever made her position on Israel and its actions a secret? Nope. Besides, if we were 89 years old and had spent the last five decades watching a steady flow of spin and doubletalk issuing forth from the mouths of countless men (and a select few women) standing behind a podium with the White House seal on it, we might be getting a little grumpy by now too.

“But hold on a minute,” you say. “Who’s Helen Thomas again?” Really, kid? Lebanese-American member of the White House Press Corps since 1960. Pioneering female journalist. The little old lady who sits in the front row at Presidential press conferences and asks the questions that the other reporters are too scared to ask. A journalist who truly challenges politicians, who wants them to be able to explain and justify their decisions and positions, whose most valued question is ‘why.’ Now she has been hounded into quitting the job that was her life. Her agent for speaking engagements has summarily dropped her. She is being vilified by many and lauded by others but no matter what, we believe that she is owed a huge debt of respect and gratitude for the work she’s done in the name of true democracy. We fear that the White House Press Corps has lost its conscience in losing Helen Thomas. Whether anyone has the balls to carry on what she has started remains to be seen.

PS: Yes, she does discuss Israel in this interview, if you’re curious about whether there’s a timely money shot to sink your teeth into. But there’s a lot more going on here. Don’t let Helen Thomas’s views on Israel alone define her for you.

Vice: When I watched you at press conferences during the George W. Bush years, you seemed pretty disgusted with your fellow journalists.
Helen Thomas: In the run-up to the Iraq War, no one asked for proof of weapons of mass destruction. It was very, very clear that President Bush wanted to go to war at any cost. And he would not go back to the UN and allow them three more months to look and see if it was really true. We went to war on lies. I think 9-11 was definitely used to terrorize the people away from taking any stand against the government, because they felt it was a real crisis and I guess they—halfway at least—believed the government. Using terrorists is a very effective propaganda weapon.

VICE:Is it just me or did the mainstream press seem particularly flabby after 9-11?
HELEN: They were afraid of not being considered real patriots, and I’m sure the big communications corporations got orders from on high. So they played ball.

VICE:In your decades at the White House have you witnessed this kind of complacency before?
HELEN:Well, the Watergate scandal was the turning point in the White House in modern times. We took all the [Nixon administration’s] denials, and when they turned out to be absolutely wrong, when it turned out to be disinformation, it made reporters much more wary in that brief interval that followed. But of course 9-11 made everyone into a prime citizen again, and afraid to ask. The Pentagon was also very effective in propagandizing, as was the State Department, as was the White House. So, again, I think that journalists became afraid to be called unpatriotic if they didn’t support a war, even one that was obviously not true.

VICE: You were surprised by this?
HELEN: I certainly thought, after the Watergate scandal and all the lies, that reporters had awakened. And they did for awhile, a very short time. But the government always prevails, because there’s always the feeling that we should believe what the government says. Even though I thought they didn’t have any credibility, people did go along. The reporters were very gung-ho about going to war. It was going to be two weeks. Everybody was going to be there a short time, come home, and live happily ever after. It’s been seven years now.

VICE: I notice that you’re the only White House reporter that questions why an event has occurred. You did it several times regarding 9-11. (READ REST OF INTERVIEW)

Although her controversial comment was wrong
Helen Thomas' Work Will Be Missed.


B4B Home Page

Thursday, June 3, 2010


AMERICAN CITIZEN...19...SHOT 4 TIMES IN HEAD BY ISRAELI HUMANITARIAN AID ATTACKERS !

HuffPo

A U.S. citizen was among those killed in Israel's flotilla raid Monday, the AP reports. ABC News, quoting the Anatolian news agency, reports that Dogan was shot at "close range, with four bullets in his head and one in his chest."

From the AP:

A 19-year-old man with dual U.S.-Turkish citizenship was among the nine people killed in the Israeli raid on an aid flotilla in the eastern Mediterranean, the State Department said Thursday. That potentially complicates the Obama administration's attempts to remain neutral in the crisis.


Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the victim was Furkan Dogan and that U.S. authorities in Turkey had met with Dogan's father to express condolences and to offer U.S. consular services. She added that two other American citizens had been injured in raid and in a subsequent protest and the U.S. was seeking information about all three from Israel.

"Protecting the welfare of American citizens is a fundamental repsponsibility of our government and one that we take very seriously," she told reporters. "We are in constant contact with the Israeli government attempting to obtain more information about our citizens."

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Dogan, who was born in Troy, N.Y., had died of "gunshot wounds" but he declined to confirm reports that he had been shot multiple times in the head. Crowley said U.S. consular officials had seen Dogan's body in a morgue in Israel before it was taken to Turkey but had not known he was a dual citizen at the time.

Dogan's father told Turkey's state-run Anatolia News Agency that he had identified his son's body and that he had been shot through the forehead. Still, he said, the family was not sad because they believed Furkan had died with honor.

"I feel my son has been blessed with heaven," he said. "I am hoping to be a father worthy of my son."

Clinton said no decision had yet been made about how to handle Dogan's death but renewed calls for Israel to "conduct a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation that conforms to international standards and gets to all the facts surrounding this tragic event."

"We are open to different ways to assuring that it is a credible investigation, including urging appropriate international participation," she said.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Israel To REJECT UN Call for Flotilla Raid INVESTIGATION

ISRAELI Legislator On Board Flotilla Gives Eyewitness Account: Says Israelis Fired Shots at Aid Ship Moments Before Commandos Boarded Ship

PATHETIC !!!

Why are the cable news networks...even the ones I like...NOT covering this horrific occurrence ??? American...born in Troy, N.Y....shot 4 TIMES IN THE HEAD trying to get aid to the People of Gaza !!! PATHETIC !!!!...and NO...he was NOT A TERRORIST !!!

NOTE: Among the passengers aboard the aid vessel were the IRISH Nobel peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and an elderly JEWISH survivor of the Holocaust, as well as the SWEDISH author Henning Mankell....not to mention an 18 month old baby....and 10 AMERICANS !!! A CANADIAN on board described watching an elderly man bleed to death. The head of a Turkish charity that organized the aid flotilla said an Indonesian doctor was shot in the stomach and a photographer was shot in the forehead. All...Definitely NOT TERRORISTS !!!

The Time is NOW to Demand the U.S. to
STOP THE GAZA BLOCKADE !!!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010


WATCH:
(From Press TV)
Raw footage aboard aid carrying vessel being unjustly attacked by Israeli navy despite their waving of white flag and being in international waters. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING....ILLEGAL....and should NOT BE TOLERATED !!!
No matter how the evil-doers/supporters try to spin the Israeli attack of the humanitarian aid vessel killing up to 19 (and you can expect EVERY lie in the book) everything about this act was ABSOLUTELY WRONG !!! Simple as that. This was NOT a military ship they attacked...but a rather small passenger ship...on a humanitarian aid mission...carrying 10 tons of MUCH NEEDED supplies including MEDICINES and WHEEL CHAIRS and even TOYS !!! Among the passengers were the IRISH Nobel peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and an elderly JEWISH survivor of the Holocaust, as well as the SWEDISH author Henning Mankell....not to mention an 18 month old baby and 10 Americans !!!
Any way they try to spin it....this was OUTRIGHT MURDER.
The Time is NOW for the U.S. to demand the END of Israel's blockade.
The people of Gaza are in dire need of life-saving aid....
and are PEOPLE TOO !!!
Time to SPEAK OUT
for what is RIGHT !
P.S. Israel is now trying to spin that the AK47's the Israeli attackers used during the attack....
shot PAINT BALLS !!!! Absolutely PATHETIC !!!
CLICK HERE if video did not appear through email server

Sunday, May 30, 2010

TEMPE, Ariz. – Thousands of people from around the country descended on the Phoenix area Saturday as supporters and opponents of Arizona's tough new crackdown on illegal immigration held separate rallies.

Marchers carrying signs, banners and flags from the United States and Mexico filled a 5 mile stretch of central Phoenix, demanding that the federal government refuse to cooperate with Arizona authorities trying to enforce the law.

Police declined to estimate the size of the crowd, but it appeared at least 10,000 to 20,000 protesters braved 94-degree heat. Organizers had said they expected the demonstration to bring as many as 50,000 people.

Opponents of the law suspended their boycott against Arizona and bused in protesters from around the country. Some used umbrellas or cardboard signs to protect their faces from the sun. Volunteers handed out water bottles from the beds of pickup trucks, and organizers set up three water stations along the route.

About 20 people were treated for heat or fatigue-related symptoms, and seven of them were taken to a hospital, said Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson. There were no arrests or other incidents, he said.

The law's opponents also gathered at capitols in states including Texas and Oregon, and about 300 people protested at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City demanding legalization for undocumented Mexican workers in the United States.

"Many of us have relatives or friends in the U.S. and we must now stand up and speak out on their behalf," said Elvira Arellano, who gained international attention in 2007 when she was deported without her U.S. citizen son.

In San Francisco, about 500 people gathered Saturday night outside AT&T Park, where the Giants were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks. Leaders of the rally said it was organized to help push for a boycott against Arizona.

More than 7,000 supporters of Arizona's law gathered Saturday evening at a baseball stadium in suburban Tempe, encouraging like-minded Americans to "buycott" Arizona by planning vacations in the state.

Charlene Pellin answered that call. The 64-year-old suicide prevention speaker drove to Phoenix for a four-day vacation from her home in Huntington Beach, Calif., to attend Saturday's rally.

"Hopefully if enough people show support for Arizona more states will follow suit," Pellin said.

Critics of the law, set to take effect July 29, say it unfairly targets Hispanics and could lead to racial profiling. Its supporters say Arizona is trying to enforce immigration laws because the federal government has failed to do so.

The law requires that police conducting traffic stops or questioning people about possible legal violations ask them about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they're in the country illegally.

The law's proponents insist racial profiling will not be tolerated, but civil rights leaders worry that officers will still assume illegal immigrants are Hispanic.

"I don't think that this law is American. I think it's discriminatory," said Chelsea Halstead, a 20-year-old college student from Flagstaff. "I'm offended by it because this is a nation founded by immigrants."

Some marchers chanted "si se puede," a phrase coined by Hispanic civil rights leader Cesar Chavez that roughly means "yes we can." Others took aim at President Barack Obama, demanding that he prioritize comprehensive immigration reform that would create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants now in the country.

"Obama, listen, we are in the fight," they chanted in Spanish. A handful of protesters also carried a massive banner that read: "Where's the change? Mr. President how can we trust you for re-election?"

Alfonso Martinez, a 38-year-old Phoenix carpenter and father of three children who are American citizens, said he's been living illegally in the United States for 21 years while trying to get legal status.

"If they stop me and they find my status, who's going to feed my kids? Who's going to keep working hard for them?" he said, keeping a careful eye on his 6-year-old daughter as his wife pushed their 4-year-old girl in a stroller. Their 13-year-old son walked ahead of them.

Associated Press Writer Martha Mendoza in Mexico City contributed to this report.


RELATED ARTICLE: Justice Department Prepared to File Law Suit to BLOCK Arizona Immigration Law

We Must UNITE....and FIGHT

For What is RIGHT !!!

B4B Main Page

Friday, May 28, 2010


President Tours Gulf Coast Beaches
Damaged by BP's Oil Spill

President Barack Obama flew to the Gulf Coast today, on the heels of his press conference Thursday where he claimed full responsibility for the handling the oil spill. The President given a tour of a Louisiana beach, where he kneeled down to observe tar balls and was given a briefing on the cleanup efforts.


B4B Statement of the Week:

" When it comes to stopping the leak below,
the Federal Government does NOT have
superior technology to BP ".

(President Obama)

B4B Main Page

Thursday, May 27, 2010

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON THE GULF OIL SPILL

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Before I take your questions, I want to update the American people on the status of the BP oil spill -– a catastrophe that is causing tremendous hardship in the Gulf Coast, damaging a precious ecosystem, and one that led to the death of 11 workers who lost their lives in the initial explosion.

Yesterday, the federal government gave BP approval to move forward with a procedure known as a "top kill" to try to stop the leak. This involves plugging the well with densely packed mud to prevent any more oil from escaping. And given the complexity of this procedure and the depth of the leak, this procedure offers no guarantee of success. But we're exploring any reasonable strategies to try and save the Gulf from a spill that may otherwise last until the relief wells are finished -– and that's a process that could take months.

The American people should know that from the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort. As far as I'm concerned, BP is responsible for this horrific disaster, and we will hold them fully accountable on behalf of the United States as well as the people and communities victimized by this tragedy. We will demand that they pay every dime they owe for the damage they've done and the painful losses that they've caused. And we will continue to take full advantage of the unique technology and expertise they have to help stop this leak.

But make no mistake: BP is operating at our direction. Every key decision and action they take must be approved by us in advance. I've designated Admiral Thad Allen -– who has nearly four decades of experience responding to such disasters -– as the National Incident Commander, and if he orders BP to do something to respond to this disaster, they are legally bound to do it. So, for example, when they said they would drill one relief well to stem this leak we demanded a backup and ordered them to drill two. And they are in the process of drilling two.

As we devise strategies to try and stop this leak, we're also relying on the brightest minds and most advanced technology in the world. We're relying on a team of scientists and engineers from our own national laboratories and from many other nations -– a team led by our Energy Secretary and Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Stephen Chu. And we're relying on experts who've actually dealt with oil spills from across the globe, though none this challenging.

The federal government is also directing the effort to contain and clean up the damage from the spill -– which is now the largest effort of its kind in U.S. history. In this case, the federal, state, and local governments have the resources and expertise to play an even more direct role in the response effort. And I will be discussing this further when I make my second trip to Louisiana tomorrow. But so far we have about 20,000 people in the region who are working around the clock to contain and clean up this oil. We have activated about 1,400 members of the National Guard in four states. We have the Coast Guard on site. We have more than 1,300 vessels assisting in the containment and cleanup efforts. We've deployed over 3 million feet of total boom to stop the oil from coming on shore -– and today more than 100,000 feet of boom is being surged to Louisiana parishes that are facing the greatest risk from the oil.

So we'll continue to do whatever is necessary to protect and restore the Gulf Coast. For example, Admiral Allen just announced that we're moving forward with a section of Governor Jindal's barrier island proposal that could help stop oil from coming ashore. It will be built in an area that is most at risk and where the work can be most quickly completed.

We're also doing whatever it takes to help the men and women whose livelihoods have been disrupted and even destroyed by this spill -– everyone from fishermen to restaurant and hotel owners. So far the Small Business Administration has approved loans and allowed many small businesses to defer existing loan payments. At our insistence, BP is paying economic injury claims, and we'll make sure that when all is said and done, the victims of this disaster will get the relief that they are owed. We're not going to abandon our fellow citizens. We'll help them recover and we will help them rebuild.

And in the meantime, I should also say that Americans can help by continuing to visit the communities and beaches of the Gulf Coast. I was talking to the governors just a couple of days ago, and they wanted me to remind everybody that except for three beaches in Louisiana, all of the Gulf's beaches are open. They are safe and they are clean.

As we continue our response effort, we're also moving quickly on steps to ensure that a catastrophe like this never happens again. I've said before that producing oil here in America is an essential part of our overall energy strategy. But all drilling must be safe.

In recent months, I've spoken about the dangers of too much -- I've heard people speaking about the dangers of too much government regulation. And I think we can all acknowledge there have been times in history when the government has overreached. But in this instance, the oil industry's cozy and sometimes corrupt relationship with government regulators meant little or no regulation at all.

When Secretary Salazar took office, he found a Minerals and Management Service that had been plagued by corruption for years –- this was the agency charged with not only providing permits, but also enforcing laws governing oil drilling. And the corruption was underscored by a recent Inspector General's report that covered activity which occurred prior to 2007 -- a report that can only be described as appalling. And Secretary Salazar immediately took steps to clean up that corruption. But this oil spill has made clear that more reforms are needed.

For years, there has been a scandalously close relationship between oil companies and the agency that regulates them. That's why we've decided to separate the people who permit the drilling from those who regulate and ensure the safety of the drilling.

I also announced that no new permits for drilling new wells will go forward until a 30-day safety and environmental review was conducted. That review is now complete. Its initial recommendations include aggressive new operating standards and requirements for offshore energy companies, which we will put in place.

Additionally, after reading the report's recommendations with Secretary Salazar and other members of my administration, we're going to be ordering the following actions: First, we will suspend the planned exploration of two locations off the coast of Alaska. Second, we will cancel the pending lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico and the proposed lease sale off the coast of Virginia. Third, we will continue the existing moratorium and suspend the issuance of new permits to drill new deepwater wells for six months. And four, we will suspend action on 33 deepwater exploratory wells currently being drilled in the Gulf of Mexico.

What's also been made clear from this disaster is that for years the oil and gas industry has leveraged such power that they have effectively been allowed to regulate themselves. One example: Under current law, the Interior Department has only 30 days to review an exploration plan submitted by an oil company. That leaves no time for the appropriate environmental review. They result is, they are continually waived. And this is just one example of a law that was tailored by the industry to serve their needs instead of the public's. So Congress needs to address these issues as soon as possible, and my administration will work with them to do so.

Still, preventing such a catastrophe in the future will require further study and deeper reform. That's why last Friday, I also signed an executive order establishing the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. While there are a number of ongoing investigations, including an independent review by the National Academy of Engineering, the purpose of this commission is to consider both the root causes of the disaster and offer options on what safety and environmental precautions are necessary.

If the laws on our books are inadequate to prevent such a spill, or if we did not enforce those laws, then I want to know. I want to know what worked and what didn't work in our response to the disaster, and where oversight of the oil and gas industry broke down.

Let me make one final point. More than anything else, this economic and environmental tragedy –- and it's a tragedy -– underscores the urgent need for this nation to develop clean, renewable sources of energy. Doing so will not only reduce threats to our environment, it will create a new, homegrown, American industry that can lead to countless new businesses and new jobs.

We've talked about doing this for decades, and we've made significant strides over the last year when it comes to investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The House of Representatives has already passed a bill that would finally jumpstart a permanent transition to a clean energy economy, and there is currently a plan in the Senate –- a plan that was developed with ideas from Democrats and Republicans –- that would achieve the same goal.

If nothing else, this disaster should serve as a wake-up call that it's time to move forward on this legislation. It's time to accelerate the competition with countries like China, who have already realized the future lies in renewable energy. And it's time to seize that future ourselves. So I call on Democrats and Republicans in Congress, working with my administration, to answer this challenge once and for all.

I'll close by saying this: This oil spill is an unprecedented disaster. The fact that the source of the leak is a mile under the surface, where no human being can go, has made it enormously difficult to stop. But we are relying on every resource and every idea, every expert and every bit of technology, to work to stop it. We will take ideas from anywhere, but we are going to stop it.

And I know that doesn't lessen the enormous sense of anger and frustration felt by people on the Gulf and so many Americans. Every day I see this leak continue I am angry and frustrated as well. I realize that this entire response effort will continue to be filtered through the typical prism of politics, but that's not what I care about right now. What I care about right now is the containment of this disaster and the health and safety and livelihoods of our neighbors in the Gulf Coast. And for as long as it takes, I intend to use the full force of the federal government to protect our fellow citizens and the place where they live. I can assure you of that.

B4B Home Page

Tuesday, May 25, 2010


President to send 1200 troops
to U.S.-Mexico border

By ALAN GOMEZ and RICHARD WOLF • USA TODAY •

A month after Arizona passed an immigration law that reignited a national debate, President Obama is sending up to 1,200 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

The troops will be a “bridge to longer-term enhancements” on the Southwestern border, helping with intelligence and surveillance while additional Border Patrol agents are trained, Obama’s national security adviser, James Jones, said in a letter to Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.

Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., said.

The decision came to light after Obama met with Senate Republicans to discuss immigration legislation -- a package that could be difficult to pass this year without Republican support, White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

Asa Hutchinson, the first Homeland Security undersecretary for border security under President Bush, said “The numbers that they’re going to add will help, but it’s not going to fix the problem.”

Frank Sharry of America’s Voice, a group that supports tighter borders as well as a way for illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, said Obama seemingly gave in to Republican leaders without assurance on more comprehensive immigration legislation.

“Talk about one step forward and two steps back,” Sharry said.

Roy Beck of NumbersUSA, a group that wants to reduce legal and illegal immigration, was pleased but called the action a minimal response and based on politics.

“I think the White House people are watching the polls and seeing how incredibly popular the Arizona law is,” Beck said. The law requires police to check immigration status if they suspect that someone they detain is in the country illegally.

Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization, said the decision to focus first on border security rather than fix immigration law was “deeply disappointing.”

Arizona’s Republican senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl, pointed to the 6,000 troops President Bush sent in 2006 as an example of the manpower needed. Arizona’s Democratic attorney general, Terry Goddard, called Obama’s move a “good start.”

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, whose jurisdiction includes the busy human- and drug-trafficking corridor between Tucson and Phoenix, said he appreciates the troops. “But it’s not enough.”
--
Contributing: Kevin Johnson in Washington

Saturday, May 22, 2010

B4B
Photo of the Week

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dance to music performed by the United States Marine Band, during the State Dinner reception in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House, May 19, 2010.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

It's A NEW DAY !

B4B Home Page
WATCH:
President's Weekly Address

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary


President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission
on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

Names Former Two-Term Florida Governor and Former Senator Bob Graham and Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly as Commission Co-Chairs

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama announced that he has signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with former two-term Florida Governor and former Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly serving as co-chairs.

The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

· The commission will be focused on the necessary environmental and safety precautions we must build into our regulatory framework in order to ensure an accident like this never happens again, taking into account the other investigations concerning the causes of the spill.

· The commission will have bipartisan co-chairs with a total membership of seven people. Membership will include broad and diverse representation of individuals with relevant expertise. No sitting government employees or elected officials will sit on the commission.

· The Commission’s work will be transparent and subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Commission will issue a report within six months of having been convened.

President Obama named the following individuals as Co-Chairs of National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling:

Senator Bob Graham is the former two–term governor of Florida and served for 18 years in the United States Senate. Senator Graham is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from healthcare and environmental preservation to his ten years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — including eighteen months as chairman in 2001–2002. After retiring from public life in January 2005, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. From May 2008 to February 2010, he served as Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism whose mandate was to build on the work of the 9/11 Commission. Senator Graham was also appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, established by Congress to examine the global and domestic causes of the recent financial crisis. The Commission will provide its findings and conclusions in a final report due to Congress on December 15, 2010. He also serves as a member of the CIA External Advisory Board and the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. Senator Graham has been recognized by national and Florida organizations for his public service including The Woodrow Wilson Institute award for Public Service, The National Park Trust Public Service award and The Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame. Senator Graham earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and an LLB from Harvard Law School. He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of public service from his alma mater, the University of Florida, and honorary doctorates from Pomona College and Nova Southeastern University.

William K. Reilly is a Founding Partner of Aqua International Partners, LP, a private equity fund dedicated to investing in companies engaged in water and renewable energy, and a Senior Advisor to TPG Capital, LP, an international investment partnership. Mr. Reilly served as the first Payne Visiting Professor at Stanford University (1993-1994), Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989-1993), president of the World Wildlife Fund (1985-1989), president of The Conservation Foundation (1973-1989), and director of the Rockefeller Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth from (1972-1973). He also served as the head of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. Mr. Reilly is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the World Wildlife Fund, Co-Chair of the National Commission on Energy Policy, Chairman of the Board of the ClimateWorks Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University, and a Director of the Packard Foundation and the National Geographic Society and a member of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. He also serves on the Board of Directors of DuPont, ConocoPhillips, Royal Caribbean International and Energy Future Holdings, for which he serves as Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Advisory Board. In 2007 Mr. Reilly was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.A. degree from Yale, J.D. from Harvard and M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University.

WATCH ADDRESS:



CLICK HERE if video did not appear through email server

B4B Home Page

Thursday, May 20, 2010


WATCH:
And The GOP RACISM
Just Keeps Coming !

PATHETIC ! First, right-wingers unconstitutionally legalize racial profiling in Arizona...now, tea party candidate/wonder boy Rand Paul states he wishes the Civil Rights Act would have ALLOWED private businesses to discriminate ! Wondering how much it will take before the media asks the common sense question....."Does THIS Spell DOOM for the GOP ?"...like they ALWAYS do re: The President/Dems.



WATCH: Rand Paul shares his Civil Rights Act views. Sad part is he doesn't seem to have a clue of exactly how racist he is.



Time For All Races To UNITE...
Take Back Our Country...
From THE RACIST GOP !

RELATED: Watch Rand Paul on Rachel Maddow
Supporting The RIGHT To Discriminate !



CLICK HERE if videos did not appear through email server


B4B Home Page

Monday, May 10, 2010

Statement by The President on the
Passing of Lena Horne

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary


Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Lena Horne – one of our nation’s most cherished entertainers. Over the years, she warmed the hearts of countless Americans with her beautiful voice and dramatic performances on screen. From the time her grandmother signed her up for an NAACP membership as a child, she worked tirelessly to further the cause of justice and equality. In 1940, she became the first African American performer to tour with an all white band. And while entertaining soldiers during World War II, she refused to perform for segregated audiences – a principled struggle she continued well after the troops returned home. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Lena , and we join all Americans in appreciating the joy she brought to our lives and the progress she forged for our country.


BREAKING NEWS !

President Obama Picks
KAGAN For
Supreme Court !



President Obama will select Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the Supreme Court nominee to replace the retiring John Paul Stevens, a legal source close to the process told CNN Sunday evening.

The nomination is expected to be announced Monday at 11 a.m. ET, another source familiar with the process said.

Kagan, 50, a New York native, was widely reported to be the front runner for the nomination. She was a finalist for the high court vacancy last year when Justice Sonia Sotomayor was selected to replace the retiring David Souter.

Kagan would be the third woman on the nine-justice bench if confirmed.


Be Prepared:
Non-Stop 'Noise' Ahead !


B4B Home Page

Saturday, May 8, 2010


WATCH:

WEEKLY ADDRESS:
President Obama Praises the Benefits and
Successes of
Health Reform Already in Effect


WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama highlighted the ways in which health reform is already holding insurance companies more accountable and giving consumers more control. Implementing everything in the new law will not happen overnight. But already, consumers are getting a break from unfair rate hikes and insurance companies will no longer drop coverage for people when the get sick. Four million small businesses have been notified that they could be eligible for a health care tax cut this year. Retirees will soon receive help if they fall into the prescription drug “donut hole.” And, young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26 years old.




YES WE DID !

CLICK HERE if video did not appear through email server

B4B Home Page

Thursday, May 6, 2010

PROTESTS MOUNT
Against Arizona's New Law
Legalizing Racial Profiling

Phoenix Suns Protest Arizona Law
With " Los Suns " Jerseys

The Phoenix Suns are pulling off a wardrobe alteration to protest Arizona's immigration law and celebrate Cinco de Mayo. For tonight's game against the San Antonio Spurs, the team's jerseys will read "Los Suns." Often professional athletes try to avoid divisive politics but apparently much of the team (including star point guard Steve Nash) is behind the uniforms.
(Read More/video)

Arizona Immigration Lawsuits:
Tucson, Flagstaff City Councils Vote to SUE

The Tucson and Flagstaff city councils voted Tuesday to sue Arizona over its tough new immigration law, citing concerns about enforcement costs and negative effects on the state's tourism industry.

They are the first municipalities in Arizona to approve legal challenges to the law. Earlier this week, proposed litigation in Phoenix took a hit when the city attorney said Mayor Phil Gordon lacks the authority to file suit without the support of the City Council. (Read More)


Rev. Al Sharpton, Actor Danny Glover, Phoenix Mayor
Lead Arizona Protest: Thousands March


Protesters led by Rev. Al Sharpton marched to the Arizona State Capitol on the evening of Cinco de Mayo.

They participated in a candlelight vigil to protest Arizona's new immigration law. It appears to be the largest protest residents have seen since Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070.

Rev. Sharpton told the crowd, “When you mess with our people, whether brown, white or black, it is my business!” (Read More/video)

We Must UNITE
for What Is RIGHT !


B4B Home Page

Sunday, May 2, 2010

WATCH:
President Cracks Major Jokes at
White House Correspondents Dinner

President Obama and Jay Leno trade jokes at the 2010 White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, D.C.


CLICK HERE if video did not appear through email server

Saturday, May 1, 2010


MAJOR Rallies scheduled TODAY in 70 cities to FIGHT AGAINST the unjust, un-constitutional new Arizona Law LEGALIZING RACISM, racial profiling and detainment.

Organizers Expect up to 100,000 in L.A. Protest

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to downtown streets Saturday to call for immigration reform and protest Arizona's new immigration rules.

Immigrant rights activists hope the controversial law, which requires law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally, will draw record-breaking crowds.

Organizers are predicting that 100,000 people will turn out but police estimate the crowd will be more like 60,000.

The message of the rally "is a collective and resounding 'No' to Arizona's law," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, one of the event's 45 sponsors.

Activists fear that without federal legislation in place to address the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S., other states will follow Arizona's lead and pass similar legislation.

For the first time, organizers paid to advertise in Spanish-language media, he said. They also printed 500 red and yellow signs that read, "Todos Somos Arizona," which means, "We are all Arizona."

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa backed a boycott of Arizona and has urged Southern Californians to join the march. California legislators have mulled canceling contracts with Arizona in protest.

In 2007 at an immigration march in MacArthur Park, police officers pummeled marchers and reporters with batons and shot rubber bullets into the crowd. Dozens of protesters and journalists were injured as officers cleared the park.

Police experts blamed poor communication and a command meltdown for the embarrassing incident that cost the city more than $13 million in lawsuits.

A department report also found officers let agitators who were throwing rocks and bottles remain in the crowd before declaring the entire demonstration unlawful and clearing the area.

Police were retrained on crowd control, forming skirmish lines, using batons in a crowd, and using extraction teams to identify and arrest violent demonstrators.

May Day rallies are scheduled for Westwood, MacArthur Park and downtown where the marches will end at City Hall and Pershing Square.

Several streets will be closed and bus lines are expected to be disrupted for most of the day. Closures include:

* Broadway between First and Temple streets closed by 5:45 a.m., expected to reopen by 6 p.m.
* Street closures expected in the area bounded by Cesar Chavez Avenue and Pico Boulevard, between Alameda and Hoover Streets
* DASH service to be disrupted
* Metro bus lines to be disrupted include: 2, 4, 10, 16, 18, 20, 26, 28, 30, 31, 40, 42, 45, 48, 51, 52, 53, 55, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, 81, 83, 84, 90, 91, 92, 94, 96, 439, 445, 460, 485, 487, 720, 740, 745, 760, 770, 794 and 910
* A rally in Westwood will also impact bus lines 2, 20, 720 and 761 between 6 and 10 p.m.
(L.A. News)

RELATED ARTICLE:
Guide to Anti-Arizona Racist Law Protests...where-what time

We MUST FIGHT
for what is RIGHT...
Through UNITY !

B4B Home