Where in the world is Karl Rove these days?

Judiciary Committee Roll Call on Karl Rove and Contempt

House Judiciary Committee Roll Call Republican member votes:

House Judiciary Committee Roll Call Democratic member votes:

State Dept IG recuses himself from Blackwater Investigation

House Oversight Committee chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman held on Nov 14th. State Dept Inspector General Howard Krongard was before the committee. The IG's official responsible is to ensure the agency operates ethically. The IG recused himself from any investigations related to Blackwater Worldwide after admitting to the Oversight Committee that his brother is a member of Blackwater's advisory board.

The brother is Alvin "Buzzy" Krongard. Former Exec. Director of CIA - appointed by Tenet in March, 2001. Prior he was CEO/Chair of Alex Brown - Deutsche Bank (oldest Investment Firm) and Banker's Trust.

AB “Buzzy” Krongard resigned from the CIA shortly after the arrival of Porter Johnston Goss in September 2004. While at the CIA, he was the link connecting the CIA, Erik Prince and Blackwater. Through his influence, Blackwater was able to receive its first no-bid contract.

In March, 2005 , Krongard was appointed as an outside US director to the Global Board of Directors organized to oversee and coordinate the worldwide operations of DLA Piper, one of the world’s leading law firms.

His name is brought up in conjunction with investigations into suspected 9/11-related insider trading because of timely Wall Street trades allegedly made through the investment bank he used to head.

These clips are from the end of the Oversight Hearing. btw, yes I got creative and I am proud of it.

He_Ain't_Heavy_He's_My_Brother video

Still want more information on the Krongard brothers? Great article just posted on Mother Jones, authored by Bruce Falconer.

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2007/11/Krongard-Blackwater-State-Department-Brother.html


November 17th Update

The lawyer for State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard asked on Saturday that he not be called to testify before Congress on discrepancies between his statements and those of his brother over the brother's ties to the Blackwater security firm.

"There is no legitimate purpose to be gained by publicly pitting two brothers against each other," Barbara Van Gelder wrote in a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the government oversight panel. "

Hola - US plans on sharing "private contractors" in Mexico

Reported in Dallas Morning on Oct 18th
Excerpts below from Dallas Morning article

The U.S. and Mexican governments are expected Monday to announce an anti-drug package that will probably involve hiring private U.S. military contractors to train Mexican troops on the use of new technologies and equipment, senior U.S. officials said.

The plan calls for increasing U.S. anti-drug aid to Mexico, now estimated at $44 million a year, to $1.4 billion over two to three years, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. The issue of using private contractors in Mexico, a fiercely nationalistic country, is likely to generate controversy.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, expressed concern about the possible use of U.S. private contractors in Mexico. He said the issue has been among the most sensitive areas of negotiations for both governments.

"I've heard that expressed as a concern on the part of Mexican officials, and it also raises an issue of concern for us because of how contractors are being used in Iraq," he said. "That will not be helpful in getting this through Congress."

The senior U.S. official downplayed the use of private contractors, saying that "their role is limited to training only" for the highly technical and military equipment that is part of the package.

Link article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/mexico/stories/102007dnintplanmexico.31cb082.html

(JMCO = but this really won't count as Foreign Aid in the new North American Union.)

The Economist reported that US officials stated private contractors or US military would NOT be involved in this Mexico iniatative. Below from Economist.

Full details of the Merida Initiative (after the city where the Mexican and US presidents first discussed it in March) have not yet been released, though US officials say it will not include any use of US military personnel on Mexican soil—which neither Mexico’s government nor its public would accept. This contrasts with a similar initiative, Plan Colombia, which has been in place since 2000 (and has cost the US around US$4bn). US military advisors and private military contractors have had a role in the anti-drug and anti-insurgency battle in that country. (Bet you the private contractors are Greystone / Blackwater)

Nice to know:

Announced as Merida Initiative. AKA "Plan Mexico". Here is the link:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/oct/93800.htm

CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) 11/6/07 Latin American expert interview. She seems to believe the "Merida Initiative" is a go through Congress. Fun things from this article:

• Congress has complained that its members were left out of the negotiation process. JMCO - Congress does not get it - they have been canceled!
• Where is this appropriation request hidden (because we all know BushCo)? It is included in the supplementary funding bill mainly for Iraq, in which the Merida Initiative is included. It is $500 million as a part of a larger $50 billion package. So it’s tied in some ways to the state of the Iraq funding as well, which is of course an issue in its own right.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/14727/

Where is this appropriation request hidden (because we all know BushCo)? It is a supplementary funding bill mainly for Iraq, in which the Merida Initiative is included. It is $500 million as a part of a larger $50 billion package. So it’s tied in some ways to the state of the Iraq funding as well, which is of course an issue in its own right.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
“While I look forward to reviewing the counter-narcotics plan for Mexico and Central America, Congress was not consulted as the plan was developed. This is not a good way to kick off such an important effort to fight the increase in narco-trafficking and violence in the region,” said Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, which held a hearing on the proposal Thursday. “I hope that the administration will be more forthcoming with members of Congress now that they have announced the plan,” he added tartly.

Randi Rhodes interview with Steve Cohen on Impeachment

November 9th Randi Rhodes interviewed Rep. Steve Cohen to discuss the Kucinich Privileged Resolution to impeach Cheney. Rep Steve Cohen (TN) is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the co-sponsors of HRes333 - Impeach Cheney resolution.

Discussion included Pelosi, Conyers and action to get this happening.

Randi asked Rep Cohen if Pelosi is holding Conyers chairmanship over his head to get him NOT to bring impeachment to the HJC.

BTW, this weekend Randi will be in Detroit for political events with John Conyers - stay tuned.


15 Minute interview without commercials.

If you are reading this blog then you are a HOMEGROWN TERRORIST

H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Rep. Jane Harmon legislation.

Oct 23, 2007: This bill was passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. The totals were 404 Ayes, 6 Nays, 22 Present/Not Voting.

Terrorism prevention act of 2007 amends the Homeland Sec Act of 2002 to add provisions concerning the prevention of homegrown terrorision by individuals born raised or based and operating primarily in the USA.

HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

JMCO = Just My Cynical Opinion
If this legislation (which granted still needs to pass the Senate) does not scare the reality of what has happened to our Democracy - than you are hopeless.
President John F. Kennedy April 1961 audio bytes to the Press Corps.

Video on Homegrown Terrorism.





PS - some of my best friends are now Homegrown Terrorists!

Schwarzenegger's use of Blackwater in CA

Los Angeles Town Hall Oct 14, 2007

Panel was California Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass, Paul Eaton, a retired U.S. Army Major General who was in charge of training the Iraqi military from 2003 to 2004 and Rep. Watson (CA-33). Some liberal biting questions were posed to the panel such as:

• Schwarzenegger's use of Blackwater in CA to "protect" CA citizens in place of National Guard
• CodePink not allowed in Blackwater hearings and Waxman's Oversight committee removal of Blackwater issues on agenda
• Rep Watson is convinced that King George will not get the $200 billion of supplemental war funding he is demanding. Ms. Watson repeated this assertion multiple times during the Town Hall.
• Major General Eaton's favorite word of the day for Republicans INCOMPETENCE.

Here are the videos on all of the above!

Shame on you Nancy Pelosi

Los Angeles City Council has a message to
the Democratic Party Leadership!

Shame on you for not providing the strong leadership
that we elected you to do!

Oh, and btw, we have adopted a resolution to say "NO NO NO to the Iraq War".

Wanted: a Congress member whom has watched Bill Moyers' Impeachment Special?

Holding our leaders accountable - Bill Moyers' Impeachment Special

Let's put a little reality back into our representatives of Congress.

I have not heard of any member of the US Congress who to date has watched the Bill Moyers' Tough Talk on Impeachment Special!

Hello am I the only one that finds that strange!!

To date, on video clips these are the members of the 110th Congress whom admitted to their constituents that they had NOT watched the Bill Moyers' special on impeachment.

1. Howard Berman (28th CA Dem)
2. Brad Sherman (27th CA Dem)
3. Henry Waxman (30th CA Dem)
4. Adam Schiff (29th CA Dem)
5. Elton Gallegy (24th CA Rep)
   
6. Norm Dicks (WA Dem)
7. Chris Murphy (CT Dem)

Okay so out of 435 members 7 members are not a significant piece of the pie. However, I will bet you my virginity - that out of the 233 Democratic representatives in Congress 50% or more have not to date viewed the Bill Moyers' Tough Talk on Impeachment Special!

Am I the only one that finds that strange - upsetting - irresponsible?

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
Take the Constitution to the People with a little help from Oprah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDcJAPVOrg

Novel idea: Congress puts their schedule online!

Holding our leaders accountable

As the result of two little bloggers in Montana (that state next to Sen. Craig's - could not resist) & the Sunlight Foundation (transparent government) Denny Rehlberg Montana has become the FIRST US REPRESENTATIVE to post his schedule online!

Hello - our elected officials should not have to be solicited nor asked to post their schedule. Let's go after Nancy Pelosi. I have a little game I call "where in the world is Nancy Pelosi" - she is never on camera nor record.

For details on the bloggers that held their congressman Rehlberg accountable:

http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/sen_max_baucus_punches_the_clock

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
Take the Constitution to the People with a little help from Oprah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDcJAPVOrg

Opening Committee Slot: HJC – Progressive Demanded

In July I called Mr. John Conyers office to get an answer to this important question "when and how will Mr. Conyers decide which Decmocrataic Congressional Representative will replace Mr. Meehan on the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE."

Did not get an answer on that! Suggest that "we the people" should be trying to get a PROGRESSIVE in this slot on HJC!

Want to walk down memory lane on Meehan's dissenting view as a member of the HJC 109th Congress on the vote to impeach President Clinton??? Some quotes from his dissenting view paper on the house vote to impeach President Clinton:

The historical precedents and the writings of our Founding Fathers indicate that the impeachment of a president is justified only by presidential conduct which clearly, concretely, and convincingly demonstrates that that president lacks the capacity to govern. In other words, impeachment is a means of saving our nation from a president who is unable or unwilling to fulfill his or her core responsibilities or respect the boundaries of his or her power.

We have heard much about the rule of law during the impeachment process. Our Chairman (Jim Sensenbrenner, WI) at one point implied that our society will gravitate towards the horrors of Auschwitz should we fail to impeach this president for allegedly lying under oath.

And at the end of the process, during the committee’s debate on articles of impeachment, members of the Majority suggested that its approval of articles of impeachment had little to do with the president’s prospects for remaining in office. Rather, impeachment was merely the “ultimate censure,” or a “scarlet letter.”

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/16/judicary.report/meehan.pdf

Another committee post - Chair of a subcommittee will be open as the result of Rep. Marty Meehan's departure. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - Chair. This is a subcommittee of House Committee on Armed Services (Ike Skelton, MO Chairman).

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
Take the Constitution to the People with a little help from Oprah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDcJAPVOrg

Our Corporate leaders dressed up as Democrats

Lying bunch of Whores.

Our Corporate leaders dressed up as Dems HAVE DECIDED TO DELAY THE VOTE ON FILING CONTEMPT CHARGES AGAINST BOLTON & MIERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This delays the "constitutional showdown" from Congress until when??? Maybe indefinitely!

Distraction Rules - why delay until October ???

But Pelosi decided to delay a vote until at least late September, and possibly into October. Democrats said they are not yet ready for such a vote because they have not briefed lawmakers on what it would mean and how the controversy would play out, both legally and politically.

My response is our Congress has been briefed by "we the people" on how this would play out politically - they have just not been LISTENING!

http://www.thehotjoints.com/2007/09/11/miers-bolten-contempt-filings-delayed/

And BTW, what is happening with the Senate Judiciary Committee going after Gonzales and Rove. Leahy had stated after Gonzales and Rove snubbed the Senate on Aug 20th "this would be the first order of business in the committee after recess". I ain't heard nothing yet. We are all focused on the bed time story called the Petreaus Report.

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
Take the Constitution to the People with a little help from Oprah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDcJAPVOrg

High Noon in Thousand Oaks

LANIC and PDLA Rally @ Congressman Gallegly - The Heat is ON!

Taking Impeachment to a Republican Representative and member of the House Judiciary Committee.

We had a great, great turn out this afternoon in Thousand Oaks. We camped out @ a major intersection off of 101 with 8 traffic lines. There was 100 plus people on all four corners and there was a plenty of honking going on. This is deep in the heart of Republican heartland in CA. We had local constituents of Congressman Gallegly district present 4 counts of impeachment. These documents were presented to the Congressman's chief of staff as Rep. Gallegly was out of the office today.

Erica, an Iraq Vet (a beautiful young lady from Congressman Gallegly's district and I believe DAughters of American Revolution) participated. Photos of this great event may be found http://picasaweb.google.com/VoiceofAmericans2008/LANICAndPDLARallyCongressmanGallegly.

As a side note, the crib of Rep. Gallegly was definitely nicer than Congressman Waxman's.

Contact & more information may be found @:
LANIC (Los Angeles National Impeachment Center): www.bcimpeach.com
Videos of this event will be loaded: www.youtube.com/voiceofamericans2008

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

Nancy: real women wear a pair below the belt too.

This is rich. August 5th, Pelosi puts on her Blog.

Amend FISA As Soon as Possible

Nancy: real women wear a pair below the belt too.

Harpers and WaPo articles on FISA and the wimps.

The Republicans have never met a national security issue they're not willing to politicize. This is no way to run a superpower.

That Saturday night, the House sent the president a bill that, as a disgusted Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) put it, with just a touch of exaggeration, ‘makes Alberto Gonzales the sheriff, the judge and the jury’.
They got the President the bill he wanted and, as a result, they created absolute fury in the Democratic base. Pelosi has received more than 200,000 e-mails of protest, according to an aide, for letting the bill go forward.

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/08/hbc-90000844

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080901928_pf.html

Impeachment in Congress by 9/11/07!
It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

Sanders - Impeachment is just NOISE!

Thom Hartmann "Brunch with Bernie".
Bernie Sanders response today from a listener call in question.

I have quit the Dem Party after 20 years and I see that all this corruption gives IMPEACHMENT AS THE ONLY OPTION.

Senator Sanders response (para-phrased).

Barring the sum of new developments (i.e. a smoking gun of impeachable crimes - I am just dictating what Bernie said - not agreeing) would need 66 votes in Senate to get removal of office.

Thom mentions.

Impeachment in the House is entirely possible.

Senator Sanders continues.

It is a political question. If the Dems go the route of impeachment that would give Rove alot of ammunition and sympathy. He feels that maybe Rove would welcome an impeachment action. Rove would be able to say "you may not like what the President is doing - but he does not deserve impeachment. Dems are over reaching".

If you impeach Cheney/Bush you get Pelosi and she does not want that. (Hello - since when do elected officials get to decide what they want! Where is the PEOPLE'S VOICE IN THIS DEMOCRACY!

Senator Sanders sums with:

Number of investigations going on right now to expose BushCo activities.

Senator Sanders wants to see a grass root movement that gets the Dems in the White House for 08 - that is what he views as the most important mobilization of grass roots right now.

Voice of Americans 2008 view on Senator Sanders' impeachment comments.

Investigation of BushCo activities.

What do we do with all this information Bernie - why not do these investigations in the House during an Impeachment Investigation!.

Grass Roots should deliver the White House in 08!

1. Historically when a political party introduces impeachment - they win by a landslide the White House in the next election.
2. You need to get LISTENING DEVICE and START LISTENING TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!

Impeachment in Congress by 9/11/07!
It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

Congress needs to go to Debtors Annoymous

An Overwhelming Vote for Waste, Earmarks and Corruption

John Nichols Blog
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=220192


Extracts from article about CONGRESS - THE DEMS

Knowing a patsy when they see one, the defense contractors are now piling on…" And they are getting a lot more "free money" than any of the communities across the U.S. that hope for a tiny earmark here or there to pay for a new bike path or a polka museum.

"Now in control of Congress and having made multiple promises to restore oversight of the war in Iraq and the executive branch in general, the Democrats have been successfully rolled by the White House, the military services, and the big spender pundits."

So how many members of the House refused to get rolled? Not many. The final vote on the Pentagon appropriation for the 2008 fiscal year was 395-13. The "no" votes came from: California's Bob Filner, Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey, Georgia's John Lewis, Massachusetts' Barney Frank, Minnesota's Keith Ellison, New York's Nydia Velázquez, Oregon's Earl Blumenauer; New Jersey's Donald Payne, Ohio's Dennis Kucinich, Washington's Jim McDermott and Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin – all Democrats – and a single Republican "fiscal conservative": Michigan's Vernon Ehlers.

My slice & dice on the NO Democratic Votes to earmarks + nice to knows.


Bob Filner: Chair of House Veteran's Affairs - good on him - he is protecting our VETS and TROOPS! HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored


Barbara Lee: HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored


Lynn Woolsey: HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored


Blumenauer, Earl: HRes 589 = Impeach Gonzo co-sponsored


Barney Frank: HRes 589 = Impeach Gonzo co-sponsored + CHAIR Financial Services


Ellison, Keith: (Triple Hitter) HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored + HRes 589 = Impeach Gonzo co-sponsored + No on Earmarks


Donald Payne: HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored


Dennis Kucinich: HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney sponsored


Jim McDermott: HRes 333 = Impeach Cheney co-sponsored HRes 333


Tammy Baldwin: HRes 333 + HRes 589 = Impeach Gonzo co-sponsored + on House Judiciary Committee

Impeachment in Congress by 9/11/07
It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

Impeachment Videos

Author: nolocontendre2007
specter calls for a special prosecutor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZdNv110okw
Thanks for great content!

Author: UnclassifiedProducer
Back-Talk #2 DOJ Scandal and Impeachment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNR7EDgWnL4
Thanks for great content!

Impeachment by 9/11/07!
It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

2_More_Votes_2_Save the Constitution & hold Conyers feet to the fire

Brady, Robert - PA just signed as Co-Sponsor #14 of HRES 333 - Impeachment Kucinich.

http://www.democrats.com/node/13787

2_More_Votes_2_Save the Constitution & hold Conyers feet to the fire.

Score - 14 Co-Sponsors

6 Co-Sponsors from CA

1. Lee, Barbara - 05.01.07 - Supported HRES 635
2. Schakowsky, Janice - 05.01.07 - Supported HRES 635
3. Woolsey, Lynn - 06.07.07 - Supported HRES 635
4. Waters, Maxine - 06.12.07- Supported HRES 635
5. Farr, Sam - 07.12.07- Supported HRES 635
6. Filner, Bob - 07.12.07- Supported HRES 635

Remaining "Gang of Eight" by date (pun if anyone has been listening to Gonzo's testimony)

1. Clay, Wm. Lacy - 05.01.07 - Supported HRES 635
2. Wynn, Russell Albert - 05.10.07
3. Clarke, Yvette - 06.06.07
4. Johnson, Hank - 06.28.07
   
5. Ellison, Keith - 06.28.07
6. McDermott, Jim- 06.28.07 - Supported HRES 635
7. Moran, Jim - 07.10.07
8. Brady, Robert - 07.25.07

Suggested easy hit list - CA congress people whom supported HRES 635 but not HRES 333

1. Capps, Lois - 23rd - not member of Progessive Caucus
2. Honda, Michael - 15th - yes Progessive Caucus
3. Solis, Hilda - 32nd - Vice Chair Progessive Caucus
4. Watson, Diane - 33rd- Vice Chair Progessive Caucus

Oprah's Book Club should include the CONSTITUTION

Conyers & Impeachment Showdown - July 23, 2007

What was Conyers' objection to moving forward on impeachment now? Well, he said, if he were to do that Fox News would go after him and accuse him of being partisan. I kid you not. The Democratic Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is basing his decisions on whether a Republican cable TV station would approve.

Source: David Swanson http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/25021#comment

Contrast John Conyers’ FEARS (the current Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to Mike Mansfield’s COURAGE (the Democratic Senate majority leader in Nixon days). Mr. Mansfield had been versed in the Constitution and had the GUTS to protect our Constitution and our system of checks and balances.

Mike Mansfield of Montana, the Democratic Senate majority leader, said on television that the Senate impeachment trial of Nixon would be televised and there would be no immunity. That meant Nixon would have to face the country under oath and if he lied he would go to prison.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nybres225303032jul22,0,877382.story

I am going to ask Oprah to put the Constitution on the Oprah’s Book Club list – maybe that will get Congress to read it!

Thom Hartman's board forum post.

http://thomhartmann.org/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=4831010351&f=4061097651&m=1611084862&r=1611084862#1611084862

It's the Constitution - Impeachment is the Cure!
The reading of the Constitution on Oprah NOW.

Randi Rhodes + Thom Hartmann

Randi Rhodes
I heard just bits of the Randi Rhodes show. She was asking users to call in and give their reasons why they think the Democrats are NOT exerting Constitutional control over the President.

1. Caller thought maybe because the Dems realized the 08 election is theirs to lose. The Dems also want unbrindled Presidential powers that King George has stolen.
2. Caller stated that there will not be an election in 08. Police state scenario will happen.
3. Dems are two steps behind President & Rove machinery. By the time they wake up to the extent of this madness - it will be too late.

Interesting side note. I have been dream streaming Randi since her days in FL in 2000 when she was screaming during on election day "that something was wrong".

She used to give the Dems a break "they need to work the laws, procedures in Congress - yada yada". That Randi has left the building. She is all about Power to the People - and the reasons why Congress is not exercising Constitutional control is of no concern to her. She wants to blast Congress and she does. No elected official is safe this week on her program. She will call them on the carpet.

Thommie
Is an eloquent genius who has an amazing arsenal of historical & constitution facts at his finger tips. He did not start talking "Impeachment" until the last couple of months. This week, every morning he has started his show talking about IMPEACHMENT & having Conservative Constitutional scholars on his show (Bruce Fein & Paul Craig Roberts).

Paul Craig Roberts 2004 article he wrote about the so called liberal MSM bias, Limbaugh, etc. Interesting read with 20/20 hindsight.

http://www.thinkingpeace.com/pages/arts2/arts294.html

Thom was asked today "do you think that the property confiscation Executive Orders will be used against members of Congress shortly". He said "Nein, that historically (i.e. Nazis) first they go after the criminals, enemies of their cause, politically clean house, etc."

Reason Thom Hartmann still has hope in the American people vs. the German population handing over slow control to the Nazis. That America has been a Democracy for 200 years. The Germans had only experienced Democracy for a short period of time.

sls thoughts.
I was fortunate to have lived out a dream - helping to open up the Russian & Eastern European marketplaces right after the fall of the wall. I was always obsessed with WW II, Nazis, Communism, etc. I went to the former Soviet Union on 27 separate trips. (To Larry of the Midwest of the Valley - sorry you were not part of my dreams :)

One of the first realities of the damage that system had done to the population was the people's ability to think for themselves. This point was constantly manifesting itself to me as an American working with their top leaders to get their facilities up to western standards to get World Bank funds. When an individual was faced with an obvious problem they were baffled.

Example, with my translator (whom was super intelligent) she could not organize her day. If in the morning we were leaving the "foreign specialist hotel" (which was a camp with red cold water half the time) @ 7 a.m. never to return to the hotel remainder of the day. She would often forget to have her suitcase packed & ready to bring with her from the hotel.

Another trivial example. When you would present ideas to the mid-management levels for a project, they would always think about "secrecy of their tasks & information they had possession of"). I could go on & and on.

However, I have never, never met more clever people on how to make do with so little. In the Volva region in 1991 - serious IBM part shortages @ 1:00 a.m. (IBM does not have local offices in Volva region in 1990's) They called another town, got some old car hardware & revamped by 7 a.m. These guys had hacked into passwords of all major software vendor code (Microsoft, Oracle, SAP) in the late 80's to use black market stuff. Another example, my company we had 100 users of a million dollar piece of DB software in Czech - or - Slovakia in 1990. The problem was, only one had been licensed. The other 99 were boot legged & hacked!

Another Volva memory - lists in the hall way of people with dates back to mid 1970's. What was this list?? Queue of people in line to get autos!