Who pays politicians to wage WAR

Compiled and edited, re-reporting, brief comment by Carolyn Bennett

Hiroshima to Baghdad to Tripoli and Kabul, Islamabad to Mogadishu

The defense sector “is one of the most powerful sectors in politics,” the Center for Responsive Politics reports. This industry includes defense aerospace, defense electronics and other miscellaneous defense companies. “During the last two decades, the Defense sector has contributed a total of $150.8 million, with 57 percent going to Republican candidates.

“The sector has a formidable federal lobbying presence, having spent $136.5 million in 2009 — down from a high of $150.8 million the previous year. In 2009, more than 1,100 lobbyists represented nearly 400 clients. The amount spent on defense lobbying and the number of lobbyists has steadily increased during the last two decades.

“The sector’s biggest companies include … Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics, as well as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

“The main issue for the defense sector is securing government defense contracts and earmarks — often quite lucrative — and influencing the defense budget. Sector favorites include House and Senate members who sit on the armed forces and appropriations committees that oversee military and defense spending.

Defense Aerospace: Top Contributors to 

Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups

Donations taking place during the 2011-2012 election cycle, 

released by the Federal Election Commission 

[Source: Center for Response Politics]

2012 Election Cycle Total contributions: $2,066,299

Rank	Organization	Amount	Dems	Repubs	Source Indivs PACs Soft $
1	Lockheed Martin	$605,395	38%	62%
2	Boeing Co	$510,633	40%	60%
3	BAE Systems	$300,183	44%	56%
4	United Technologies	$285,650	36%	64%
5	Honeywell International	$153,560	40%	60%
6	General Electric	$69,400	37%	63%
7	EADS North America	$49,400	12%	88%
8	Rolls-Royce North America	$45,500	25%	75%
9	Orbital Sciences Corp	$10,000	50%	50%
10	Goodrich Corp	$7,000	57%	43%
11	Ace Clearwater Enterprises	$6,250	0%	100%
12	Rockwell Collins Inc	$5,833	94%	6%

Split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, the Center continues, “individuals and political action committees associated with the defense sector contributed nearly $24 million to political candidates and committees during the 2008 campaign cycle.

“The defense sector has leaned Republican in the past, but ultimately its contributions tend to go to whoever is in power. After the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, the defense sector began to give more than 65 percent of its contributions to the GOP {Republican Party]. However, midway through the 2010 cycle, Democrats received 57 percent.”

Over the course of his career, U.S. Democratic (Missouri) Representative and in 2010 chair of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton “has received nearly $1.4 million from the defense sector including, during the 2008 campaign cycle, $212,000.” 

During his career, U.S. Republican (Alabama) Senator and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Richard Shelby “has received $1.3 million from the defense sector”; and during the 2008 campaign cycle, he received “nearly half a million dollars” from the defense sector. In early 2010, he “placed holds on dozens of President Barack Obama’s appointments to protest cuts in certain Air Force contracts.”

The United States of America today in 1945 during the Democratic administration of President Harry S. Truman massacred more than 70,000 people and destroyed most of Hiroshima, Japan, by dropping an Atomic bomb on that city.

When the bomb dropped, there were approximately “400,000 people” in Hiroshima, recalls a report today at Al Jazeera English. “Most residents had been mobilized to work in military factories along with Koreans and other forced labor. Many forced laborers survived harsh working conditions only to be killed in the bombing.

“‘People were crawling towards the river, crying out for water to cool their burns but many died on the river banks or drowned. The river was full of bodies.’”

U.S. contemporary theater of WAR

Greece, Turkey, Cyprus; Syria, Lebanon; Iraq, Iran; Palestine, Jordan, Egypt; Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Ethiopia, other North African states and the Horn (Somalia); Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates;
Afghanistan and Pakistan

AFGHANISTAN

August 6

Death toll the biggest in a single incident for foreign forces since the 2001 start of U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan

Today at least thirty-one U.S. Special Forces and seven Afghan forces died when a helicopter belonging to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) crashed in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Wardak.

August 6

NATO convoy attacked — Afghan officials report Taliban militants attacked a NATO convoy.

In troubled southern Afghanistan, at least seven fuel tankers were set alight. A local official reportedly said the tankers were torched in the town of Shahr-e Safa in Zabul Province overnight. In the incident, one truck driver died.

A speaker for the Taliban claimed the group has carried out the attack, torching 28 NATO fuel trucks. On Thursday, around five tankers carrying fuel for NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan were set fire on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

August 5

Demonstrators chant anti-U.S. and anti-government slogans and vow to continue their protest until the perpetrators of an earlier U.S.-led attack are brought to justice.

“The protest rally took place in the town of Jaji Aryub on Thursday after an Afghan civilian was killed and ten others were injured in an exchange of fire between American soldiers and Taliban militants.”

A Press TV correspondent reported, “Hundreds of Afghans staged a rally in the eastern province of Paktia to protest the killing of innocent civilians by U.S. troops. Residents said the incident occurred when a rocket fired by U.S. troops hit a house.”

August 5

Fully aware of committing crime

A U.S. soldier receives  a  “three-year” prison sentence “after pleading guilty to killing an unarmed Afghan civilian”

In the original documents, prosecutors had charged the accused “with premeditated murder, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit murder in several incidents, including the death of Afghan civilians in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.”

Yesterday in a military court, “Specialist Adam Winfield pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter of an unarmed Afghan civilian in U.S. custody in May 2010 [AFP].

PAKISTAN

Pakistan, Karachi

Violence worse in 16 years

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HCRP) told Agence France Presse yesterday that the violence in Pakistan’s financial capital, Karachi, “is the deadliest since 1995.” In the first half of 1995, “more than 900 killings were reported.”

In the past seven months of 2011, according to the HRCP chair, an estimated 800 people have been victims of violent shootings. “Parts of this Arabian Sea port city have become battlegrounds in recent weeks with authorities unable to prevent spiraling violence blamed on activists from political parties representing competing ethnic groups.”

PERSIAN GULF: Bahrain

As the Al Khalifa regime continues a brutal crackdown on popular anti-government protests in Bahrain, the United States secretly “renews a military pact.”

The U.S. and Bahrain first signed a 10-year military pact on October 28, 1991, seven months after the Persian Gulf War.  The George W. Bush administration in 2001 extended the contract to 2011. The Obama administration’s secret agreement extends the military pact to 2016, five years beyond its original deadline.

A Washington Post story cited a recent Congressional Research Service report “that the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush and the Bahraini regime had extended a deal as early as 2002 when Washington designated Bahrain a ‘major non-NATO ally.’

In mid-March, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates deployed their military forces in Bahrain to assist the Manama regime’s brutal crackdown on protests in the tiny Persian Gulf sheikdom.

PAKISTAN/BAHRAIN

“Airplanes are coming to Bahrain, bringing soldiers from Pakistan,” Bahrain Center for Human Rights told Al Jazeera in a feature report in late July.

As a government crackdown on pro-democracy protestors intensified in Bahrain in March, advertisements aimed at workers to serve Bahrain’s National Guard started appearing in Pakistani media. Job categories included “former army drill instructors, anti-riot instructors, retired military police, and former army cooks.”

After senior Saudi and Bahraini officials visited Islamabad, Pakistan, Bahrain’s National Guard and riot police were reportedly increased by as much as 50 per cent, an increase due to “at least 2,500 former military workers who had been recruited by Bahrainis and brought to Manama.”

IRAN

Concern about escalation of a large-scale war

NATO attack looming?

Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, says “NATO is planning a military strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran to overthrow the Iranian government.”

In an interview published yesterday with Russia’s Izvestia daily newspaper, Rogozin said that NATO was pursuing a long-reaching goal of preparing an attack on Iran. He added that the alliance intends to change governments whose views do not coincide with those of the West.

“‘The noose around Iran is tightening. Military planning against Iran is underway and we are certainly concerned about an escalation of a large-scale war in this huge region.’”

Former CIA agent Robert Baer last month said he is almost certain that an attack on Iran “has been scheduled for September ahead of a UN vote on recognizing a Palestinian state.”

IRAQ

Guards and prisoners clash and die

Three police officers and three inmates died yesterday during a prison break in Iraq’s central city of Hilla, the capital of Babil Province.

Inmates later gained control of parts of the prison compound.

IRAQ update August 7

Occupation

Iraqi Democrats against Occupation director says, “‘The Americans think they can get away with murder … In Iraq, they killed many innocent people — not only by their soldiers in uniform but their mercenaries as well.’

“[Now], American generals are negotiating with the Iraqi government to grant immunity to the growing number of so called ‘trainers’ in Iraq.

“‘These so-called trainers are not trainers as such. You do not seek immunity for your trainers; you seek immunity for your combat troops,’” Sabah Jawad said in an interview today with Press TV’s U.S. Desk.

“The U.S. always insists on immunity for its soldiers not just in Iraq and in the Middle East [but] they insist on their immunity even in Japan and elsewhere.  This is indeed an arrogant and imperialist stand because they believe their soldiers are cut above the rest of the world.” [“Jawad said that U.S. forces have committed various war crimes in Iraq,” August 7, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/192847.html]

Civilians under constant threat

Six members of a family died today and 14 suffered wounds when four bombs exploded in an Iraqi neighborhood 50 kilometers south of Baghdad. Among the dead were a woman and two children. [Xinhua, “Bomb explosions kill six in Iraq,” August 7, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192786.html]

  

Abu Ghraib

“Iraqis have slammed the U.S. for releasing Charles Graner, the former notorious ringleader of the U.S. guards, who was found guilty of abusing detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. [“Iraq slams release of Abu Ghraib torturer,” August 7, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192843.html]

AFRICA UPDATE August 7

In the worst humanitarian catastrophe in decades, 25 more Somali children in the capital, Mogadishu, have starved to death. [“25 more Somali kids starve to death,” August 7, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192849.html]

LIBYA

Refugees abandoned, left to die

“Hundreds of refugees — most of them migrant workers from other parts of Africa who were stranded in Libya when the conflict broke out — have drowned or died on rickety boats in recent desperate crossings from Libya.”

Italy “has demanded an inquiry into [NATO’s] reported failure to assist a stricken boat on which dozens were said to have died of dehydration.”

Survivors arriving at the Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday reported “dozens had died of hunger and thirst and were thrown overboard.” Italy is urging NATO to help rescue refugees fleeing Libya by sea.

There is a high price to pay for the United States of America’s character of and insensible callousness in violence. For sixty years and more, some people have profited handsomely from this violence. Others have suffered deeply.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can do better.

Sources and notes

Defense: Background [CRP] (Steve Spires), data updated June 2010, http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/background.php?cycle=2012&ind=D

Center for Response Politics “Defense Aerospace: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups — donations the 2011-2012 election cycle, released by Federal Election Commission” information

METHODOLOGY: The numbers [above] are based on contributions from PACs [Political Action Committees], soft money donors, and individuals giving $200 or more. (Only those groups giving $5,000 or more are listed here. Soft money applies only to cycles 1992-2002.)

In many cases, the organizations themselves did not donate; rather the money came from the organization’s PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals’ immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

All donations took place during the 2011-2012 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: info@crp.org

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.php?ind=D01++

Britannica notes “today in history” and Al Jazeera

“The day Hiroshima turned into hell  — Sixty-six years after the atomic bomb was dropped, survivor Keijiro Matsushima tells of a day of death and destruction,” August 6, 1011,  

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/2011/08/20118514019236497.html

AFGHANISTAN

”31 US forces killed in Afghanistan, August 6, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192592.html

“Afghans stage anti-US demonstration,” August 5, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192440.html

NATO trucks torched in Afghanistan, August 6, 2011,

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192624.html

“U.S. soldier convicted of Afghan murder,” July 6, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192588.html

PAKISTAN

“800 killed in Pakistan's Karachi this year: rights body,” August 5, 2011, http://news.yahoo.com/800-killed-pakistans-karachi-rights-body-153236444.html

PERSIAN GULF: Bahrain

“U.S., Bahrain secretly renew military pact,” August 6, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192564.html

PAKISTAN/BAHRAIN

“Pakistani troops aid Bahrain's crackdown — Foundation linked to the Pakistani army has been providing Bahrain thousands of soldiers for its crackdown on protests,” July 30, 2011, 

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/07/2011725145048574888.html

IRAN

“‘NATO planning military attack on Iran,’” August 6, 2011,

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192596.html

IRAQ

“Six killed in Iraq prison break,” August 6, 2011, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192648.html

[RELATED note: “It has been two months since a divided U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling ordering the state of California to reduce its prison population by roughly 33,000.”

California’s “33 prisons currently hold 156,000 prisoners — nearly double the number they were designed to house.” OPINION “Overcrowded jails inimical to justice  — In California, long jail sentences pack prisons, but a Supreme Court ruling and a hunger strike may improve conditions” (Rose Aguilar, host of ‘Your Call,’ a daily call-in radio show on KALW San Francisco and author of Red Highways: A Liberal’s Journey into the Heartland), August 3, 2011,  http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/20118272235885588.html]

LIBYA

“NATO called on to rescue Libyan boat refugees,” Sydney Morning Herald

August 7, 2011, http://www.smh.com.au/world/nato-called-on-to-rescue-libyan-boat-refugees-20110806-1iglw.html

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/nato-called-on-to-rescue-libyan-boat-refugees-20110806-1iglw.html#ixzz1UGxSnw00

MIDDLE EAST/NEAR EAST 

U.S. Theater of WAR

The Middle or Near East consists of the lands around the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. These lands extend from Morocco to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, sometimes beyond.

Some of the first modern Western geographers and historians who tended to divide the Orient into three regions gave the region the name Near East. In their three-region designations, the Near East applied to the region nearest Europe, extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf; the Middle East, extending from the Persian Gulf to Southeast Asia; and the Far East, encompassing the regions facing the Pacific Ocean.

The change in usage from Near to Middle East began evolving before World War II and extended through the war. The term Middle East was given to the British military command in Egypt.

So defined, the Middle East consisted of the states or territories of —

Turkey, Cyprus
Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran
Palestine, Jordan, Egypt
The Sudan, Libya and
Various states of Arabia proper (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Trucial States, or Trucial Oman [now United Arab Emirates]

Subsequent events have tended, in loose usage, to enlarge the number of lands included in the definition, among them —  

Three North African countries: Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco “closely connected in sentiment and foreign policy with the Arab states”
 Afghanistan and Pakistan, because of geographic factors, state official and others take into account in connection with affairs of the Middle East.
 Greece occasionally is included in the compass of the Middle East because the Middle Eastern (then Near Eastern) question in its modern form first became apparent when the Greeks in 1821 rebelled to assert their independence from the Ottoman Empire). 

Turkey and Greece, together with the predominantly Arabic-speaking lands around the eastern end of the Mediterranean, were also formerly known as the Levant.

Historically the countries along the eastern Mediterranean shores were called the Levant. Common use of the term is associated with Venetian and other trading ventures and the establishment of commerce with cities such as Tyre and Sidon as a result of the Crusades.

It was applied to the coastlands of Asia Minor and Syria, sometimes extending from Greece to Egypt. It was also used for Anatolia and as a synonym for the Middle or Near East. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the term High Levant referred to the Far East. The name Levant States was given to the French mandate of Syria and Lebanon after World War I, and the term is sometimes still used for those two countries, which became independent in 1946. Levant (from the French lever, ‘to rise,’ as in sunrise, meaning the east.

Use of the term Middle East remains unsettled, and some agencies (notably the United States State Department and certain bodies of the United Nations) still employ the term Near East. Middle East. (2011). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Deluxe Edition.  Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica

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Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]
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Vested Legislators stood to lose big money

“Am I going to get paid?” is the concern of anyone holding Treasury bills, bonds or notes, Syracuse University economics professor Don Dutkowsky told OpenSecrets Blog

Edited excerpt, re-reporting, brief comment by Carolyn Bennett

Among Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds, T-bills have the shortest maturity — ranging anywhere from one week to 52 weeks. The Center for Responsive Politics puts in perspective vested (conflicts of) interests of those who would represent the best interests of the people of the United States.

Treasury notes have a slightly longer maturity and interest is paid every six months. Bonds take 30 years to mature and also pay interest every six months.

Buy a Treasury note with a two-year maturity at $500 and you own $500 of U.S. debt. Every six months you are paid a set amount of interest on that $500. When two years elapse, you get $500 back, which means that, overtime, you earn more than your initial payment for the note.

Therefore, if the U.S. debt ceiling is not raised and government runs out of money and is unable to pay all of its bills — the result is bad news for people invested in the U.S. Treasury’s debt.

Depending on how long the crisis lasts, those holding Treasury bills with the shortest maturity are at the most immediate risk of not receiving their payments on time. If the crisis is not solved within six months, those holding Treasury notes and bonds and expecting interest payments are also at risk. 

VESTED

Republicans and Democrats hold U.S. Treasury Bills, Bonds and Notes, says to OpenSecrets Blog.

KERRY

Democratic (Mass.) Senator John Kerry’s most recent personal financial reports, according to CRP reviews, “disclosed investments in U.S. treasury notes valued between $1,001 and $15,000” and Kerry’s spouse “has holdings of at least $350,000 in U.S. Treasury bills.”

Senator Kerry “‘voted to ensure seniors in Massachusetts received their Social Security checks on time, veterans still received their benefits, and to prevent a downgrade in America’s credit rating and an economic meltdown that would have triggered a global economic catastrophe.’”

LAUTENBERG

Democratic Senator (N J) Frank Lautenberg in 2009 [his 2010 personal financial report will not be filed with the Senate until mid August] held “U.S. Treasury bills valued at $4 MILION to $6 MILLION.” His spouse’s holdings are reportedly part of this huge amount.

BOEHNER

Republican Representative and House Speaker (Ohio) “John Boehner’s investments in 2010 were valued between $15,001 and $50,000 and last year, Boehner sold between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Treasury bills.”

BIGGERT

Republican Representative (Illinois) Judy Biggert “had investments in U.S. Treasury notes and bills in 2010 worth at least $250,000 (possibly as much as $600,000).”

HOLDING U.S. DEBT

Investments in U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds held by current members of the U.S. Congress who were also members of the 111th Congress. Data based on Center for Responsive Politics’ analysis of their reports covering calendar year 2009

Member of Congress	Investment	Minimum	Maximum
Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.)	U.S. Treasury Bill	$4,467,011	$6,080,003
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.)	U.S. Treasury Bonds/Notes	$1,250,004	$850,000
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine)	U.S. Treasury Bills	$750,002	$1,500,000
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.)	U.S. Treasury Note	$300,002	$600,000
Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.)	U.S. Treasury Bills	$100,001	$250,000
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)	U.S. Treasury Notes	$80,003	$200,000
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.)	U.S. Treasury Bond	$35,106	$35,106
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas)	U.S. Treasury Note	$30,002	$100,000
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.)	U.S. Treasury Note	$24,269	$24,269
Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.)	U.S. Treasury Note	$19,872	$19,872
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)	U.S. Treasury Bill/Note	$16,002	$66,000
Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.)	U.S. Treasury Note	$15,001	$50,000
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio)	U.S. Treasury Notes	$15,001	$50,000
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)	U.S. Treasury Bond	$1,001	$15,000

There are personal, vested reasons why men and women of wealth wield power and wink and nod the way they do.

A U.S. default in this context means, according to OpenSecrets Blog quoting economics professor Esther Redmount, holders of U.S. Treasury bills, bonds and notes “would not realize the capital gains they expected,’” the value of their assets decline, and “‘they stand to lose a lot of money.’”

  

Sources and notes

“Amid Budget Debate, Some Members of Congress Own Bits of U.S. Debt” (Kathleen Ronayne), August 1, 2011, OpenSecrets Blog, http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/08/members-of-congress-invested-in-treasury-bills.html

Don Dutkowsky is professor of economics at the Maxwell School Economics Department of Syracuse University. He teaches courses in Money and Banking and Macroeconomics. His research interests include Monetary Policy, Discount window borrowing and Output Price determination.” http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/ddutkowsky/

Dr. Esther Redmount is professor of economics at Colorado College (1987-present) and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor (1988-90). She teaches Principles of Microeconomics and Microeconomic Theory, Economics of Labor and Game Theory among other related courses.

http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/EC/faculty/Red.html

http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/EC/Redmount.asp

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Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]
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U.S. policy for sale

Bundlers and Lobbyists buy what you cannot afford

Compiled and edited with end comment by Carolyn Bennett

“During the second quarter of 2011, the Obama Victory Fund raked in about $39 million,” says the Center for Responsive Reports referencing a review of campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The U.S. president and the Democratic National Committee combined raised “$86 million during the second quarter.”

“Money bags”

Michael Beckel reported in mid July that President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign had released “the names of 244 bundlers.” The campaign labeled the bundlers “‘volunteer fund-raisers,’ who collected at least $50,000 each on behalf of the president’s re-election.”

·       Bundlers are people with friends in high places who, after bumping against personal contribution limits, turn to those friends, associates, and, well, anyone who is willing to give, and deliver the checks to the candidate in one big ‘bundle.’

·       These donors direct to candidates more money than any other contributors, yet the “disclosure can be spotty.”  In 2008, “536 ‘elites’ directed at least $75,750,000 to [Senator John] McCain and 560 gathered at least $76,500,000 for [Senator Barack] Obama.”

Lobbyist and Bundlers

According to an iWatch News analysis, “30 lobbyists or lobbying entities have bundled a little over $2 million to 14 political entities including party committees and political candidates of all kinds” since the beginning of this year.

Lobbyists bundling large amounts of cash raises a disturbing “specter of this quid pro quo,” Common Cause vice president of communications Mary Boyle told the monitoring and investigative group, iWatch.

She describes “bundlers as ‘power brokers’ of the regulated financial system who do a valuable service for candidates” — a service that “‘buys [bundlers] access, influence and, certainly, prestige within the campaign.’”

Bundlers “are typically influential people who collect a lot of money for candidates,” Boyle said, “and the public has a right to know the names of the people who are collecting these large chunks of money.”

Top Five

Positioning themselves “to make an early impact in what is shaping up to be the most expensive political cycle in American history,” Tony and Heather Podesta, top-tier Democratic donors and lobbyists, have each bundled over $320,000 in the first six months of this year.

1

Anthony T. Podesta (bundled just under $350,000)

To the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the campaign of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Podesta is wired into the Democratic establishment — his brother John served as Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff and more recently acted as President Obama’s transition team co-chair while running the left-leaning Center for American Progress.

The Anthony Podesta Group is one of the most powerful lobbying entities in the District of Columbia, with clients ranging from the American Meat Institute to Duke Energy to Sallie Mae.

Since the start of the year, Podesta’s firm has brought in at least $13.7 million in contracts.

2

Heather Podesta (second biggest — bundled over $322,000, to DCCC and DSCC.

Heather Podesta is owner of a lobbying firm that works for a broad range of clients including the American Beverage Association, Marathon Oil and Prudential Financial.

With Partners, she has brought in since January at least $3.3 million in contracts.

3

Managing director Patrick J. Durkin of the financial firm Barclays Capital (bundled $167,800 exclusively for the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney and joined several other lobbyists who, together  kicked in more than half a million dollars).

Since the start of 2011, Barclays “has spent over $2.2 million on lobbying.”

Durkin has lobbied for Barclays on financial issues, including the Dodd-Frank reform bill, the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act” and changes to the tax code.

Durkin also bundled big money for former President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and for Senator John McCain in 2008.

4

Fiorentino Group’s president, T. Martin Fiorentino Jr (raised $102,900 for Romney’s campaign and $41,200 for Mike Haridopolos’s Republican Senate campaign later ended).

Fiorentino has raised money for presidential candidates since 1988.

He has lobbied on behalf of clients Florida State College and Physician Sales and Service and the Fiorentino Group has raised $70,000 in federal lobbying contracts in 2011.

               

Fiorentino’s company “was reprimanded in April by the federal government for ‘unsound practices’ in connection with the company’s work on behalf of a foreclosure company.

5

Senior vice president of government and public affairs with the American Dental Association Michael Graham (bundled $130,000 for the National Republican Senatorial Committee so far this year).

The American Dental Association has spent at least $1.2 million on federal lobbying this year, and on behalf of ADA, Graham lobbied Congress on issues like providing flexible spending accounts to members of the military, various bills aimed at repealing or gutting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a variety of medical and dental issues.  

Graham is a commander in the Navy Reserve with over 30 years of government affairs experience.

5b

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld’s political arm (bundled more than $163,000 to the DCCC, DSCC and the NRSC — $122,500 to the NRSC, the remainder split almost evenly among the two Democratic groups).

Among Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld’s clients in 2011 are ATandT, Bain Capital, Johnson and Johnson, and Shell Oil.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld’s has brought in more than $17.7 million in federal contracts through the first half of 2011.

OBAMA’s bundlers

In the current 2011-2012 campaign period, a Center for Responsive Politics reports bundlers “together steered at least $34.95 million into coffers of the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee”— 40 percent of the total $86 million that Obama campaign manager Jim Messina reported as “coming into Obama’s re-election campaign and the joint fund-raising committee set up to benefit both Obama and the DNC.”

Obscure bundlers and $ totals

Because the Obama campaign documentation [of 244 bundlers] was broad in amounts and  limited in donor detail, “The true amount collected for Obama’s re-election could be even greater than $35 million. If the maximum amounts raised by these 200-plus elite moneymen and women are used, the total could be as high as $60 million — 70 percent of the total announced; and since for the 27 individuals who bundled more than a half-million dollars there was no maximum amount given, the amount could be even higher.”

OBAMA “prolifics”  :Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chicago media mogul Fred Eychaner, Pfizer executive Sally Susman, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and financier Orin Kramer

Other top Obama bundlers:  Hollywood super agent Ari Emanuel (brother of former Obama chief of staff, now Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel (bundled between $50,000 and $100,000)

During the 2008 cycle, Ari Emanuel bundled for the Obama campaign between $200,000 and $500,000


 Former chief executive officer at Goldman Sachs and former Democratic senator and governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine (bundled more than $500,000)


 Democratic National Committee Treasurer and DNC’s highest-ranking openly gay official Andrew Tobias (bundled more than $500,000)

ROMNEY lobbyist/bundlers

Because of information required under the 2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, the Mitt Romney (Republican) presidential campaign provided details about the fundraising of six lobbyists who also bundled large sums for the campaign.

Taken together the reported six Romney lobbyists/bundlers funneled $517,450 into Romney’s campaign and, during the second quarter overall, his presidential campaign reported raising $18.38 million.

ROMNEY’S “Select Six” lobbyist-bundlers

1.     Barclays’ Patrick J. Durkin (bundled $167,800).

Durkin was also a top fundraiser for President George W. Bush.

Durkin in 2000 was also among the famed ‘Pioneers’ who bundled at least $100,000 for Bush

During the 2004 election, Durkin bundled at least $200,000, earning Bush’s ‘Ranger’ status

[In 2008, Durkin gave the then-legal maximum of $2,300 to the eventual Republican Party nominee John McCain]

2.     Fiorentino Group’s T. Martin Fiorentino (bundled $102,900).

Fiorentino was also a Bush Pioneer in 2000 and Ranger in 2004.

In 2008, he donated $2,300 to McCain

3.     Ogilvy Government Relations’ Wayne Berman (bundled $101,600).

Berman was also Bush Pioneer in 2000 and Ranger in 2004.

In the 2008 election cycle, he was one of McCain’s national finance team co-chairs

4.     Ogilvy Government Relations’ Drew Maloney (bundled $56,750)

In the 2008 election cycle, Maloney and his wife donated the legal maximum of $2,300 to Romney (and about the same to McCain)

5.     Dutko Worldwide’s David Beightol (bundled $54,200)

In the 2008 election cycle, Beightol donated $2,300 to Romney, $1,000 to McCain; and his wife gave $2,275 to the Romney campaign

6.     Rath Group’s Judi Rhines (bundled $34,200)

In the 2008 election cycle, Rhines gave $2,300 to the Romney campaign

It is fair to say that, in the United States of America — home of leaders prone to lecturing underdeveloped countries on “democracy” — only the ‘few’ get policy (and the limited government) of their choosing.

This is because, in this flawed democracy, effective choice does not happen at the ballot box but in a marketplace (and smoke-filled rooms) where heavy-hitting bundlers/lobbyists and government officials meet to buy and sell policy, to take bribes and peddle influence. This is the true treachery among us.

It does not have to be this way. We can do better.

Sources and notes

“Elite Fund-Raisers Help Presidential Candidates Rake in Millions” (Michael Beckel), July 15, 2011, http://www.opensecrets.org/MT/mt-search.cgi?search=money+bags&IncludeBlogs=8

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/bundlers.php?id=N00009638

Center for Responsive Politics, August 4, 2011, http://www.opensecrets.org/news/ 

“‘Absent a statute like the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, there is no way of knowing if the information candidates are releasing is complete or if  they are omitting bundlers who might attract negative attention … It’s only with a [new] statute requiring disclosure of all bundlers that you will get full disclosure.’” Paul Ryan, an attorney at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, spoke with OpenSecrets Blog. Published on iWatch News (http://www.iwatchnews.org)

“Top 5 lobbyist bundlers — power couple Tony and Heather Podesta top the list”  (Aaron Mehta),

July 28, 2011,

The FEC lobbyist/bundlers database contains the only bundler names any of the campaigns are legally required to disclose.

Signed into law in 2007 as part of the reform package pushed by Congressional Democrats, the FEC’s database is relatively new. Hobbled by the lack of a quorum for most of 2008, the FEC did not put the new disclosure rules into effect until February 2009. The regulations created a system in which a political committee must identify and report any bundlers registered lobbyists, who raised more than $16,000 per half-year period. FEC’s website hosts the database of these bundlers. Source URL: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/07/28/5402/top-5-lobbyist-bundlers-power-couple-tony-and-heather-podesta-top-list

“Though the Obama team has a policy of not accepting funds from active lobbyists and was therefore not listed in FEC’s database, several Obama bundlers identified by the campaign have previously lobbied. They gave “more than $1.3 million for the president as part of the large financial haul the Obama bundling team has already delivered.”

http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/07/28/5402/top-5-lobbyist-bundlers-power-couple-tony-and-heather-podesta-top-list

“Only two presidential contenders appeared in the database — Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.” 

“Obama rewards big bundlers with jobs, commissions, stimulus money, government contracts, and more,”  Published on iWatch News (http://www.iwatchnews.org)

“Obama rewards big bundlers with jobs, commissions, stimulus money, government contracts, and more”  (By Fred Schulte, John Aloysius Farrell and Jeremy Borden), June 15, 2011:Telecom executive Donald H. Gips raised a big bundle of cash to help finance his friend Barack Obama’s run for the presidency. Schulte, Farrell and Borden are reporters for iWatch News.org, a website of the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington-based nonprofit focused on investigative journalism.

Source URL: http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/06/15/4880/obama-rewards-big-bundlers-jobs-commissions-stimulus-money-government-contracts-and

http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/06/15/4880/obama-rewards-big-bundlers-jobs-commissions-stimulus-money-government-contracts-and

The Center for Public Integrity

Founded in 1989 by Charles Lewis, the Center for Public Integrity is one of oldest and largest U.S. nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news organizations.  Its mission is “to reveal abuses of power, corruption and dereliction of duty by powerful public and private institutions in order to cause them to operate with honesty, integrity, accountability and to put the public interest first.

“iWatch News is the Center’s online publication dedicated to investigative and accountability reporting. It provides original and exclusive daily stories as well as in-depth investigations and commentary.” http://www.iwatchnews.org/about

Campaign finance in the United States

Campaign finance in the United States is the financing of electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels. The public financing and eligibility system “is designed so that Democratic or Republican Party candidates for President of the United States routinely qualify for funds while excluding most other party candidates.” State and local law govern races for non-federal offices. More than half U.S. states allow some level of corporate and union contributions. Some states have limits on contributions from individuals that are lower than the national limits; six states (Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Virginia) have no limits.

Campaign finance is a controversial issue in the United States, pitting concerns about free speech against concerns about corruption and inequality on the part of those who favor existing or further restrictions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance_in_the_United_States

_____________________________________

Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]
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Reeves, Wright, Kidjo “Sing the Truth”

Across the world

Editing, re-reporting by Carolyn Bennett         

Touring Europe this summer, Deutsche Welle reports, is “an unusual group of jazz and popular music singers — Pop diva Dianne Reeves, jazz vocalist Lizz Wright, African pop singer Agelique Kidjo — performing music in tribute to the political and musical heritage of African Americans. 

This continuing, inspiring tour is "Sing the Truth." 

In July in Turkey, Agelique Kidjo is reported saying in performance, “‘I cannot see your color. You are all the same to me.’ She added, according to the news report, “that she could not imagine a person who could pray to God and, at the same time, kill for the sake of God.”

“Divas Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright,” the article said, “embraced an Istanbul audience … not only singing jazz but also the ‘truth’ as part of a tour dedicated to the songs of their favorite female stars.

“The three singers provided an enthralling mix of blues, jazz and African music, mesmerizing the audience at the Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater as part of the ongoing Istanbul Jazz Festival.”

The trio’s “Sing the Truth” tour centers on “equality, sisterhood, and being someone strong instead of a victim.”

The three stellar vocalists Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright also performed music from three recently passed legends Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta – along with songs made famous by Billie Holiday and other jazz greats.

“Sing the Truth” has been called an “unforgettable celebration of the jazz spirit with musical director and drummer Terri Lynn Carrington, pianist Geri Allen, guitarist Romero Lubambo and other star musicians.”

Two years ago “Sing The Truth” — celebrated the Music of Nina Simone starring Dianne Reeves, Simone (Nina’s daughter Simone), Lizz Wright, and the Original Nina Simone Band.

Sources and notes

Dianne Reeves

U.S.-born multiple Grammy-winning Dianne Reeves has been among the world’s top jazz singers since the late 1980s. Said to be “a logical successor to Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae … Reeves, with a three-and-a-half octave range, is a superior interpreter of lyrics and a skilled scat singer.” Even in teen age when singing and recording with her high school band, she “was a talented vocalist,”  http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Reeves,_Dianne/Biography/

 

Angélique Kidjo.

“Afro-funk, reggae, samba, salsa, gospel, jazz, Zairean rhumba, zouk, and makossa combine in the music of soulful Benin-born, Paris [and New York]-based vocalist Angélique Kidjo. Since the release of her self-produced debut solo album ‘Pretty’ (1988), Kidjo has been embraced by the international press.” Her mother, a performer in a dance and theater ensemble, and her father, a banjo player, influence Kidjo’s love of stage and performance. http://worldmusic.about.com/od/bandsartistsaz/p/AngeliqueKidjo.htm

Lizz Wright

U.S.-born Lizz Wright has been the recipient of nonstop critical acclaim and ever-increasing audiences ever since her “Salt” debut with Verve in 2003.  Wright had listened to and sung only religious music before finding Atlanta’s jazz community in her college years.

Wright is quoted saying, “The funny thing about the transition is that I felt that jazz had a sacredness.”

“I was drawn by what I recognized inside of the new adventures in jazz and all the other contemporary music I dove into since I left home,” she says. “Step by step, I walked into what I found familiar and when I first heard what people were calling the blues, I was taken aback, because I had heard that sound all my life.

“That was how the old women sang in my church—how the mothers sang—and now people were calling it the blues. I’m dancing the pattern back and forth and I am a lot more comfortable now with presenting the music of my home in its traditional form. It is important that I can sing that to my elders and my ancestors because that is part of who I am. I am at a place in my life where I’m ready to visit and really exalt that.” http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/lizzwright/bio/

 At Deutsche Welle, Reese Erlich reports this week from the Montreal and Copenhagen Jazz Festivals. “Jazz Divas honor African musical heritage,” August 3, 2011, Arts on the Air,

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6586533,00.html

http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_single_mediaplayer/0,,15283913_start_0_end_0_type_audio_struct_3040_contentId_6586533,00.html

“Jazz heroines sing in the name of truth in Istanbul” Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Çağla Pınar Tunçel, ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News Divas Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright embraced an Istanbul audience Tuesday night

Vocal jazz: Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright, Simone (vocals); Al Schackman (guitar, vibraphone); Jeremy Berlin (piano); Chris White (double bass); Paul Robinson (drums); Leopoldo Fleming (percussion), http://www.northseajazz.com/en/program/2009/friday-10-july/12429_sing-the-truth-with-simone-reeves-wright

Artists: Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright, http://www.musiccenter.org/cal/events/?com=detail&eID=4989

Schedule from Dianne Reeves' website

Date City Venue Group

JUNE

  06.11.11 Hollywood, CA Playboy Jazz Festival Martin, Sprague, Veal, Gully

  06.25.11 Montreal, CAN Maisonneuve Theatre de la Place des Arts Reeves only

  06.26.11 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  06.30.11 Rheingau, DEU Schloss Johannisberg Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

JULY

  07.01.11 Lugano, CHE Lugano Estival Jazz Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.02.11 Copenhagen, DNK Tivoli Concert Hall Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.05.11 London, GBR Barbican Centre Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.08.11 Stuttgart, DEU Mercedes-Benz Museum Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.10.11 Hamburg, DEU Stadtgarden Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.12.11 Istanbul, TUR Cemil Topuzhu Open Air Theatre Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.14.11 Ghent, BEL Ghent Jazz Festival Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.16.11 Pori, FIN Kirjurinluoto Arena Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

  07.19.11 Molde, NOR Bjornsonhurset Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

AUGUST

  08.01.11 Marciac, FRA Chapiteau Malone, Lubambo

  08.04.11 Johannesburg, ZAF Montecasino Theater Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  08.05.11 Johannesburg, ZAF Montecasino Theater Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  09.02.11 Detroit, MI Chase Main Stage Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

SEPTEMBER

  09.04.11 Lenox, MA Tanglewood Jazz Festival Sing The Truth! Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright

OCTOBER

  10.08.11 New York, NY Blue Note Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  10.09.11 New York, NY Blue Note Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  10.16.11 Clearwater, FL Clearwater Jazz Holiday Coachman Park Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  10.22.11 Los Angeles, CA LA Philharmonic Reeves only

NOVEMBER

  11.30.11 Dublin, IRL The National Theater Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

DECEMBER

  12.01.11 Essen, DEU Philharmonie Essen Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.03.11 Potsdam, DEU  Nikolaisaal Potsdam Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.05.11 Arhus, DNK Musikhuset Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.06.11 Ansterdam, NLD Concertgebouw Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.07.11 Warsaw, POL Poznan Jazz & Festival Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.09.11 Barcelona, ESP L'Auditori Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

  12.10.11 Las Palmas, ESP Teatro Cuyas Malone, Lubambo, Veal, Gully

http://www.diannereeves.com/html/tour.html

__________________________________

Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]
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Beholden Politicians eyeing ever-looming elections…

Weink at leisure classes, Burn labor

Conspiring “partners” 
compromise principle, sacrifice people 

Deficit deal destroys U.S. core

Excerpting, editing, comment by Carolyn Bennett

In poll after poll, Americans have expressed the belief “that the wealthiest two percent” have failed to do what they must do — “pay their fair share.” U.S. Representative Donna Edwards was speaking today on the Democracy Now program.

“[Americans] also know that [the wealthiest] have received tax breaks for the last 10 years; and, contrary to the Republican mantra, [the wealthiest and big corporations] are not job creators. [If they had been], a lot of jobs would have been created.”

While political theater continues now leading into a holiday break through “Labor Day,” U.S. joblessness rises above 20 percent.

Long-term debt Contributing factors: “tax breaks for the wealthy, President [George W.] Bush’s never–paid-for prescription drug bill, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, financial crisis brought on by irresponsibility of the financial sector.”

The American working, middle and poorer classes are saying, “‘Wait a second. We didn’t do any of this stuff. We haven’t benefited and we shouldn’t have to pay for it.’” 

Rep. Donna Edwards

Congresswoman Edwards continues, “I’m one of those members of Congress, though representing a clearly progressive district, who thinks the voice of the American people is saying, ‘We don’t agree that the top two percent should just skate while 98 percent bear the entire burden of government.’”

For 30 years, the right wing and tea partiers have made no secret of their desire to disestablish government and the legislation just passed reflects, “Cuts in federal government [rippling] out into our states and localities — virtually decimating government.”

Where “will we find the money to rebuild our roads and our bridges and our wastewater systems? 

 “Where will we find the money to invest in education, research and development and manufacturing needed for workers to get back to work in the 21st century?”

In a formal statement published on her website about the Passage of Budget Control Act 2011, U.S. Member of Congress Donna Edwards said this —

“I stood with over half the Democratic Caucus in opposing this unfair, unbalanced attack on poor and working families.

“Our most vulnerable, time and again, have been asked to sacrifice while corporations and the wealthy are required to give little or nothing. … [T]his legislation continues that unacceptable trend.”

It doesn't have to be this way. We can do better. We must do better. 

“I remain resolved to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and programs that benefit millions of Americans,” Edwards said.

“I look forward to the work of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction in hopes that a truly fair and balanced approach can be taken to address short- and long-term budgetary challenges — revenue increases, an end to costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an end to tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

“The real agenda should be one that creates jobs, rebuilds roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and grows our economy for future generations.”

Sources and notes

“Rep. Donna Edwards on Why She Voted Against Debt Deal: ‘A Bad Framework for the Future,’” August 3, 2011, http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/3/rep_donna_edwards_on_why_she

Amy Goodman’s lead into this segment of the Democracy Now program: “President Obama has officially signed legislation to increase the U.S. debt ceiling in time to avoid a national default. The $2.1 trillion deficit-reduction plan cleared its final hurdle in the Senate yesterday, passing with a 74-to-26 vote. Six Democrats and 19 Republicans opposed the measure. The bill’s signing came roughly 10 hours before the deadline for Washington to raise its borrowing limit.

“The deal includes no new tax revenue from wealthy Americans and no additional stimulus for the lagging economy.

“It includes a provision to create a joint committee of 12 legislators charged with finding $1.5 trillion in deficit cuts. The committee must hold its first meeting in 45 days and is expected to set in motion a lobbying frenzy.”

Congresswoman Edwards released the statement after passage in the House (269-161) of the Budget Control Act of 2011, S. 365, http://donnaedwards.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=54&sectiontree=29,54&itemid=411

Donna F. Edwards, Member of U.S. Congress (Maryland)

Congresswoman Edwards won election as a Democrat to the One Hundred Tenth Congress and has won reelection to the two succeeding Congresses (June 17, 2008-present).

Credentials Edwards brings to the U.S. Congress: clerk, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge; law practice; academic degrees Juris Doctor (Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, N. H.) and Bachelor of Arts (Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.); other service: National Network to End Domestic Violence executive director, Center for a New Democracy executive director, The Arca Foundation executive director where she worked to

Secure a ‘living wage’ for working people.

Ensure the independence of the federal judiciary.

End capital punishment.

Protect Social Security, and

Promote labor and human rights both nationally and internationally

In the U.S. Congress, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District comprising portions of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. 

In the 112th Congress, she serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where she sits on: the subcommittees on Highways and Transit; Water Resources and Environment, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.  On the Science and Technology Committee, she sits on subcommittees: Investigations and Oversight (Ranking Member) and Space and Aeronautics; and serves on the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000290

Biography: http://donnaedwards.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=3&sectiontree=3

________________________________________

Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]
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Cheri Honkala says…

“Who better to push for ending poverty and denial of economic human rights?”

Cheri Honkala: 

National Coordinator of Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign —

‘Woman of the Year’ by the Philadelphia Weekly

·       Featured in the award-winning documentary ‘Poverty Outlaw’

·       Leader of a march of more than 10,000 people during the 2000 Republican National Convention

·       Speaker to 148 governments at the United Nations about ending poverty in America

·       Leader of the March of the Americas, the World Summit of the Poor, and a 125-mile march of homeless and poor from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to the United Nations to protest welfare reform and poverty as a violation of economic human rights

Single parent, formerly among the homeless, a recipient of numerous awards for leadership in the struggle to end poverty —

Cheri Honkala speaks worldwide about the struggle against poverty in the U.S. and the denial of basic economic human rights. Who better to push for ending the status quo ‘than those who live within my country.’

In 22 days, Cheri Honkala joins Tom Hayden in keynoting the Democracy Convention at Madison, Wisconsin.

Source

Ben Manski, Executive Director at Liberty Tree; Chair of Democracy Convention

https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:29568.7151039354/rid:c35a1f8a24f4bb9ef4683428467f57d3

Post Office Box 260217

Madison, Wisconsin 53726-0217 USA

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Articles also at Bringing Women a Global Voice: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire Bennett's books available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; The Book Den, Ltd.: BookDenLtd@frontiernet.net [Danville, NY]; Talking Leaves Books-Elmwood: talking.leaves.elmwood@gmail.com [Buffalo, NY]; Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza: http://www.bhny.com/ [Albany, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY]; LONGS’ Cards and Books: http://longscardsandbooks.com/ [Penn Yan, NY]

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Ramadan begins

Across the world, more than a billion adherents to the religion of Islam have begun observing Ramadan, their holiest of days.

Excerpting, editing by Carolyn Bennett

During the 30-day period, Muslims, believers who observe this “holiest month in Islam,” will abstain from certain activities from dawn to dusk. This curtailment includes eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intimacy. Holding entertainment activities, celebrations or parties are prohibited. Faithful Muslims “are supposed to exercise piety and spend evenings conducting prayers” throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

Islam is the world’s second largest religion. An estimated 50 countries have Muslim majorities. In this estimate, 62 percent live in Asia including more than 683 million adherents in Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Continents/Countries in which Islam is practiced

AFRICA: Algeria • Angola • Benin • Botswana • Burkina Faso • Burundi • Cameroon • Cape Verde • Central African Republic • Chad • Comoros • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Republic of the Congo • Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) • Djibouti • Egypt • Equatorial Guinea • Eritrea • Ethiopia • Gabon • The Gambia • Ghana • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Kenya • Lesotho • Liberia • Libya • Madagascar • Malawi • Mali • Mauritania • Mauritius • Morocco • Mozambique • Namibia • Niger • Nigeria • Rwanda • São Tomé and Príncipe • Senegal • Seychelles • Sierra Leone • Somalia • South Africa • Sudan • Swaziland • Tanzania • Togo • Tunisia • Uganda • Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) • Zambia • Zimbabwe

ASIA:  Afghanistan • Bahrain • Bangladesh • Bhutan • Brunei • Burma • Cambodia • China (Hong Kong) • East Timor • India • Indonesia • Iran • Iraq • Israel and the Palestinian territories • Japan • Jordan • Kazakhstan • Korea • Kyrgyzstan • Kuwait • Laos • Lebanon • Maldives • Malaysia • Mongolia • Nepal • Oman • Pakistan • Philippines • Qatar • Saudi Arabia • Singapore • Sri Lanka • Syria • Taiwan • Tajikistan • Thailand • Turkmenistan • UAE • Uzbekistan • Vietnam • Yemen

EUROPE: Albania • Andorra • Armenia • Austria • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Belgium • Bosnia • Bulgaria • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Latvia • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Macedonia • Luxembourg • Malta • Moldova • Montenegro • Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Russia • Serbia • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) • USSR

AMERICAS: Antigua & Barbuda • Argentina • Bahamas • Barbados • Belize • Bolivia • Brazil • Canada • Chile • Colombia • Costa Rica • Cuba • Dominica • Dominican Republic • Ecuador • El Salvador • Grenada • Guatemala • Guyana • Haiti • Honduras • Jamaica • Mexico • Nicaragua • Panama • Paraguay • Peru • St. Kitts & Nevis • St. Lucia • St. Vincent & the Grenadines • Suriname • Trinidad & Tobago • United States • Uruguay • Venezuela

OCEANIA: Australia • Cocos (Keeling) Islands • Federated States of Micronesia • Fiji • Guam • Kiribati • Marshall Islands • Nauru • New Caledonia • New Zealand • Northern Mariana Islands • Palau • Papua New Guinea • Samoa • Solomon Islands • Tonga • Tuvalu • Vanuatu

Sources

“Muslims begin Ramadan observance — Islam’s holiest month begins amid sweltering temperatures in Middle East and elsewhere,” August 11, 2010, http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/08/2010811122934556812.html

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Muslim_population

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