The Daily Jot: THIS JUST IN! FRED THOMPSON RANKS THE COMPETITION!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

THIS JUST IN! FRED THOMPSON RANKS THE COMPETITION!

BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX -- DC.

IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THESE REPORTERS, BAD ACTOR, FORMER LOBBYIST AND BAD SENATOR FRED THOMPSON DISHED ON WHY HE MAY BE ENTERING THE RACE AND WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE G.O.P. CANDIDATES FOR THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

MUST CREDIT BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIX MIX!

AFTER ASSURING THESE REPORTERS THAT HE HAD "ADMIRATION" FOR EVERYONE IN THE G.O.P. WHO HAS ALREADY DECLARED THEIR INTENT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, FRED THOMPSON THEN WENT ON TO DISH.

TOMMY THOMPSON? "WITH A NAME LIKE THAT, HE SHOULD BE TAPPING ACROSS BROADWAY WITH TWIGGY IN MY ONE AND ONLY."

RUDY GIULIANI? "I JUST DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE WHO LOOKS LIKE MR. POTATO HEAD."

SAM BROWNBACK? "BROWNBACK? ISN'T THAT A LITTLE TOUCHY WITH ALL THE IMMIGRATION PROTESTS GOING ON?"

JIM GILMORE? "WHICH GIRL DID HE MARRY? I ALWAYS LIKE THE KID BUT THE MOTHER WAS TOO MOUTHY FOR ME. GOOD SHOW THOUGH. 'WHERE YOU LEAD . . . I WILL FOLLOW . . .' GOT ANY FAKE NUDES OF RORY GILMORE?"

MIKE HUCKABEE? "LOOKS LIKE HE SHOULD BE THE NIGHT MANAGER AT A DENNY'S. LIKE HE'S FLIRTING WITH THE MIDDLE AGED HOSTESS, HOPING TO GET A LITTLE ON THE SIDE AND RIGHT WHEN HE'S ABOUT TO CLOSE THE DEAL, HE LETS ONE RIP AND SHE WALKS AWAY DISGUSTED. SOUNDS LIKE THE STORY OF HUCKABEE'S LIFE."

DUNCAN HUNTER? "HE'S NOT BEHIND BARS YET? YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? WELL POLITICS IS MORE THAN ISSUING STATEMENTS BUT LOOKING AT DA DUNC'S RECORD, YOU'D NEVER KNOW THAT, WOULD YOU? DOES HE DYE HIS HAIR?"

MITT ROMNEY? "WHAT IS THAT? 'MITT'? WHO KNOWS ANYONE NAMED 'MITT.' HE DOESN'T LIKE A BASEBALL MITT. HE LOOKS LIKE A KEN DOLL. DON'T LEAVE HIM ALONE IN BARBIE'S DREAM HOUSE WITH G.I. JOE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!"

TOM TANCREDO? "IS HE MAFIA? I PLAYED OPPOSITE A LOT OF MAFIA TYPES IN HOLLYWOOD AND HE LOOKS MAFIA?"

SENATOR CRAZY? "JOHN MCCAIN AND I GO WAY BACK AND I CONSIDER HIM AN OLD FRIEND. SO LET ME STATE THAT I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THE RUMORS THAT HE STEALS BASEBALL CARDS FROM CHILDREN. I HAVE ALSO NEVER SEEN HIM SPIT ON A BABY. PEOPLE SAY HE DOES. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IT FOR A MINUTE.

PEOPLE SAY JOHN MCCAIN IS CRAZY, THAT HE IS WASHED UP, THAT HE IS A LOSER. I JUST SAY JOHN MCCAIN IS MY FRIEND."

RON PAUL? "TOO HAPPY. WHAT'S HE ALWAYS GRINNING ABOUT?"

WE ASKED FRED THOMPSON TO NAME TWO THINGS HE WOULD DO IF ELECTED PRESIDENT?

"WOAH! SLOW DOWN, BOYS! THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. SEE, I HAVEN'T DECLARED. I DID JUST FORM A COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE WHETHER I SHOULD ENTER THE RACE. THAT'S WHAT I'D BE LIKE AS A PRESIDENT. CAUTIOUS. I'D SPEND MY FIRST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS DECIDING IF I WANTED TO BE PRESIDENT? MAYBE I DON'T LIKE THE WHITE HOUSE, MAYBE I WANT TO LIVE ELSEWHERE? MAYBE 'HAIL TO THE CHIEF' ISN'T THE BEST SONG WE CAN COME UP WITH? I'D SPEND MY FIRST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS EXPLORING ISSUES LIKE THOSE BY SETTING UP COMMITTEES."

AND THEN?

"RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. DON'T YOU BOYS KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:

Starting with apparently breaking news: Alex R. Jimenez and Byron W. Fouty are missing. The two US soldiers have been missing since May 12th. The military has not announced that the two have been found, it's just the press that's lost interest in the story -- the big press. Possibly, if they worked for a corporation with lots of money to toss around (isn't that how they got the contract to begin with?), the New York Times, et al, would take a moment to remember that two US soldiers have been missing since May 12th. Jennifer Manley (Queens Chronicle) spoke with Maria del Rosario Duran and Ramon Jimenez who are the parents of Alex Jimenez, "Each night in Corona, Jimenez's parents keep the faith that their son is luckier. Despite the grim evidence to the contrary, Duran believes in her heart that he is alive. 'That's what I hope. That's what I have put in my mind,' she said." Manley notes that vigils for Alex Jimenez were originally packed but "[b]y Tuesday, the numbers had dwindled and the news coverage had as well. About a dozen people remained, mostly the family's friend and neighbors." Adam Pincus (Times Ledger) reports Maria del Rosario Duran is unable to sleep or eat while she awaits some word on her son and quotes what she would to say to her son ("Alex, I miss you. Alex, please come to my house.") and what she would say to the Bully Boy ("This is a desperate mother. Stop this thing and bring them home. Every day this is happening. George Bus, please bring them home.") Rosario Duran last saw her son in December when he got a pass to attend the funeral of his grandmother. She tells Christina Santucci (Queens Courier), "I cannot do anything but think about where is my son. What's he doing? Who has my son?" and Ramon Jimenez states, "I pray every night for the three missing people. And I say, 'God give me my son back!'"

The three soldiers refers to Joseph Anzack whose body was found. On May 12th, 4 US soldiers and 1 Iraqi translator were found dead from an attack and three US soldiers were classified missing and assumed captured. Jimenez and Byron Fouty remain missing -- not at all unlike big media's coverage. CBS and AP break from the pack to note that, while the search for the 5 British contractors (one is considered a consultant) continues, "the hunt for two U.S. soldiers missing since an ambush on May 12 has slowed down."

KXAN (NBC, Texas) reports that Byron Fouty's family released a statement yesterday: "Son, we are so proud of you and for who you are, what you stand for. We know in our hearts, you were doing what you needed to do in Iraq, and we would have never expected any less from you. You are our Hero, our son. We will miss you and love you forever. Love, Mom and Dad." Today is day 20 that Jimenez and Fouty have been missing. Day 20. Big media moved on to the story of contractors -- from England -- because that's cleary the biggest domestic story coming out of Iraq. (That was sarcasm.)

Turning to news of Adam Kokesh who faces a hearing Monday, June 4th in Kansas City, MO that will determine the status of his discharge (previously "honorable") and would determine the status of his benefits. The Manny Named Brian (Public Eye, CBS) offers that Kokesh may be the new Cindy Sheehan, that he's "photogenic" and "sure seems like the kind of thing that could gather momentum as the summer heats up." (I swear, I did not make that up, use the link.) From the world of Candy Perfume Boy, to the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) which has a press release from which we'll note this "Executive director of Iraq Veterans Against the War, [Kelly] Dougherty was in Iraq from March 2003 to February 2004 with the Colorado National Guard. She said today: 'This is not so much about Adam as it is an attempt by the military brass to silence opposition to the war among veterans. The military is supposed to fight to preserve free speech, not quashing it. Not only are veterans, who can attest to the realities of this war, increasingly speaking out against the war -- but its grim realities are moving them to increasingly take nonviolent direct action to stop it." AP reports that "The Veterans of Foreign Wars is urging the military to show 'a little common sense' and call off its investigation of a group of Iraq war veterans who wore their uniforms during war protests." Sam Hananel (AP) quotes the national commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gary Kurpius, stating, "We all know that people give up some individual rights when they joint the military. But these Marines went to war, did their duty, and were honorably discharged from the active roles. I may disagree with their message, but I will always defend their right to say it."

Eric Ruder (Socialist Worker) observes that the goal in going after Kokesh and Liam Madden is "silencing criticism from veterans -- discharge them again, but this time less than honorably" and quotes Tod Ensign (Citizen Soldier and Different Drummer Cafe) stating, "These are important issues, and they go to the question of military-civilian balance, and when you cease being bound by military rules. Are Liam and Adam bound by those rules? I'd say hell no. This is just a trial balloon, and it's harassment. But if they get away with it, you can be sure that they will then start becoming more draconian and their sweep of other people will be expanded. This could have a very chilling effect on the IVAW, to say the least." Matthew Rothschild (The Progressive) provides a strong overview of the issues at stake and noted that Monday's hearing/administrative meeting is not expected to result in a quick 'verdict' but a recommendationg that Master Sgt. Ronald Spencer says "can take up to two weeks."

Adam Kokesh wore fatigues during DC actions in March, Liam Madden, as David Montgomery (Washington Post) noted, "is accused of wearing his camouflage shirt at an antiwar march in Washington in January." For all the drama the military's created, you'd think the two (and a third who has been unidentified) had shown up in their dress uniform. David Morgan (Reuters) identifies the third: Cloy Richards. Cloy Richards is an Iraq veteran who suffers from PTSD. Both he and his mother Tina Richards have discussed this publicly. Apparently the US military believes the way to 'help' Cloy Richards is to threaten the veteran with loss of benefits. If that doesn't digust you, what does? Last week, Tina Richards discussed her son's suicide attempt with Kris Welch on KPFA's Living Room. Getting help for his PTSD has been a battle for Cloy Richards to begin with, the US military's lack of "common sense" just became even more visible.

As the lack of "common sense" becomes more apparent to the public, war resistance continues to grow within the US military. Pepe Lozano (People's Weekly World) reports on the June 19th event by the Rosenberg Fund for Children which "will commemorate the 54th anniversary of the Rosenbergs' execution with 'Celebrate the Children of Resistance." The fund was created by Robert Meeropol, the son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and guests will include Angela Davis, Eve Ensler, Howard Zinn, David Strathairn as well as US war resister Camilo Mejia who notes, "When you prosecute an activist, it brings hard times to the family, especially for children like [his daughter] Samantha. People have to realize there is a family behind activists, and there should be more groups like RFC." Mejia's book Road from Ar Ramaid: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejia (The New Press) came out at the beginning of May and Iraq Veterans Against the War's Martin Smith (Socialist Worker) reviewed it noting: "Mejia's work -- written from the vantage of a soldier who served and saw firsthand the consequences of U.S. imperialism -- cuts through the deceptions and lies used to justify the war. . . . Beyond Mejia's exposure of the lies of occupation, the strength of his book is the humility with which Mejia explains the change within himself that led to his decision to follow the conscience and oppose war." John Catalinotto (Workers World) provided a wide ranging look at war resistance within the US military this week and noted of Iraq war resister Ehren Watada that his "court-martial is still pending after the military uniltaterally decided to declare his first trial a mistrial last February, has now had the court-martial postponed once more. At first scheduled for June 23 at Ft. Lewis, the trial is now on hold until it is determined if re-starting the trial would mean that Watada faced 'double jeopardy.' It is still possible that the Army will be forced to drop charges on Lt. Watada, the first officer to refuse duty in Iraq."

The growing movement of war resistance within the US military includes Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Augstin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder , Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Joshua Key, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Jeremy Hinzman, Stephen Funk, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake and Kevin Benderman. In total, forty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.