Conversations With Chávez and Castro

For years now the US has made allegations of Hugo Chavez, democratically elected leader of Venezuela, as being an evil dictator, a terrorist, and a tyrant. Now, anyone with a nose for smelling bullshit has long known that whatever Washington says, especially in the last eight years, should be regarded with a critical eye to say the least. For even longer, the United States has branded Fidel Castro and his regime, long time leaders of Cuba, with similar names as well as maintaning a blockade on the island nation of Cuba and it's commerce for over 50 years. Now let's look at what we know. Hugo Chavez has enjoyed the overwhelming support of his people in elections whose transparency and openness is the envy of most countries, including US, the U.S.. and Venezuela has lot's of oil, hmmm, always a red flag for US political wordspeak. Most of us have been or know people who have been to Cuba and love it. Call it's leaders what you want, the people there are pretty happy and also, 100 percent of Cuba enjoys free health care and having both visited Cuba, and having friends who have been more recently, these terms that US politicians want us to believe well, simply don't fit.
Well, now I can stand here on my soapbox and scream 'till I'm blue and not much will happen because I am just a face in the crowd. Well, this is where celebrity can make a difference and it's great to see a celebrity use their fame for something other than tabloid fodder. Sean Penn has composed an open and dignified article and is putting his fame to use in the dispersion of American doublespeak.
Kudos to you Mr. Penn.
BB

by SEAN PENN

This article appeared in the December 15, 2008 edition of The Nation.
November 25, 2008

Soon to be Vice President-elect Joe Biden was rallying the troops: "We can no longer be energy dependent on Saudi Arabia or a Venezuelan dictator." Well, I know what Saudi Arabia is. But having been to Venezuela in 2006, touring slums, mixing with the wealthy opposition and spending days and hours at its president's side, I wondered, without wondering, to whom Senator Biden was referring.

Spin of the Week

GM's Champion Stalls
Following the election victory of Barack Obama, veteran Democratic Congressman, John Dingell, has been ousted as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by Henry Waxman. Prior to the vote, the director of the Safe Climate Campaign, Dan Becker, described Dingell as having been the single biggest obstacle for over thirty years to forcing major U.S. car companies to build more fuel-efficient cars.

The 10 Worst Corporations of 2008

By Robert Weissman, Multinational Monitor. Posted November 24, 2008.

The financial meltdown and economic crisis illustrated that corporations will destroy even themselves in search of profit.

Top Scientist Rails Against Hirings

Another tale of Republican nepotism. Qualifications.....naaahhhhh.
BB
www.soapbox411.blogspot.com

by: Juliet Eilperin and Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post

Oceanographer and Climate scientist James McCarthy, in a critique of Bush administration shifting political appointees into career positions claims, "It's ludicrous to have people who do not have a scientific background, who are not trained and skilled in the ways of science, make decisions that involve resources, that involve facilities in the scientific infrastructure." (Suzanne Kreiter / Globe Staff)

Bush appointees land career jobs without technical backgrounds.

The president of the nation's largest general science organization yesterday sharply criticized recent cases of Bush administration political appointees gaining permanent federal jobs with responsibility for making or administering scientific policies, saying the result would be "to leave wreckage behind."

The GOP Attack on Democracy Continues in Ohio

Another fine example of how the GOP feels about the democratic process.... when in doubt, steal it.
BB
http://soapbox411.blogspot.com/

Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman, Online Journal

The Ohio Republican Party has escalated its attacks on democracy on two key fronts.

It's trying to steal a hotly contested congressional seat. And it's moving to restrict voting rights for coming elections.

The Pits: Georgia's GOP Swipes the Peach State

The Pits: Georgia's GOP Swipes the Peach State

by Greg Palast

for SuicideGirls.com - November 5, 2008

The evil little &*%$'s are doing it again.

Even as they drown in the anger of platoons of pissed-off voters, Republican operatives are swiping ballots with both hands.

Ground zero is Georgia. It's here where the sick little vulture named Saxby Chambliss won the US Senate seat six years ago by calling his Democratic opponent, a guy who'd lost three limbs in Vietnam, a friend of Osama bin Laden.

There's no way in hell that Chambliss can slime his way back into the Senate in the face of over half a million newly registered voters (Black and young - 69% for Obama) without jacking them out of their votes. That's what the Republicans are up to. Right now. As we speak.

Blackwater May Be Fined Millions

The State Department is preparing to slap a multi-million dollar fine on private military contractor Blackwater USA for shipping hundreds of automatic weapons to Iraq without the necessary permits. Some of the weapons are believed to have ended up on the country's black market.