Somehow, US media “overlooked” huge European protests

Somewhere between 250,000-400,000 people protested the coming Iraq war last Saturday in London.  Plus another 100,000 in Rome.

As Greg Palast says “and you did read about that in U.S. papers, right?”.

Well, barely.  The major newspapers buried this rather important story way deep, although they happily gave huge coverage to another London demonstration the previous week.

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Arianna kicks Torch butt

Sen Robert Torricelli “The Torch” (D-NJ) just quit his bid for reelection amidst major corruption charges. Retired senator Frank Lautenberg is replacing him. 

Whether or not this is legal, no one knows yet.  If this replacement ploy isn’t legal, then Torricelli may resign in a special 30 day window that could allow for a successor to be appointed (not elected). No one knows if this is legal either.  Naturally the Republicans are sending in battalions of lawyers too.

From Arianna Huffington’s latest column

As human beings, our natural instinct is to empathize with those who are at a low point, to extend a hand if they stumble and fall. Only the worst among us — crooked cops, bad guy wrestlers, or Paulie Walnuts — enjoy the idea of kicking a guy when he’s down.

But Robert Torricelli is making it very hard to resist the temptation to kick his butt — even when he’s on all fours. His self-serving, teary-eyed, ‘I’ve-been-done-wrong’ speech announcing the end of his reelection bid was enough to curdle even the sweetest milk of human kindness
…
“When did we stop believing in and trusting in each other?” asked Torricelli.

In your case, Senator, right around the time you slipped that $8,100 Rolex watch David Chang gave you onto your wrist. 

Being that Torricelli is such a swell guy, he may not give any of his plentiful campaign funds to Lautenberg because of long time bad blood.  This from someone who said he was stepping down to help Democrats win.  Uh huh…

Meanwhile the Republicans are howling about terribly unjust all of this is, when, in fact, they pulled the same sleazy stunt themselves not long ago.

From Daily Kos

The New Jersey Supreme Court allowed the Republicans who then controlled Trenton to reschedule the primary election so that acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco — plagued by questions about his ethics — could drop out of the race and allow Rep. Robert Franks to take his place.

If the Republicans can get this appealed to Federal Court in time, then we … well, we know what happened last time Federal courts got involved in an election, don’t we?

Is this what our “Democracy” is coming too?  Watching lawyers, judges, and politicians roll in the sewer, each claiming their opponents are the dirty ones?

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Enrique

Enrique was five when his mother left Honduras for the U.S., seeking a better life and money for her and her kids.  Dad was long gone.  Enrique got shuttled between relatives for years until he decided to try to get to the States and find his mom.

There are thousands of Enrique’s.  The L.A. Times is running a six part series on Enrique and what he, and others go through to get here.  It is meticulously documented and gut-wrenching.

Getting through Mexico is hugely dangerous. Bandit gangs patrol the trains the immigrants ride through Mexico, beating, raping and stealing from whoever they can.  Many are maimed or killed jumping on trains. Police beat and rob them too. They come with nothing but maybe a toothbrush, and they keep trying.  It’s not unusual to find ten year olds riding the trains, on a search for their mother…

This is superb journalism.. and this Anglo continues to learn that the Latino immigrant I see on the street may well have a horrendous migration tale to tell.

 And in today’s issue of the Times, after this story, is one on how Southern Californians, many of them middle-class, are spending large bucks on lavish, posh weddings - like $40,000 for a wedding at Disneyland with visit by Mickey Mouse extra. Talk about ironic juxtaposition.

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Proof that US armed Iraq with bioweapons

From the website of Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who is one of the few Senators openly challenging the chickenhawks on Iraq.

From email:
It is urgent to call Sen. Robert Byrd’s office (202-224-3954) and ask the Senator to fillibuster against the war resolution of the Administration (and Dem leadership).  His office is taking a poll on whether he should do this.

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Do that funky perp walk

Fastow Gets Hit With Criminal and Civil Charges

The Justice Department charged Enron’s former chief financial officer, Andrew Fastow, with securities fraud, mail fraud and money laundering in connection with several partnerships he controlled. Also, the Securities & Exchange Commission filed a civil fraud complaint against Fastow.

Bye bye Martha

An assistant to Martha Stewart’s stockbroker pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor charge that he was paid off to keep secret what he knew about inside information allegedly given to Stewart about ImClone Systems Inc.

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Take the pledge at MichaelMoore.com

Let the Democrats in Congress hear you

“I pledge to never vote again for any Democratic candidate for public office who has voted in favor of George Bush’s war in Iraq.”

Then Michael Moore will make sure every Democrat in Congress gets a copy!

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West coast dock strike heating up

From the ILWU website

PMA brings armed thugs to federal mediation meeting

ILWU walks out

Today ILWU officers walked out of scheduled talks with the Pacific Maritime Association and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services head Peter Hurtgen at the FMSC office in Oakland when they arrived this morning and were greeted by gun-toting security guards under the employment of the PMA.

Hey, the union has been locked out, thus they aren’t actually on strike, so maybe Bush can’t invoke Taft-Hartley?

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