The Aftershocks In Haiti, The Vote in MASS, Supremes Rule Against Mumia
January 21st, 2010 - by: danny
A huge “thanks” to you! PLUNDER was successfully funded in its first round. — dissectrix
Today’s Breaking News: CNN: John Edwards admits he fathered a child; Conan O’ Brian says he is giving up Tonight Show, Defense Secretary Gates Urges Pakistan to fight “common enemies”
AFTERSHOCKS ROCK HAITI, AID PROGRAM A SHOCK
AFTERMATH OF ELECTION IN MASSACHUSETTS
CHINA PULLS AVATAR FROM THEATERS
• CNN: ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI LAST EVENING …
Haitians woke up before we did yesterday with 6.1 earthquake strength aftershocks, adding more insult to their ongoing injuries. Those aftershocks were bad but there’s been a continuing failure, a massive failure, on the part of the Obama Administration’s response to the disaster. This is a worse aftershock, worth commenting on.
I did comment in this blog, on many web sites, and on GRIT TV. It will be online later today. Yesterday, I was on – get this – RUSSIA Today, to talk about the USA in Haiti – tell me how you think I did. Why can’t we get this message out in this country?
Maybe because stories like the one below is so upsetting, today I will be speaking with Jocelyn MCalla, veteran Haitian human rights activist, and now a senior advisor to Haiti’s envoy to the UN. Tune in at 10 AM on the News Dissector Radio. Call 1.888.873.4643 with your comments.
• UK Telegraph – Bruno Waterfield: US ships blockade coast to thwart exodus to America
US officials have drawn up emergency plans to cope with a mass migration crisis and have cleared spaces in detention or reception centres, including the Navy base at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay. The unprecedented air, land and sea operation, dubbed “Vigilant Sentry”, was launched as a senior US official compared Haiti’s destruction to the aftermath of nuclear warfare.
“It is the same as if an atomic bomb had been exploded,” said Kenneth Merten, America’s ambassador to Port-au-Prince, as officials estimated the numbers of those killed by last weeks earthquake to over 200,000.
As well as providing emergency supplies and medical aid, the USS Carl Vinson, along with a ring of other navy and coast guard vessels, is acting as a deterrent to Haitians who might be driven to make the 681 mile sea crossing to Miami.
“The goal is to interdict them at sea and repatriate them,” said the US Coast Guard Commander Christopher O’Neil. [More here →]
DS: Notice the word: “THEM”!
RELATED:
• SALON: U.S. to Haitians: Don’t come here By Curt Anderson, Matt Sedensky and Larry Margasak
Officials warn against making dangerous sea passage — only to be sent back [More here →]
• One.org Help Haiti – Drop the Debt
As Haiti rebuilds from this disaster, please work to secure the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s $1 billion debt and ensure that any emergency earthquake assistance is provided in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans. Please sign our petition to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and urge him to use his influence to persuade international lending institutions and countries to do the right thing and drop Haiti’s debt. [Sign petition]
The Obama Brand Implodes by Talor Marsh
“In the special election to replace Edward M. Kennedy, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party leadership were handed their heads in the most stunning, avoidable repudiation of ineptitude in recent political memory.”
“Now we’ve lost Massachusetts to the Republicans, emboldening them further, dreams of defeated Dems dancing across their heads.” [More here →]
• MoveOn.org Poll On Brown Victory
A poll was conducted immediately after the election last night of 1000 registered Massachusetts voters who voted for Obama in 2008. Half of the respondents voted in the MA special election for Republican candidate Scott Brown; half of the respondents did not vote at all. The poll definitively shows that voters who stayed home and voters who switched party allegiance share very common frustration and anger at an economy that continues to work better for Wall Street than Main Street.
There’s a real populist anger out there. Voters worry that Democrats in power have not done enough to combat the policies of the Bush era. Both sets of voters wanted stronger, more progressive action on health care reform, as well. In summary, the poll shows that the party who fights corporate interests – especially on making the economy work for most Americans – will win the confidence of the voters. [More here →]
[h/t] remle beard of south carolina for this gem from Dr. Dean:
• Bill Lichtenstein offers a perspective on what he calls “the train wreck” from the Boston area.
Who Won In Massachusetts?
Everyone says Brown – but what if there were election anomalies?
• BlackBoxVoting.com | BIPARTISANLY YOURS: COAKLEY WON THE HAND COUNTS
” … I think you have a right to know that Coakley won the hand counts there. That’s right.According to preliminary media results by municipality, Democrat Martha Coakley won Massachusetts overall in its hand counted locations, *with 51.12% of the vote (32,247 hand counted votes) to Brown’s 30,136, which garnered him 47.77% of hand counted votes. Margin: 3.35% lead for Coakley.
Massachusetts has 71 hand count locations, 91 ES&S locations, and 187 Diebold locations, with two I call the mystery municipalities (Northbridge and Milton) apparently using optical scanners, not sure what kind.” [More here →]
Attention all of you so concerned about security at our airports:
Obama tapped Erroll Southers to head the Transportation Security Administration in September, but confirmation had been blocked by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who said he was worried Southers would allow TSA employees to join a labor union.
• IN THE HALLS OF JUSTICE (JUSTICE IS IN THE HALLS…L Bruce): US Supreme Court Rules Against Mumia
PHILADELPHIA — The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a ruling that had set aside the death sentence of Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer in a racially tinged case that has made the former Black Panther an international cause celebre. [More here →]
RELATED:
“MUMIA ABU-JAMAL is an African-American writer and journalist who has spent the last 24 years on Pennsylvania’s death row. His demand for justice and a new trial is supported by heads of state from France to South Africa, by Nobel Laureates, the European Parliament, city governments from Detroit to San Francisco to Paris, France, scholars, religious leaders, artists, scientists, the Congressional Black Caucus and other members of U.S. Congress, and by countless thousands who cherish democratic and human rights the world over.” [More here →]
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About Danny Schechter
Danny Schechter is an Emmy award winning journalist, television producer and independent filmmaker who also writes, blogs and speaks about media issues.
His latest film is PLUNDER The Crime Of Our Time.
Mr. Schechter is NOT the Godfather of Soul.
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