Dear Sisters and Brothers, Friends and Supporters:
Well the moment we all hoped would never come is upon us. Good-bye to a good cup of coffee in the morning, a soft chair, the hugs of grandchildren and the smaller pleasures in life. I must say I am being treated well and that is due to my lawyer team and your overwhelming support.
While I have received “celebrity” treatment here in MCC—high visibility—conditions for the other women are deplorable. Medical care, food, education, recreation are all at minimal levels. If it weren’t for the unqualified bonds of sisterhood and the commissary it would be even more dismal.
My fellow prisoners have supplied me with books and crosswords, a warm (it is cold in here most of the time) sweat shirt and pants, treats from the commissary, and of course, jailhouse humor. Most important many of them know of my work and have a deep reservoir of can I say it? Respect.
I continue to both answer the questions put to me by them, I also can’t resist commenting on the T.V. news or what is happening on the floor—a little LS politics always! (Smile) to open hearts and minds!
Liz Fink, my lawyer leader, believes I will be here at MCC-NY for a while—perhaps a year before being moved to prison. Being is jail is like suddenly inhabiting a parallel universe but at least I have the luxury of time to read! Tomorrow I will get my commissary order which may include an AM/FM Radio and be restored to WBAI and music (classical and jazz).
We are campaigning to get the bladder operation (scheduled before I came in to MCC) to happen here in New York City. Please be alert to the website I case I need some outside support.
I want to say that the show of support outside the Courthouse on Thursday as I was “transported” is so cherished by me. The broad organizational representation was breathtaking and the love and politics expressed (the anger too) will keep me nourished through this.
Organize—Agitate, Agitate, Agitate! And write to me and others locked down by the Evil Empire.
Love Struggle, Lynne Stewart
— lynnestewart.org , December 4, 2009
To write to Lynne Stewart:
Lynne Stewart
#53504-054
MCC-NY
150 Park Row
New York, NY NY 10007
For more information e-mail us at
info@lynnestewart.org
The Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
350 Broadway, Suite 700
New York, NY 10013
212-625-9696
December 7, 2009
Open Letter from Lynne
Dec. 12--Be There
11am-4pm • Washington DC
Lafayette Square | White House
Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North
Speakers: Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Sen. Mike Gravel, Kathy Kelly, Chris Hedges, David Swanson, Rev. Graylan Hagler, Gael Murphy, Brian Becker, Debra Sweet, Mathis Chiroux, Coy McKinney, Elaine Brower, Lynne Williams, Hon. Betty Hall, Marian Douglas, Dr. Michael Knox, Ralph Lopez, Cpt. Ron Fisher.
Plus: Statements from Rabbi Michael Lerner, Col. Ann Wright, Kevin Zeese, Dr. Stephen Zunes, Granny D (turning 100), and others.
Anti-War, 1969Live Music: Jordan Page, Head-Roc, Emma's Revolution, Precise Science.
Under Obama-Pelosi-Reid, the US has already sent about 35,000 more troops into the Afghanistan graveyard of empires. Now, Obama has announced another round of re-enforcements—an Afghan surge of 30,000 additional GIs, thereby betraying his supporters on the left and ignoring the majority of Americans, 55% of whom disapprove of his handling of the war. Instead, Obama is taking the advice from the war party—from Petraeus, McChrystal, and Mullen. It's high time Obama, Pelosi, and Reid heard a clear message from a resurgent antiwar movement demanding no escalation and an immediate pullout of all US forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, including an immediate halt to Predator drone attacks and CIA operations in the region.Come to the rally and let our united voices be heard!
http://www.enduswars.org
December 6, 2009
Jesse Does 9/11
Jesse Ventura will be addressing 9/11 on his show, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura. The show is called The Secrets of 9/11
I urge everybody to tune in this Wed. when the show will be on 9/11. I just learned that there will be interviews with William Rodriguez, a few firefighters, Manny Badillo and other 9/11 family members.As you're probably aware, Jesse is one of the few high profile people out there with the courage and vision to point to the compelling evidence and reveal the obvious anomalies of 9/11.
Here's a big opportunity to counter the media firestorm over the KSM/Gitmo trials in NYC and call attention to the recent news about Osama Bin Laden being allowed to escape from Tora Bora. Between the torture of the Gitmo 9/11 suspects, the inadmissibility of any confessions as evidence, and Bin Laden's escape undermining the credibility of the government's claim of his guilt, we have plenty of powerful material to expose the deception which has been dumped onto the public all these years. This cannot be allowed to stand. We must put pressure on the media to stop their participation in the deception. We must put pressure on all progressives to finally deal with the facts provin the government has lied to us, covered up the truth, and continue to use 9/11 as justification for their imperial agenda including their current escalation in Afghanistan.
Now is the time for action which all of us can easily make happen. Spread the word and urge everybody in your address book to watch this show, AND same for any media people you know. Write letters to the editor, call into talk shows, etc. The coverup stops here. Let's create a huge buzz about this show and put the pressure on people in media to fulfill their obligation to do the research and discover the facts that make it clear that 9/11 manifested PNAC's "New Pearl Harbor", which was in the pattern of a long history of false flag events designed to traumatize the public into supporting wars of expansion.
Here's another FYI which I think it's safe to assume will be of interest to many. There will be events Dec. 12th in Manhattan and Dec. 13th in Suffolk revealing very unique information on the banking system, the creation of credit, dealing with debt collection, stopping foreclosure, and more. Irecently won 2 lawsuits by a major credit card company and wiped out over $21,000 in phony debt using this knowledge. Find out all about the events at www.citizensreformcenter.com. Seating will be limited so please RSVP as instructed there. Furthermore, if you're interested in being part of a support group in the NYC area, include this in your RSVP or send an email to services@citizensreformcenter.com.
Towards truth,
Les Jamieson
ENERGIZE ME and All Jobless & Broke Folks!!!
As the "Blessed are the Jobless Blessed are the Broke" tour continues!
Saturday, 12/12/2009, 8:00pm. All ages, Tickets $10 -- no one turned away. Order online here: http://bit.ly/2009-blow-out
At The Brooklyn Lyceum!
227 4th Avenue, at Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Ph: 718-857-4816
R train to Union Street Station Saturday, October 3rd
Doors @ 7:00pm $10 | Brooklyn Lyceum 227 4th Ave, R Train To Union St.
Music, Video, Blogs and more at http://www.revbilly.com
(Photo by Jefferson Siegel)
December 5, 2009
9/11 Death Toll Still Rises
While it speaks volumes that 9/11 first responders (primarily those who are suffering from illnesses related to their time at the WTC site), along with their respective constituency groups, have been advocating for the passage of HR 847- The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009, it is time that all Americans fight on behalf of them. These men and women thought of their fellow Americans first, and foremost before heading to the WTC site, in the wake of September 11, 2001.Having lost over eight hundred September 11th first responders since that horrific day, we must act now as many, many more of our Nation’s Heroes are sick and dying due to the time they spent at the World Trade Center site. We would like to stress how important the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 is to us, our community and America. It is time to get this bill to the House floor and passed so that those who put America first on September 11, 2001 are taken properly taken care of, now. We want HR 847 passed so that we, as a country, can properly thank the thousands who have given so much of themselves, so selflessly. We have lost over eight hundred September 11th first responders since that horrific day, we MUST act now as many, many more of these men and women are sick and dying due to the time they spent at Ground Zero.
HR 847- The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009
December 1, 2009
Will Lynne Stewart Pay for Ramsey Clark's Crimes?
Thought crimes, no more. Lynne Stewart was brought into this difficult case by Ramsey Clark, former Attorney General and current mischief maker for the left. At times I rejoice at his speaches, at other times I cringe and wonder what the hell he's doing on our team? I wonder if Lynne Steward wonders the same things, since he was her supervisor and continues to walk freely while she suffers in jail. Casualty of the War on Terror
The Case of Lynn Stewart
By MARJORIE COHN , The Jurist
http://counterpunch.org/cohn11252009.html
November 30, 2009
Reject Obama's War
Here are two views about Prez Obama's upcoming announcement of more boots on the ground, again.***
November 29, 2009
To: All USLAW affiliates, members and supporters
From: USLAW Co-Convenors
RE: Imminent Afghan Escalation
On the very eve of the USLAW National Labor Assembly in Chicago, President Barack Obama is expected to announce his decision about the deployment of tens of thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan. Media reports predict he will make an announcement on Tuesday evening, December 1, that he intends to send as many as 34,000 additional U.S. troops and will seek thousands more from NATO allies.
Antiwar organizations around the country are organizing to protest this military escalation in Afghanistan. We encourage USLAW affiliates, members and supporters to join them to convince the administration that this escalation puts our country on the wrong course. It is the path LBJ took in Vietnam and it cost him "The Great Society." We can do better.
While the Assembly will consider USLAW's overall stance, it has been USLAW policy since the Leadership Council meeting December, 2008, that we
• Oppose any escalation of the conflict in Afghanistan and military action in Pakistan and promote non-military solutions that rely primarily on diplomacy, economic development, and pursuit of terrorists as a criminal rather than military matter.
On November 15, we reiterated this position in an Action Alert in which we said:
The wisdom of that stand has been born out by the steady deterioration in the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The government is viewed by Afghans as corrupt and ineffective. The elections there made a travesty of the very notion of democracy. Karzai, surrounded by warlords and drug lords, is thoroughly discredited. His own brother is a druglord and a thug.
Committing thousands more troops will only stiffen Afghan resistance to foreign military occupation.
During the last few weeks, across the country, tens of thousands of people who share these concerns have written and called the White House to express opposition to any escalation of the conflict in Afghanistan. They believe, as we do, that the corrupt regime in Kabul does not deserve any more blood or money.
What Afghanistan needs now is not more foreign forces but rather more international diplomacy, regional negotiations that include the Taliban, real development assistance, more schools and clinics, electrification, clean water, and sanitation.
It costs $1 million for every troop the U.S. sends to Afghanistan. The billions of dollars we are squandering there are not making us any safer, but they are draining resources that could be used here to meet the urgent needs we have here at home - for health care, education, infrastructure, and more.
Rather than listen to the generals and Congressional hawks, we must convince the Obama administration to listen to the people - a majority of whom want an end to war and occupation in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now is not a time for silence!
Join, Support & Build USLAW - Labor's Antiwar Voice!
Here's their link: http://uslaboragainstwar.org/
Next is Michael Moore''s letter to the president. Blessed be Michael Moore!!
November 27, 2009
What Are We Hiding and Why?
The heady days of "hope" are long gone and we are now faced with the dilema of supporting a president most of us only supported in theory. He was unknown, untested and now, it seems, untruthful. A man of the law who runs for president must completely comprehend and accept his campaign promises of transparency in governance and justice for ALL (not JUST US). What is Obama protecting by messing around with linguistics in policy? What have we done to maintain our security? Why are lies and obstructions more pallatable to some citizens than truth and setting things straight?
The question that's haunting me is what could a person possibly do to make them "untriable?" The answer keeps coming back that it isn't the prisoner who is untriable, but the legal system which "dissappeared" law abiding citizens. Which brings us back to the question of what our president is doing to protect and maintain our democracy, because democracy HAS to be for all, or it just ain't democracy.
(Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t;
Adapted: christophe dune / Flickr)
Obama's Fifth Category: The "Untriable"
Tuesday 24 November 2009
http://www.truthout.org/1124094
November 18, 2009
Prejudice: What is it good for?
I love those moments in all the Rush Hour films when Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker burst into "War: What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING!" The same can be said for prejudice. Recent events in the Sunshine State of Florida have brought home the message that the ugly, smelly, nasty underbelly of white power and/or free-flowing racism is alive and well in Fort Lauderdale. It's had a long nap and now is flexing its muscles, savoring a romp in the park or Fort, as it were. Like this kind of crap:
"We have to see these billboards flourish in 2010 and leading up to the 2012 election when Obama will seek re-election," said Farah. "If he can't answer that simple question by then, he's toast. Help me make it so Obama can't go anywhere in the United States without seeing this sign." Since Jesus was an immigrant, I guess these are Christian values in action!
Last Saturday there was demonstration requesting amnesty for aliens which turned into a street fight between ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and ALIPAC (Tea Parties Against Amnesty. Actually, it's Americans for Legal Immigration PAC).
A video posted by ALIPAC was so bizarre with it's pop-up comments that I felt compelled to deconstruct it, lest someone less compulsive than I sit through it and be misled and deluded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekW3HmlnYS4
It's easier to watch if you turn off the sound and keep your finger on the pause button. Ignore the pop ups, (very strategically placed) because reading them will obscure what your eyes see.
Shot from the perspective of someone across the street (let's call this person "Deep Wad"), we see a group of demonstrators organized around a corner while a man (call him "Jacko") stands in the street shooting a video directly into the face of an ANSWER demonstrator (good morning!). Words are seemingly exchanged and Jacko walks behind, then into the middle of the group. The ANSWER group turns to Jacko as a man in a black shirt (so ironic we could call him "Benito") leaps into the action (#8) with another video camera hoisted, already "shooting." Benito joins Jacko as side-by-side they continue to endure (heroically or arrogantly?) more verbal confrontration from the ANSWER demonstrators who clearly had claimed that corner to express their First Amendment right.
Only now notice there's a guy in a brown hat ("Goose") to the far left (# 12) who ALSO has a video camera and has been taping (from yet a different perspective) Jack and Benito's great adventure of provoking a riot at a peaceful demonstration.
Things happen quickly now. As Jacko seem to leave by walking behind and past Goose, a black van cuts across Deep Wad's angle. Although Goose is nearly obscured by a HUGE cartoony balloon directing us elsewhere, we can see Goose is clearly making gestures towards Jacko or Deep Wad, or maybe both. Goose turns towards Deep Wad and from here to #34 we can watch Goose cross the street and past Deep Wad's camera. Goose avoids a direct look but smiles into said camera while using his brown hat to shield his face as he gets closer to Deep Wad. Mission accomplis[h]ed?
Except provoking a riot is a felony, or so I thought based upon all the Black Panthers and Yippies and pacifists and progressives who've been busted for less. And in the case of the Panthers, outright hounded and murdered.
I don't get paid to do this and need some sleep but I hope someone will use what I've noticed, continue the deconstruction and get it to the right places.
Back in the day there were plenty of slug fests started by hardhats and Nazis and yes, cops out of uniform against anti-war protestors, only this time THEY GOT THE SHIT BEAT OUT OF THEM!!!
What a surprise!
Here is ANSWER's response, appropriately titled:
Racism, Lies and Videotape
A statement from ANSWER Florida
Nov. 17, 2009
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2/1667236835?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=9225&news_iv_ctrl=1621
At least the majority of American people understand the stupidity of the birthers, Birchers, Tea Baggers and repuglicans. There will be scuffling in the streets but we will continue to love and live as free Americans, despite their hatred.
November 6, 2009
A Tale of Two Men
Down in Texass the repuglican spin meisters are working overtime to proclaim that the alleged (remember, innocent until proven guilty?) shooter at Ft. Hood, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was a loser and miscreant who just didn't feel like going to Iraq to shoot other Muslims. Born in America, Maj. Hasan was a Palestinian Muslim whose family fled for a better life. To be a dutiful American son, he volunteered for military service years before 9/11. Maj. Hasan considered the military his family. But he was just a soldier in a "volunteer" army, and that meant he had to take whatever shit they threw at him, including refusing requests to resign rather than be deployed to Afghanistan.
"He's disgruntled because he had a poor performance evaluation, he doesn't believe in the mission, he's looking at getting transferred to Afghanistan or Iraq," [Representative Michael] McCaul said. "He's not happy about all that."
Rep Michael McCaul and wife Linda at POPE BENEDICT XVIS BIRTHDAY
The Italian Embassy on May 2008
USA Today: 22 candidates dig deep into fortunes; only one wins
[...] In Texas, McCaul, a former counterterrorism specialist in the Justice Department, had the experience — and the cash. His wife, Linda, is the daughter of Lowry Mays, chairman of the board of Clear Channel Communications Inc.
McCaul spent $4 million to defeat millionaire Ben Streusand, a Houston-area mortgage banker, in a Republican runoff primary election. Since there was no Democratic candidate, McCaul won election to the House.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-05-millionaires_x.htm
Please review the ideology of Mr. McCaul, courtesy of the internet tubes:
http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Michael_McCaul.htm
This man McCaul will never receive an award for compassion or for even trying to walk in another man's shoes. Shit, second-hand was not part of the profile for this 4th generation prosecution attorney who wound up as a terrorISM expert.
Major Hasan was a psychiatrist who spent his days listening to soldiers relay the worst experiences and (probably) trying to patch them up enough so they could go back to the field and do more horrific damage to innocent people. If he survives his injuries it will be nearly miraculous if a Jack Ruby type doesn't assassinate him before any more facts come out.
I wonder how long Rep McCaul could last on a military base, with a case load of seriously
damaged people filing in on the hour and out 10 minutes before, with precious little time to process, clear his head and write up the required progess notes before the next client walked in and then the next until his work day was over.In the current atmosphere of financial desperation and dog eat dog under which most Americans must function, I doubt Michael McCaul could last a single day. But maybe he's got friends in Opus Dei with a special key to heaven. That might help, if you're a believer. I believe Jesus said a whole lot of good stuff about compassion. Too bad Michael McCaul didn't read those parts, or take them to heart. Maybe he will change. Maybe. Mostly, I just wish he'd keep his mouth shut until the facts are out. If he continues spewing out of his asshole, he might as well just pull the plug on Maj. Hasan's life support right now.
Here's more background about Maj. Hasan from sources I'd trust before CNN:
irishtimes.com
Texas Shooting leaves 13 dead
[...] Retired Colonel Terry Lee, who worked with Hasan, claimed the major was anti-war and argued with comrades who supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Hasan, a 39-year-old from Virginia, was also due to be sent to Afghanistan, something family members said would have been his “worst nightmare”.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1106/breaking1.htmBBC News: Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan
[...] His cousin told US media that Maj Hasan had been opposed to an imminent deployment overseas, describing it as his "worst nightmare".
He also said that Maj Hasan had been battling racial harassment because of his "Middle Eastern ethnicity".
