Author Archives: bfialindathieman

Good News and Notes from Iowa and DFIA

Posted on August 31, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Good News & Notes from Iowa & DFIA This great design is by Darrell Lewis of Clear Lake DFIA Signs Pop Up in Scott County It is not widely known (because it got lost in the shuffle) that a couple … Continue reading →

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REPUBLICAN CONVENTION DELEGATE SPITS ON VETERAN

Posted on August 30, 2004 by bfialindathieman

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION DELEGATE SPITS ON VETERAN

First-hand Accounts of Yesterday’s Protests in NYC

[Announcement: Tomorrow’s Bush arrival in Des Moines has been moved up.  Click here for the latest details.]


Dean Supporters Report In

These protesters post as “SylvieNYC” and “Agatha” on Blog for America.


Reporting from NYC…

What an amazing day! I arrived at Union Square around 10 am to meet Agatha (and David and Mike, but we never hooked up.)

Although it was a hot day again, the breeze made the heat much more tolerable than [the day before] — a good thing, since it took us, at first, two hours to walk two blocks — that’s how crowded it was. The organizers’ count is more than 400,000; the police, 125,000; the New York Times said “hundred of thousands,” but CNN.com and MSNBC talked of “ten of thousands” — yeah, right!

One of the best parts was when we arrived next to Madison Square Garden, where the chanting got suddenly very inspired as the crowd spotted “Welcome RNC” signs, as well as a Fox News giant screen.

But the very best part, as in most New York demonstrations I have been to, was the amazing display of creativity, good spirit, fun, and yes, peace. New York in demonstration is New York at its most civil.

Agatha went on to Central Park, where many protesters were going to “hang out” after the march, but I have not heard of any trouble going on there either.

Posted by SylvieNYC at August 29, 2004 11:11 PM


I’m sweaty [and] I’m exhausted. . . .  Sylvie, it was amazing demonstrating with you and the “French delegation.”

After the rally, I went to Central Park and had a “peace and love” time in the Great Meadow. We made human peace signs on the lawn. The police mingled. Very nice.

THEN, as I was leaving the park to go home with a group, we were told that a bunch of delegates were dining at the Boat House, an OUTDOOR restaurant. Isn’t it curious that the RNC chose to dine at an outdoor restaurant in Central Park on the day thousands of protesters were expected to be in Central Park? Were they setting us up for something? Stay tuned. I joined a group (about 200) and protested. We were not in the restaurant’s property; we were on PUBLIC PROPERTY, where we were very visible and audible.

OK, I’m guilty of flipping the bird and saying the word “f*ck” a few times. However, I felt the need to be serious. Here are some of the things I shouted out:

1000 American soldiers dead; 37,000 Iraqi civilians dead! (OK, I slightly rounded up the # of dead Americans, but unfortunately, I’m not that far off.)

How can you eat with blood on your hands?

Criminals!

I believe in democracy, not plutocracy!

Over 2,700 people died on Sept. 11, and you’re using this as an excuse to party!

And so forth. And, I bellowed SHAME and wagged my finger repeatedly.

One [demonstrator] was really angry and passionate, and I told him to calm down because the press had arrived. Let’s call this guy “Bob” for privacy purposes. Do you know what happened to Bob? A delegate lounging about SPAT on him. And, I got to know Bob. Bob is awesome, and I understand now why he was so angry. He is an Iraq veteran. He didn’t go to Iraq, but he was on duty, and he knew a number of friends who died in Iraq. He had recently attended a memorial service for one of them. And, his father was laid off by Enron and lost his pension.

So, excuse me for all the shout outs, but I really want all of you to know what the main media will probably not reveal (but Bob did get an interview with a reporter):

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION DELEGATE SPITS ON VETERAN

And, much later on, when Bob lost his voice, I shouted for him. When delegates were leaving the restaurant, Bob gave me a list of three friends who died in Iraq. One of them was 19 years old. For Bob and the dead, I read their names and demanded the delegates apologize. (No, we did not get one.) Instead, they laughed, at which point I asked them how hearing about dead people is funny.

When I shouted out about what the delegates thought about one of their fellow delegates spitting on a veteran, one of them called back, “It’s hilarious!” Let me shout out that for you: HILARIOUS.
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Behind The Scenes in New York

Posted on August 30, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Behind The Scenes in New York A Message from ACT The Republican National Convention kicked off in New York City just a few hours ago.  As President Clinton said yesterday, “It's time for the Republicans to put on their compassionate … Continue reading →

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September 2nd Parties: You’re Invited!

Posted on August 30, 2004 by bfialindathieman

September 2nd Parties: You’re Invited! Iowa City Party More Bush & Grassley? Fuhgeddabout it! Does the idea of another round of Republican “leadership” make you want to scream? Then join us for the Art Small Meet & Greet and Great … Continue reading →

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Greet Bush in Des Moines Tomorrow (New Time!)

Posted on August 30, 2004 by bfialindathieman

“Greet” Bush in Des Moines Tomorrow (New Time!) George W. Bush will be flying into Des Moines on Tuesday (tomorrow) to attend the Farm Progress show.  We're assembling a giant welcoming committee of several hundred people to show him that … Continue reading →

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Connie Wilson: The Fog of War, Part 3

Posted on August 30, 2004 by bfialindathieman

The Fog of War, Part 3

by Connie Corcoran Wilson

Where we left off:  We hear LBJ saying, “We’re not getting out, but we’re trying to hold on to what we have,” and, later, “This is a nasty little war that has turned into a nasty middle-sized war. But America wins the wars she declares. Make no mistake about that!”

McNamara tellingly declares (after Lesson #8, “Be prepared to re-examine your reasoning,” appears onscreen), “What makes us omniscient? Do we have a record of omniscience? None of our allies supported us. If we can’t persuade nations with comparable values of the rightness of our cause, we had better re-examine our reasons.” In Robert Dallek’s extensive biography of JFK (An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963.), on page 685, Dallek notes, “Briefings of McNamara tended to be sessions where people tried to fool him, and he tried to convince them they cannot.”  In the film, McNamara also relates how Tommy Thompson, former Ambassador to Russia, stood up to the President during a meeting, telling him that he (JFK) was wrong about whether Russia would accept the intended blockade of Cuba. “We must try to put ourselves inside their skins,” said Thompson, echoing McNamara’s Rule #1. Were it not for cautionary voices like Thompson’s, war might have erupted with the Soviet Union during three crises that occurred on JFK’s and McNamara’s watch. But, during the Kennedy years, open debate was the name of the game. Intelligent dissent was encouraged, not discouraged. The lack of healthy debate in the current administration is a point made most tellingly in Paul O’Neill’s book “The Price of Loyalty.” Dissent is not encouraged and nobody dares stand up to the President. One is “assigned” to speak.  In fact, Cabinet members are not even encouraged to speak in their areas of expertise, such as Christie Whitman (former Governor of New Jersey) of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) on topics that one would think should be their bailiwick, such as the issue of global warming and what the US position on the Kyoto Protocol should be. There is no debate in the George W. Bush White House; it is filled with ideologues who have already made their conservative Christian minds up, and who follow few, if any, of McNamara’s “eleven lessons.” They most certainly do not attempt to apply Lesson 6 (Get the data), as we now know from the 9/11 Commission report, nor Lesson 7 (Belief and seeing are both often wrong), nor Lesson 8 (Be prepared to re-examine your reasoning.).
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THE CASE AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH by Ron Reagan

Posted on August 29, 2004 by bfialindathieman

THE CASE AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH by Ron Reagan Esquire How The Media Let Bush Get Away With Lie After Lie …There is a surreal quality to all this: Occupation is liberation; Iraq is sovereign, but we're in control; Saddam … Continue reading →

Posted in GOP, Main Page, National News | 3 Comments

Zogby Says Junta Is On The Ropes

Posted on August 29, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Zogby Says Junta Is On The Ropes by Linda Thieman Q: How many journalists does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: None. They wait for a Republican mouthpiece to tell them it's in, and then they repeat … Continue reading →

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Call to Action: Emergency Relief for State Medicaid

Posted on August 29, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Call to Action: Emergency Relief for State Medicaid Write Your U.S. Senators People living with HIV/AIDS face many challenges.  Paying for their medical care shouldn't be one of them. Because of recent cuts to state Medicaid funds, many people may … Continue reading →

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Deserter’s Delight: An Open Letter from Michael Moore to George W. Bush

Posted on August 29, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Deserter's Delight: An Open Letter from Michael Moore to George W. Bush AlterNet.org Dear Mr. Bush: It takes real courage to desert your post and then attack a wounded vet. Dear Mr. Bush, I know you and I have had … Continue reading →

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