Monday, April 22, 2024

The Cast-Iron Heart of Imperalism

Joe Biden's "ironclad support of Israel" has become so mindlessly repetitive, so unthinkingly reactionary, that it is rendered practically meaningless, if not a parody of itself.

Ditto for his hair-trigger response to the anti-genocide protests - that  they are "anti-semitic" to their core.

He might as well be saying that if you don't support Israel's ethnically-motivated right to mass-murder upwards of 30,000 Palestinians, you're simply the wrong kind of racist. It's kind of similar to to what he blurted out during his first campaign:

 "if you don't vote for Biden, you ain't black." The hidden meaning of that taunt, issued to a Black radio host, was that oppressed people will embrace their tormenters if they want to survive in the prison-industrial complex that he himself had been so instrumental in creating. 

All the racist tropes in the world can't keep up with Biden. He is getting so desperate he spun a yarn last week about his uncle possibly being killed by cannibals on Papua New Guinea during World War II.  He might have been thinking of cartoon characters with a human bone through their noses who kidnapped and devoured all those brave white settler-explorers in the jungle back in the day.

 If you can't have a heart of darkness to go along with your ironclad mania, then what good are you as an overlord?

And why did he settle for the retrograde "ironclad" loyalty to an apartheid regime? After pocketing millions of dollars from the Israel lobby over the course of his 50-year political career, iron is so stingy.  Why not upgrade to "tungsten steel-clad" or better yet, "diamond-clad" loyalty? Those are materials which unlike iron, can never rust.

 the Biden regime's use of the ironclad metaphor is not only cheap, it's getting downright flaky, not to mention riddled with holes. A lot like whatever passes for their ancient, rust-eaten brains. 

Meanwhile, although regular people have been massing in the streets for more than half a year in support of the Palestinian people, the New York Times and other mainstream outlets were not covering these events with any regularity. Not, that is, tuntil they converged on elite college campuses, especially the campus of Columbia University in New York City. The biggest media personalities are in town anyway, covering the Donald Trump trial. You will be relieved to know that this hush-money trial is the lead story, despite rumors of World War III already breaking out. Forget Joe Biden's pig-iron brain. Donald Trump is so old and decrepit and sociopathic, they'll have you now, that he keeps nodding off after lunch right in the middle of the trial of the century.

Trump is so guilty in fact, that the Los Angeles Times spotted him emerging from O.J. Simpson's prison cell during the writing of the their O.J. obituary last week.

 suffice it to say that we probably never would have learned about the self-immolation of Max Azzarello had it not happened right outside the Trump courthouse in full vew of the TV cameras. Of course, when it turned out that the victim was not a Trump supporter, they lost interest as soon as was indecently possible.

If you feel like you're trapped in a Theatre of the Absurd, you are not alone. Only in a world this topsy-turvy would the genocidal Israeli prime minister Netanyahu accuse the Biden White House of "the peak of absurdity and a moral low," for merely considering the sanctioning of a particularly brutal IDF battalion indulging in non-sanctioned genocide in the occupied West Bank. Bibi definitely got the absurd part right, given that the US just voted to give more unconditional aid to Israel.

"The horror! The horror!" -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was at the local walk-in clinic today renewing a prescription. Surrounded by all that quiet, shiny functionality I started remembering the stories and pictures out of Gaza, started imagining what my routine visit would have been like in Gaza.

At least at my age if I start crying in public for no immediately apparent reason people will just chalk it up to dementia and pay no mind.

Mark Thomason said...

It is Biden's behavior, and those like them, that create the risk of dangerous real antisemitism.

They misuse the idea. This is calculated, their design.

By using it to cover huge crimes, the worst possible gross crimes, they undermine the very idea that antisemitism is a bad thing. They are the ones attacking the safety and honor of Jewish people.

Valerie in Australia said...

I hope someone took pictures of all the Representatives waving Ukrainian flags in Congress and they are brought out and published during election time. I have been given to understand that the majority of Americans don't want the fund the Ukrainian War and certainly don’t want their elected Representatives waving a foreign flag during Congress. I'm amazed there weren't Star of David flags as well. Whose stupid idea was it for a member of the House of Representatives to wave a foreign flag! This isn't a football match! We really must be the laughing stock of the world - and deservedly so.

I love the "leak" that Biden was furious about Israel attacking the Iranian Consulate in Syria. (Probably because he was thought to be so insignificant as to not warrant consultation.) But again, maybe the "leak" was a crumb thrown to the Party Faithful implying Biden is diligently working the keep a fragile Middle East peace - because we all know what a lover of peace this president is.

Douglas MacGregor offered the opinion that he doesn't think Israel has actually responded to the Iranian show of force - yet. Netanyahu has been trying to start a war with Iran for about 25 years, according to Alastair Crooke, and drag the US in as Israel's pit bull. Despite Biden saying he won't back Israel if it gets a rise out of Iran by attacking, he has always said the U.S. has Israel's back. So, it is likely that Biden will jump in on Israel's side if Iran responds – without warning and informing the U.S. of locations in advance – to a strike by Israel. MacGregor clearly states that the U.S. doesn't have the troops and the actual killing machinery needed to win a war - and everyone in the Pentagon knows it - so if the Dumkopfs in charge get us into a war, we will lose (again) and look even weaker to the world. Only our bought off, elected officials don't understand this. He also said – utterly depressing me - that the only thing that will stop or significantly slow down this march to war mentality is an economic collapse.

As for sanctioning an (especially violent and odious) IDF battalion . . . How does the U.S. even do that? Again, more bullshit disguised as crumbs for the masses?

Hey Joe! How about stopping the shipments of arms so Israel can slaughter innocent and vulnerable people? Does Joe et al actually think intelligent people haven't noticed the hypocrisy?

Missing Jay said...


“A person who has not been completely alienated, who has remained sensitive and able to feel, who has not lost the sense of dignity, who is not yet "for sale", who can still suffer over the suffering of others, who has not acquired fully the having mode of existence - briefly, a person who has remained a person and not become a thing - cannot help feeling lonely, powerless, isolated in present-day society." Erich Fromm from The Art of Loving

It is good to know that I am not alone.

Valerie said...

I was listening to the Critical Hour and Wilmer commented that it was about $66,000 a year to attend Columbia so these students who are suspended have a financial punishment as well. What a gutless sell-out Shafik is. My only hope is that this hurts Columbia financially. While they might keep their Zionist mega-donors, if students elect to go to other universities, this will hurt Columbia's reputation.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/22/columbia-university-protests-shutdown

Thought Criminal said...

Genocide Joe has called peaceful pro-Palestine protesters "unconscionable, blatantly antisemitic and dangerous". Has he called them 'terrorists' or the 'enemy' yet? If not, I'm sure it's coming very soon as the anti-genocide movement rapidly grows.

Genocide Joe calling students dangerous is rich. He just served up a big plate of juicy red meat words for blood-thirsty Zionists and their provocateurs and planted a virtual swastika target on the students' backs, seriously endangering them.

His condemnation of protesters is 'ironclad', not just in prejudicing the public against them but justifying violence against them. Students have in effect been SWATTED by Genocide Joe who falsely reported them, publicly, as 'dangerous' - a literal trigger word - and a threat to Js, fomenting fear and anger.

With those pronouncements he essentially put out a call-to-arms to police, SWAT, National Guard, FBI, politicians, fellow Zionists, the media, and the public.

That's the kind of maliciousness that leads to slaughters like the Kent State Massacre on May 4, 1970.

Thought Criminal said...

Genocide Joe and defenders of Empire are cracking down on protesters using Lawfare to shut them down and silence them. They won't stop until the movement is either totally crushed or the empire collapses. Why? Because Genocide Joe is not defending people but rather his Empire's deadly serious and lucrative bu$ine$$ of War ("War is good for the economy"- JRB).

Where else have we seen Lawfare used recently? Oh right, Biden's Justice Dept with help from his intelligence cabal against the thousands of J6 protesters they labeled 'insurrectionists'. Most of them were identified post 1/6 protest through facial recognition software and only later arrested (with many more still to come) for allegedly attempting to overthrow 'our Democracy'. Also totally coincidental I'm sure are the nearly 100 legal charges in multiple venues filed in short order against Donald Trump, the leading Presidential candidate to run the Empire, I mean 'our Democracy'. Lawfare.

"FIRST THEY CAME FOR..." the J6ers and I did not speak out because they were labeled 'dangerous' and 'insurrectionists'. Then they came for Trump and I did not speak out because he was labeled 'dangerous' and 'fascist Hitler'. Then they came for the student protesters and I did not speak out because the President called them 'dangerous' and 'anti-Semitic' and Jews need to feel safe.
...

So what's really going on? As renowned chef Jose Andres realized after his WFC food aid workers were assassinated by Israeli forces and his vision became clear, "This is a 'WAR AGAINST HUMANITY'". In other words, we're all Palestinians now.

We will never give up. We will win.

Valerie said...

Once again, from The Critical Hour: The show hosted Kim Ives, the most educated journalist I've read and heard on the subject of Haiti. (It was at the end of the show - in case anyone wants to listen.)

As this Haiti drama - that the U.S. and Canada seem intent on immersing themselves in - continues to unfold, I have continually wondered, "Why do these two countries care about an impoverished little island country to involve themselves enough to want to send in military and essentially put it under martial law?" I had read that there was an industry that produced baseballs - paying workers exploited wages. But that didn't sound like much. I also knew about a slave revolt - apparently the first around 1800 - but why would America still be punishing Haiti for that? I kept searching the Internet, running only into MSM sources which told me nothing except that Haiti seemed to be perpetually ungovernable and impoverished as a result. Even Ives, who explained the current political situation eloquently - always advocating for the embryonic efforts of Haitians to self-govern amidst foreign meddling - never really seemed to discuss WHY the US and Canada cared.

Finally, Wilmer asked my question - and the answer explains everything. In the northern mountains of Haiti, are an estimated 20 billion dollars in gold dust - the real veins having been exploited and drained by Columbus and his ilk way back. To get to the dust, mountain tops have to be blown off, the remaining soil is sluiced with cyanide and the water table and connecting rivers and lakes are poisoned, creating and ecological disaster.

I don't know if the readership is interested in this fact - but I just wanted to share in case there was someone else who had the same question. If I am the only one, I am happy to be directed to articles relating to the gold issue in Haiti.

Right now, the US, under the guise of humanitarian concern - as it was during Clinton's time - is trying to get Kenya to send troops into Haiti to control the major infrastructure, like airports and major thoroughfares. I’m assuming-because most Americans would wonder why we would send American troops into such an unimportant little mess when we have bigger fish to fry. Apparently, even little Kenya, a government the U.S. has quite a bit of influence over, is dragging its heels.

Have the machinations always been this bad? Or are things getting worse?

Valerie Again! said...

@Thought Criminal

This all brings back the smearing of the Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street protests.

But the biggest problem Biden and the MSM face is many of the student protesters are JEWISH! God love those beautiful, ethical kids and adults who believe Never Again, really means Never Again!

Erik Roth said...


The Gray Lady has gone from deplorable to detestable.
An article online today about the 95 billion dollar bill he signed to send weapons to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, genocide Joe Biden was quoted in the headline saying that "it's a good day for world peace."
Comments posted to that were overwhelming in condemnation, with obvious reference to the Orwellian expression. So, now that article has been removed, and further reference focuses primarily on Ukraine.

Meanwhile:
Naomi Klein: Jews Must Raise Their Voices for Palestine, Oppose the “False Idol of Zionism” —
https://www.democracynow.org/2024/4/24/naomi_klein_seder
April 24, 2024
Naomi Klein concludes:
... That is a false idol. And it’s not just Netanyahu. It’s the world he made and the world that made him. It’s Zionism. What are we? We, in these streets for months and months, we are the exodus, the exodus from Zionism. So, to the Chuck Schumers of this world, we do not say, “Let our people go.” We say, “We have already gone, and your kids, they are with us now.”

They (and many more of all ages) will never vote for Biden.




Valerie said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U75KcMUjMyI

Democracy Now

God Bless them! So brave and eloquent! It actually brings tears to my eyes!

Thought Criminal said...

RFK Jr must be eating his heart out. He can't take advantage of all those college protests to try to win their votes!

He's still on the wrong side of history even after these 7 months of continual horror. His running mate is no better. No hearts, no souls, just tons of money.

I hope those trips on the Lolita Express were worth it to him. He's an owned man.

Valerie said...

@Thought Criminal

I know! And it is exactly what the soulless, conscious-less RFK Jr deserves.

Jill and Cornell seem to be lying low. I would think Jill, as a Jew, would have taken the opportunity to side with the student protesters, especially because so many of them are Jewish. It is an opportunity for her to show she is on the side of justice and peace - which she is - and I would think it would give her free media exposure. But maybe the real liberal intelligentsia - the student protesters - have already decided to vote for her. Perhaps she is staying under the radar. Technically, I would think if there are debates - which neither clown representing the duopoly should want - The Green Party would have to be invited. To the best of my knowledge they are on the ballot in almost all of the States.

One For Our Side said...

Just read an interesting piece over at Naked Capitalism about how Netanyahu's slaughter - which has turned out to be less of a slam dunk than Israel and the U.S. expected - and disrupting of the region has cost Israel economically. It's a good article written by Smith. https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/04/israel-economy-deterioration-worsens-as-gaza-conflict-and-other-hostilities-grind-on.html

Of particular interest is the comment by Revenant:

Revenant
April 24, 2024 at 11:57 am

"We have a portfolio company providing specialised cybersecurity to a global critical industry. Their major competitor is an Israeli start-up. Our phone is ringing off the hook because the Israeli company is not seen as safe to deal with (I cannot say if this fear of attack on or by the Israelis, I suspect a bit of both). Third parties who work with both companies confirm this customer shift is not restricted to Muslim countries but throughout the West.

This is a specialised industry – things may be different t for sodastream – but it is in the posterchild sector of the Israeli tech economy, long basking in the reflected glory of Israeli electronic warfare and Mossad / Shin Bet spookery. It’s got to hurt!

My hunch is this is replicated across the industry and any Israeli cybersecurity companies needing VC funding are going to be in deep trouble except with Israeli funds. I would expect to see Israel create a financing vehicle to bridge these companies until their reputation can be laundered."

Thought Criminal said...

@Valerie

Dr. Jill (the REAL Doctor) Stein has been on X/Twitter supporting the movement.

I just finished watching her at Columbia where an obnoxious Zionist self-id'd Jew harassed her, assuming she wasn't Jewish. She set him straight and resumed speaking on video but briefly looked rattled, almost fearful. I get it!

You never know what those crazy lying death cult Zionists will do, even to fellow Jews. They're absolutely feral.

Frankly, I don't want a Zionist anywhere near me because they're almost certain to make up some phony allegation to make themselves look like the victim. Ten foot rule!

We've got their # - 666! ;>)

This is getting so UGLY.

Valerie in Australia said...

I just woke up and turned-on the show, Breaking Points. Thank God for social media, the technology of phones and the Internet or we would be seeing none of it. I am watching the country where I grew up – that I always assumed was decently governed - turn into what I can only describe it as an authoritarian . . . I don't even know the word – but “dictatorship” comes to mind. What is it when a government won't listen to its own people and when its citizens peacefully protest in order to be heard – and those in power sic the police on them? That has always been called an authoritarian dictatorship by the MSM when it concerns other countries. Our government, under Trump and Biden, continually criticises China and Russia for violence against their own citizens and yet now, I watch the police attacking peaceful protesters - throwing college professors who are there to support the non violent protesters - on the ground. Middle aged women, well-dressed, professional intellectuals being thrown around by overweight, middle aged policemen - It would be called domestic abuse if it happened in a household.

So now, because the "anti-Semitic" label has grown tired and has no effect, the Zionists are floating the rumour that there are "foreign agents" amongst the protesters - kind of like Hamas being amongst the Palestinian citizenry. What I don't get is WHY are people still believing whatever Israel and the Zionists throw out there? They have been proven to be liars over and over again. I highly suspect it is because the MSM keeps repeating it - over and over again. Biden changing his messaging and not changing any of his pro-Israel (pro-Zionist) policies isn't washing with any thinking person - especially university students who are both intelligent and idealistic. It makes one suspect, as the host of BP posited, the Zionists have already lost and this is their final, ugly reaction - violent tantrums. No one believes them, no one (other than their fellow violent acolytes) supports them, no one trusts them. In six short months, Israel has lost all credibility, all acceptance into the fellowship of civilised people.

And I agree with @Thought Criminal. I am finding the Zionists trolling the blogs to be more and more aggressive - often threatening to report any comments THEY deem anti-Semitic to the police.

Mario said...

I did watch Kucinich with Hedges today. Kusinich is running for Congress. His message is that as an "independent" in the exact middle of the pack, he can make a difference. Who'll oppose that? He believes Americans are basically good and decent but have been misled. Not clear on how? The "American Dream" (AD) is still possible, he says, but has been betrayed. I've two quotes on that: Carlin, "You have to be asleep to believe it"; and my in-law, "You can't kill a bad thing" (Irish proverb). D K agreed with Hedges that the betrayal of the A D started seriously with Bill (Information Superhighway) Clinton. That conduit has live streamed to us America's first systematic, blatant foreign genocide. Both the medium and the weapons used are products of our vaunted technological prowess. It has now developed a surveillance penetration and capacity to make absolutism truly absolute. How apparent is it that all optimisms of the past have created our present?

Thank you Missing for recalling Erich Fromm, who's also now very missing.

Mark Thomason said...

Valerie in Australia -- "because the "anti-Semitic" label has grown tired and has no effect, the Zionists are floating the rumour that there are "foreign agents" amongst the protesters"

There are foreign agents -- open and proud -- they are Israeli. Why do we allow this?

We would not let any other country do this.

Thought Criminal said...

Jill Stein reports on Xwitter that genocide supporter RFK Jr is collecting ballot access signatures at Pro-Palestine events.

Thought Criminal said...

AOC is at Columbia sheepdogging for Biden and his ironclad commitment to genocide.

Valerie said...

@Mark

Of course! You are absolutely correct.

I was just listening to Max Blumenthal this morning, commenting on Netanyahu's speech to America. Max pointed out that Net-a-yahoo addressed the people of America as if he was a US senator - not a foreign government. Yet, he had the arrogance to do it because he has acted with impunity - if not the blessing - of the leadership in the U.S. Honestly, until this conflict started and rabid Zionism came out from behind the curtain, I had no idea how much Israel controlled our government - and much of our society for that matter.

Valerie said...

@Thought Criminal

I am amazed the RFK Jr crowd is getting any signatures given his uber-devotion to Israel.

Erik Roth said...


As for fear and loathing, the latter has no bounds.
But check this, on April 28th, regarding the former:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/doonesbury/

MissingJay said...

@Erik

I was surprised there wasn't a paywall on the Doonesbury link. Guess "they" want this one reprinted and passed along. The hypocricy is astounding isn't it?

MissingJay said...

Short but excellent interviews with Amy Goodman - Sarah King (Columbia) and Josh Sklar (UT Austin) - Mike Johnson reminds me of Net an Yahoo, totally trying to save his career. What a disgrace! https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/hundreds-arrested-students-across-u-s-protest-for-palestine-as-campus-crackdown-intensifies/

Thought Criminal said...

I have a dream. Can we make it reality?

Imagine all ages of protesters OCCUPYing the Barack Obama Presidential Center campus at Jackson Park in Chicago for pro-Palestine activities, then staying for pro-Democracy and pro-Constitutional rights activities during the 'Democratic' Convention.

Since Jackson Park was israeled by Obama, it still rightfully belongs to We the People and it should be liberated and renamed Palestine Park, birthplace of liberation from the Anglo-American Zionist Empire.

Will he call for eviction and arrests? Imagine the media coverage with the entire world watching. Showdown at the B O Corral!

Would Obama order protesters corralled behind a fence, cut off all food and water, jam cell phones, and fly drones overhead continually blasting the sound of Hillary Clinton cackling? No, that would be just too cruel.

For certain Professor Obama will try to teach us a lesson, but the war criminal might learn a thing or two himself. Inshallah.

Let's take this issue to the TOP. Genocide and 'our democracy' deserves no less.

Pass the word. (You too, NSA)

Valerie said...

Check out Jen Perlman for Congress. She's an enlightened Jew running against one of the most heinous women in politics, Debbie Wasserman Schulz. That alone is enough to make me make a small donation to her campaign. Listening to her, I agree with everything she stands for.

@Thought Criminal, I count on you for discerning the genuine from the fake - What are your thoughts?

Valerie said...

I wondered, after I sent off my comment, if I had included the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xNsLFLqPR4

This is a decent interview on Breaking Points. For obvious reasons, AIPAC is going to spend a lot of money and discourage any free publicity for Perlman's run when it comes to keeping their darling, Wasserman Schulz, in her seat.

I have been hoping that people, just like Jen, would start running against all these bought off Congress members who have put their careers before being complicit in genocide. Out with the old, in with the new!

How about some of those brilliant students stepping up? I get the impression the young people organising Jewish Voice for Peace won't be as easily bought off as AOC.

Valerie said...

@Erik

I love that quote from Aaron. It actually haunts me. I wrote a few comments on the Facebook site dedicated to Aaron and his message - and in response to a few positive articles explaining why someone like Aaron would commit such an extreme act. No surprise, I have been vehemently attacked using a lot of manipulative language and arguments. I assume because Aaron's sacrifice DID make a difference and the evil ones are running scared.

Thanks for the quotes. I always check out your recommendations. I am also a fan of Vaclav Havel - and the esteemed Mr Hedges.

Erik Roth said...


>>>-- watch and hear entire talk plus the Q & A -->

The Algebra of Genocide —
A talk at the benefit Iftar on April 6th to establish the Palestine Center for Public Policy.
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-algebra-of-genocide?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=1gm7xf
April 30, 2024 ~ by Chris Hedges

Channeling Jay said...

Jill Stein interviewed on Breaking Points. They gave her a great forum and she ran with it. Love this woman! I really hope people will take the risk of voting for the best person instead of The Lesser of Two Evils (TLOTE, h/t JayOttawa). The comparison between Stein and the duopolists/ RFK Jr - is just so striking!

Jill Stein 2024

Time for a strong 3rd Party to win the election

Erik Roth said...


Thank you "Channeling Jay" for referring this:

Breaking Points —
Krystal and Saagar are joined by Jill Stein to discuss her 2024 presidential campaign.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnGxMqy_rQg

I voted for Jill Stein in 2016 (when Minnesota went to Hillary Clinton).
In November 2024, I will vote for her again.
This is the reason, and good to have it so well articulated with the means to share.

NotoFascism said...

An excellent discussion on how Liberalism can evolve into Fascism with Owen Jones on the Majority Report. - Throughout history "Fascism is always preceded" by "liberal democracies becoming more and more authoritarian." Owen Jones (I hope I quoted that properly!) One of the points of discussion that was so excellent is how the protesters have learned how to be most effective - how to act, how not to act. I found this discussion not only enlightening, but also cause for a tiny bit of optimism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpWWYT2OciI

Thought Criminal said...

I hate to be the one to harsh anyone's mellow and cold-turkey y'all from your hopium supply, but Jill Stein can't become President, not that she can't serve in other ways.

She'd have to win the Electoral College - zero chance - or in the event no one wins the EC and IF she won any delegates, she could at least be on the slate for Red AIPAC reps and Blue AIPAC reps in Congress to select the most rabid Zionist to run the United States of Israel. Again, zero chance.

But a vote for Jill Stein (or Bobby or Cornel) could increase the possibility of delivering us an entertaining shitshow in the House if T&B are deprived of a clean win. So that's a big upside!

It's worth voting for Jill as a matter of conscience and to help the Green Party maintain a threshold % to remain on future ballots for Congressional representation. For President? Fuhgeddaboudit!

Mark Thomason said...

The phone camera video coming out of the attacks on students in our universities is shocking.

My own kids are completely enraged. Actually, they are more infuriated than I am, and I am a bit of an activist in this. They say their friends are all saying the same.

This is the 1968 Chicago Convention Police Riot all over again. All that is missing is some moron to actually kill a student, rather than just throw them down stairs and such. Then it will be Kent State too.

Our failed leaders seem to have no idea what they have done, and our mainstream media is just as clueless, but the reaction is out there among enough voters of the sort who will not forget this.

Biden is toast. Israel is toast. The whole political world is well into a catastrophic capsize event.

Valerie in Australia said...

@Thought Criminal

If Jill Stein were to win the majority of votes in a state, would she not get all those electoral votes? I realise there are "faithless electors" - those who do not vote according to the popular vote of that state - but if a state has 10 electors and one is faithless, wouldn't that be a matter of public record? And wouldn't the other 9 still go to Stein?

I don't have big illusions that Stein will be president - but I don't think it is a pipe dream either. I don't see a lot of people turning up for Biden. People are sick of the duopoly, the blatant genocide and TLOTE. The young people will go for Stein, at least some Arab Americans will also, and thinking people (the true liberals) who are sick of our tax dollars going to forever wars and this horrific threat to free speech are also likely to vote for Stein. I can't see people protesting the Vietnam War not having a twinge watching these peacefully protesting students being manhandled by the police.

While I think it is unlikely that Stein will actually win, I think this is the closest we are going to get to breaking the duopoly - unless people chicken out an vote for TLOTE. It is worth taking a Stein vote seriously. Otherwise, discouraged people simply won't vote at all - and Trump or Biden will win with 32% of the population voting for them.

MissingJay said...

Anti-Semitism monitors on college campuses, sound familiar? Next, they will be burning books. How many parallels do these people need? Even Jerry Nadler, a strong Zionist and the most senior Jewish member of Congress said of the upcoming bill, “This bill threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech. Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination … the bill sweeps too broadly.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWSVEGu7eQ

Thought Criminal said...

'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' - Gil Scott-Heron
"...the revolution will be live." Yup. Streamed on social media for now.

There's just too much happening too fast all over the country and world to keep up these days. But don't expect imperial media to cover much of it except in shallow pieces accompanied by the obligatory propaganda to 'help us interpret' what's going on in 'Our Democracy' or the world.

Here's some interpretations they'll never cover. One is on X from Columbia professor Rashid Khalidi speaking at their campus protest: ‘This is the conscience of a nation speaking through your kids, through young people who are risking their futures, risking suspension, expulsion, criminal arrest in order to wake people up.'

And also on X from Alon Mizrahi, an Arab Jew in Israel: 'Palestine is giving young people meaning that the capitalist, corporate world order viciously denied them... Palestine is an actual and concrete struggle but it is also, and crucially so, an instrument of philosophical liberation of universal importance.'

'These kids are holding on to it as a buoy, so as not to drown in an ocean of cold and meaningless rituals that have no resonance with the human soul: be born, learn, learn a craft, accumulate material things, obey the system, have a family, die. They want Palestinians to stop being mass murdered, displaced, and dehumanized, but they want the same thing for themselves. They want to feel human, and they reject the system that tries so desperately to humiliate, denigrate, and dismantle them.'

Amen, brothers!

Even Christians are waking up and getting up in arms, and they don't even know about Israel bombing the Church of St. Porphyrius, not for the first time, where Christians and Muslims were killed. What's really blowing their minds is that Congress wants to make it illegal for them to be able to say that Jews killed Jesus, Jews own and control the media, that Congress has been bought by the Israeli Lobby, that the Biden cabinet is predominantly Jewish, and that effectively, even referencing the New Testament would be cause for arrest.

The Empire is looking desperate. Threatening to destroy our civil rights, creating chaos, and sowing division in order to keep mass murdering innocent Palestinians, ostensibly to protect one particular foreign country, one particular race, one particular religion? Ha! Looks more like Empire flex to me. Desperate times require desperate measures. But no matter what they try to do now, it's too late for Empire and for Israel, it's expensive hired gun proxy for war with Iran.

It's too late because the Palestinian Revolution, a global movement with heart and soul, has been born and led by children. It will become more consequential than either the French or American Revolutions. Inshallah.

Inspired said...

"This is not about Columbia or CCNY or Berkeley or UCLA or any other place where the students have risen up. This is the conscience of a nation speaking through your kids—through young people who are risking their futures, who are risking suspension, expulsion, and criminal arrest in order to wake people up in this country." Professor Rashid Khalidi

Here is the transcript and the video https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/rashid-khalidi-columbia-gaza-speech