www.michaelmoore.com
Capitol Hill Goes 'SiCKO'
'SiCKO' DVDs Delivered to All 535 Members of Congress
SiCKO Waiting Room
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/dvd/
I have my copy on Pre-Order at Amazon.
Mike Joins Conyers - SiCKO DVDs Delivered to Congressmembers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f47SPW-lVgU&eurl=http://www.michaelmoore.com/
KVMR and all the local Public Radio Stations need your support and BEST 'listening ear.' Thank you.
KVMR's Program Director Steve Baker speaks with Oscar winning director Michael Moore
Oscar winning director Michael Moore helped kick off KVMR’s "Autumn of Love" with an exclusive interview Oct. 29th, Mon. with KVMR's Program Director Steve Baker. Michael spoke passionately about the value and need for independent media like KVMR as well as his new film SiCKO and some of the 80 extra minutes in the DVD release.
Click here to listen to KVMR's exclusive interview
http://kvmr.org/programs/talkies.html
Podcast
http://audio.kvmr.org/mmoore29oct2007.mp3
November 14th Across the U.S.A.
Search for SiCKO House Parties
SiCKO House Parties
Welcome to Democracy for America. On November 14th, people across the country are going to be gathering in homes and classrooms to watch SiCKO and take the first step in building a people powered movement for Health Care for America.
The insurance companies and special interests, don't want you to see this movie. They know that people power can change the system. When you attend a SiCKO house party, you'll see the movie, take action, and call in to a very special conference call with film maker Michael Moore and DFA Chair Jim Dean.
That's why over 200 DFA groups around the country have already set-up SiCKO house parties. Search for the one near you below.
http://www.dfalink.com/search_sicko.php
Councilman supports investigating Giuliani's 9/11 failures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kzhiBudWRw
Charger Day Freeway Blog
The last week has been rough in some ways. My office was closed for the week because of the wildfires ravaging San Diego County. The fires have really affected everyone, and though I was fortunate enough that no members of my immediate family were evacuated or lost their homes, I do know several people who were evacuees. I work for a large company, and I'm sure that when I get back to work on Monday, there will be some bad news regarding co-workers, I know that many people I work with live in Encinitas, or Campo, or Poway.
http://sdpeaceguyblogger.blogspot.com/2007/10/charger-day-freeway-blog.html
October 29th, 2007 2:34 pm
'I Don't Think This Place Is Worth Another Soldier's Life'
After 14 months in a Baghdad district torn by mounting sectarian violence, members of one U.S. unit are tired, bitter and skeptical.
By Joshua Partlow
BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 Their line of tan Humvees and Bradley Fighting Vehicles creeps through another Baghdad afternoon. At this pace, an excruciating slowness, they strain to see everything, hoping the next manhole cover, the next rusted barrel, does not hide another bomb. A few bullets pass overhead, but they don't worry much about those.
"I hate this road," someone says over the radio.
They stop, look around. The streets of Sadiyah are deserted again. To the right, power lines slump down into the dirt. To the left, what was a soccer field is now a pasture of trash, combusting and smoking in the sun. Packs of skinny wild dogs trot past walls painted with slogans of sectarian hate.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10497
FEMA Meets the Press, Which Happens to Be . . . FEMA
By Al Kamen
Friday, October 26, 2007; Page A19
FEMA has truly learned the lessons of Katrina. Even its handling of the media has improved dramatically. For example, as the California wildfires raged Tuesday, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator, had a 1 p.m. news briefing.
Reporters were given only 15 minutes' notice of the briefing, making it unlikely many could show up at FEMA's Southwest D.C. offices.
They were given an 800 number to call in, though it was a "listen only" line, the notice said -- no questions. Parts of the briefing were carried live on Fox News (see the Fox News video of the news conference carried on the Think Progress Web site), MSNBC and other outlets.
Johnson stood behind a lectern and began with an overview before saying he would take a few questions. The first questions were about the "commodities" being shipped to Southern California and how officials are dealing with people who refuse to evacuate. He responded eloquently.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502488.html
October 29th, 2007 2:14 pm
Health Sector Puts Its Money on Democrats
By Raymond Hernandez and Robert Pear
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 — In a reversal from past election cycles, Democratic candidates for president are outpacing Republicans in donations from the health care industry, even as the leading Democrats in the field offer proposals that have caused deep anxiety in some of its sectors.
Hospitals, drug makers, doctors and insurers gave candidates in both parties more than $11 million in the first nine months of this year, according to an analysis of campaign finance records done for The New York Times by the Center for Responsive Politics, an independent group that tracks campaign finance.
In all, the Democratic presidential candidates have raised about $6.5 million from the industry, compared with nearly $4.8 million for the Republican candidates. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has amassed the most of any candidate, even as she calls for changes to the health care system that could pose serious financial challenges to private insurers, drug companies and other sectors.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10496
October 27th, 2007 3:38 pm
Friends Come To The Aid Of 9/11 First Responder
NBC10
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- A fundraiser was held Friday night to help a man who used to make a living helping others.
The Jersey Shore resident was one of the first responders to the attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. But as NBC 10’s Doug Shimell explained, these days, he's in need of a helping hand himself.
"This is not about me. This is about all the 9/11 first responders and rescue workers. Those of us that are sick and dying. We just want our dignity,” Charlie Giles said.
Giles, a former N.Y. EMT, can't work due to lung problems caused by the dust and debris at ground zero. The 9/11 Victims’ Fund hasn't paid his medical bills and his Barnegat Township, N.J., home is in foreclosure. For those reasons, colleagues and local officials went to work to help Giles out. It has become a rescue mission for the rescuer.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikeinthenews/index.php?id=10490
I'll go as so far as to say, the USA is not only spying on Average Americans, but, passing information onto 'favorite' media outlets to exploit for their listening audience.
Big Brother Spying on Americans' Internet Data?
AT&T Whistleblower Describes Secret Room That Sends Internet Data to Government
By Z. BYRON WOLF
Nov. 7, 2007 —
It would be difficult to say whose e-mail, text messages or Internet phone calls the government is monitoring at any given time, but according to a former AT&T employee, the government has warrantless access to a great deal of Internet traffic should they care to take a peek.
As information is traded between users it flows also into a locked, secret room on the sixth floor of AT&T's San Francisco offices and other rooms around the country -- where the U.S. government can sift through and find the information it wants, former AT&T employee Mark Klein alleged Wednesday at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
"An exact copy of all Internet traffic that flowed through critical AT&T cables -- e-mails, documents, pictures, Web browsing, voice-over-Internet phone conversations, everything -- was being diverted to equipment inside the secret room," he said.
Klein, who worked for more than 20 years as a technician at AT&T, said that the highly secretive electronics-focused National Security Agency began working with telecom companies to gain wholesale access to vast amounts of data traveling over the Internet.
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3833172
Click above to enter secret room
AT&T whistleblower: I was forced to connect 'big brother machine'
David Edwards and Jason Rhyne
Published: Wednesday November 7, 2007
A former technician at AT&T, who alleges that the telecom forwards virtually all of its internet traffic into a "secret room" to facilitate government spying, says the whole operation reminds him of something out of Orwell's 1984.
Appearing on MSNBC's Countdown program, whistleblower Mark Klein told Keith Olbermann that a copy of all internet traffic passing over AT&T lines was copied into a locked room at the company's San Francisco office -- to which only employees with National Security Agency clearance had access -- via a cable splitting device.
"My job was to connect circuits into the splitter device which was hard-wired to the secret room," said Klein. "And effectively, the splitter copied the entire data stream of those internet cables into the secret room -- and we're talking about phone conversations, email web browsing, everything that goes across the internet."
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Countdown_Telcom_whistleblower_describes_secret_room_1107.html
H. R. 676, “The United States National Health Insurance Act,”
Or “Expanded & Improved Medicare For All”
"Of all the forms of inequality,
injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2003, Representative Conyers first introduced HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act (USNHI). This bill would establish a unique American universal health insurance program with single payer financing. As a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that improves and expands the already existing Medicare program, it would be available to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories.
The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans will have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income or health care status. They would receive all medically necessary primary care, dental, mental health, prescription drugs, and long term care services by the physician of their choice, with no restrictions on what providers they could visit. With 47 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are underinsured, the time has come to change our inefficient and costly fragmented non-system of health care.
http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
Why are the top Democratic candidates speechless about real health care reform?
Al Gore, Noble Peace Prize winner and the man who won popular vote for U.S. President in 2000, has come out in support of single-payer national health insurance. Why are the top Democratic candidates scared to do so?
http://www.sickocure.org/speechless/
Make Sure Your Rep. Supports H.R. 676
"Which congressional district am I in?"
CLiCK here and enter your address to find out.
If there is already a green check next to your Representative's name, don't hesitate to thank them.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/what-can-i-do/boxscore/index.php?action=print
November 7th, 2007 3:46 pm
Moore: GOP bears number of the beast
The Examiner
The GOP isn’t just misguided, according to controversial liberal filmmaker Michael Moore — it’s downright satanic.
Moore appeared via satellite at the National Press Club on Tuesday to promote the DVD release of his documentary “Sicko” and push for Rep. John Conyers’ national health insurance bill, HR 676.
“Remember, it’s 676,” said Moore. “666 is the other people.” Snap!
He did soften the blow a bit later, adding, “I think most Republican candidates do care about sick children. I just think they care more about the money from their contributors” in the insurance industry.
“To those of you who sided against the children of America” on the recent votes to expand the SCHIP program, Moore said, “enjoy your last year in Congress.”
Immediately after the news conference, a group of nurses and doctors took a van up to Capitol Hill, where they distributed copies of the DVD to every congressional office.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10520
This is Bush's America
Unemployment Rates for Metropolitan Areas (click here)
Unemployment Rates for Metropolitan Areas
Monthly Rankings
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Sept. 2007
The lowest unemployment rates in the nation are ALL Red States until one comes to #50 and the first Blue State of Pennsylvania chimes in at 3.2%. There is something VERY, VERY "W"rong with this picture. The Republicans have SYSTEMATICALLY provided economic pressure to Blue State Voters to force the electorate to change their voting preference. Now in Flint, Michigan with an unemployment rate of 8.3% land is being sold for $1.00 to neighbors and churches to stop the real estate degradation of a planned assault by Republican legislators.
This is unconscionable.
When will America wake up to the fact the Republican Party is grossly corrupt, immoral and fiscal opportunist with complete disregard for the well being of the Constitution and nation?
When?
What does it take to have the country realize that Republicans are liars and manipulators?
A war?
An illegal war?
That didn't even do it !
Flint, Michigan Sheds Foreclosed Properties
by Tracy Samilton
Listen Now [7 min 46 sec] add to playlist
Morning Edition, October 30, 2007 · Abandoned homes are a big problem in Flint, Mich., a former manufacturing stronghold that is losing jobs and residents.
In some neighborhoods five or more houses in a row are boarded up, as one owner after another packs up and leaves. Once they have sat vacant too long bulldozers come to demolish them.
But the county is stepping in and taking control of the city's tax-foreclosed properties, selling plots to neighbors for a dollar or paying churches to maintain them.
The Genesee County Land Bank is demolishing the abandoned homes in an attempt to end decay and help Flint downsize gracefully.
The lots are sold to the neighbor for a dollar, or turned into parks.
Dan Kildee is Genesee County's treasurer and the chairman of the Land Bank. He says the old system, where the county auctioned tax-foreclosed properties to the highest bidder, worked against the city's interests. The amount of money raised wasn't that much and the result was often a spiral from bad to worse.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15766619
November 6th, 2007 12:41 pm
Parents Upset Over Expulsions For Student Protest
25 Berwyn Students Disciplined For Participating In Anti-War Protest
BERWYN, Ill. (AP) ― Twenty-five students who staged an anti-war protest at Morton West High School in Berwyn last week have been punished, including 10-day suspensions and possible expulsions.
Parents of some suspended students are outraged, saying school officials went too far. They plan to meet at the high school today and demand the students be returned to class.
"This is about freedom of speech," said Adam Szwarek, father of a sophomore who was suspended after the sit-in last Thursday. Szwarek says his son now faces an expulsion hearing. "There has to be consequences, but 10-day [suspensions]?"
Szwarek and other parents insisted the protest against the Iraq war was peaceful. The kids say the sit-in was meant as an alternative to regular school visits by military recruiters.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10516
To: Morton West School District
In Defense of the Morton West Antiwar Students
We are writing in defense of the students who now face excessive disciplinary actions at the hands of various Morton West school administrators. Our sympathies lie with the courageous and moral struggle that the students have taken up, and with their parents who still support them. The struggle for a peaceful and just society absent of war should not be met with punishment, but should be supported by the community as a whole, especially from within the educational setting. Furthermore, It is our firm belief that an injury to freedom for students anywhere is an injury to freedom for students everywhere. This is why we urge all Morton West administrators to drop all disciplinary action against the said students, and to remove any indications of said events from their permanent records. We urge you to respect these students right to free expression now and in the future.
(Written by Columbia College Chicago Students for a Democratic Society)
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
http://www.petitiononline.com/mortonw/
7443 Total Signatures
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?mortonw
November 4th, 2007 1:55 pm
Pentagon says declaration does not affect support
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- The Bush administration says it's deeply disturbed by the state of emergency in Pakistan and is urging a swift return to a democratic and civilian government.
At the same time, the Pentagon says General Pervez Musharraf's declaration does not impact U.S. military support of Pakistan.
A Pentagon spokesman says Defense Secretary Robert Gates is monitoring the situation while en route to China.
Geoff Morrell tells reporters, "Pakistan is a very important ally in the war on terror and he is closely following the developments there."
Morrell also says the emergency declaration "does not impact our military support of Pakistan" or its efforts in the war on terror.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10508
November 4th, 2007 1:56 pm
Musharraf declares state of emergency, suspends constitution
By Matthew Pennington / Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution and deployed troops in the capital Saturday, declaring that rising Islamic extremism had forced him to take emergency measures that included replacing the nation's chief justice and blacking out the independent media that refused to support him.
Authorities began rounding up opposition politicians despite calls from Washington and other Western allies not to take authoritarian measures.
The U.S. called for Musharraf to restore democracy. However, the Pentagon said the emergency declaration does not affect U.S. military support for Pakistan and its efforts in the war on terrorism. Britain said it was deeply concerned.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10509
"They dragged us out, including the women."
November 4th, 2007 2:20 pm
Pakistani police detain 500 activists
By Matthew Pennington / Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police rounded up hundreds of opposition leaders and rights activists Sunday after Pakistan's military ruler suspended the constitution, ousted the top judge and deployed troops to fight what he called rising Islamic extremism.
Increasingly concerned by the unfolding crisis, the Bush administration said Sunday that American aid to Pakistan would be reviewed. The U.S. has provided about $11 billion to Pakistan since 2001, when Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, allied with the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Some of the aid that goes to Pakistan is directly related to the counterterrorism mission," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters traveling with her. "We just have to review the situation. But I would be very surprised if anyone wants the president to set aside or ignore" the responsibility to national security that can come through such cooperation, she said.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10510
KUCINICH PUSHES IMPEACHMENT MEASURE
Posted: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 3:37 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Kucinich
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Something interesting is happening in your US House.
Kucinich wants to impeach the vice president. We knew that. But today, using special procedures of the House, he put forward his resolution of impeachment.
Before Kucinich could get a debate and a vote, Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stood up and moved to "table" -- i.e., kill -- the resolution. He knew that Republicans would just as soon see the resolution debated and have Democrats put on the spot to vote for or against the Kucinich measure.
At first, a whole bunch of Republicans voted with Hoyer to kill the resolution. Then they came to their senses and are in the process of switching their votes before the gavel comes down.
*** Update *** Now we are being treated to the spectacle of Democrats who had voted to table/kill the measure changing THEIR votes. They don't want to be in a postion of defending Dick Cheney if they don't have to.
*** Update II *** The House has just voted to refer the Kucinich impeachment resolution to committee. That means it's dead.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/06/451550.aspx
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