Jon Voight: Obama and Democrats Targeting Foolish young people Who don;t Know whats Good for Them to Make America Marxist

Academy award Winning Actor Jon Voight (also known as the famous father of Angelina Jolie), seems to think young Americans are too stupid to make up their minds and are voting for Obama because they are being brainwashed or something.This from the guy who thought “Mr 9/11” was an angel sent by God. Usually I don’t give a damn what celebrities think, but they all have just as much of a right to express thier views on politics and other matters as I have. Now maybe the American people aren’t always that well informed, but I have to ask aside from enduring the brutality of being a prisoner of war and having served courageously in the Vietnam War, why should a person vote for McCain? As I have stated in the past, what does McCain and the conservatives support besides attacking Obama and carrying on the failures of the shameful and destructive Bush/Cheney administration? Here is Voight in an op-ed which appeared in the Washington Times.

The Democrats have targeted young people, knowing how easy it is to bring forth whatever is needed to program their minds. I know this process well. I was caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era, which was brought about through Marxist propaganda underlying the so-called peace movement. The radicals of that era were successful in giving the communists power to bring forth the killing fields and slaughter 2.5 million people in Cambodia and South Vietnam. Did they stop the war, or did they bring the war to those innocent people? In the end, they turned their backs on all the horror and suffering they helped create and walked away.

Those same leaders who were in the streets in the ’60s are very powerful today in their work to bring down the Iraq war and to attack our president, and they have found their way into our schools. William Ayers is a good example of that.

Now I am fine with Voight voicing his political opinions and observations, just like I am fine with Susan Sarandon doing hers. However, in regards to Vietnam and Cambodia, I think Voight needs a bit of a history lesson. Voight should recall that it was President Nixon who chose to bomb Laos and Cambodia in 1972. That action costs thousands of Cambodians and Loatians thier lives and resulted in anger towards thier previously netural, delicate, and slightly pro-U.S leaders and brought to power the anti-U.S Khmer Rogue. It was this that helped bring the Khmer Rogue and other insidious brutalizers to power in those two countries that neighbor Vietnam.

As for Vietnam itself, it seems the people there sadly would have faced oppression either way. Don’t get me wrong Ho Chi Minh and the North Vietnamese were no angels, they were ruthless and demanded the complete obedience of the people of Vietnam. However, the U.S backed so-called “democratic” government of South Vietnam fared little better. they were inept, corrupt, and in many ways every bit as authoritarian as their North Vietnamese counterparts.

In the end Vietnam, in both North and South sought to become one country, and it was the U.S and a handful of anti-communists, against others who were either pro-communist, sought national independence, or were just indifferent either way.
In short, we wanted South Vietnam to stand up and become a western style democracy more than they either could or desired.

And the new McCarthyism doesn’t work either. I understand that Voight has his opinions and views that are in stark contrast to the ones I and many others might share. I respect his right to do that. But McCarthyism and red baiting is so last century. The neoconservatives have been crying about how the communists will take over America since the 1920s, and guess what? They haven’t. So get some new material.

Ted Stevens: "Internet is a series of Tubes" Techno

With longest serving GOP senator in the news lately, with his seven new convictions for illegal acceptance and failure to document gifts,here is Ted Steven’s Internet speech against net neutrality, put to techno. Enjoy.

(HT// to Taylor Marsh).

UPDATE 7/31/08 4:40pm eastern time: Steven’s trial is set for September 24, just a little more than a month leading up to the election. This can’t be good for the Alaska GOP and hopes of maintaining control of this otherwise safely Republican seat. And now the poll numbers show Stevens in a statistical free fall. If the Republicans want to maintain control of that seat they better persuade Steven’s to pull out of the race or Alaskans better vote to defeat him in the upcoming GOP primary.

Cheech and Chong: We’re getting back together ,man

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, who made up the Grammy Award winning weed smoking stoner comedy duo, announced that after a quarter century apart, the two will unite for a comedy tour.

Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Their feud finally having gone up in smoke, Cheech and Chong say they’re eager to get back on the road for their first comedy tour in more than 25 years.

“We had such a legacy, such a history. We couldn’t escape it, even if we tried,” Tommy Chong told reporters at a news conference Wednesday at the Troubadour, the Los Angeles nightclub where the pair were discovered more than 35 years ago.

The duo said their “Light Up America” tour will kick off Sept. 12 in Philadelphia.

“It’s going to be very theatrical,” said Cheech Marin.

If Wednesday’s news conference was an indication, it won’t spare the pothead humor, either.

“We’re definitely still smoking,” Chong said when asked.

“I get transfusions now,” quipped Marin.

“I like the taste,” Chong said. “I’m old fashioned.”

Since thier break-up Tommy Chong has stuck with the Cheech and Chong brand of humor and directed several films. He has also appeared in such films as “Half-Baked” and had a recurring role on the former FOX hit series “That 70s Show”.

Cheech Marin by contrast has moved away from that persona taking on such roles as in movies like “From Dusk Til Dawn”(1995), “Christmas with the Kranks” (2005), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), and “Spy kids” (2001). He has also had roles in such tv shows as “the Golden Palace” and the Don Johnson cop series “Nash Bridges”.

Good to see every ones favorite hapless stoners come together again.

Women Confuse Police Officer’s for Strippers

Now this is embarrassing.

Vancouver 24 Hours:

BERLIN — Police say two officers who responded to complaints about a raucous weekend party in western Germany were mistaken for male strippers by the female guests.

Simmern police spokesman Bernd Hoffmann says neighbours called police around 12.45 a.m. Sunday to complain about noise from a birthday party in their building.

A round of applause from the apartment resident — who had just turned 30 — and her friends greeted two officers who went to investigate.

Hoffmann said today that “they thought the policemen were dressed like that because they were strippers.

It took them a while to realize they were real police officers.”

Hoffmann says the women had not ordered strippers but thought someone had sent them as a birthday surprise.

The incident resulted in no arrests

GOP Senator Faces Seven Indictments

It was announced Tuesday that U.S Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the longest serving Republican in the Senate; who up until last year was the Senate Pro Tempore, was said to have been indicted on seven counts. He is the first sitting Senator in 15years to face an indictment.

The charges against Stevens, 84 who was first elected to the Senate in 1968, stem from illegal gifts he said to have received and failed to document over $250,000 in gifts from the oil company Vesco, an oil company. Here is more:

Meanwhile Stevens, who is up for re-election this fall and is facing both a primary challenge as well as a strong Democratic opponent in the usually staunchly Republican state (last time it voted for a Democrat in a presidential election was 1964)Stevens already was finding himself in the battle of his political life.

A statement released by Steven’s office denies the charges, and indicates that well under investigation, he has temporarily re cussed himself from his vice-chairmanship on the Senate Committee on commerce, Science, and transportation; as well as his other Committee assignments.

Actress baffled by Why Anyone Would be Angry With China

There has been heaps of controversy surrounding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The French President has threatened not to attend opening ceremonies, and although he will attend the opening ceremonies as well as the Olympics themselves, many wish Bush would at least forgo the opening ceremonies in protest of China’s human, labor, and enviromental policies. Evidently though Bush believes that even boycotting the opening ceremonies would be insulting to the Chinese.

Leaders of nations around the globe will soon convene in China and stand alongside the Chinese government, and film star Zhang Ziyi, who herself is in Chinese sees no problem with that. in fact she says the games are about “friendship” and doesn’t see a reason for the bad vibes.

YAHOO:

HONG KONG – “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star Zhang Ziyi has told Vogue magazine that she is puzzled by the protests against China’s human rights record before the Beijing Olympics.

Activists have criticized China’s rule in Tibet and its alleged failure to do more to help stop mass killings in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Protests marred several international legs of the Olympic torch relay.

The actress served as a torch bearer for the Chinese leg of the relay.

“I don’t see why people are so negative. The games are about friendship,” Zhang was quoted as saying in the current issue of Vogue. “I’m Chinese and I’m proud of my country.”

Zhang’s manager didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Zhang’s film credits also include “Rush Hour 2,” “House of Flying Daggers” and “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

First off as I have said in the past, it would be inaccurate to say that the Olympics isn’t political. It is the leaders and people of several countries with conflicting interests seeking to outdo one another in athletic events. Not to mention their have been political undertones to the events in the past (the Munich Olympics in 1936 under the Nazis), as well as past boycotts.You can’t have that many world leaders together in such a competitive atmosphere with such differences and not have politics at least creeping beneath the surface.

Now I partially understand what she is saying. Everyone (most people anyway) are proud of their country. They have been steeped and educated in the values and often rich histories of that land’s way of life, irrespective of that country. Its great the people celebrate the land where they are born, however in China as in all other countries (including the United States which although as great as it is, is by no means flawless or perfect, nor is its history unblemished)people tend to play down or not understand the negatives or perceive their country they way the rest of the people of the world looking from the outside in do.

As I said no country is perfect and all have or have had elements that don’t show them in their best light. But this is red China we are talking about. Here is some reasons to be angry with them. Look at their human rights record. Ridiculous amounts of pollution. No absolutely no environmental regulations. Child labor and sweat shops, slave wages, dangerous working conditions, Taiwan, Tibet, aiding the genocide in Darfaur, no religious or social freedoms, outsourcing, hazardous products manufactured within the country and placed on the world market, currency manipulation, and I could go on.

Creeping Authoritarian

Russia is now planning to implement a law banning gothic music as well as prohibiting those dressed like “Goths” and “emos” from entering schools and government buildings. (H/t to Tammy Bruce for this story) The law is a component of a law to combat the trend of adolescent suicide.

Kerrang:

The Russian government is in the process of drafting a law to make emo and goth music illegal.

Last month a parliamentary committee was convened to discuss a draft proposal of the Russian government’s Government Strategy In The Sphere Of Spiritual And Ethical Education bill, the details of which were leaked to The Moscow Times. The newspaper subsequently reported that, among other things, the draft bill dubbed the musical movements a “dangerous teen trend” and called for emo and goth websites to be regulated and young people dressing like emos or goths to be banned from entering schools and government buildings.

The newspaper interviewed one of the bill’s authors, Igor Ponkin from the Russian Interior Ministry’s Public Oversight Council. Ponkin called emo a “social danger” and “a threat to national stability” and said the bill is a reaction to teen suicides such as the tragic death of British teenager Hannah Bond.

“This type of behaviour is a crucial part of emo ideology,” said Ponkin. “Of course there are emo teens who just listen to their music. But our actions are not directed at them but rather at those who also hurt themselves, commit suicide and promote those acts.”

Yeah that’s right allinate the very people who are the most suicidal. Because the best antidote for depression is issolation and degrading treatment. That will really help the situation. Of course, its the music’s fault. Its always the music’s fault. The Russians (and people all over the world including here in the United States) could learn a thing or two by keeping in mind that to the broad masses that it is often the forbidden fruit that tastes the sweetest. In other words, by banning the gothic and emo music and culture (or whatever the government deems as such) may give it more appeal. If one is sillenced for speaking a message, they will scream it.

I may not subscribe to the goth or emo culure. But goths and emos of Russia, I am with you in your right to subscribe to such.

* * * * * *

Last week the LA City Council held a vote on banning that issue of the New Yorker with the controversial cartoon of Obama in the office burning the American flag and dressed as a Muslim, while fist bumping his wife who is drawn to resemble a mix of Rambo and Angela Davis.

LA TIMES:

Also, a vote on a resolution to not just boycott the now-infamous New Yorker magazine with the Obama cover, but to “demand that all existing issues featuring a caricature of Sen. Barack Obama and his wife be removed from newsstands.”

Purging the newstands of that issue though could be thwarted by this over 200 year old road block to such an effort.

Seriously, I hate that new Yorker cover. It is offensive and helps perpetuate stereotypes, and fails to even be funny. It just aids his critics who seek to falsely portray Obama, as a dangerous Muslim radical with sympathies towards Osama Bin Ladden and Al-Queda, and his wife Michelle as some radical black sepratist throwback. It is nothing short of shameful.

However, if America and history should make one thing apparent is that the remedy towards of offensive and caustic speech such as this, is not a banning of speech but an infusion of facts and more speech disputing such sordid allegations. After all, metaphoriucally speaking banning or burning magazines is just one step away from doing the same to books. And if history teaches us one thing, it is that the burning of books is always accompanied by atrocity.

In short, I and the majority of people especially in America have an allergy to such efforts to stifle speech, whether we agree with it or not. And the noxious odor of burning ink and the speech and sentiment that burn with it, and the smoke that eminates from the burning page, should redden the eyes of all people who love freedom and bring ache to thier hearts.

Erich Schmidt, Ex- Anti Nazi Leader Dead at Age 97

An interesting story and the close of seems like a fascinating life. Eric Schmidt, who led the German Social Democratic Party (SPD)and who challenged the left wing of his party who seemed indifferent to the elevation of power to Adolf Hitler, died recently. He was 97 years old. A man who leading up to and throughout Hitler’s hellish and evil reign that paved a track of bones and blood across the European continent and throughout the world, confronted the Nazis and aided underground movements that sought to resist the influence of Hitler and the Nazis. I was amazed to found out he spent the waning years of his life in Northampton. Its always amazing to find a piece of global history in your own backyard sort to speak. Especially one who toiled and fought against a madman like Hitler and the evil of Nazism. His story truly is inspiring.

I have the obituary below, which I copied out verbatim from the Hampshire Gazette. If you want to read it directly from their page however it does require that you be a paid subscriber to the Hampshire Gazette.

Hampshire Gazette:

NORTHAMPTON- Erich Schmidt, 97, a resident of the Lathrop Community in Northampton and Easthampton since 1990, passed away at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on July 22.

Born on Aug.4, 1910 in Berlin , germany, he rose to prominence in city politics there in the turbulent years before the 1933 Nazi takeover. An offset printer by training, at 20 he was elected by his peers to lead the young people’s organization of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD)in Berlin. With 4,500 members, the Socialist Workers Youth (SAJ)of Berlin was by far the most active and largest concentration of Social Democratic youth in Germany. In the tense months leading up to and after Hitler’s election, Schmidt led the Berlin SAJ in confronting the rising National Socialist menage and challenging the SPD’s politics of appeasement. A left-wing Social Democrat himself, he became the leading youth represenative in the underground anti-Nazi resistance movement known as Neu Beginnen, or Begin Anew.

Inprisoned in 1934, he escaped by a fluke when they released the wrong Erich Schmidt and fled before the Gestapo came to correct the mistake. he worked in the European anti-Nazi underground for several years in Switzerland, where he was joined by his future wife Hilde paul, also a member of the Berlin SAJ resistance, this work continued in France until 1940, when they escaped on foot over the Pyrenees and by ship from Lisbon.

Aside from a brief attempt to join other SPD politicans including good friend Willy Brandt– in rebuilding the Federal Republic of Germany, Schmidt lived in and around New York City from 1940 to 1990.

He wrote two volumes (in 1988 and 1994)describing the events of his political life, which are now being consolidated and translated into English. A music lover and an accompolished nature photographer, Schmidt remained true to his political ideals until the last.

He is preceded in death by his son, Henry, a professor of German literature, and will be sadly missed by his friend Hilde and thier friends.

Boucher-O’Brien Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. A memorial gathering will be scheduled later.

The Slow Death of the Cassette Tape and the Audio Book

The sound you here is the swan song of the book on audio cassette market. Publisher hachette book Group USA is a publishing trade group that just released its final book on tape recently. The plus side you don’t have to do all the rewinding and fast forwarding to get where you want on the tape, and you don’t have to worry about getting a tape jammed in your pre mid 1990s car stero. Negative, You can’t leave off and then pick-up at the spot you left off on with a cd or ipod after you shut it off.

Some Things Never Change

Its been a few months, but it appears that yet another product made in China is being recalled. This time the Dirt Devil Vaccum power brush. Some 987,000 of these are affected by the recall. (H/T to Tammy Bruce for this story).

A plastic atachment can come unatached from the vaccum and pose a risk to users of the device. twelve injuries, minor lacirations to either: eyes, skin, or thumb have been amongst the 140 cases of this happening have been documented by ITT Floor Care which manufactures the Dirt Devil Vaccum power brush.