Finally! The Pentagon Is Keeping Us Safe from Quakers! — “Secret database obtained by NBC News tracks ‘suspicious’ domestic groups” … via MSNBC… Astute blogger Demagogue uncovered this shocker about Quakers from the MSNBC story …
In the weeks after 9/11, there was a lot of talk about America’s intelligence failures — the information we weren’t collecting. Unfortunately, the Pentagon seems to have concluded that it wasn’t collecting enough intelligence on the Quakers. […]
A secret 400-page Defense Department document obtained by NBC News lists the Lake Worth [Quaker] meeting as a “threat” and one of more than 1,500 “suspicious incidents” across the country over a recent 10-month period.
Is the monster flap over Dan Froomkin’s column a side show to distract us from the WaPo’s Bob Woodward embarrassment? … just a paranoid thought … Memeorandum has a fine list of the bloggers, but our favorite is Jane Hamsher’s pissed-off rant.
Fire in the Cat House — Holy s**t some people just don’t know when to shut up. I mentioned yesterday that the Washington press corps has no idea of the smoldering public rage that threatens to engulf them, but I had no idea that it was about ready to immolate WaPo’s National politics editor John Harris so quickly. … (There’s a long list of more blog posts at Memeorandum.)
And Jay Rosen interviewed two key players — John Harris and Jim Brady — in the dispute at the Washington Post over Dan Froomkin’s Web column, White House Briefing. …
John nails the WaPo’s bottom line at Crooks & Liars:
In an interview today, Post executive editor Leonard Downie Jr. made clear that the top concern of the paper’s editorial team wasn’t regular readers after all — it was the Bush administration
Kos chimes in:
The reason Washington Post political editor John Harris is so concerned about Froomkin’s column is because … Republicans have been whining about it.
Oh, and my little paranoid thought about how convenient it is that the Woodward embarrassment is taking a back seat to the Froomkin flap? Turns out I may be at least half right, as Crooks & Liars notices:
Tom Oliphant on with Imus yesterday, really took a shot at his industry: (loose transcript)
Imus: “The Woodward thing has kinda disappeared-isn’t it?”
Tom: “Yes, but now we have another one.”
Imus: What’s this?
Tom: “Now we have the reporter from TIME magazine-(Viveca) who has gone on leave-
Imus: “Oh, tell me about this.” … (Read all)
Meanwhile, back in the unsexy world of news that’s syrupy quaint because it actually matters and affects real people’s lives, the New Standard News plugs along:
Proposed Welfare Overhaul Targets Single Moms, Kids: As is traditionally the case with “welfare-reform” proposals, legislation under consideration by Congress is set to slash benefits for those who need them most. …
Farmers, Communities Benefit Little from ‘Bio-pharming’: Small farmers and small Midwestern towns looking to prime the economic pump are unlikely to do so by growing genetically engineered crops for use in drug production, despite pharmaceutical pharmaceutical marketing claims stating otherwise, an academic study released last week said.. …
Yawners … it’s a lot more interesting to get in a fuss over “DANIEL [Froomkin] IN THE WRITERS DEN.”
Prosecutor Issues Subpoenas in DeLay Case
M O ‘ T I D B I T S . . .
A Texas prosecutor has issued subpoenas for bank records and other information of a defense contractor involved in the bribery case of a California congressman as part of the investigation of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. … A.P.
Oopsie! Zogby Reports That Bush’s Job Approval is at 38% after edging above 40% … More.
Only one-fifth of the 1.8 million people made homeless by last December’s tsunami will be in permanent homes by the end of this year, British-based aid group Oxfam International said on Wednesday to the AP/Yahoo. Meanwhile, reports the Seattle Times/AP, “A federal judge ruled Monday that a program that is housing tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in hotels must be extended until Feb. 7, a month beyond the cutoff date set by FEMA.” The 41,000 hotel rooms in 47 states and the District of Columbia have cost an estimated $350 million so far.
Let me begin to count my blessings: I have a roof over my head … Ronnie Earle hasn’t indicted me … John Harris isn’t back-stabbing me all over D.C. … and I’m not a subversive terrorist Quaker.
you forgot:
oh man, I’m getting tired counting my blessings here…
and we’re surprised? Wave at the lil monitoring contractor, everyone…one, two, three, (if i were truly clever i could draw a picture of which finger I’m waving)
Phil…
Need Howard?
Damn right we do!!!
But we need a lot more than that.
I started a real reply, but it turned into a diary.
Go here (Tired of disino? Stop listening, goddamn it!!!.) if you are interested.
AG
Hey! Wait jes a gol-durned second! Or, as we Quakers might say, “F**k thee!” We “subversive terrorist” Quakers are proud of what we are.
It goes back to George Fox who, the story goes, wouldn’t take off his hat in court, pointed his finger at the judge, and yelled, “Shiver and quake in the presence of the Lord.”
Dangerous bunch, we.
And John Woolman. Danged if he wasn’t subversive. Actually talked people out of slave ownership. Helped start a movement that led to a Civil War. If that’s not being a “subversive terrorist,” what is?
Bunches of us keep ending up in prison because we won’t kill people. How despicible can you get?
Quaker terrorists have a cell meeting each Wednesday in Brooklyn, jes standin’ around sayin’ nothin, handin’ out literature that sez the government shouldn’t be in the business of puttin’ people to death.
Let me end with a quote from a kid just about as devilish as any Quaker:
YES!!!
A “4” just for quoting the greatest prose writer ever to write…right…wright… American English.
And another for being your subversive Quaker self, if I could.
Thank you.
AG
Are we going to harm military installations or personnel? Nope. Not a chance.
Do we pose a threat to military interests? Most definitely, if by “interests” you mean free reign over the imagination of the populace.
This speaking Truth to power thing, it has crumbled the foundation of tyranny before, and with God’s grace it will do so again. We Quakers are also pretty skilled at resolving conflicts without violence, which does sorta let the air out of the military’s balloons if you think about it.
After all, just look at what one Quaker and three other courageous peacemakers have accomplished in Iraq, merely by “getting in the way” of war and being willing to risk their lives for peace. Prominent groups and individuals from all along the political spectrum in the Muslim world have spoken out in recent days on behalf of Tom Fox and the rest of the kidnapped Christian Peacemaker Team members. The whole world is suddenly thinking about nonviolence and what it really means to be a Christian.
I bet that’s got any number of military geniuses fairly quaking in their boots. If this sort of thing keeps up, they’ll be out of a bloody job.
but as usual I didn’t understand what the people meant. Stay the hell out of the country and 40% of us will be happy with you W!
Great take on WHY W’s ratings had a temporary uptick!
on protestors, but the military doing the same thing does surprise me. I thought the defense budget was stretched too thin to properly equip its soldiers — but they have the money to pay people to surveil anti-war and anti-recruitment activities?
Well, then I had better assume they have my name and photo already. Hopefully they didn’t miss my 16yo stepson standing next to me at our recent protests; I figure being a known subversive threat has gotta lower his risk of getting drafted.
Is it wrong, or un-Quakerly of me, that my gut impulse to this news is a very Bushesque “Bring it on!”?
I’m wondering precisely what the military plans to do with those names and photos when they start to see the “significant connections” between anti-war events that has heretofore been absent? Because from what little I can discern, the antiwar movement in this country is finally beginning to get its act together.
Hmm, I’d better e-mail this story to some friends and suggest they make a plan in case the military notices their activities and decides to disappear them to Poland for a while.
Well, the Quakers are the second biggest threat to military recruiting I can think of (the Iraq war being the first). Opt-out programs, conscientious objection, working against militarism in schools…yup, terrorists they are… 🙂
We’re a freedom loving people. 😉
I have an idea. We could help with our country’s deficit but sending pictures of ourselves at protests or planning meetings. I know I have about 50 from Crawford. Anyone want to add a few and send them to the Pentagon with me?
I joke but in all seriousness folks these fascists are out to destroy anyone that disagrees with them. Notice the new meme they have added to Bush, Rummy, Condiliars speeches these past two weeks? It goes something like this, “We know there are people that disagree with our policy on Iraq and that is what Democracy is all about, but they are wrong”. So its ok to disagree but not really. ALso notice(which really isn’t new)the military backdrop and/or places like Heritage Foundation(Rice yesterday). These war criminals are getting spookier by the minute.
Susan – Terrific round up. Great selection of a wide variety.
What caught my attention was your statement Meanwhile, back in the unsexy world of news that’s syrupy quaint because it actually matters and affects real people’s lives,…
Lately I have been thinking along the lines of HOW can we get consistent, well done MSM that actually functions as our fore fathers intended the media to function.
When Knight Ridder became available for sale, I recalled that George Soros, Warren Buffet and other really flush Democrats had formed some sort of group earlier this year. What if Bloggers and Liberals wrote to Soros through his foundation begging them to purchase Knight Ridder, even if it had to be under a front that disguised their identities??
Imagination running and dreaming of a BIG Christmas present for everyone…and then they could incorporate a satellite company called something like …American News Network —The only FACTUAL news network
Possibilities are endless for Pundits and variety; Bill Noyers NOW, Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now”, Dan Rather needs some work, and of course there is Keith Olbermann, Aaron Brown, Al Gores channel, John A of AMERICAblog for a game show, Brad of Brad Blog, Dahr Jamail for on the ground news in the Middle East with input from Riverbend an of course news clips from John Amato. Jerome a Paris would be terrific with economic and energy shows, Booman could cover elections happening around the country, you could help Booman, as well as do specials for those oh so sensitive and hard hitting reports as only you can do. There could be an affiliation with BBC London for hourly world news 3-4 times a day, and an affiliation with CBC for documentaries we do not get to see in the states. I’m sure everyone has loads of other possibilities.
What do “ya all” think about begging, beseeching, pleading with George Soros at his foundation.. or am I just dreaming way too big???
It may not be wise to take the surveillance issues too lightly.
The credibility of potential threat as most would assume it to be isn’t the only thing they have the legal right to monitor. It can be an obscure connection that generates a forward to another agency for possibilities of networking connections.
Think “6 degrees of seperation” as one perspective.
It’s also open to personal abuse or exploitation by those in the system, neighbors or business competitors who might want to cause harm or even innocent misunderstandings.
As an example of how little it takes to justify their actions when “they” decide they want you, for whatever reason. It’s not about credible threats.
This is my second go ’round with this military surveillance stuff. Nothin’ new. I’ll make light of it because that’s what it deserves. it’s a terrible waste of time for the government servants as well as those caught in its Web.
As for your example below, one need only look at the fellow’s name.
This is my second go ’round with this military surveillance stuff. Nothin’ new.
9/11 changed everything.
News reports today say there will/might be patrols of FAM type security in other areas as a way to surprise the terrorists. How many innocent people have to die before we admit that life is different now?
I’m just not sure what I should do about it.
I won’t stop being a Quaker, or participating in political activities, because my name is on lists. I won’t hide my name or face when I do those things, either — I see my openness and sincerity as the bedrock of my credibility, and I believe that in a participatory democracy, that’s the way it should be.
I might write to my representatives in Congress, but I don’t see how that is any different from holding a sign at a peace protest, in terms of my appearance on the government’s radar screen.
What would you have us do, beyond more of the same of what we’ve been trying to accomplish all along?
I think you’ve given a great assessment of how we should not be intimidated by the presence of government surveillance. I’m the same way and agree with what you’ve said.
What can we do differently? We can contact our Reps but so far it hasn’t been productive regardless of what they reply to us. The monitoring of innocent activities is increasing.
If we can’t stop it, then the best we can do is to work to heighten awareness of it. I’m all for the ability to prevent a credible threat. I assume all web activity is monitored and has been for some time. There’s credible evidence that cell calls are easily traced to location by GPS and not many reasons to think that it’s also not logged regularly. Private companies sell our information to govt and trade it between themselves. Each customer database is assimilated by new ownership in business mergers, buyouts, sellouts, etc.
The laws have been changed to make it too easy to compile portfolios on innocent people and while that is unavoidable, we need to work together through awareness to avoid the abuse of that priveledge the government has.
When you see an incident of injustice that’s occurred, bring to the attention of others. Speak up for those in situations that we might likely find ourselves in one day.
When they come for an innocent person, speak up for them or none will be left to speak up for you.
Anybody remember the Milbank “wingnuts” “Washington Sketch”, ya know where Milbank blew off the Downing Street Minutes and Conyers hearing? Recall how WaPo gave Milbank, in his duel role as reporter/columnist a pass? Said that even though WaPo had not made Milbank’s duel role clear to its readers, it was FAIR’s fault, since the column was clearly marked “Washington Sketch”, and not a news story.
Memos, ‘Wing Nuts’ and ‘Hit Lists’
By Michael Getler
Sunday, June 19, 2005; Page B06
The bulk of the mail last week, by far, was focused once again on the “Downing Street Memo.” This is the memo produced by a national security aide to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, based on notes taken in a meeting with Blair and his top advisers on July 23, 2002, eight months before the invasion of Iraq. It is marked “Secret and strictly personal — UK eyes only” but was leaked to the Sunday Times of London and published May 1.
Included in the note-taker’s account was an assessment by the chief of British intelligence, after returning from a visit to Washington, that: “Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.”
The memo, and the coverage and interpretation of it, continue to generate contention, especially among critics of the war and Bush administration policy. The overwhelming majority of e-mails I received last week seemed to have been prompted by a write-in campaign sponsored mostly by Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), a liberal, self-described media watchdog organization.
Their target this time was a column by Post staff writer Dana Milbank on June 8 in which the term “wing nuts” was used. Many of the e-mailers said the reference disparaged the real concerns of many people that the administration misrepresented the situation that led the country to war.
Milbank is one of the paper’s most talented and observant reporters. On the other hand, for the past several months he has also been serving as a columnist, frequently writing observations that go beyond straight reporting in a column labeled “Washington Sketch” that appears in the news pages of the A-section. On Friday, for example, The Post covered an unofficial antiwar hearing on Capitol Hill only in a Milbank column. Several readers found this inappropriate.
Unfortunately, it has never been announced or explained to Post readers that reporter Milbank is also now columnist Milbank. The reference to “wing nuts,” as in left-wing nuts and right-wing nuts, appeared in the June 8 column, not a “news story,” as many e-mailers wrongly stated. This is also understandable because FAIR neglected to tell its subscribers that this was clearly marked as a “Washington Sketch” and not a news story.
Milbank’s column was about the June 7 Bush-Blair news conference in Washington and it reported that “Democrats.com, a group of left-wing activists” had sent e-mails offering a “reward” for anyone who could get an answer from Bush about the report that intelligence had been “fixed” around Iraq policy. Later in the column, Milbank wrote that a reporter who did ask such a question, and who had no idea of the activists’ e-mails, “wasn’t trying to satisfy the wing nuts.”
You know there’s something seriously out of whack when the might wingnut wurlitzer comes up with the idea of “Weaponized Quakers” and sic’s their spy dogs on them.
The sooner the majority of the public realizes the Bush regime’s entire approach to everything is dictated by a deep-seated and totally dysfunctional clinically defined pathology the sooner we can repudiate them in their entirety and set about restoring the country to some sort of reality-based path.