GoodnewsEverybody.com LA : Government, Politics, Security, etc...

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No, I'm (Sal) not a democrat, nor a republican, nor an independent party member, but a "temporary" citizen (Philippians 3:20 )of America! I'm going to keep doing my best to work together for the "next generation" and the world no matter who is elected in office! I'm in the "dependent ("In God I trust") party"!

Getting involved with politics and want to serve God? I have friends who say that the "church" is not doing enough to make a difference, so they get involve with politics to do so... Well, they can! However, whether you are making a difference in the "church" or "politics"-you can do so much because you need God! Is he #1 in whatever agenda you do-that's what it means when you asked Him to be Lord of your life, right? Do you know what making Jesus Lord of your life is? Check this out=>personal relationship story!

Next, not many people know that they can "serve" God whereever they are. You don't have to stand in a pulpit to "preach". In fact "preach as less words and do it with more action" (St. Francis) through your lifestyle! We have too many "politicians" and "Christians too" talk the talk, but not walk the walk! "You must be the change the world see before you can make a difference" (Mahatma Ghandi?) Many politicans are getting a "bad wrapped" because of being found guilty of some scandal:

-Richard Nixon in Watergate
-Bill Clinton in the "Monica Lewinsky Affair"
-the list goes on....

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [2] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.-Isaiah 9

...see GoodnewsUSA: Politics

True Change - Where Are You Looking?

"Times are difficult. There are a lot of good people in really difficult situations. As a nation we are calling for a change. Some are of the opinion that a certain government, political party, or president can offer the change we need. The reality is, there is only one that offers this world true Change."
*see GoodnewsEverybody: Economics
"We must be the change the world will see"-Ghandi

Campaign 2004 Reflections

I was just watching the local news (Ch. 5 KSAX/KSTP) today (Sunday, August 1st of 2004) and I actually was pleased of the media's coverage on a particular topic: "St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (DFL) to back President Bush": ( This was big news that got some criticism (e.g. similar to Wellstone's Memorial turned to a campaign "party"!) from some some state DFL supporters. My reason for agreeing with St. Paul's Mayor, Randy Kelly (personally met in 1998 when I was lobying for UMM/Morris' RFC/Science Bldg. Bonding Bill) was because "we need to support our President" (respect for authoriatative figure-no matter what part he/she's on!; just like how we should for our biological parents-no matter who "imperfect" they are; this explains why our "young people" have no respect for authority!; "we" adults need to be good examples through our words and actions) after reading a bumper sticker ("Anti-Bush") driving on W. 7th St. in downtown St. Paul this past weekend. I say try to put yourself in his shoes and "run our nation". No one is perfect! I also decided to write this because I was watching my first demolition derby at the nearby Pope County Fair in Glenwood (26 miles east of Morris) and I saw some grafitti in the grandstand: "George W Bush Needs to be Murdered" (something like that).

Other "Disgusting-Childish" Campaign Story Battle Across our Nation:

  • Burglary at Bush Campaign HQ Saturday, October 02, 2004 from FOX News
  • GW Bush 04
  • Volunteer Links Swift Boat Flier to GOP, from newsmax.com
  • Police seal building housing Kerry campaign", Police sealed off the office building that houses Sen. John Kerry's headquarters on Thursday after a package with white powder was opened by campaign staff...from Usatoday (7/22/04)
  • Protestors Ransack Bush/Cheney Headquarters In Orlando 2 People Receive Minor Injuries During Protest POSTED: 6:05 pm EDT October 5, 2004 UPDATED: 12:42 pm EDT October 11, 2004 from local6.com

    • I don't totally believe everything what President George Bush does, but we (Citizens of this nation) need to respect our authoriatative figures!...
    "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."-Romans 13:1

    Have you ever been an authoritative position (e.g. Residential Adviser of 35+ college students, leader of a campus ministry, etc...)? Did you ever had people complain about your? Was it easy? You tried your best, righ? If you do have problems with any authoritative figure, my advise is to first "pray" for them! Make a list of the "positives" of that person. Then make a list of "advices" for that person to work on. Ask God how you can be a person of help-participant (does something) instead of a onlooker (does nothing)!

    What are the issues?
    (e.g.death penatly, abortion, affirmative action, war, separation of church and state-how far do we go? -see down below- etc...)

    Undecided (take the questionaaire by Time magazine found in this page)?

    Still undecided? Yes, I've heard that neither candidates "fit" your vote; however, no individual or party is perfect. That is why I'm glad to fully-totally put all my dependence and trust in my Heavenly Father (see personal relationship) Well, what's your first #1 priority issue? Is it "good" for you as an "individual" or the "whole"? Ask and seek Him! As a Christian (even though we are "citizens" of Heaven and not of this world, it's our duty to bring the "taste of the Kingdom" on earth), we need to be "involved"-"ask not what your country can do for you, but ask your Heavenly Father what YOU can do for our community, state, nation, and world"

    Christian?

    Both claim to be "Christians" (each quoted Bible verses too during the 3rd final debate), so what? Yes, we don't have the right to judge them, but do we see the "Christ-like-fruit" (Matthew 7:15-23 or Galatians 5:22-24) that Jesus and his followers talk about in the New Testament?

  • Issues Index: Bush, from CNN
  • Issues Index: Kerry, from CNN

    • Other Related Resources:

  • Call To Renewal, focussing on humanitarian issues
  • Elections 2004, from University of Michigan
  • I Vote Values, from the Baptist perspective

    • *referred from ABC Nightline on Tuesday, October 26th
  • Journalist Tool Box, many resources
  • President Match, undecided?
  • Religion and Politics, articles (e.g. "God is not a Republican...or a Democrat") on faith dealing with election from about.com
  • Sojuourners Seminars 2004, social justice focus

    • Cultural-Race Factor?

    As I was biking around town today (Tuesday, Nov 2nd), an African-American friend of mine and I were talking about cultural-race being an issues. I decided to re"search" on this issue:

  • Don�t court us and then snub us, says angry black caucus, newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress
  • Keyes Problems, from the Federalist Digest
  • Politics of Race, Hispanic American story from NPR

    • more (11/3/04)...

    Election Day is Today!

    It's 12:51 CDT Tuesday, November 2nd 2004! I haven't voted yet, but I plan to do so later this afternoon with my housemate. I was taking a nap this afternoon and God reminded me with this...

    "In God We Trust"

    This is a quote in the U.S's monetary, which we as a nation needs to do. No matter what happens after the election, we need to put our total trust and dependence on Him. There is no such thing as a "perfect" President, man, or human being! Why should we put our total trust in a President, leader, nation, or man? Instead, we should be praying for "them" and focus on what we can do (see dependence on God)...

    "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask your Heavenly Father what you can do for your country (family, neighborhood, community, city, state, nation, and world)"

    This is quote that came to me during this campaign as I changed some words and context of JFK's famous speech. We all need to be part of the political process and each play a part!

    E-Mail Campaign Forward:

    -Funny

  • This Land-Jib Jab, a cartoon hilarious video-starring Bush and Kerry Campaign

    • HMMMMMM!!!!!!

    The Lord has a way of revealing those of us who really know him, and those that don't! Think about it! Kerry gave a big speech last week about how

    his faith is so "important" to him. In this attempt to convince the American people that we should consider him for president, he announced that his favorite Bible verse is John 16:3.

    Of course the speech writer meant John 3:16, but nobody in the Kerry camp was familiar enough with scripture to catch the error. And do you know what John 16:3 says?

    John 16:3 says; "They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me." The Spirit works in strange ways.

    Pass it on VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!

    Note: I don't know how valid this e-mail is, but I'm not going to make any personal judgments or conclusions on this. Instead pray for both candidates!

    -Candidates

  • Politics 1, 2004 Presidential candidates

    • BUSH (President)-[REPUBLICAN]

    E-mail Forwards

    British Historian Paul Johnson: Bush Must Win (on Nov 1st 2004)

    Subject: Subject : THE TRUTH ABOUT BUSH!

    There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of January..... In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January.

    That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of Iraq.

    When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following ...

    FDR... led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.

    Truman... finished that war and started one in Korea, North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,334 per year.

    John F. Kennedy... started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.

    Johnson... turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.

    Clinton... went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent, Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.

    In the two years since terrorists attacked us President Bush has ... liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.

    The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but... It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51 day operation.

    We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

    It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.

    It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!!

    Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB!

    The Military moral is high!

    The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts.

    PASS IT ON

    Poltical Party Affiliation?

    When people ask what political party I am with? I answer: "Neither, I'm with the Jesus party!" I don't like to take sides because it creates division with people, which is what the enemy (devil) likes to use (e.g. racism, hate, anger, etc...) amongst the human race! However, we do need to be active (e.g. pray for leaders) and voice ourselves in this democratic nation; and not become spectators!

    Need Government

    "12 "But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us'-even though the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good! 15 But if you do not obey the LORD , and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers."-1 Sammuel 12

    Above is part of a story how Israel was provided by a King. I see this as the history (see beginning of 1 Chronicles 5 and chapters after on history of past kings of Israel and Judah, which we can learn a lot from their mistakes and relate to our present current political situation)-the beginning of rulers and authorities (e.g. Presidents, Prime Ministers, etc...) that have led, leads, and will continue to lead nations of this world. However, there is no ruler that is perfect because the only one that has, is, and will always be perfect is Christ our King-for those who acknowledges Him (see personal relationship)

    We do need government to prevent chaos and set order. As a U.S. citizen, we can easily complain how "corrupt" it is in this country. However, one should visit other countries and realize we don't have it all that bad. What happens if we don't have government? Have you ever seen the movies..

    -"Lord of the Flies" (my free essays)
    *read this in school growing-up
    Lord Of The Flies Movie Trailer

    "Ms. Beran 9th Grade English RAFT Project "
    -Postman (starring Kevin Costner) no government after a post nuclear disaster
    The Postman (1997)

    "Starring: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Olivia Williams Director: Kevin Costner In a post-apocalyptic, totally anarchic America, circa 2013, a defector from the ranks of murderous despot General Bethlehem masquerades as a representative of the good old U.S. Postal Service. But his ruse so delights the weary, oppressed people he meets that it indeed becomes real--and he finds ..."

    "6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing."-Romans 13:6

    RNC Welcoming Committee
    *made news during first week of September (see GoodnewsMinnesota: Politics)
    "...12. Who are you? How do you operate? What do you do?
    We are a group of Twin Cities residents facilitating resistance to the 2008 Republican National Convention. Fed up with our dysfunctional and oppressive social system, we are organizing for a world of justice, equality, and direct democracy. We all agree on our Points of Unity. We operate by consensus, and our activities are planned and executed collectively. As anarchists and anti-authoritarians, we�re very diverse. We�re often portrayed as mindlessly destructive but, in contrast to our critics, we recognize that the power for positive change lies directly in our hands, and not in the hands of an elite few...."    -FAQ

    1. Romans 13:1
    [ Submission to the Authorities ] Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
    2. Hebrews 13:17
    Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
    3. 1 Peter 2:13
    [ Submission to Rulers and Masters ] Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,

    "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."-Psalm 20:7

    Yes, the "Church" (both Catholic and Protestants) have their "mistakes" too, which is why we need to Full Rely On God by having Jesus be Lord of your life!...think that's one-sided or too "conservative" for you? Well, being not selfish is part of the Christian walk!

    There is a separation of "church and state" (religious tolerance), but their will never be a disection or they can't take away what's in your heart-God! As the nation battles on this issue, let's not forget about our (nation and world's) history when we do eliminate God completely from out nation (e.g. remember 9/11!) If you already got Jesus in your heart, you can be a "light" to the politicians in government-"marketplace"

    How? We'll look in the Bible of the many "politicians":

    -Moses (Exodus 7:7 "rubbed shoulders with the Pharaoh), who was involved with the Egyptian "elite" before finding his true "Hebrew" identity
    -King David (2 Sammuel)

    more.....(Bible and Liberal Arts: under "sociology")

    Q: Did you know that Billy Graham, evangelist, was an adviser to some U.S. Presidents?
    A: "Just As I Am", an autobiography of Mr. Graham shares stories of 9 U.S. Presidents he served as a "spiritual adviser"

    Need the Lord's help in the political arena?

    "Heavenly Father, I invite you to be the Lord of my life in the work you given me in government/politics. I can't do it without you, so I as you Jesus to be Lord of my workplace. In Jesus name...Amen!"

    *David's prayer in Psalm 26

    "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life...redeem me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord"

    Separation of Church/Religion and State

    This has been an on-going issues, which folks have told me that it started when they banned prayer from schools and now they are going too far. Now you wonder why 9/11 might have happened!

    As a Christian, there are many political issues that we may disagree with, but we have to be careful to not get too emotional and lose that focus to love one another. I see many protesting going on when it comes to various issues that Christians disagree with. Some issues, we somewhat get pressured to agree with to avoid any offense...

    "11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."-1 Peter 2:11

    There are times we need to be bold (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and not leave our ground in faith.

    *Special E-Mail Forward*

    From : Cunningham
    To : "GEORGE
    Subject : Fw: Fw: Excellent: ACLU and crosses on Federal property
    Sent : Saturday, November 22, 2003 1:33 PM

    Did you see in the news last week where the A C L U doesn't want any crosses on any Federal property? Well duh......... (Scroll Down)


    Cemetery Crosses
    (I believe this is the Arlington National Cemetery, please correct me if I'm wrong)

    Let them try and remove these!! What are these people thinking?? At what point do we say, enough is enough? Please pass this on to as many people possible as quickly as you can even if you normally don't do this type of thing. Some messages just need to be forwarded and this is most certainly one of them. Please take the time.

    Related Resources:

  • One Nation, article in One Voice (christian community herald) that publicized an article (CBN-see article) on the "very rich and substantial Judeo-Christian heritage" in our nation's capitol. It was a project called "God in the Temples of Government":
    -Organization of American States bldg has a statue of prophet Daniel
    -Daughters of the American Revolution bldg has Proverbs 22:28 quoted

    ...more pictures on Human Events Online

    Sent: 10am 10/21/04
    Dear Campaign Directors,

    Keep up the good work you all do in this "busy" season! As a second generation Filipino American citizen (non partisan-undecided voter still) -foremost-a concerned Christian, could you please STOP the "campaign attacks" (ok, I'm a softy rural small college town resident in Morris, Minnesota-born and raised in the bigger cities-Twin Cities) in the media (e.g. speeches, commercial ads, violence, etc..) we see on television.

    Below is a personal statement in my website to encourage citizens and to both Bush&Kerry to focus more on "what are you going to do" (I haven't been to a campaign rally yet, but the media just publicizes one liner ridicule attacks of both parties...so I might not hear what each party is addressing)...

    Citizen praying for you all,
    Sal:)

    I forgot to put this in the e-mail:

    We need to better serve as role models to our children and the future generations of our nation through our political campaign actions (e.g. speeches, ads, etc..). Also, the whole world is watching us, so we need to remember them too!

    Post-Elections

    Wow, I'm glad the 2004 Campaign is over-no more of those "filthy" debates, campaign ads, etc...However, we need to keep working together-both side of the party!

  • Election 2004, many links
  • U.S. Elections Results 2004, from solomostemple
  • Voters register disapproval of gay marriage In clean sweep, 11 states pass bans on same-sex unions, from MSNBC (The Associated Press Updated: 10:44 a.m. ET Nov. 3, 2004)

    • "The results just go to show that the citizens ... clearly understand the value of natural marriage,� said Christina Rondeau, director of the North Dakota Family Alliance, a group that supported the amendment."

    Can't Stereotype or Prejudge

    After watching the 2004 Campaign and Elections, I noticed how people can get "overboard" (e.g. my housemate chose to put a "Bush/Chenney" sign in our front yard, which was ripped the weekend before the elections) and "too emotional" into it. If you label yourself with one of the parties, you automatically get "categorized" or "stereotype". That is why I didn't affiliate myself with either party because I don't totally believe with all the issues of any of the parties. You might be automatically labeled "negatively". I hear this example use a lot: When I say I like "ice cream", what picture comes to your mind...chocolate, mint, on a dish or a cone, etc...It can be many things depending on the "eye of the beholder" or "your personal experience". The same goes with either political parties. I was chatting with someone last night (Friday, November 5th) at a local coffee shop. He told me how his sister hates "Bush". I asked him why would she hater him? He began to share about the organge poison gas issue from the Persian Gulf War, which U.S. Soldiers were lied/decieved by their upper authorities (e.g. Bush). Well, one of these soldiers is the husband of my friend's sister. This explains why he and his wife hates "Bush". A "Republican" who is for "moral issues and values" may label this soldier one who doesn't value "moral issues or values" of the Republican Party. This individual "Republican" may not understand automatically why this individual "hates Bush" until he/she hears their story. Instead of jumping to conclusions of individuals, we need to understand where they are coming from. It's an example of racism, in which people stereotype or "prejudge" a person before they get a chance to know the individual.

    "Government Citizens!": Pray for Our Leaders

    Instead of complaining and ridiculing these politicians, pray for them! Then ask God what can you do to play a part in making our local community, state, nation, or world better? Just like John F. Kennedy's famous challenge (inagural) speech, "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country..." in January 20th, 1961

    Yes, we need to submit to "governmental" authorities (Romans 13:1-7), so we need to make sure we submit to those that are "right with God".

  • Presidential Prayer Team, U.S. President needs your prayers!

    • "7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"-1 Kings 3

    Also, we need to pray for the President's Administration Team and Leaders's (local, state, and national level) Advisers overall:

    1 Kings 4

    Solomon's Officials and Governors

    "1 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:

    Azariah son of Zadok-the priest;
    3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha-secretaries;
    Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud-recorder;
    4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada-commander in chief;
    Zadok and Abiathar-priests;
    5 Azariah son of Nathan-in charge of the district officers;
    Zabud son of Nathan-a priest and personal adviser to the king;
    6 Ahishar-in charge of the palace;
    Adoniram son of Abda-in charge of forced labor.

    7 Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year."

    {2012 Campagin}

    Candidates:
    Mansfield for President 2012 Platform gman4pres.info
    " The First, Is To Modify the World Wide Monetary System so it works for all People all the time thus an Abrupt End to World Hunger, Homelessness, Unemployment and Economic Strife thus a Great Reduction in today’s many Crimes, Civil Unrest, Terrorist Acts, Revolutions and Wars.Modifying the World Wide Monetary System is feasible, case in point; Through the centuries, the world wide monetary system has been restructured many times to the painful structure we have today resulting in a magnitude of suffering by a multitude of people. We can end all the above said suffering now, by modifying, but to know what type of modification to use, one first must know the cause of the suffering said above. To begin, my name is Glen John Mansfield. I was born in 1947 to my impoverished parents on Veterans Day in which I got to know hunger, economic strife and war by the age of four and decided to devote my life in search for the cause of economic strife and war, then, from knowing the cause, I hoped I would find a cure, then some day, run for the elective office of President and right the wrong."

    Distrust?

    6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
    And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, [b] Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"-Isaiah 9

    -Security

    1998 - Enemy of the State - Trailer

    "Robert dean is a mild-mannered lawyer who works in Washington D.C. He is on the trail of a kingpin named Pintero. Meanwhile, a politician named Thomas Reynolds is negotiating with Congressman Phillip Hammerson about a new surveillance system with satellites. But, Hammerson declines, that is when Reynolds had Hammerson killed, but this murder was caught on tape, and this person was being chased by Reynolds' team of NSA agents, the guy must ditch the tape, so he plants it on Dean (unbeknownst to Dean). Then, the NSA decides to get into Dean's life. That is when Dean's life began to fall apart all around him, with his wife and job both gone. Dean wants to find out what is going on. Then, he meets a man named "Brill" who tells him that Dean has something that the government wants. Thta is when Dean and Brill formulate a plan to get Dean's life back and turn the Tables on Reynolds. "

    Enemy of the State (film) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    "...is a 1998 spy film about a group of rogue NSA agents who kill a Congressman in a political-related murder, and then try to cover up the murder by destroying evidence and intimidating witnesses..."

    The Good Shepherd Trailer

    "trailer from the movie "The Good Shepherd", released on the official website "
    *see GoodnewsEverybody: Latino-Cuban
    Related Sites:
    The Good Shepherd (2006), from imdb.com
    "More of a character study of Edward Wilson (played in stolid, very serious fashion by MATT DAMON) than a straightforward spy yarn, it manages to hold the interest even though it uses the flashback method of storytelling that is apt to confuse a viewer if it isn't done well. But here again, there is a flaw--it covers a span of twenty or more years but the aging of the central character is never quite convincing enough. Damon never looks that much older than his grown son--whereas a few gray hairs might have helped considerably. As his grown son, EDDIE REDMAYNE does reasonably well as the man seeking his father's approval." The Good Shepherd (film) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    "...is a 2006 spy film directed by Robert De Niro and starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie, with an extensive supporting cast. Although it is a fictional film loosely based on real events, it is advertised as telling the untold story of the birth of counter-intelligence in the Central Intelligence Agency. It is a Morgan Creek Productions film distributed by Universal Pictures. The film's main character, Edward Wilson (portrayed by Matt Damon), is loosely based on James Jesus Angleton and Richard M. Bissell.[citation needed] William Hurt's character, Phillip Allen, is largely based on Allen Dulles,[citation needed] while General Bill Sullivan, played by Robert De Niro, is loosely based on Major General William Joseph Donovan....
    ...The timeline moves to post-war Berlin, where the Allies and the Soviets, in a race for technological superiority, are vying to recruit as many German scientists as possible. Edward encounters his Soviet counterpart, codenamed "Ulysses", who praises Edward as a formidable adversary. Edward interviews potential German informants with the aid of a female interpreter, Hanna Schiller (Martina Gedeck), who wears a hearing aid. When Edward makes a rare phone call home, he inadvertently learns from his young son, Edward, Jr., that Clover is seeing another man. After the phone call, Hanna enters Edward's office and invites him to her house. After cooking dinner, she asks him to stay, and they end up having sex. Afterwards, Edward realizes that Hanna can hear him without the use of her hearing aid, exposing her as a Soviet operative who has infiltrated OSS activities. Edward has Hanna killed and notifies Ulysses by having her hearing aid planted into his tea pot..."
    James Jesus Angleton From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    "...the "mother" of today's CIA for his deep role in its formation and operations.
    Angleton is notable for both his long tenure as the CIA's foremost "spy catcher" (as Chief of Counter-Intelligence), but also his being deceived by a Soviet spy, Kim Philby. When Philby's close associates in Britain's Most Secret Services, MacLean and Burgess, defected, it was immediately clear that Philby had staged a massive and unprecedented long-term espionage ring in both the US and the U.K, directly under the noses of the finest minds in Counter-Intelligence available, including Angleton. Angleton's faith in his abilities was deeply shaken by how Philby had so successfully fooled him for so long; from that point on he was best known for his exceptional and relentless sensitivity to any sign of further moles within the CIA....
    According to former CIA officer Robert Baer: "Angleton was truly a bit of a lunatic. He fancied himself as a serious poet. He was half-Mexican [via his mother], very tall and gangly, a raconteur who could stay up all night talking. In fact, he fairly well destroyed the CIA single-handedly because of his paranoia....
    Early life
    ...was born in Boise, Idaho to Carmen Mercedes Moreno. His father, James Hugh Angleton, was a cavalry officer who owned the NCR franchise in pre-war Italy, and later joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). His parents met in Mexico while his father was serving under General John "Black Jack" Pershing. His mother was renowned in Mexico's high society for her beauty....br> CIA career
    CIA recruited him shortly before its formation, and he continued his counter-intelligence activities there, first returning to Rome and his previous counter-intelligence position, where the knowledge of cryptography he had obtained from Ultra is said to have served him well. He turned his attentions to the KGB and the Soviet nuclear weapons program with its probable reliance on technology leaked from the American Manhattan Project....
    Rise in influence in the CIA
    Beginning in 1951 Angleton was responsible for cooperation with Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet agencies, a relationship he managed closely for virtually the remainder of his career. It has been claimed that, in this capacity, Angleton directed CIA assistance to the Israeli nuclear weapons program (See Samuel Katz, Soldier Spies, 1992)..
    *see the movie "Munich" (2006 by Speilberg)=>GoodnewsEverybody: MiddleEast-Israelite
    William Colby From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    ... (January 4, 1920 – April 27, 1996) spent a career in intelligence for the United States, culminating in holding the post of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from September, 1973, to January, 1976.
    During World War II Colby served with the Office of Strategic Services. After the war he joined the newly created CIA. Before and during the Vietnam War, Colby served as Chief of Station in Saigon, Chief of CIA's Far East Division, and head of the Civil Operations and Rural Development effort; he was responsible for the Phoenix Program. After Vietnam, Colby became Director of Central Intelligence and during his tenure revealed a large amount of information about U.S. intelligence activities to the Church Committee. Colby served as DCI under President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford and was replaced by future President George H.W. Bush on January 30, 1976...
    Early life and family
    was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1920...
    Central Intelligence Agency
    Colby then spent much of the 1950s based in Rome, where he led the Agency's covert political operations campaign to support anti-Communist parties in their electoral contests against left wing, Soviet Union-associated parties. The Christian Democrat and allied parties won several key elections in the 1950s, preventing a takeover by the Communist Party....
    Death
    On Saturday, April 27, 1996, Colby died in an apparent boating accident near his home in Rock Point, Maryland, although his body was actually found, underwater, on Monday, May 6, 1996. The subsequent inquest found that he died from drowning and hypothermia after collapsing from a heart attack or stroke and falling out of his canoe, and there was no further investigation.
    [edit] Theories about death
    Although the inquest into Colby's death found he had died of natural causes, there were some suspicious circumstances: he rarely went canoeing at night; he had not spoken to his wife of any plans to go canoeing; his house was unlocked, with the radio and computer on and the remains of a meal on the table; there was no sign of the life-jacket his friends said he usually wore; and his body was found approximately 20 yards (18 m) from the canoe (itself found 100 yards (91 m) from the house) after the area had been thoroughly searched several times. Several allegations that Colby was murdered have been made:..
    *met him during a conference (see Hmong Youth Leadership Confrence in Washington D.C.) less than a month prior!

    Recommended Resources

    LOCAL

    Morris: All American City Finalist in Atlanta

    6 years ago when I was an RA and an MCSA Rep my junior year, I started to get more involved with student politics. I helped lobbied for the now RFC, which I talked one and one with now Mayor of St. Paul Randy Kelly; back then, he was one of the Minnesota State Legislature. The RFC came about after I graduated, but the work towards getting it paid off as I'm a active member now. I would not imagine going to Atlanta with 14 members from the Morris community to share about the RFC in front of 12 judges (mayor, political figures, etc...)

    I went on a 4 day conference type competition representing Morris for All American City in 2004. I was representing the cultural diversity aspect of my community, along with the church population. I witnessed many opportunities where God or the faith-religious aspect played a part on this 4-day trip:

    Wednesday, June 9th: I had an opportunity to share my faith with the hotel fitness cleaner/janitor (AJ) the first night. I told him that God can use (see purpose) us anywhere, and how He has used me working at a group home for developmentaly disabled/physically challenged adults-if we ask Him! AJ seem very interested, so I told him that God can use him here. I told him that the Bible can be a good guidance and he asked me, "where should I start reading?". Like many people asking where to start, I told him to read the Book of John.

    Thursday, June 11th: During the Civic Fair part of the event (see), they had various represented cities do a performance (jazz band with drumming, Jamaican music to Beetles' "Yesterday", and various dancing from different parts of the country). One that sticked out was the group from Springfield, Ohio; they had a church choir sing "Kick the devil out of the City". It was a very soul-filling gospel music! I thought this was an awesome part of the Civic Fair, which was a seed planter of faith that the church community is part of the backbone (e.g. Chris Rock mentioned this in his movie) of the community.

    Sunday, June 13th 2004-Worship Service (same as the atlanta trip website) I woke-up early on Sunday morning hoping to attend the famous Ebenezzer Baptist Church (service start @8am) , where Martin Luther King Jr. attended. Five years ago, I had an opportunity to visit here during a Impact Conference. I was too tired to get up as I was up till 2am packing after last nights adventure around town. I got up around 7:45am and ended up going to a nearby church service. In fact, I found this when I was touring the surrounding area earlier. It was a storefront church called "Universal Church: Stop Suffering Center" (205 Peachtree St.) 1.800.704.0194, located across the Westin Plaza. I made it in time (@9:15a) to see most of the service-45 of the 60 minutes. I was hoping to experience a happening' holly rollers service with some wake-up gospel music, but there was none in the vicinity of the Marriot (There was a Catholic Church and a Methodist Church started @11am a couple blocks from the hotel). I was able to hear part of the message that I missed, he talked about Harriet Tubman, famous African-American Women known for the Undeground Railroad. I felt the message was very life applicable-"What are you willing to sacrifice (time, money, bad friends-influences, materialism, etc...things that may distract you from your focus on growing in your relationship with God) to get your prayers answered (my interpretation of the sermon). After the service, there was another one-in Spanish. I then went back to the hotel to meet the others by 11:45am to ride the transit to the airport.

    ...more of Atlanta 2004 Trip Report

    Throughout the trip in Atlanta, my group from the Morris Team witnessed many beggars asking for money. I told a sister in Christ that the Bible mentions "Silver or Gold I don't have, but I have Jesus", which many of them need. However, the church not only needs to share Jesus, we need to show how Jesus would help them get back on their feet. "We can give a man a fish that will last them a day, but if we teach them how to fish-it'll last them a lifetime!". I hope the churches of all our communities can live by this principle in making our community more of an "all heavenly-city"; not just an "all-american city"!

    Despite not winning the ten finalist of 30 All American City Finalist, I was well pleased to get to know the various leaders of the Morris Team. I pray that this is just the beginning of a continuing growing relationship building of our community to work together and that "we would hold each other up" (saying encouragement from Dave Johnson, who critique our presentation) to this! This trip made me want to seek God more on how I and the church can be used more effectively in our communities-partnering in our common vision with others to make a difference in our different ways to do so.

    Please keep these public officials in prayer:

    -City
    Carol Wilcox-Mayor of Morris
    -County
    Stevens County Commissioners
    Terry Westrom-State Representative of District 11A
    Dallas Sams-State Senator of District 11

    "Meet the Candidates"
    (local/state/national/ representative, county commisioners)
    will be at the AMerican Legion on:
    Thursday, October 14th @7pm
    American Legion (on W. 5th St./Hwy 28 by Casey's)
    Sponsored by: American Vets

    Local Morris 2004 Election (SAMPLE) Ballot: Candidates
    Pollfinder?
    Vote Smart: Local Candidate Biography

    {2012)

    -Voter's Guide with Social Issues

    Sample Ballot for my district in Morris

  • 2012 Voter Guide, west-central tribune
  • Minnesota Christians Concerned for Life, voter guide

    • STEVENS COUNTY:

  • Size of local government key concern in county commissioner debate, By: Kim Ukura, Morris Sun Tribune Published October 26, 2012, 04:05 PM

    • " Six candidates for the Stevens County Board of Commissioners answered questions about their visions for the future of Stevens County and specifics about the Stevens County Courthouse at a candidate forum at the American Legion on Thursday, Oct. 18. By: Kim Ukura, Morris Sun Tribune "
    "MORRIS - Six candidates for the Stevens County Board of Commissioners answered questions about their visions for the future of Stevens County and specifics about the Stevens County Courthouse at a candidate forum at the American Legion on Thursday, Oct. 18.
    In their introductions, all six candidates emphasized their interest in helping balance the county budget, although most also expressed concern about how cuts to state and federal funding have impacted Stevens County.
    Paul Watzke, District 1 County Commissioner and New York Life consultant, said that although there are challenges for the area like attracting young people, Stevens County is blessed with a diverse economy and opportunities.
    Watzke said that cuts to state funding would continue to be a challenge for Stevens County – the current county budget projects a 25 percent cut in this funding.
    “We'll do the best we can,” said Watzke. “We've been able to spend down some reserves and we've been able to look at doing some streamlining. … We have to continue to look at ways to consolidate and share our services.”
    Watzke's challenger, Bob Kopitzke, a member of the buildings and grounds crew at the University of Minnesota, Morris, noted that the county will continue to be short of money due to funding cuts.
    “I know farmers are worried about taxes because of the high land values, and I worry about that, but I worry more about the fixed income people,” said Kopitzke. “If we keep raising taxes, they aren't going to be able to keep up.”
    Kopitzke said he did not support raising weight limits on roads and watch county employment carefully to keep the budget down.
    Ron Staples, District 3 County Commissioner and farmer south of Alberta, said one big challenge for the county is the loss of county program aid from the state.
    “It's really been detrimental to our levies,” said Staples. “We've had to raise our levies to replace that County Program Aid that we've been getting from the state of Minnesota. … It's a big loss for people in the county.”
    Staples also said the county would need to work on the county ditch system. Maintenance has not been good enough, said Staples – “With high land values, farmers are willing to move forward with doing that stuff.”
    Jim Swenson, Staples' challenger in District 3 and small business owner in Hancock, said his major concern for the county was infrastructure.
    “We've got to have good roads in this county for the farmers to get their goods into town,” said Swenson. He suggested looking at building concrete roads instead of paving to increase the road lifespan even though the material would cost more initially.
    The race for a seat in District 4 is open. Candidate Donny Wohlers, owner of the Old No. 1 Bar and Grill, said he thought issue moving forward for the county would include the county ditch system and state and federal funding for roads.
    “There's a lot of spending that's going to have to be watched, how we spend our money, the monies that we bring into the county,” said Wohlers.
    District 4 candidate Diane Nelson, a retired high school teacher, said she would work to keep Morris “shining bright and ensure that we have a bright future.”
    Nelson agreed that it is important to improve county infrastructure and be “efficient, effective and visionary” in county government.
    The candidates also addressed county staffing and whether the county government has gotten too big.
    Watzke (District 1) said that the county would like to streamline government, but that there were many mandated services the county is required to provide. One way to try and cut back the size of government, said Watzke, is to work with neighboring counties in partnerships.
    Kopitzke (District 1) said the commissioners should take a more active role in the hiring process and be careful about how much more hiring the county does.
    Staples (District 4) said that although it would be great for the government to go small, it's important to balance the size of government with services.
    If the county cut its budget by 10 percent next year, Staples said roads wouldn't be plowed or bladed as quickly, for example.
    Nelson (District 3) suggested the county should study each decision and see how much it will cost and be sure the county has a vision and a plan for what government is doing.
    “I think we maybe need to make a two-year plan if that works,” Nelson said. “I realize that some of the things are mandated by the state and federal government and you have to spend that money... but I think we really just need to be cognizant of the fact that we need to be very thrifty and frugal.”
    Wohlers (District 3) said he has seen county department heads come to the commissioners and ask for employees, but that the county needs to seriously consider whether hires need to be made.
    “I do question, sometimes, who has been doing these jobs in the past?” said Wohlers. “Why all of a sudden are we hiring someone for $60,000 with benefits to do this job, or whatever their salary is?”
    This candidate forum was sponsored by the auxiliaries of the American Legion Post 29, AmVets Post 290 and VFW Post 5039. "

    {2004}

    Cy Thao-State Representative (UMM Alumn 93')

    STATE
    (Goodnews Minnesota: Politics)

    Keep the following officials in prayer:
    -Tim Pawlenty-Governor
    Government Cabinet Level Departments Minnesota Judicial Branch, courts
    Minnesota Court of Appeals

    -Norm Coleman, U.S. Senator (former St. Paul Mayor, who I met in person when he came over to my social studies class back in Harding Senior High School during Spring of 1995)

    Letter of encouragment on Tuesday, January 24th of 2006:

    "Dear Honorable U.S. Senator Norm Coleman,

    I just wanted to e-mail you an encouragement to keep up the good work in the federal level you are in. As a former St. Paul (move to Morris after graduating from UMM in 1999) resident, it's been awesome to see you grow in your influence from a local to global level. I remember when I first met you in person-back in 1995 when you visited my social studies class at St. Paul Harding Senior High. I was very quiet back then, but did listen to your awesome vision for our city; which came true!

    I'm currently living in Morris, MN where I feel God has put me to make a difference. I just want to let you know I'll be praying for you as you make in impact for our state and the world. Keep up the good work as God leads you to fulfill the plan (Jeremiah 29:11) He destined for you and the people He has you to influence....

    http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/goodnewsumm/la.politics.html

    Proud Minnesota/former St. Paul resident,
    Sal:)

    Career/Job Opportunities

  • Serve Minnesota-Americorps

    • *UMM Connection-Tim (worked with at Divine House, Inc. in 2005)

    Current Issues

    {2012}

  • Minnesota for Marriage
  • Voter ID: Like pulling on a thread Article by: AMY BERGQUIST Updated: October 25, 2012 - 6:45 PM startribune.com

    • Proponents can't explain away the trouble it would cause

    Education

  • Chaska School Board of Education: District 112, Carlos Gallego of Carver County-UofM Extension Service (Carver County-4H, newsletter, etc..)

    Ethnic

  • Progressive Minnesota, Hmong connection-Nicoly Ly, UMM Alumn 02'

    • Evangelism

    Aug. 7-8 Saturday-Sunday

    Twin Cities Luis Palau Festival

    At the State Capitol. Twin Cities Christians, join the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association in praying for a mighty harvest of souls to be reached through this event. Invite friends & family. Join us at the Capitol in St. Paul. www.twincitiesfestival.org. 952-929-1421.

    Government

  • Secretary of State Minnesota

    • Poll Finder

    Media

  • Who Do I Vote For? ‘My Ballot’ Helps Answer Voting Questions November 2, 2012 11:49 AM minnesota.cbslocal.com

    • Prayer

  • Midwest Chaplains
    • Pray for: Dan Hall-a local church connection involved with this ministry to our state legislatures

    Voter Ballot

  • Minnesota message to voters: Do your homework 6:23 PM, Nov 5, 2012 kare11.com


    • " -AAA+ Written by Blake McCoy FILED UNDER Top Stories ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Secretary of State's office is urging voters to do their homework before showing up to the polls Tuesday, particularly for more obscure races. While the big name candidates have been running ads for months, many judicial and school board candidates remain largely unknown. Constrained by limited funds, judicial candidates Lois Conroy and Marc Berris have created YouTube videos to introduce themselves to voters. They are trying to prevent voters from skipping over them. KARE 11 looked over 2008 results and found that while 2,910,369 people voted for president, only 2,007,365 people voted for associate justice - supreme court 4. "That's a third of the electorate," says Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. "The farther you go down the ballot, the less people know." Ritchie is urging voters to do their homework before coming to the polls. The same holds true for the amendment questions on gay marriage and voter ID, where the actual wording of the amendments will not be printed on your ballot. "We're not permitted to put in the ballot what's actually proposed to go into our constitution," says Ritchie. Instead a short synopsis will be provided. "Citizens have to do a lot of extra work to know what's actually proposed." The Secretary of State's office has provided a new website where voters can access their sample ballots ahead of time and research before showing up to vote. That website is mnvotes.org. (Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) M/i>
  • Ballot head-scratcher: What do soil and water supervisors do? Written by Dave Berggren 8:26 PM, Nov 2, 2012 kare11.com


    • "ST. PAUL, Minn. - It might be one of the more confusing decisions on any Election Day ballot. Water and Soil District Supervisors: Who are they and what do they do? "This is a question that we hear," says John Jaschke, the executive director of the Minnesota Water and Soil Resources Board. "Basically, they do projects that clean water, stabilize the land and improve our natural environment." The origin of these supervisors dates back to the dust bowl era of the 1930s. It's then when the federal government told local governments that officials should be in place to ensure the health of soil and water. From installing natural filter strips to clean river water to dealing with erosion caused by heavy rains, district supervisors respond to disaster and connect with citizens on future projects. But why do we elect them? "It's the way the statute was set up," says Jaschke. "You build a damn or fix a waterway and these undertakings make a big difference to the community." Soil and Water District Supervisors are non-partisan and serve four-year terms. To learn more about what they do you can find information on the Minnesota Soil and Water Board website. (Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) "

    Voting Rights-Privileges

  • Minnesota E-Democracy
  • Minnesota Secretary of State, voter registration card!

    • *Pre-Register by Oct. 12th for the general election on Nov 2nd
  • Redeem the Vote, non-partisan, non profit organization

    • NATION->USA

    (GoodnewsUSA: Politics)

    "In God We Trust"
    in our nation's monetary
    Commit to Pray (map of prayer warriors)

    Agencies

  • Firt Gov: Agencies A-Z

    • Books

  • "The Myth of A Christian Nation, from Pastor Greg Boyd of Woodland Hills Church

    • *personal site of the local church I attend whenever I visit the cities
    Gregory Boyd on "The Myth of a Christian Nation" Part 1/3

    "Charlie Rose interviews Pastor Gregory Boyd on his book, "The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church."
    Although Boyd is no liberal, he lost one-fifth of his congregation when he preached that the church should steer clear of mixing the gospel with a specific political stance.
    Total running time for the 3 parts is 21 minutes. See more great videos at youtube dot com / group / ChristianApologetics"

    Campaign

    {2012}

  • Party Over: Voting Biblical Values over Politics By Efrem Graham News Anchor & Reporter cbn.com


    • "Many Christian leaders are campaigning hard this election year, but they're not backing a specific candidate. Instead, they are urging Christian voters to rely on biblical principles when they cast their ballot.
    A familiar name in politics is one of those on that last minute campaign push. Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recently partnered with the group Concerned Women for America in a "She Votes 2012" event, targeting female voters.
    King spoke with CBN news prior to an event in Hampton, Va. She stressed this election is bigger than any political party.
    "The party is over," King said. "This is not party time. This is a serious time because America needs to be fixed. And there is a desire in my heart to see that."
    "So I say to people, when you look at a ballot, vote for the absolute best candidate on the ballot," she said.
    For Alveda, that candidate is the one who most reflects biblical principles.
    "We can vote our values or we can vote God's principles," she said. "And God's principles are just so very clear and that actually should transcend the political party."
    King isn't alone. Bishop E.W. Jackson took his message to black church leaders, challenging them to resist what he calls blind loyalties.
    "You cannot align yourself with a party, an organization, a business, anything that is in rank rebellion against God and against the values you are taught in scripture," Jackson told CBN News.
    "It's not about race, it's about righteousness. It's not about party it's about principles," he continued. "It's about voting in a way that will please God. That is what the ultimate goal ought to be."
    A guide to achieving that goal can be found in a new book called, How Should Christians Vote?, by Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship church in Dallas.
    Evans recently visited the CBN News Washington, D.C. Bureau to talk about his book.
    "If God is involved with government and God is the author of government, and God determines what is good and what is evil, then he should be consulted on all issues," Evans said.
    Before voting, Evans encourages Christian voters to get out a sheet of paper and write down an issue of concern. In one column, write down where Democrats stand, in the next column where Republicans stand, and finally in the last column, what God says about the issue.
    "You vote for the party, the platform, the candidate or the policies that closest reflects the values of the kingdom of God," Evans explained.
    Evans is also quick to point out that God is neither Democrat or Republican.
    "He is the consummate independent because he only votes for himself," he said. "And he doesn't ride the backs of donkey or elephants."
    "We have reduced him to partisan politics rather than from a Christian perspective, recognizing He is His own king with His own kingdom," he added. "And He makes His judgments based on how consistent people are with His rule."
    Pastor Evans said God's rule should rule how Christians vote.
    *Original broadcast Oct. 16, 2012. "

    -Miscellaneous

  • Gas prices drop 21 cents over past 2 weeks 8:06 PM, Nov 4, 2012 kare11.com

    • "CAMARILLO, Calif. - The average price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped 21 cents over the past two weeks.
    That's according to the Lundberg Survey of fuel prices. It puts the price of a gallon of regular at $3.55.
    Midgrade costs an average of $3.72 a gallon, and premium is $3.85.
    Diesel dipped 7 cents to $4.08 a gallon.
    Of the cities surveyed in the lower 48 states, Memphis, Tenn., has the nation's lowest average price for gas at $3.11. San Francisco has the highest at $4.05.
    (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) "

    -Voter's Guide

  • Family Research Council-2012 Voter's Guide

  • God Voter.org
  • Liberty Council

    • -Prayer

  • 40 Days of Prayer


    • "... is a call to fervent prayer for our elections. We are in desperate days as a nation as the spiritual, moral and financial fabric of our nation is disintegrating around us. Believers need to pray as never before. America's National Prayer Committee and its member organizations are putting out a call to pray 40 days prior to the elections (September 28 - November 6). Here you will find information and links to other prayer initiatives that are focusing on this election. We are not endorsing these initiatives, but making you aware of them. Our intent is to stay far away from anything that looks like an endorsement or movement for any particular candidate or party. What we are asking for is the intervention of God on behalf of our nation. "

    -Obama wins Re-election

  • Obama victory spells trouble for Israel's Netanyahu, By Jeffrey Heller | Reuters – Wed, Nov 7, 2012 news.yahoo.com

    • "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an even more awkward time with Washington and re-energized critics at home who accused him on Wednesday of backing the loser in the U.S. presidential election. With Iran topping his conservative agenda, Netanyahu will have to contend with a strengthened second-term Democratic president after four years of frosty dealings with Barack Obama and a rift over how to curb Tehran's nuclear program. Facing his own re-election battle in January, polls give Netanyahu little chance of losing but perceptions that he has mishandled Israel's main ally have been seized on by opponents. "I will continue to work with President Obama to ensure the interests that are vital for the security of Israel's citizens," Netanyahu said in a short, congratulatory statement hailing what he called strong strategic relations with Washington. But in remarks underscoring a rift with the United States over possible Israeli military action against Iran, Netanyahu said in an interview broadcast on Israel's Channel 2 this week: "If there is no other way to stop Iran, Israel is ready to act." Relations between Netanyahu and Obama hit a new low two months ago after the Israeli leader said nations which failed to set "red lines" for Iran - which denies seeking atomic arms - did not have the
    "moral right" to stop Israel from attacking. Such comments, along with financial backing for Republican candidate Mitt Romney from a U.S. casino magnate who is also one of Netanyahu's biggest supporters, were seized upon by critics as evidence the Israeli leader was trying to undermine Obama. Netanyahu denied he was interfering in U.S. politics. But former Israeli ambassador to Washington, Sallai Meridor, suggested that Obama would not easily forget that Netanyahu had created a perception that Israel wanted Romney to defeat him. Obama is "very strategic, very disciplined", Meridor said during a panel discussion on the U.S. election at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. "But I don't think we can just assume that what happened between them over past four years will have just evaporated," he said. "When people fight for their political life and have the perception that their partner is trying to undermine their chances, it's not going to disappear." One of the Israeli prime minister's own leading coalition allies, Eli Yishai of the religious Shas party, said simply: "It's not a very good morning for Netanyahu." PEACE TALKS For the Palestinians, Obama's win over Romney - who offended them by suggesting during a visit to Israel in July that cultural differences accounted for the weakness of their economy compared with Israel's - stirred little emotion. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement he hopes Obama "continues his efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East". U.S.-backed peace talks with Israel collapsed in 2010 over Israeli
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement he hopes Obama "continues his efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East". U.S.-backed peace talks with Israel collapsed in 2010 over Israeli settlement building. At the forum in Tel Aviv, Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, said it would be unrealistic to think Obama would choose to ignore the Palestinian issue in his second term. "It always finds its way back onto the agenda. You can't expect this to go away or remain on the back-burner," he said, without offering a prediction of what Obama might do. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, unemployed Narmeen Taha, 37, voiced hope that freedom from re-election pressure might make Obama readier to take the Palestinians' side: "Maybe Obama, now that he doesn't have to worry about re-election, will exert more pressure on Israel than during his first term. "But I also don't think we'll see a sudden turnaround." Obama's victory could complicate Netanyahu's run in Israel's January 22 national ballot, which opinion polls show he will win. Former premier Ehud Olmert, who accuses Netanyahu of harming Israel's "most vital interests", was more likely to announce his candidacy now that Obama was returned to office, analysts said. Olmert unsuccessfully pursued peace with the Palestinians before resigning in 2008 over corruption allegations. Should he run, Olmert is widely expected to seek to unite centrist and left-wing parties into a new bloc trumpeting slogans warning of four more years of acrimony between Netanyahu and Obama. "Netanyahu bet on the wrong president and got us into hot water with Obama," the opposition Kadima party said on Facebook. In his message to Obama, however, Netanyahu adopted a phrase used lately by the president's own
    supporters to describe strategic relations with Washington as "stronger than ever". (Additional reporting by Douglas Hamilton in Tel Aviv and Ali Sawafta, Noah Browning and Jihan Abdalla in Ramallah; Editing by Alastair Macdonald) "
    *see GoodnewsEverybody.com: Middle Eastern-Israelite of Israel

    {2004}

    -Candidates

  • Alan Keyes On Imposing Christian Values in 96' Pres. race
  • Obama for Illinois, running for U.S. Senate

    • A friend-former UMM Alumn 00'(Randy Gardley): A&O, is currently helping behind the scenes of this campaign

    -Parties

  • Christian Freedom Party, got a flier (8/15/04) after attending church with my family in St. Paul
  • Green Party

    • Branches of Government
    -Judicial

  • U.S. Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • NEWS 10/25/04:
    U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist has "cancer" (prayer request)
  • Biography-, from Legal Information Institute
  • Doctors split on Rehnquist prognosis Surgery may signal aggressive cancer, from MSNBC (The Associated Press Updated: 7:47 a.m. ET Oct. 26, 2004)
  • Rehnquist May Return to Work at Top Court, from CBN

    • *Rehnquist's hospitalization at National Naval Medical Center in suburban Bethesda, Md., gave new prominence to a campaign issue that has been overshadowed by the war on terror. The next president probably will name one or more justices to a court that has been deeply divided in recent years on issues as varied as abortion and the 2000 election itself. President Bush won that after the Supreme Court issued a key 5-4 decision in his favor, with Rehnquist as part of the majority.

    {2012}

  • Teacher Ridicules Student for Romney T-Shirt CNBCBy Lee Brodie | CNBC – 7 hours ago (Friday, October 6th 2012) finance.yahoo.com

    • " Many Republicans can't help but wonder if a student wearing a pro-Obama T-Shirt in a Philadelphia school would have been subject to the kind of humiliation that Samantha Pawlucy was forced to endure.
    The 16-year old sophomore, who attends Charles Carroll High School, told CNBC's Larry Kudlow, that she was humiliated by a teacher for wearing a T-shirt in support of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
    She said the teacher compared her to the worst racists in history -- the Ku Klux Klan.
    "It was really embarrassing, and I think she did it because she's against Mitt Romney," Samantha said. "I was really nervous," she added, "and I was worried that after class, people were going to come up to me and say something."
    Events unfolded last Friday. Nothing out of the ordinary happened until the student arrived at her geometry class -- before that time the shirt didn't raise any objections. However, the offending teacher saw the Romney / Ryan shirt "and told me to get out of the classroom, I said no," Samantha explained on "The Kudlow Report." (Read More Below the Video.) Philly Student Ridiculed Over Romney T-ShirtSamantha Pawlucy, a 16-year-old student in Philadelphia says that a teacher ridiculed her for wearing a Mitt Romney t-shirt in class. CNBC's Larry Kudlow weighs in. When she stood her ground and refused to change, Samantha said the teacher pulled her into the hall and encouraged others to make fun of her. And according to news reports, the teacher attempted to scribble on the shirt. [More From CNBC: Romney on '47 Percent': I Was 'Completely Wrong'] Samantha also admitted to Kudlow that she was so embarrassed by what happened she hasn't returned to class. "I don't want to be threatened and I want the teacher to be fired." Samantha's father Richard Pawlucy is beside himself. He told Larry Kudlow that he wouldn't tolerate his daughter being bullied by anybody let alone a teacher. [More From CNBC: Job Growth Rises as Rate Drops to 7.8 Percent] Although they've met with school officials about the incident, neither Samantha nor her father are satisfied. "The teacher told us it was a joke. That she jokes around with students. There's nothing funny about what she did." The school district confirmed to CNBC that an incident occurred and it is conducting an investigation to determine whether disciplinary action is necessary. Tune in:
    "The Kudlow Report" airs weeknights at 7 p.m. ET."

    Current Issues

    "Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;"

    {2004}

  • Grassfire's "Friend of the Court" brief supporting keeping the phrase "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance
    • *an e-mail petition sent 2/6/2004
    Dear friend,

    I have just signed Grassfire's "Friend of the Court" brief supporting keeping the phrase "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance.

    Grassfire has submitted this official brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of hundreds of thousands of citizens who support the Pledge. Their goal is to rally 200,000 citizens who want their support of the Pledge noted in the official Supreme Court record of the case.

    With the U.S. Supreme Court set to decide whether or not the phrase "under God" can stay in the Pledge on March 24, signing this important brief gives citizens like us one final opportunity to demonstrate our support for keeping the Pledge as it is.

    I would be honored if you added your name with me to this historic document. It takes just moments, and it is absolutely free:

    http://www.grassfire.org/5014/briefsign.asp?rid=2550840

    Thanks for taking action with me.
    Mr. Randall Buffie

    P.S. After signing, please send this message to as many friends as you can, urging them to follow your lead by signing this brief.

    Military

    Geographic

    -NEW YORK
    Who? Bruce E. Layman

    What? Candidate running for 22nd District Congressional
    Background:
    -Career: Chairman of the Star Group; having International and Nationally acclaimed business ventures with his Collective Marketing Group
    Quote? "It's Time for a Change…and Now is the Time to Vote for a Change… and I am the Right Person to Work for Everyone...I have been called..."
    -"Mr. Layman's strategic marketing campaign, "Just Google My Name," is believed to be the first ever campaign to used in a Political arena and is just another example of his unique understanding of today's emerging technology, America's role in the critical expansion of the global scale of economies and his personal keen understanding of ethnic diversification."
    Contact Info: Citizens for Bruce Layman
    P..O. Box 479
    Owego, New York 13827

    Movies

  • Head of State z review
    • *I personally thought this comedy brought some good points concerning "racism" in politics

    The Distinguished Gentleman

    Vote For Pedro

  • Ben Affleck on Creating 'Argo,' Relying on Jennifer Garner By NIKKI BATTISTE (@NikkiBattiste) and LAUREN EFFRON (@LEffron831) Sept. 28, 2012 abcnews.go.com

    • Watch More News Videos at ABC | 2012 Presidential Election
    *I watched this on-air and I like how he said he isn't invovled in the 2012 Presidential Campaign as it's not his "cup of tea" as it was 4 years ago. He thinks it's all about greed and money, which it's unfortunately not in this website

    -Comedy

    Vote For Pedro

    Events

  • APJC, October 22nd at U.S. Capitol Mall

    • Prayer

    Pray for President Bush (2000-2004 Term) through Presidential Prayer Team
    President Bush "Inner Strength"

    "...1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are In authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to Execute Wrath upon him that doeth evil. Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Video free download from "LetFreedomRing";in various formats http://letfreedomringusa.com/innerstrength.asp"

    GEORGE WASHINGTON (1789-1797)
    (Member of Vestryman, Pohick Church (Episcopalian)

    �Almighty God, We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection�and that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with�Charity, [and] humility�which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.�

    JOHN ADAMS (1797-1801)
    (Member of First Church, Braintree, Massachusetts)

    �I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.�

    Forwarded e-mail from Dante, Pennsylvania Christian Leadership Fellowship President

    Organizations

  • Right Change

    • "Founded in August 2008, RightChange.com, Inc., is committed to supporting policies and candidates dedicated to fiscal responsibility and a strong national security for the United States, while upholding the principles of freedom, competitiveness and entrepreneurial spirit of the American people.
    Rightchange is a new generation of conservative film, Hollywood, TV and technology professionals who are bringing a new approach to a predictable political methodology. Operating as a §527 political organization, Rightchange is illustrating just how significant and effective the use of cutting edge video content blended with social media web platforms can penetrate voters with targeted and cost-effective relevant messaging. We use animation and non-traditional production techniques to provide independent and conservative voters with something more than the traditional political sound bite that is sometimes ignored."

    Teachings

    Aaron Russo MAD AS HELL (FULL LENGTH).avi

    "Uploaded by tatoott1009 on Jan 31, 2011 THIS IS MY BLOG http://tatoott1009.com/ TOWERING INFERNO AND STAND BUT 911 TOWERS FALL.avi http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/30/towering-inferno-and-stand-but-911-towers-f... Moscow Skyscraper Goes Up in Flames But Does Not Collapse http://tatoott1009.com/2012/04/03/moscow-skyscraper-goes-up-in-flames-but-doe... Flame Turns On Computer Microphones, Takes Screen Shots, Copies Data, Records Communications http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/30/flame-turns-on-computer-microphones-takes-s... New Big Brother Cyber Weapon Can Turn on Your Computer's Microphone, Record Communications http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/30/new-big-brother-cyber-weapon-can-turn-on-yo... Virginia Gov: Warrantless Drones "Great" for America http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/29/virginia-gov-warrantless-drones-great-for-a... Landslide Closes I-75 South In Campbell County Friday, March 09, jellico mountain landslide http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/28/landslide-on-jericho-mountain-on-382012-thi... Arizona Sheriff Not Backing Down On Obama Birth Issue http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/28/arizona-sheriff-not-backing-down-on-obama-b... Tepco: 'No Plan' To Deal With A Fukushima Collapse That Threatens Civilization http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/26/tepco-no-plan-to-deal-with-a-fukushima-coll... RED ALERT, POSSIBLE MISSILES ON TRAIN UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT! Army Missles Space Craft in Indianapolis Indiana URGENT! http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/24/red-alert-possible-missiles-on-train-under-... The Role of Delegates in the U.S. Presidential Nominating Process ! WE CAN HELP RON PAUL IF WE KNOW HOW http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/24/the-role-of-delegates-in-the-u-s-presidenti... Fukushima: If Number 4 Collapses, Japan Will Be Evacuated & FEATURED STORIES http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/23/fukushima-if-number-4-collapses-japan-will-... WORLD WAR III: Obama has signed 3 new executive orders: NDAA 2013: Now Featuring Propaganda And War With Iran http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/22/world-war-iii-obamas-executive-order-a-prep... Homeland Security in the Land of the Free & Obama: The Groomed from Birth Dictator http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/21/homeland-security-in-the-land-of-the-free/ Republican-led House votes to allow military action against Iran http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/20/republican-led-house-votes-to-allow-militar... OBAMA'S LIES? THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SO HELP ME GOD http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/19/obamas-lies-the-truth-and-nothing-but-the-t... The Vetting -- Exclusive -- Obama's Literary Agent in 1991 Booklet: 'Born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii' http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/17/the-vetting-exclusive-obamas-literary-agent... THE ATTACK ON AMERICA HAS BEGUN: Steve Qualye, uploaded on 5/16/12 & OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO STAGE 'REICHSTAG' EVENT AS TRIGGER FOR MARTIAL LAW, DHS SOURCE WARNS http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/16/the-attack-on-america-has-begun-steve-qualy... Mind Control HAARP-- What is HAARP IS HAARP Dangerous HAARP and Weather Control. http://tatoott1009.com/2012/02/28/7265/ THE ATTACK ON AMERICA HAS BEGUN: Steve Qualye, uploaded on 5/16/12 & OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO STAGE 'REICHSTAG' EVENT AS TRIGGER FOR MARTIAL LAW, DHS SOURCE WARNS http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/16/the-attack-on-america-has-begun-steve-qualy... Exclusive: Government Activating FEMA Camps Across U.S. http://tatoott1009.com/2012/05/13/exclusive-government-activating-fema-camps-... Is the NDAA illegal? NOT NO BUT HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!! http://tatoott1009.com/2012/04/17/is-the-ndaa-illegal/ House Passes CISPA: Red Alert! CISPA Passes with Fourth Amendment Busting Provisions http://tatoott1009.com/2012/04/26/cispa-passes-with-fourth-amendment-busting-... "

    Voting

  • Vote-Smart, links to your local candidates' biography

    • *referred from IVCF's forward e-mail on 10/25/04-Awesome resource!-thanks Luke!

    GLOBAL-Multicultural

  • United Nations

    • Geography

    AFRICA

    -Nigeria

  • Nigeria: Post-Election Violence Killed 800 Promptly Prosecute Offenders, Address Underlying Causes May 17, 2011 hrw.org

    • "(Dakar) - Deadly election-related and communal violence in northern Nigeria following the April 2011 presidential voting left more than 800 people dead, Human Rights Watch said today. The victims were killed in three days of rioting in 12 northern states. Nigeria's state and federal authorities should promptly investigate and prosecute those who orchestrated and carried out these crimes and address the root causes of recurring inter-communal violence.
    The violence began with widespread protests by supporters of the main opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim from the Congress for Progressive Change, following the re-election of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the Niger Delta in the south, who was the candidate for the ruling People's Democratic Party. The protests degenerated into violent riots or sectarian killings in the northern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Relief officials estimate that more than 65,000 people have been displaced.
    "The April elections were heralded as among the fairest in Nigeria's history, but they also were among the bloodiest," said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The newly elected authorities should quickly build on the democratic gains from the elections by bringing to justice those who orchestrated these horrific crimes and addressing the root causes of the violence."
    The presidential election divided the country along ethnic and religious lines. As election results trickled in on April 17, and it became clear that Buhari had lost, his supporters took to the streets of northern towns and cities to protest what they alleged to be the rigging of the results.
    The protesters started burning tires, and the protests soon turned into riots. The rioting quickly degenerated into sectarian and ethnic bloodletting across the northern states. Muslim rioters targeted and killed Christians and members of ethnic groups from southern Nigeria, who were perceived to have supported the ruling party, burning their churches, shops, and homes. The rioters also attacked police stations and ruling party and electoral commission offices. In predominately Christian communities in Kaduna State, mobs of Christians retaliated by killing Muslims and burning their mosques and properties.
    According to the Christian Association of Nigeria, the umbrella organization representing the majority of Christian churches in Nigeria, at least 170 Christians were killed in the post-election riots, hundreds more were injured, and thousands displaced. The organization also reported that more than 350 churches were burned or destroyed by the Muslim rioters across 10 northern states.
    In the predominately Christian towns and villages of southern Kaduna State, including Zonkwa, Matsirga, and Kafanchan, sectarian clashes left more than 500 dead, according to Muslim and Christian leaders interviewed by Human Rights Watch. The vast majority of the victims in these areas were Muslim.
    Human Rights Watch estimates that in northern Kaduna State, at least 180 people, and possibly more, were killed in the cities of Kaduna and Zaria and their surrounding suburbs. According to media reports and journalists interviewed by Human Rights Watch, dozens of people were also killed during riots in the other northern states.
    A lecturer at a college on the outskirts of Zaria described an attack on the college: "When you see the mob, they were not in their senses," he said. "The students ran away but the mob pursued them into the staff quarters and they had nowhere to go. The mob beat them to death and hit them with machetes. Four Christian students and a Christian lecturer were killed."
    Following the violence, a Human Rights Watch researcher drove through smoldering towns in the southern part of Katsina State, interviewed witnesses in the cities of Kaduna and Zaria in northern Kaduna State, and visited burned out villages in southern Kaduna State, including Zonkwa, Matsirga, and Kafanchan, that resembled war zones with entire neighborhoods razed to the ground. "

    ASIAN

    -Philippines

    Magkaisa! | The Philippines' 1986 People Power Revolution

    "In February 1986, the People of the Philippines showed the world how to restore democracy peacefully and through democratic ways. After twenty years of enduring the iron-fist rule of President Ferdinand Marcos and his flamboyant wife, Imelda - a rule that made many coin the term, 'Conjugal Dictatorship,' our people showed their anger towards the actions of the dictatorship, and that we, the Filipino People, are the only ones who can decide the destiny of our nation. For four days, Filipinos from many walks of life went out into the streets - realizing the stolen victory won by the dictator in the Snap Presidential Elections - calling for the return of democratic institutions and the full respect of human rights. Backed by the influential Catholic Church and the final break of the military from the regime, the millions of civilians who flocked to EDSA - the Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue - did not stand by and allow blood to flow in the streets, stopping armed tanks and soldiers by kneeling in front of them, some raising up rosaries and bibles, holding up statues of the Blessed Mother and instead of hiding from the soldiers, they gave them flowers and offered them comfort and nourishments. Seeing the indescribable power of the people, the Marcos dictatorship finally collapsed, sending President Marcos and his allies out of the country and into exile, and with the people finally snatched their victory, installed the leader of the opposition, the wife of the assassinated freedom-fighter Senator Ninoy Aquino, Corazon Aquino, as the President of the now-free and democratic Philippines. Many all over the globe admired the courage shown by Filipinos, and did the same in their own homelands, toppling brutal dictatorships and successfully installing new democratic governments peacefully. After twenty-four years since that historic moment in our history, when we, the Filipino People, offered everything, even our very lives, for the democracy and freedoms that our forefather fought for, let us not forget what we did as one nation. In the recent death of our dear Tita Cory - President Cory Aquino, let us remember the sacrifices that we have done for the sake of our democracy. Though we might have had some failures after '86, we must still remember in our hearts that we should be, nonetheless, thankful that we enjoy the freedom that Ninoy and Cory Aquino, and of course, the great generation who fought the regime, not with guns and blood, but with faith in God and in our people, reminiscing the famous quote of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., - that the Filipino is worth dying for, and what Corazon Aquino showed us as she guarded our democracy - that the Filipino is worth LIVING FOR. MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!"
    - PilipinasMabuhay100 Background Music: "Magkaisa" Composed by Vicente Sotto III Sung by Virna Lisa

  • People Power Revolution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    • " Fall of Marcos regime (1965-86); start of Fifth Republic The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in 1983 and culminated in 1986. The methods used amounted to a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. This case of nonviolent revolution led to the departure of President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of the country's democracy. It is also referred to as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons during the demonstrations following the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr..[1][2] It was widely seen as a victory of the people against the 20-year running authoritarian, repressive[3] regime of then president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolution that surprised the world".[4]
    The majority of the demonstrations took place on a long stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, more commonly known by its acronym EDSA, in Metropolitan Manila from February 22–25, 1986 and involved over two million Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and including religious groups led by Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila. The protests, fueled by the resistance and opposition from years of corrupt governance by Marcos, culminated with the departure of the dictator from Malacañan Palace to the United States state of Hawaii. Corazon Aquino was proclaimed as the legitimate President of the Philippines after the revolution.[5]
    On 25 February 2012, the Philippines celebrated the 26th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

    LATINO

  • The school of Latin America's dictators Since so many alumni are notorious human rights abusers, the US military should close its deadly School of Americas Grace Livingstone guardian.co.uk, Friday 19 November 2010 09.00 EST

    • " President Manuel Zelaya was forced into exile after his residence was stormed by soldiers under the command of General Vasquez, a graduate of the US Army's Western Hemisphere Institute for Cooperation (WHINSEC). Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP
    When the elected president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, was dragged from his bed and flown out of the country in his pyjamas last year, it was no surprise to find that this classic coup was led by a graduate of the School of Americas, the notorious army training school in Fort Benning, Georgia. But General Vasquez was simply following a well-trodden path for autocrats in Honduras – after all, two of the country's most hated past dictators, Juan Melgar Castro and Policarpo Paz Garcia, had also attended the school.
    More than 60,000 Latin American soldiers have been trained at the School of the Americas – among them, the some of the region's most notorious human rights abusers, such as Salvadoran death-squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson. In all, 11 dictators have attended its courses: men such as Argentine junta leader, Leopoldo Galtieri, infamously responsible for the "disappeared" and Guatemala's Efraín Ríos Montt, whose scorched earth campaign against indigenous villages, was classified as "genocide" by a UN-sponsored commission.
    Founded in the Panama Canal Zone in 1948, it was originally named the Army Caribbean School. It was renamed the School of Americas in 1963, and a new curriculum was introduced, offering courses in counter-insurgency, military intelligence and psychological warfare. The school was moved to Fort Benning in 1984 and, in 2001, in an attempt to improve its image, its name was changed again to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Cooperation (WHINSEC).
    Training manuals (pdf) used at the School of the Americas were declassified in 1996. They advocated the use of "fear, payment of bounties for enemy dead, beatings, false, imprisonment, executions and use of truth serum", according to a Pentagon memorandum (pdf). The manuals also included detailed interrogation techniques and used the term "neutralisation", which the department of defence admits is a euphemism for illegal execution.
    Those manuals have now been withdrawn from use and the anodynely-named WHINSEC offers courses in human rights, ethics, democracy and peace-keeping. But there is very little take up of these "soft" courses, according to institution's own statistics released to Congress in 2000, and by far the most popular courses remain: commando tactics, military intelligence, psychological operations and combat training.
    Despite its revamped image and promise of transparency, WHINSEC has been remarkably secretive. It refused to publish the names of its military trainees and has turned down numerous freedom of information requests by campaigners. Only after a congressional vote last year, did it begin to release names and country origins of graduates.
    This weekend (19-21 November), thousands of people will congregate at the gates of Fort Benning to call for the school's closure. The protest is called by School of Americas Watch, a group founded by Father Roy Bourgeois, which has catalogued the abuses of School of Americas graduates for 20 years. Protests will also take place in 14 Latin American countries, including Chile, Honduras and Guatemala.
    A vigil will take place in Colombia, which has sent more officers to US training schools than any other Latin American country and, today, has the worst human rights record in the region. In the last two years, the country has been rocked by the news that the army has been killing innocent civilians, then dressing the victims in guerrilla uniforms. Prosecutors are investigating more than 1,700 alleged extrajudicial killings by the security forces. Who is responsible for the grisly "false positive" murders? Well, one of the first generals sacked for involvement was Paulino Coronado Gámez, a graduate of the School of Americas.
    The term "neutralisation" may have been taken out of the school's manuals, but its students still appears to be carrying out what they learned on the ground. Reason enough to close down this school for good. "
  • The School of the Americas: Class over? - Some of Latin America's most notorious dictators graduated from the military academy in Fort Benning, Georgia. Inside Story Americas Last Modified: 20 Sep 2012 09:49 aljazeera.com


    • "From Argentina and Chile, to Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico, there are few countries in Latin American untouched by the School of the Americas. "Although the pretext for the war on people has changed - it used to be Communism, now it's the war on terror, the war on drug trafficking - it's the same people who are being affected and the same graduates … who are carrying out those policies of violence." - Nico Udu-Gama, a School of the Americas Watch organiser Based at Fort Benning in the US state of Georgia, the military academy has trained 65,000 Latin American soldiers over six decades. And its roster of graduates who eventually came to lead their countries is impressive - were it not for the fact that they are considered some of the continent's most notorious dictators of the last century. Overall, the School of the Americas has produced soldiers and generals responsible for the massacre and torture of tens of thousands of people across Latin America. From among its infamous alumni are 11 former Latin American dictators including: Argentina's Leopoldo Galtieri, Rios Montt of Guatemala and Raoul Cédras of Haiti. Other notorious graduates include: El Salvador death squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson who killed and tortured thousands during El Salvador's civil war. As it stands six countries have withdrawn their troops from the school; they are Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Ecuador. "We have to hold that teaching process accountable by finding out what the [new] teaching manuals are. We know what our own country has done in terms of interrogating suspects in [the] war on terrorism; we don't think that that should be taught to other countries in Latin America." - Peter Kornbluh, from the National Security Archive But decades on from the Cold War, the school's influence is still being felt today: four of its graduates helped orchestrate the 2009 coup in Honduras. Understanding such consequences requires little stretch of the imagination when considering what attendees were being taught Training manuals that were used were declassified in 1996. They advocated the use of fear, payments of bounties for enemy dead, extortion, beatings and false imprisonment, as well as the use of truth serum. The term "neutralisation" was also used - which the US department of defence has admitted is a euphemism for illegal execution. Outraged at its programme, the US House of Representatives voted to close the school in 1999 but it opened almost immediately afterwards under a different name. Sixty-nine House members renewed the call for its closure in a letter to Barack Obama, the US president, last year. This week, leaders of School of the Americas Watch, which campaigns for the permanent closure of the institution, went on trial in Washington DC on civil disobedience charges. So we ask: What role does the School of the Americas play in Latin America now? Joining Inside Story Americas, with presenter Shihab Rattansi, to discuss this are guests: Hector Aristizabal, a Colombian torture survivor; Nico Udu-Gama, an organiser from School of the Americas Watch; and Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst from the National Security Archive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTS ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAS: •It was founded in Panama in 1946 with the stated objective of promoting stability in the region. •However, it soon acquired the nickname, the "School of Coups". •Under the terms of the 1984 Panama Canal Treaty, the School of the Americas was forced out of Panama and was relocated to Fort Benning in Georgia. •Under pressure from Congress it was officially closed in 2000; however the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation was opened on the same site in 2001. •It currently trains about 2,000 soldiers from across Latin America and the Caribbean. "

    MIDDLE EAST

    -Iran

  • Iran on edge over upcoming elections Parliamentary elections in March seen as the most sensitive in the history of the Islamic republic Saeed Kamali Dehghan The Guardian, Sunday 8 January 2012 13.21 EST guardian.co.uk

    • " Iran is set for what its senior officials have described as "the most sensitive" elections in the history of the Islamic republic, amid economic and political discontent at home and fears of a major confrontation with the west over its nuclear programme. More than 5,000 candidates have put their names forward for parliamentary elections in March, the first national vote since the 2009 disputed presidential poll when popular uprisings against the results challenged the legitimacy of the regime. This week, the guardian council, a body of clerics and lawyers in charge of vetting all candidates before any elections in Iran, will publish the names of those approved by the regime. In the past, the council has blocked many, including former MPs, from running. Less than two months before the elections, Tehran's leaders are acting to avert any possible recurrence of the 2009 unrest as calls for a widespread boycott of the vote gather pace among the opposition. The authorities have publicly acknowledged the challenges they face. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the religious supreme leader, has warned that the elections could pose a risk to the country's security; he has appealed for national unity. "To some extent, elections have always been a challenging issue for our country," he admitted. He asked people "to be careful that this challenge does not hurt the country's security". Iran's intelligence minister, Heydar Moslehi, has echoed Khamenei's remarks by describing the vote as "the most sensitive elections in the history of the Islamic Republic". Ahmad Salamatian, a former Iranian MP based in Paris and a critic of the regime, said he believed the elections would pose a bigger challenge to the establishment than three years ago. "In 2009, the competition was among all political factions working within the framework of the Islamic republic," he said. "But since then, the regime has narrowed its circle more than ever; in other words, with the absence of the opposition, the coming vote is a competition within that already closed circle." It is unclear how many reformists will stand, as most appear to have decided to boycott the vote, but some have registered as independent candidates. Many opposition groups have already said they will boycott the vote. Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have been placed under house arrest since last February. Analysts believe the regime is trying to present its candidates as reformists. At the same time, leaders have warned they would consider any attempt to encourage an electoral boycott as a crime. Many observers see the March elections as a battlefield between supporters of President Ahmadinejad on one side and conservatives close to Khamenei on the other. Observers speculate that Khamenei might block Ahmadinejad's parliamentary allies, arguing they belong to a "deviant current", seeking to undermine the authority of the supreme leader. "You might think that the reformists are eliminated from politics, but look at the uprisings in the Middle East and you'd realise those who have taken power now, were the people who were absent for their dictator's latest elections," said Salamatian. Hossein Ghazian, an Iranian sociologist based in the US, believes that Ahmadinejad has tried to show a new face in the past two years. "By distancing himself from the supreme leader, Ahmadinejad is trying to preserve his previous supporters but also reaching out to new groups of people, including those critical of the regime or the reformists and people who have remained indifferent." According to Ghazian, the regime cannot easily silence Ahmadinejad, because "he has two important assets: one is that he has the potential to act unexpectedly and, secondly, he has taken his opponents ransom by threatening to reveal their secrets to public." Election fears come at a time when the Islamic republic is faced with mounting economic discontent at home as economic sanctions against Iran have begun to bite. Internationally, Iran is locked in a stalemate with the west over its nuclear programme and it has recently responded to attempts at banning its oil imports by sabre-rattling and raising the stakes by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway in the Gulf where one-fifth of the world's oil passes in tankers. According to Salamatian, by threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is trying to benefit from a military and security atmosphere in the region to suppress any discontent at home before the elections. "In no other time in its history, the Islamic regime has relied this much on its military and security forces for its survival," he said.
    Iran's intelligence minister said on Sunday that the country's secret services have arrested several people on charges of spying for the United States and seeking to undermine the elections. Heidar Moslehi did not say how many people were arrested or when. "

    UMM Alumn: Political Careers

    Name: Randon Gardley
    Year: 2000
    Major: I have majors in Psychology and Human Services. I also hold minors in Sociology and Political Science.
    Occupation: Director of Outreach � U.S. Senate campaign of Barack Obama
    Website? www.obamaforillinois.com
    How are you involved with political activism after UMM? Please check out my resume for details. I started as an intern with the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus through the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program. While there, I worked on two State Senate campaigns, in addition to handling press and legislative tasks. This is where I met my current boss, Illinois State Senator Barack Obama who is the Democratic nominee for United States Senate.

    Attention UMM Alumns w/political majors or current related career work. Please contact Alisande Allaben of Alumni Relations at allabeam@mrs.umn.edu about your current status on how are you involved with "political activism" after UMM. She'll be doing a feature in the next UMM Alumn Newsletter on this topic. Thank You!

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