Chris Hedges "Revolt is all we have left",on A. Jones 9/5/12

[Luther Blissett]

Yes, Chris Hedges is using Alex Jones because that's the best possible venue for swaying "democrats."

[lupercal]

^ It's a venue for a lot of people suspicious of the MIC, and that would include swing voters who might be inclined to vote on Nov. 6 if they weren't convinced that, as Hedges puts it, voting doesn't matter. And Hedges gets around. No doubt he'll be all over Pacifica and every other venue his handlers can wedge him onto before election day.

And that's how the MIC plans to keep Congress in 2012, and then their tools will get busy screaming about all the promises Obama broke because he can't get anything passed.

Yes, you can fool some of the people all the time.

[StarmanSkye]

^^^
Luther Blissett -- Now I see it! How could I have been so blind? Now I realize Hedges whole life has been a long-con scam to pull a fast-one on swing-vote cadres of lemming-like democrats who would eagerly embrace the 'None of the Above' strategy of political dissociation, to take their voting-cue from Hedges.

Boy, that's the very height of malicious treachery, betrayal and psyop subterfuge on the part of Hedges, ain't it? -- to have seduced & conned many tens, possibly hundreds of millions of people around the world in thinking he's an ardent & passionate defender of civil rights, outspoken advocate for individual freedom and committed to independence & sovereignty for all nation-states -- when all this time, over a career of 40-some years as an indefatiguable widely-traveled investigative journalist, writer, researcher, political & social analyst and lecturer he's apparently been an undercover covert psyop/propaganda operative whose secret undercover mission has been to bide his time, patiently establish rock-solid credentials as a liberal champion in order to exploit this crucial moment in the history of American politics to unify a widespread shut-out of the democratic party so his ideological masters will seize success from the very jaws of immanent defeat, in a triumphant victory of style over content be able to implement their totalitarian Globalist MIC agenda under the fascist guidance of the GOP winner Presidente Commandant Romney -- who as I now clearly see Hedges in his heart-and-mind worships as the ideological reincarnation heir-apparant of the Cold War's penultimate Hero Reagan -- and who is the rightful annointed Supreme Ruler of the Multinational Corporate Federated States of the Free World, taking America to glory and triumph!

There are probably only three or four people in the whole world with the special training, education, espionage experience, research contacts, investigative discipline, necessary means, opportunity, finely-honed instincts & ruthless insights to have and act-on such an essential hunch about Hedges' being a political-stooge deep-cover asset-mole -- to then have made an extensive study of Hedges' life, philosophical & social beliefs so as to discover his TRUE allegience to the Police State of bureaucratic-feudal fascism. Or was he perhaps bribed or himself brainwashed to do this valuable rightwing-despot service?

In any case, you are indeed a treasure and a hero to freedom & peace-loving peoples everywhere, exerting monumental effort over years of toil & careful, plodding detective work to uncover such a devious, malicious plot right under our noses, in order to save us from what most certainly would have been be our enslavement, death & ruin by way of MIC deceit & guile! But we may still be lost unless we spread your message as far-and-wide as possible of how Hedges plans to subvert the democratic vote.

Say, do ya think AJ is in on it too, sercretly colluding to sabotage the democrat vote so Commander Romney will win against-all-odds?

[Luther Blissett]

I think you know this, but I was being sarcastic in response to some of the earlier posts that say essentially the same thing as your satirical post, but in a serious tone.

[nashvillebrook]

"Revolt" is a dangerous, politically-loaded word. Most people will not associate non-violence with the word "revolt."

We need people whose polemic can serve move the Overton Window to a position in which non-violent rebellion, disobedience, sabotage and strike are seen as moderate, acceptable forms of public action against the grievances which are destroying the world. If Hedges wishes to perform that function, god bless his ass.

This post comes with extra #win.

Good discussion of Overton Window here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/virtuallyspeaking/2012/05/29/jay-ackroyd-stuart-zechman-virtually-speaking-a-z

I think that Occupy opened the blinds on the Overton Window that looks out on public action. And, to a certain extent, the TP did as well.

The problem isn't that protest suffers from lack of interest of acceptance. My experience in Occupy and as an organizer, is that folks are eager to protest. The problem is that protest culture is fragmented, and Alex Jonesery has contributed to that fragmentation, with the conspiratorial distrust of "organization" itself.

You can do a LOT with just 10 people showing up with the right message at the right time, spreading the message via social media and traditional media. Protests don't require giant numbers of people to get things done. The Yes Men are just two guys. Rosa Parks was just one person. What most people don't know is that she'd been trained for that action so that she knew how to keep cool and stay on message under extreme pressure. This is the power of organization, but it doesn't work in a culture that distrusts all forms of organization.

This is just my experience in my little slice of the world. Hopefully it's not like this everywhere.

[lupercal]

Glad the forum is back up. Now as to Hedges, Greenwald, AJ and the rest of the don't vote crowd, I understand that many speak eloquently and that their messages resonated in 2010, with the result that we got, as I predicted at the time, a depressed Dem turnout and a crazy GOP House that has done nothing but obstruct.

Okay. But their arguments sound hollow this year because, well, they are. The war in Iraq for example is over . What ended it? Faux demonstrations organized by the Koch brothers and others?

No, the ballot box: Obama promised to end it, he was voted in, he ended it, and the troops have been out of there since Dec. 15. Ditto health care: ACA may not be all we might want but it's 100% better than nothing, which is what we would have gotten had we not elected Obama.

For 198 other accomplishments, most of which will surprise you because Hedges et al. never mention anything besides all drones all the time, go here:

http://peaceonearth.myfreeforum.org/abo ... highlight=

If Hedges wishes to perform that function, god bless his ass.

The function that Hedges and Greenwald wish to perform is depressing the Dem turnout. If that isn't obvious by now you're not looking very hard.

My experience in Occupy and as an organizer, is that folks are eager to protest. The problem is that protest culture is fragmented, and Alex Jonesery has contributed to that fragmentation, with the conspiratorial distrust of "organization" itself.

Exactly. Ineffective protest is the whole point of the Tea Party and Occupy movements to begin with, sadly. Finally:

"We have to stop believing that we can effect change through established political or social organizations or electoral politics, and I think that still remains a huge hurdle for us people who in the end, through accommodation of fear and very clever advertising, are herded like sheep into a dysfunctional system, which is how so many people who should have known better voted for Obama."

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/liv ... g_20100721

He was wrong in 2010 and he's wrong now, only it's even more obvious. If that isn't clear to you yet, well, think about it a little more.

[barracuda]

The function that Hedges and Greenwald wish to perform is depressing the Dem turnout. If that isn't obvious by now you're not looking very hard.

I actually feel like I've been looking at it pretty damn hard. Hedges self-identifies as a socialist, so I have a hard time understanding why he should interested in supporting the Democratic party. It's my current understanding that socialists are still permitted in this country, even as much as they are widely reviled.

Greenwald I would describe as a liberal, and he has in fact worked to support a variety of Democratic candidates (including Russ Feingold, Bill Halter, Norman Solomon, Franke Wilmer and Cecil Bothwell), going as far as raising money for campaigns he happens to find worthy.

I have to wonder how well your own political activism would stand up next to his. I mean, how much money have you raised for the Democrats?

I don't have a problem with criticism of the Democrats, myself. I'm sort of sad that you do.

[lupercal]

I don't have a problem with criticism of the Democrats, myself. I'm sort of sad that you do.

Criticism of Democrats is one thing, but what Hedges and Greenwald do is something else entirely. Now as to credentials: the last time I asked about yours my answer was a one-month suspension, so the question still remains, when was the last time you voted in California, let alone for a Democrat (that would be June for me and I have the sticker to prove it, also a ballot receipt), but rather than repeat that little drama let me just aver that this is an anonymous discussion forum and there's no point getting personal.


ETA: I have in fact raised money for candidates, small sums perhaps but I've hawked many a button for my own third party and supported it in other ways including direct contribution, canvassing, voter registration, signature gathering, of which a surprising amount is required to field candidates in 3rd party races, and plain old GOTV. As for Dems, yes I've contributed to national and local campaigns and likewise supported Dem candidates in other ways including of course voting for them.

[2012 Countdown]

What you call 'ineffective' (OWS) has managed to change the dialogue. A basis from which to build. No one in DC before OWS was even giving lip service to the issues it brings up. After it got going, sure, then the puppets on one side began to step in to try to run ahead of the parade. Ineffective? Some pols are even genuine, and are/were waiting for just such a base to declare being fed up. All this has been pointed out over and over, and here I am again wasting typing pointing out the obvious. Ineffective? Dude, the game is marketing and idea distribution. The media is corporate. Alternative means will be found. OWS, TP, are only the beginning. It will get worse and when it does, these and more will emerge. Once Obama is 'reelected', watch for the corporate shit to continue. TPP, the 'grand bargain', NDAA, etc., etc...
Poo-poo it, but this has just begun.

[lupercal]

^Oh please. Slogans are not issues and nothing from nothing leaves nothing, rinse and repeat. I'm sorry but occupy is a waste of time unless you're a professional infiltrator which I imagine more than a few occupiers are.

[barracuda]

Criticism of Democrats is one thing, but what Hedges and Greenwald do is something else entirely.

Yes, it's called advocacy and activism, something one would think the admin of a peace and justice action forum might be aware of, even if you seem to be the only active member of that forum.

Looking for activism on your site is kind of disappointing, really. I have to go back three months to find an event listed.

So I'd still say your work for the Democrats seem rather sickly compared to Greenwald's.

Now as to credentials: the last time I asked about yours my answer was a one-month suspension, so the question still remains, when was the last time you voted in California, let alone for a Democrat (that would be June for me and I have the sticker to prove it, also a ballot receipt),

Gee, you have a sticker? The little one that says, "I Voted!", right? Did you wear it around all day to show your friends, or did you put it on your little red wagon and pull it around your peace and justice action forum?

I am an independent, but as you know, during the primaries you can choose your ballot, so I chose the Democratic one. And I got a sticker, too! Honest, I did! Gee wilikers!

but rather than repeat that little drama let me just aver that this is an anonymous discussion forum and there's no point getting personal.

Yeah. You can't even prove that you're not typing with one hand, bro.

[lupercal]

^ thanks for the pitch. As for political work I think you were too busy playing with your computer to notice this:

I have in fact raised money for candidates, small sums perhaps but I've hawked many a button for my own third party and supported it in other ways including direct contribution, canvassing, voter registration, signature gathering, of which a surprising amount is required to field candidates in 3rd party races, and plain old GOTV. As for Dems, yes I've contributed to national and local campaigns and likewise supported Dem candidates in other ways including of course voting for them.

As for your own political work, I strongly suspect there's no there there, but I'm not asking.

[barracuda]

I've hawked many a button for my own third party

I'm sure that's true.

[ninakat]

The war in Iraq for example is over . What ended it? Faux demonstrations organized by the Koch brothers and others?

No, the ballot box: Obama promised to end it, he was voted in, he ended it, and the troops have been out of there since Dec. 15.

You must be joking. Am I really reading this on RI? Sorry lupercal, that's some serious kool-aid trip you're on. If anything, voting for Obama made the Iraq war even MORE of a farce.

Withdrawal Symptoms: Curtain Rises on Second Act of an Endless War Crime
Chris Floyd, Oct. 23, 2011

... Thus it is almost a certainty that by the end of 2012, there will be, at the barest minimum, at least 8,000 to 10,000 heavily armed personnel under the direct control of the United States government stationed at strategic points throughout Iraq; the actual figure will doubtless be higher, perhaps much higher. But this is a bare minimum -- numbers which tally almost exactly with the final goals of the American war machine in the "failed" negotiations on extending the present form of the occupation.

Obama's announcement was yet another bitter sham. We are not ringing down the curtain on the Iraq War; we are simply beginning the second act, with new scenery in the backdrop, some new plotlines and characters -- but the same old dirty, bloody business of aggression.

+ + +

About that Iraq withdrawal
Both parties work to churn out myths regarding the President's announcement that all troops will leave by year end
Glenn Greenwald, Oct. 21, 2011

+ + +

U.S. forces to stay in Iraq into 2012, says Leon Panetta
August 19, 2011
By REID J. EPSTEIN, Politico

[lupercal]

^ sorry to disappoint the liar's club, but the troops are out. Spooks are another story but we don't get to vote for spooks.