Noam Chomsky on Ron Paul’s 9/11 Theories: “What He Said Is Completely Uncontroversial”

Ron Paul was almost booed off the stage at last night’s “Tea Party” debate on CNN when he spoke about the real reasons al Qaeda attacked us. His explanation was followed by being chastised by Rick Santorum.

Raw Story:

Appearing on Democracy Now! on Tuesday, U.S. scholar and MIT professor Noam Chomsky responded to comments made by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) during Monday’s tea party debate, suggesting Paul had said nothing controversial at all, despite the audience’s negative reaction.

He agreed with Paul’s assessment about al Qaeda’s stated motives for attacking the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001: it’s not American freedom or the nature of its society, it was U.S. policies that drove them to such a savage attack.

“What he said is completely uncontroversial,” Chomsky said. “You can read it and go in the documents. You can find it in polls. Maybe people don’t like to hear it.”

He concluded that many Muslims around the world had opposed the U.S. “not because they hate our freedoms, but because they opposed murderous and brutal policies.”

The Tea Party can’t bear to hear the truth I guess… Or, the simply have no interest in the truth.

The Watering Hole: Tuesday, September 13 – Republican Election Machine

The Debate is over. Nothing new, except for Ron Paul being even more callous than I thought possible. Isn’t he a doctor by profession? Wasn’t there a thing called the hypocratic oath? (ht: peteIngh)

This is our Open Thread. Give us your take on yesterday’s, today’s or tomorrow’s news.

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Matt Davies, CTNews

Watering Hole: Monday, September 12, 2011 – It’s Not For Getting High

For 18 years, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry.  One major thing that I learned during that time is that the pharmaceutical industry is not focused on curing an illness. It is focused on making a drug that must be taken every day to mask the symptoms of an illness.  It is all about profits and not about cures.  When I left the industry, it was beginning to appear that drug discovery was getting close to reaching its apex.  The pharmaceutical industry is always looking for new drugs to patent.  During testing, many of these new drugs present serious safety issues and as a result, never make it to market.

The United States has the highest prices for drugs.  That is because the pharmaceutical industry claims to take a hit in profits when selling drugs cheaper in other countries, particularly in countries that have socialized medicine.  The industry needs to make up for this loss in profits by charging Americans more.

Here is a story about a compound that grows like a weed and has medicinal properties.   Like all medicinal compounds that can be grown in a back yard garden, this plant is difficult to patent.  What that means is the pharmaceutical industry can’t make exclusive profit from this plant.  So the US government has stepped in and made this plant illegal.

And by the way, is it possible that the oil from this plant can cure cancer?

This is our Open Thread.  Speak Up!

Robert Reich on “the big lies on the economy”

Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich talks about the big lies about the economy and what can be done to fix it. His keynote was part of the “Summit for a Fair Economy” held in Minneapolis on September 10, 2011.

Look Here – Cute Kitten Pictures!

For those who want a respite from wallowing in 9/11 remembrances, here’s some feline distractions:

Troi sleeping on Mamacita (not Troi's real mom)

Valerie, Fitzgerald and Cecilia

Worf's kittens

Sophie's kittens relaxing

Tippy and Dulcie relax together

The Sophists (Sophie's kids) relaxing (there are FOUR kittens)

There, don’t you feel better now?

All photos by Jane E. Schneider

Feel free to comment – or just say “Aww, cute!” to yourselves.

Ten years gone

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
John Cole, Scranton, PA Times-Tribune

September 11, ten years later…

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

Watering Hole: September 11, 2011 – Missing towers

Nick Anderson drew this cartoon on the 1-year anniversary of 9/11.

This is our Open Thread.  Feel free to Speak Up!  And if you have the time, scroll down the page and check for new posts.  

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

Countdown host calls out New Mexico Gov for immigration hypocrisy

I’m a big fan of Sam Seder. Nice to see him co-hosting on Countdown.

From Raw Story:

Countdown guest host Sam Seder slammed New Mexico governor Susana Martinez’s hypocritical stance on immigration Friday evening.

Martinez has labeled illegal immigrants “terror threats” in justification for her critical immigrantion comments of demanding proof of citizenship in New Mexico. Despite that stance, the governor admitted this week that her father came to America “without documents,” allowing her to be born as a legal citizen.

His point at the end of this video was rather interesting. He points out Gov. Martinez refers to her grandparents as “arriving without documents”, though when others do it “they’re here illegally”. She is  an ‘anchor-grandbaby’, yet she won her governorship because of her stance AGAINST illegal immigration.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Gov. Martinez:

Susana was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the mid 1980s. Martínez comes from a middle class background. Her father was an amateur boxer who won three straight Golden Gloves titles in the 1950s. He was a deputy sheriff for El Paso County, Texas.

Martínez’s husband, Chuck Franco, has been a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years and served as the Doña Ana County Undersheriff. Susana has one stepson, Carlo, who serves in the United States Navy.

On September 9, 2011, Martinez, who was propelled into office primarily on her stance against illegal immigration, admitted to the public her paternal grandparents immigrated to the country illegally.

Susana graduated as one of the top students in her class at Riverside High School of El Paso, Texas in 1977. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1980 and later earned her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1982.

Double standards. Utter hypocrisy. I’m sick of it.

By the people, for the people, now take away from the people.

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Paul Jamiol, Jamiol’s World

Why is the USPS on the verge of shutting down?

Thom Hartmann gives an interesting explanation.

The United States Post Office is on the verge of shutting down. According to the New York Times – the Post Office is quickly running out of cash and may be forced to shut down this winter. While the media story line is that the Post Office is dealing with the problem of trying to remain profitable in a world of decreasing paper mail – the real cause is actually something much, much different. Consider that this year – like every year since 2006 – the Post Office is legally required to make a $5 billion annual contribution to a retirement account to pay for future retirees who aren’t even born yet. For more on this Thom Hartmann is joined by Chuck Zlatkin – Legislative and Political Director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union.

This is just another rung on the ladder to gut and then ‘privatize’ everything in this country. Thom talked about this on his radio show a couple of days ago. Congress voted to do this (under GW Bush five years ago). This legislation was passed by a voice vote with no record of how anyone voted. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA11). It was H.R.6407 [109th]: Postal Accountability And Enhancement Act. When I listened to Thom Hartmann on his radio show discussing this a couple of days ago, he mentioned this piece of that legislation was slipped in during the dead of night—”the poison pill”—the piece that would kill the USPS.

There is a solution in Congress right now (HR1351), but it is likely to meet great resistance beings the Republicans want to knock out out the USPS, the unionized workers, and privatize it. Choke, destroy, dismantle, privatize. It’s once again the “Shock Doctrine“.

Thom urges everyone at the end of this video to contact their Congressman or Congresswoman and urge them to vote in favor of HR 1351: United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011.

.

Heeling Power

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Matt Davies, CTNews

The invisible man…

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

On the rampage..

Created for TheZoo by Paul Jamiol
All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Paul Jamiol, Jamiol’s World

Schemes..

Helpful links:

Chris Bell wins $2M in suit over 2006 Perry donations

Prohibited from accepting campaign donations; Perry raised money for Republican Governors

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

The Watering Hole: September 10, 2001 – What Were You Doing?

I will give you a hint, 09/10/2001 was a Monday. The sure thing was that I was hauling in the trash cans like I do every Monday. Beyond that I can not bring anything else to mind.

The Human Mind

I remember September 11 vividly. Strange how ones mind sets its own priorities.

This is our Open Thread. What pops up in your memory of the day before?

Friday Music Night, September 9 2011

Among the good things about watching Aussie television is the opportunity to hear a lot of music and musicians I’ve never heard of. Who would have guessed that there was a long-standing and active music scene in Oz! (And yes, I’m kidding.)

Case in point, Sara Storer.

Watering Hole: September 9, 2011 – Are you ready for some football?

This is our Open Thread.  That was quite the season opener last evening.  What are your thoughts about last night’s season opener?  Speak Up!

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

Heavy Flooding Forecast for Harrisburg PA. As in “Three Mile Island” Harrisburg?

Flooding in 1972 from Hurricane "Agnes" (source: United States Coastguard)

Rampaging rivers, rock slides, torrents of rain and mass evacuations. The generation that grew up on tales of eastern Pennsylvania’s Agnes catastrophe of 1972 is getting its own story now, with rain-weary cities and towns along the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers hunkered down in anticipation of record-threatening crests.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee led to what one AccuWeather meteorologist called a “fire hose” of tropical downpours falling on land and water already overcharged by August’s record soaking. (read more)

This scares me quite a bit. I wonder what the Three Mile Island safety measures are for flooding. They are not worried, however. It is not as if the rains will stop any time soon. La Nina conditions are forecast, which will make extreme weather conditions more likely and there is TS Maria out there, which is about to come up on a very similar track as Irene did.

Stay safe and monitor what is going on closely, all you who are close to the area.

IT’S ALL ABOUT JOBS!!!

2010 – It’s all about JOBS!

2011 – no JOBS bill out of Congress yet.

2011 – President to give major speech about JOBS.

Republican reaction?

How dare you give a major speech when we’re debating for our Party’s nomination to be the guy to replace you…

Hey, now you’re giving a major speech on opening night of Football!

I’m not gonna show up for your major JOBS speech – I’m gonna stay home and have a football party.

I’m not gonna show up for your major JOBS speech – I’m gonna sit in my office and tweet about it instead.

Republicans have been playing high-stakes political chicken – and Obama has blinked every time. By the time they’re through with a JOBS bill, we’ll have more tax breaks for the rich and corporations, more free trade agreements, all offset by a reduction in unemployment benefits to balance the budget and force people to go to work – all they have to do is be willing to relocate to a third-world country…that’s where all the hiring will be.

Can you hear me now?

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Paul Jamiol, Jamiol’s World

A little help, please…

All cartoons are posted with the artists’ express permission to TPZoo.
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle Editorial Cartoonist and Animation Artist.
For Nick’s animations, visit Nick Anderson: Animation Archives.
For Nick’s cartoons, visit Nick Anderson.

The Watering Hole: September 8 – Saint Augustine

On this date in 1565, the first continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States was established.

Castillo de San Marcos - 1695

Castillo de San Marcos site is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. It is located in the city of St. Augustine.

The Castillo is a masonry star fort made of a stone called coquina (Ancient shells that have bonded together to form stone similar to limestone.) Workers from Cuba constructed the fort with assistance from Native American laborers. The coquina was very effective at absorbing the impact of cannon shells, allowing only minimal damage to the walls. Cannon shot was absorbed by the coquina.

This is our Open Thread. Please feel free to present your thoughts on any topic that comes to mind.

The Watering Hole: Wednesday, September 7, 2011: Nuclear blast kills half a million in India

A heavy layer of radioactive ash in Rajasthan, India, covers a three-square mile area, ten miles west of Jodhpur. The levels of radiation there have registered so high on investigators’ gauges that the Indian government has now cordoned off the region.

An atomic blast … destroyed most of the buildings and probably a half-million people. Skeletons scattered about the cities, many holding hands and sprawling in the streets. People were just lying, unburied, in the streets of the city. Huge masses of walls and foundations … are fused together, literally vitrified! (In other words, the heat turned the clay in the bricks to glass.)

One account states:

… (it was) a single projectile
Charged with all the power of the Universe.
An incandescent column of smoke and flame
As bright as the thousand suns
Rose in all its splendour…
…it was an unknown weapon,
An iron thunderbolt,
A gigantic messenger of death,
Which reduced to ashes
The entire race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas.
…The corpses were so burned
As to be unrecognisable.
The hair and nails fell out;
Pottery broke without apparent cause,
And the birds turned white.
After a few hours
All foodstuffs were infected…
….to escape from this fire
The soldiers threw themselves in streams
To wash themselves and their equipment.

No one is pointing to Al Qaeda, nor Pakistan. This particular nuclear attack took place thousands of years ago.

This is our daily open thread — The Truth is Out There.

Monetary Warfare – Switzerland pegs its currency to the Euro

In a surprise move the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has fixed the exchange rate to the Euro. They won’t suffer it to fall below CHF 1.20 anymore. There is no limit to currency purchases to make this happen, the SNB says.

Right wing billionaire and godfather of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) Blocher declared the currency situation a “war” that needs to be won now by the SNB. Well, his buddies won’t be any worse off…

I am not so sure if it can be won. Swiss real GDP is some126 bn. The Eurozone’s combined GDP is about 12 trillion.  There are 77 bn Swiss Francs out there, but 4.7 trillion Euros. (M1)

You might as well try and empty the Zurich Lake with a teaspoon.