More people reading, trusting blogs, despite what Karl Rove says about them.

Journalist A.J. Liebling said “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” Thanks to the the internet, I do.

Hear me roar!

Daily newspaper circulation dips.
Statistics for top 25 American Daily & Sunday papers (almost all down).

This fascinating piece discusses the tension between our government and Central Banks in every chapter of our history. Worth studying.

“By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens…There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose.” (John Maynard Keynes)

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies … If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826)

“Controlling our currency, receiving our public moneys, and holding thousands of our citizens in dependence… would be more formidable and dangerous than a military power of the enemy.” (President Andrew Jackson – July 10, 1832)

“Whoever controls the volume of money in our country is absolute master of all industry and commerce…and when you realize that the entire system is very easily controlled, one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate.” (President James A. Garfield, 1881, two weeks before his assassination)

On June 4, 1963, John F. Kennedy signed a virtually unknown Presidential decree, Executive Order 11110, a mere four months before his assassination on November 22, 1963. This decree returned to the U.S. Federal government the Constitutional right to create and “to issue silver certificates against any silver bullion, silver, or standard silver dollars in the Treasury.”

(Read More)

(updated)
Peace
-30 Senators warn Bush he has no authority. Can it be the Congress has grown a little stub of a backbone? Sen. Hagel also sent a separate letter to the president.
-EFPs are not exclusive Iranian! The administration knew and (surprise, surprise) made dramatic accusations anyway.
-IAEA cheif, El Baradei, says Iran would take 3-8 years to make a bomb.
-ElBaradei: Military Strike On Iran ‘Would Lead Absolutely To Disaster’
-FLASHBACK: US encourages Iranian nuclear program.
-Former national security advisor Brzezinski compares current bluster to Iraq lies.
-Iraqi political researcher says Iran “has played a pivotal role” in Shiite peace deal.
-Why the recent sanctions will fail.
-Putin says no evidence of Iran bomb plan.
-Putin warns against more Iran sanctions.
-Putin warns against attack.
-Defense Secretary Gates says Iran planning only routine.
-More signs of pentagon resistance to Iran invasion.
-Fantastic AlterNet article about the military’s resistance to striking Iran. It quotes the UK Telegraph in saying that Gates is waging “a subtle campaign to undermine the Cheney camp” and that he is “encouraging the Army’s senior officers to speak frankly about the overstretch of forces, and the difficulty of fighting another war.” Shipman reports Gates has “forged an alliance with Mike McConnell, the national director of intelligence, and Michael Hayden, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, to ensure that Mr. Cheney’s office is not the dominant conduit of information and planning on Iran to Mr. Bush.”
-China opposes sanctions against Iran.
-I publish letter to editor. (They slammed it with a ridiculous title.)

For Voters: Republican debate highlights.

WAR! WAR! WAR!
-White House has “no doubt” Iran seeks nukes. (Oh really?)
-US brushes aside UN statement about no proof of weapons program.
-Fox’s Brian Kilmeade openly advocates US support terrorism inside Iran.
-Poll says majority of Americans want to bomb Iran. I don’t believe this. My skyrocketing distrust of our government and media leads me to think this and other polls are manipulated to create a false reality, though I believe public opinion has shifted since Cheney ordered our “free” press to increase the war propaganda.
-Cheney remains usual self.
-Israeli PM and foreign minister push to discredit UN, IAEA, ElBaradei.
-Joint Chiefs head, Admiral Mullen, says we can do it.
-U.S. Airforce makes logistical preparations.
-UK deploys carrier to gulf.
-Rice: “Iran an Obstacle to U.S. goals”.
-British SAS soldiers enter Iran. (begging for an excuse)
-Christian Zionists attempt to bribe Iranian Jews into leaving.
-New sanctions threat from six world powers.
-Fox “news” pushes for war, the traitors.
-U.S. developing 30,000 lb bomb.
-Guliani team members advocate bombing Iran as soon as possible.
-Republican candidates rattle sabers before Republican Jewish Coalition.
-Some idiot on CNN says war has already begun.
-For my left-leaning friends: Clinton, Edwards, and Obama are all beating the war drum. (psst, vote Ron Paul!)
-Hilary talks of military strike.
-FEAR MONGERING and distortions continue on a massive scale.
-Media continues to censor anti-war voices, and ignore the Americans who’ve taken to the streets.

SEE ALSO:
Be afraid. . . be very, very, super-duper afraid of the menacing Iranian devil-monsters. (comedy)