“An Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes and an insult at George W Bush, without hitting him, as the US president was shaking hands with the Iraqi prime minister at his Baghdad office on Sunday.” (Read more from livenews.com)

Or Watch here:

See Also:
Across Mideast, Arabs hail shoe-hurling journalist
“BAGHDAD – Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Monday to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush, as Arabs across many parts of the Middle East hailed the journalist as a hero and praised his insult as a proper send-off to the unpopular U.S. president.” (Read more from news.yahoo.com)

Ron Paul’s floor speech on auto bailout vote:

“The owner of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times has been hit by the industry-wide slump in newspaper advertising revenues throughout 2008. Tribune is owned by real estate billionaire Sam Zell, who borrowed heavily to buy the firm in June 2007. Under US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection law a firm can keep trading while it aims to sort out its finances.” (Read more from news.bbc.co.uk)

I’m a blogger. Hear me roar!

See Also:
-Newspapers Struggling, Profits drop 20%

“Worcester police say a liquor store clerk fatally shot a man who was trying to rob the store. Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst said the masked man was shot multiple times as he and an accomplice tried to hold up Big Bob’s Liquors about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

. . . .

Police said Rivera carried a .375-caliber handgun into the store. He had a criminal background, including a 15-year sentence for two counts of armed robbery in Florida. The worker and another store employee have not been charged with any crime.” (Read more from boston.com)

“In a new column by this best selling hero of all serious media, we finally have a easy to read explanation of the financial crisis—namely the nerds on Wall Street were just plain dumb, or to use an overused term, “stupid.”

. . . .

“. . . overrated dopes who had no idea what they were selling, or greedy cynics who did know and turned a blind eye. But it wasn’t only the bankers. This financial meltdown involved a broad national breakdown in personal responsibility, government regulation and financial ethics.”

Tom then lays out who was complicit in all this—with nary a mention of the media that spent years hyping the “financial innovation on Wall Street.” His answer: all of us. Everyone, he concludes, was involved so you can’t really blame anyone, much less prosecute the fraudsters and, to use an FDRis, “banksters” who bamboozled the gullible and laughed all the way to the bank or their high priced condo—which ever came first.

“This financial meltdown involved a broad national breakdown in personal responsibility, government regulation and financial ethics., ” he divines.”

“So many people were in on it: People who had no business buying a home, with nothing down and nothing to pay for two years; people who had no business pushing such mortgages, but made fortunes doing so; people who had no business bundling those loans into securities and selling them to third parties, as if they were AAA bonds, but made fortunes doing so; people who had no business rating those loans as AAA, but made a fortunes doing so; and people who had no business buying those bonds and putting them on their balance sheets so they could earn a little better yield, but made fortunes doing so.”

America: confess your guilt. Because as long we all did it, as long as unsophisticated borrowers and subprime victims are treated in Friedman speak as equally to blame with shrewd lenders pedaling products they knew were unaffordable, then no one can ever be held responsible. To him, the bankers and brokers were not driven by avarice and self-interest but by ignorance and idiocy. How patronizing!

. . . .

Who are the Stupids here — the people who are losing everything or the media wise men who turn their eyes and pens away from examining the crimes of Wall Street who write in well polished generalities that seem critical at first reading, but then reveal themselves as totally superficial?

Can it be that people who live in big houses, can’t see or FEEL the pain of the people shackled by debt in smaller abodes down the street, the folks who are just waiting for the sheriff to toss them out?

Tom Friedman lives in one of those very big houses — you can see it on the Internet at sustainelane.com — but he also purports to be guided by a moral compass even as he blames us all for the sins of a few, concluding:

“That’s how we got here — a near total breakdown of responsibility at every link in our financial chain, and now we either bail out the people who brought us here or risk a total systemic crash. These are the wages of our sins.”

One sin Tom doesn’t comment on is the failure of our media to do a better job of assessing how that irresponsibility was permitted, even encouraged, and who should be held accountable.” (Read more from globalresearch.ca)

Greek violence spreads as riot police battle protesters across Europe Riots sparked by the death of a Greek schoolboy who was shot by police spread across Europe last night. (from mailonsunday.co.uk)

Greek violence spreads across Europe Suspected anarchist protests which have dogged Greece for the last week spread outside the country today, with mobs causing violent scenes in Italy, Spain, Russia, Denmark and Turkey. Greek diplomatic missions were vandalised in the attacks, while police, local authority and media representatives were also targeted in what appeared a co-ordinated escalation. The upsurge took place as protests continued in Greece following the killing last Saturday of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. (from independent.ie)

Me: Hmmmm. Which is more likely: Big media is minimizing the deeper unrest and discontent behind the riots, or that kid whom the cops killed was REALLY REALLY popular?

Week of Greek rioting taps into wider discontent (from news.yahoo.com)

Me: Duh!!!!! One week into the riots, and only now do we hear that maybe, just maybe it’s about more than one young man’s death.

The Greek police officer in this AP photo was ultimately unhurt:

I like the analysis at theIrishBulletin.blogspot.com: Torching banks? Clashes near Parliament? Attacking diplomatic vehicles? Yesterday, I heard that ten banks had been attacked, and it seems strange that all of this is happening solely over last Saturday’s shooting. Indeed, it is a perfect pretext for the Greek authorities and the media – not to mention their counterparts over here – who fear that their cosy relationship with the international clique of banking criminals may result in them hanging from shiny lamp-posts from Washington to Dublin to Sydney.

“As Bloomberg reports today, the Federal Reserve has refused “to disclose the recipients of more than $2 trillion of emergency loans from U.S. taxpayers and the assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.” On November 7, Bloomberg filed a Freedom of Information request to disclose the recipients of more than $2 trillion of “emergency loans” from U.S. taxpayers and the assets the central bank is accepting as collateral, but the private banker syndicate has told Congress and the American people to go fish.

Bloomberg notes that the Freedom of Information Act requires federal agencies to make government documents available to the press and the public. However, the Fed is not a federal agency, it is a cartel of private bankers. It is a consortium of twelve private banks which are not part of the United States government and does not answer to it. The Fed controls our monetary system and acts at the behest of large national and international private banks. 100% of its shareholders are private banks and none of its stock is owned by the government.” (Read more from infowars.com)

See also: “Congressman: Fed “Bamboozling” Americans The Fed is refusing to disclose the recipients of $2 trillion dollars in loans, even after Bloomberg sued under the Freedom of Information Act to get the information. . . . Trade secret law? Trade secret law protects things like valuable business methods. What’s the banks’ secret business method here – making stupid decisions, going bankrupt and then becoming the recipient of socialist government handouts? What’s next? Will the government argue that it can’t disclose the details of its torture program because it needs to protect the trade secrets of the companies that make the electro-shock machines and the waterboarding platforms?” (from George Washington’s blog)

Also, watch this video about the Fed:

This past weekend, a thought provoking e-mail circulated through Internet news groups, and was sent to the Muckraker Report by Mr. Paul V. Sheridan (Winner of the 2005 Civil Justice Foundation Award), bringing attention to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist web page for Osama Bin Laden. In the e-mail, the question is asked, “Why doesn’t Osama Bin Laden’s Most Wanted poster make any direct connection with the events of September 11, 2001?” The FBI says on its Bin Laden web page that Osama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. According to the FBI, these attacks killed over 200 people. The FBI concludes its reason for “wanting” Bin Laden by saying, “In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorists attacks throughout the world.”

On June 5, 2006, the Muckraker Report contacted the FBI Headquarters, (202) 324-3000, to learn why Bin Laden’s Most Wanted poster did not indicate that Osama was also wanted in connection with 9/11. The Muckraker Report spoke with Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI. When asked why there is no mention of 9/11 on Bin Laden’s Most Wanted web page, Tomb said, “The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama Bin Laden’s Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11.” (Read more from farsnews.com)

Obama’s Long List Of Promises To Keep, Obligations To Meet
“Faced with economic collapse on the home-front and two wars overseas, the administration of President-elect Barack Obama is signaling loudly and clearly that a substantial number of his costly campaign promises will have to be postponed or abandoned altogether.”

Huffington post assembled a great, cited list of Obama’s many promises: Improve options for displaced workers / Help community and small business development agencies / Improve rural schools and availability of doctors / Help organic farmers and promote regional food systems / Give new farmers tax incentives / Provide farmers capital and help rural small businesses / Create rural revitalization program / Improve high school graduation rates / Double the number of high school students taking college level courses / Double charter school funding / Include more technology in public schools / Provide tuition assistance to students who perform community service / Recruit teachers and principals / Recruit science and technology teachers / Provide pay raises for teachers and principals / Pay tuition for students going into teaching / Increase Head Start and Early Start / etc. (Read more from huffingtonpost.com)

Me: Normally, I call politicians on broken promises, but not with these. Let’s hope Obama doesn’t keep these promises for a few reasons: 1) none of the federal government’s business 2) we can’t afford any more government programs 3) they’d further warp our already mutilated economy. If you want to help, say, a rural community, let the people, the communities, the states keep more of their own money. The central planners in Washington don’t know how to most efficiently spend money, the people do.

There are a few promises I’d like to see him keep: Ending the Iraq War, Tax cuts for the poor, Repealing the Patriot Act. Am I hopeful? Hell no. Obama is a new face on the same old policies.

Obama Doesn’t Plan to End the Iraq Occupation
“The New York Times is reporting about an "apparent evolution" in president-elect Barack Obama’s thinking on Iraq, citing his recent statements about his plan to keep a "residual force" in the country and his pledge to "listen to the recommendations of my commanders" as Obama prepares to assume actual command of US forces. "At the Pentagon and the military headquarters in Iraq, the response to the statements this week from Mr. Obama and his national security team has been akin to the senior officer corps’ letting out its collective breath," the Times reported. "[T]the words sounded to them like the new president would take a measured approach on the question of troop levels."

The reality is there is no "evolution."

Anyone who took the time to cut past Barack Obama’s campaign rhetoric of "change" and bringing an "end" to the Iraq war realized early on that the now-president-elect had a plan that boiled down to a down-sizing and rebranding of the occupation. While he emphasized his pledge to withdraw US "combat forces" from Iraq in 16 months (which may or may not happen), he has always said that he intends to keep "residual forces" in place for the foreseeable future.

It’s an interesting choice of terms. "Residual"” (Read more from antiwar.com)

Me: Can we create a cult of personality in support of the same policies that Bush pursued? Yes we can!

What Change? by Chuck Baldwin, 2008 Constitution Party Presidential Candidate
“Obama excelled in delivering the message of change. So, what kind of change will Obama actually deliver?” (Read more from newswithviews.com)

Palestinians say nothing will change under Obama
“Most Palestinians think the election of Barack Obama as US president will have no impact on the chances of a solution to the conflict with Israel, an opinion poll published on Wednesday said. It found that 57.5% of those Palestinians who were questioned thought that Obama’s election ‘will make no difference.’” (Read more from ynetnews.com)

This is a great read from Vanity Fair – the financial melt-down as seen by the financial elite. Hard to feel sorry for them. Maybe that’s why I like it.

“With Wall Street hemorrhaging jobs and assets, even many of the wealthiest players are retrenching. Others, like the Lehman Brothers bankers who borrowed against their millions in stock, have lost everything. Hedge-fund managers try to sell their luxury homes, while trophy wives are hocking their jewelry. The pain is being felt on St. Barth’s and at Sotheby’s, on benefit-gala committees and at the East Hampton Airport, as the world of the Big Rich collapses, its culture in shock and its values in question.” (Read more from vanityfair.com)

(from news.com.au)

She sold her soul long, long ago.

- German General: Afghan Police Training a ‘Miserable Failure’

- Convoy attacks trigger race to open new Afghan supply lines “Four serious attacks on US and Nato supplies in Pakistan during the past month, including two in the past three days, have added to the sense of urgency to conclude pacts with former Soviet republics bordering Afghanistan to the north. Nato is negotiating with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to allow supplies for Nato forces, including fuel, to cross borders into Afghanistan from the north. The deal, which officials said was close to being agreed, follows an agreement with Moscow this year allowing Nato supplies to be transported by rail or road through Russia.”

- Report warns of Taliban ‘noose’ around Afghan capital Me: I disagree with this report’s recommendation of more troops. Better to defend our borders and let the Afghans solve their own problems.

The New Face of Jewish Resistance
“We, high-school graduate teens, declare that we shall work against the Israeli occupation and oppression policy in the occupied territories and the territories of Israel. Therefore we will refuse to take part of these actions, which are being done under our name as part of the IDF. . . .” (Read more from desertpeace.wordpress.com)

IDF declares Hebron area closed military zone after settler rampage
“The Israel Defense Forces declared the area surrounding Hebron a closed military zone on Thursday after settlers rampaged through Palestinian neighborhoods in the West Bank city. The settlers, who opened fire on Palestinians and vandalized their property, were responding to the evacuation by Israeli security forces of a disputed house in Hebron earlier in the day. . . . During the riots, settlers had set fires to at least three Palestinian houses and burnt nine cars, the Palestinian fire chief said. . . . The Israeli rights group B’Tselem released a video that appeared to show a settler shooting a Palestinian in the stomach from point-blank range, and Palestinians pelting the settler with rocks. Palestinian hospital officials said 17 Palestinians were wounded, including five from bullets. Dozens of masked settlers surrounded the home of a Palestinian family in the city, setting its laundry ablaze and throwing stones at it. Haaretz correspondent Avi Issacharoff, who was inside the house at the time, was hit by a stone hurled by the group outside. . . . In other parts of the West Bank, settlers threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles and burned an olive grove, Palestinians said. . . . A police officer was moderately hurt when settlers threw acid in his face.” (Read more from Haaretz.com)

Me: I want Americans to understand what our tax dollar are funding. It’s true that Israeli security forces fought the settlers. It’s also true that settler families get tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies. It’s criminal. It’s a moral travesty. Our enemies don’t hate us because we’re free, or rich. They hate us because we’re funding a brutal, brutal, wholesale destruction of a people.

Unilever to sell stake in plant based in West Bank settlement
“The food and soap manufacturing multinational Unilever has announced that it will divest from an Israeli factory in a Jewish settlement illegally built on land confiscated from Palestinians. Unilever, which makes household staples such as Sunsilk shampoo, Surf washing powder and Vaseline, said it would sell its 51% stake in the Beigel & Beigel factory in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.” (Read more from desertpeace.wordpress.com)

Report: Israeli mineral water company closes site due to Scottish boycott
“A Gush Shalom report claims that European anger at Israeli companies producing goods beyond the Green Line is causing real harm to some companies, one of which is reportedly mineral water producer Mayanot Eden. The report claims Mayanot Eden (coloquially known as “Mei Eden”) had to close its warehouse in the town of Loanhead, south of Edinburgh. The shutdown reportedly followed an extended boycott campaign by pro-Palestinian organizations in Scotland, though the Israeli company claims the report to be untrue.” (Read more from normanfinkelstein.com)

UN agency warns of food shortage in Gaza due to Israeli blockade
“GAZA, Dec 07, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) – A UN agency in Gaza warned on Sunday that food aid would run out within the coming couple of days due to the ongoing Israeli tight blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for a month.” (Read more from reliefweb.int)

Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade
“Leaders of Israel’s Arab community said Wednesday they’ll head to Gaza on a boat laden with humanitarian aid to defy their government’s blockade of the territory. . . .” (Read more from Haaretz.com)

‘EID SHIP’ HIJACKED BY ISRAELI NAVY
“The Israeli navy barred on Sunday morning a ship which was supposed to sail from Jaffa port to the Gaza Strip carrying medical and humanitarian supplies. The ship was organized by Arab leaders and leftist activists in Israel, the Arabs48 news website reported. The ship, was dubbed “the Eid Ship”, as the Muslims will be marking the Adha Eid (feast) on Monday. The Israeli navy took the ship to the Tel Aviv port, Arabs48 added. The Israeli police said that the ship carried medical equipment and medicine, and that three activists were detained. . . .” (Read more from desertpeace.wordpress.com)

COMMANDMENT # 11 ~~ THOU SHALT NOT SPEAK THE TRUTH – Haaretz writer held for entering Gaza
(Read more from desertpeace.wordpress.com)