Showing posts with label the squad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the squad. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

The Peace Eagle




The Peace Eagle

words and original artwork by C.A. Matthews

We don't have to submit to this. We don't have to keep sleepwalking into dystopia and armageddon to the beat of manipulative sociopaths. There are a whole lot more of us than there are of them, and we've got a whole lot more at stake here than they do. --Caitlin Johnstone, Advocating World War Three is Just Mainstream Punditry Now

Some days it’s hard to get out of bed knowing just how screwed up the world is. You want to turn over, go back to sleep, and wake up to the sound of angels blowing trumpets, calling us all heavenward in the Rapture (even if you don’t really believe in that sort of thing). You just want to get things over with, you know?

Headlines yelling that nuclear war is “survivable” and “necessary” to rub some other country’s leader’s face into the (radioactive) dust seem to trigger these feelings in me. I don’t believe for one moment that nuclear war is a preferable or survivable event. I actually passed my chemistry test on radioactive isotopes in high school. I know that I don’t want anyone to be bombarded by them or caught in an explosion that generates them for the next several hundred thousand years.

When it came to picking a theme for the blog this depressing week, I was leaning toward writing about the upcoming midterms because it’s a slightly less blood pressure rising topic. But then the news about “The Squad” (more like “The Frauds”) hit the Twitterverse and their antics struck a chord in me. The Frauds sent out a letter to the so-called Democratic Party leadership pleading for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in order to put an end to the suffering there. About a day later The Frauds retracted the self-same letter and pledged their undying love for the military industrial complex instead. Yeah, they actually backed out of promoting a diplomatic end to hostilities in order to help killer capitalists sell more arms to a corrupt government we helped to set up in a coup in 2014, a government with openly Neo-Nazi militias that have been shelling the ethnic Russian Donbass region for eight+ years.


Representative Ilhan Omar of The Frauds even went as far as to tell peace protesters at a town hall meeting that they didn’t have the right to tell her how to vote. Uh, these folks are your constituents, Ms. Omar, so they have every right to tell you they don’t appreciate you supporting an unpopular war. You, as their Congresswoman, are supposed to pipe down and listen to their concerns instead of insulting them. If there was one member of “the boutique left” I would have expected to be in favor of a peaceful, diplomatic end to war, it would have been an immigrant from war-torn Somalia such as Rep. Omar. I guess the benefits of negotiating peace are null and void when there are big DNC donors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon involved.

Perhaps the worse news I’ve heard this week is that Senator Bernie Sanders has also renounced all diplomatic measures to bring an end to this war over liquefied natural gas pipelines and selling American oil to European markets at super-high profits. Bernie, the man who boasted he voted against the Iraq War not once but twice, is a now war hawk? Wow. Talk about a gut punch.

Most persons of the socialist/eco-socialist persuasion have moved on from following Bernie too closely after he went on the road to sell Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden to unwitting voters, but this news still hurts. The Fraud Squad has always come across as a bunch of faux progressives, all-too-ready for their next glossy magazine cover shoot, but I thought Bernie was the real deal for a while and wouldn’t give in so easily. We live and learn.


The one upbeat note this week was attending a Zoom meeting with US Senate candidate Matthew Hoh and his special guest Roger Waters, formerly of the band Pink Floyd. Roger is quite a peace and justice activist, and he doesn’t pull any punches. When Roger used a few choice expletives to describe how little regard he holds for the members of the Fraud Squad who support endless wars, Matt told him that it was okay to use the F word because, “War is the obscenity.” I like how that short sentence sums up so many peoples’ feelings on the topic. (I support Matt, a disabled veteran and peace activist, and encourage North Carolina voters to vote for him on November 8.)

Back to the prospects of endless war/nuclear Armageddon: As I walked through our junk-filled garage earlier this week, I came across an old metal eagle plaque. The eagle hung on the front of the house when we moved in, but I took it down and replaced it with a metal peace sign. I didn’t throw the eagle plaque away because we recycle, re-purpose, and re-use everything in this household. I’d thought about turning the scowling eagle into something like a dove a while back, but life intervened and I’d forgotten about it. Today I’m painting that damn blood-covered, warmongering American eagle and transforming it from a “war hawk” into a “Peace Eagle.”


No more wars for oil and blowing up LNG pipelines so US Big Oil can sell fuel to Europe at obscene prices! The American eagle is going to become a protector of the peace and dignity of all humankind, not just for those who write establishment politicians large donation checks. Unlike The Fraud Squad, I’m proudly sending out my "letter" supporting a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the proxy war. I’m not retracting it no matter how many nukes the US/NATO war machine threatens to rain down on my head

If you have a metal eagle plaque or any kind of symbol of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex, may I suggest you get out your paints or needle and thread and do a few alterations to it? Please post your Peace Eagle photos here in the comments or email them to us or send us a Twitter DM. It’s time to speak out loudly against suicidal/homicidal/genocidal narcissists who want to nuke the planet in order to increase their stock portfolio profits.


It’s time to make the Peace Eagle the symbol of our land. And to paraphrase Roger Waters: Screw the war hawks!

 

A description of what the colors/symbols mean on the Peace Eagle:

I first painted the aluminum eagle plaque all white as a base to hold the other colors, and because I wanted the eagle not to be associated with war such as the brown-bodied bald eagle has become in the US. The rainbow-colored flight feathers symbolize that the Peace Eagle protects people of all races, colors, ethnicities, nationalities, and gender identities. The shield boasts a peace sign with pink and light blue stripes,  signifying that the Peace Eagle will protect the most vulnerable in our society against those who would harm them. The olive branch remains the same—a sign of peace and generosity. The quiver of arrows of the American eagle have been transformed into a bouquet of coneflowers or echinacea, a native flower known for its healing properties and beauty. Together beneath the wings of the Peace Eagle we can protect our country’s natural wonders and provide food, health care, justice, and healing for all.

Related Articles:

Advocating World War Three is Just Mainstream Punditry Now https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/advocating-world-war-three-is-just

The Military Industrial Complex Strikes Again https://scheerpost.com/2022/10/28/the-military-industrial-complex-strikes-again/

Chris Hedges: Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/listen-to-this-article-stop-worrying

Worthless House Progressives Retract Mild Peace Advocacy Under Pressure from Warmongers https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/worthless-house-progressives-retract 

The West Must Stop Blocking Negotiations Between Ukraine and Russia https://therealnews.com/vijay-prashad-the-west-must-stop-blocking-negotiations-between-ukraine-and-russia

US Lowering Nuclear Threshold by Upgrading Nukes in Europe https://scheerpost.com/2022/10/31/russia-says-us-lowering-nuclear-threshold-by-upgrading-nukes-in-europe/ 

New Study Finds the Rest of the World Supports China and Russia https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/new-study-finds-the-rest-of-the-world  

NATO Had Plans for a Preemptive Strike on Russia... https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/10/30/nato-had-plans-for-a-preemptive-strike-on-russia-using-the-cover-of-a-french-led-naval-exercise-in-the-mediterranean/

Is Russia Poised to Win the Ukraine War? (video) https://youtu.be/EyXhwbj6_yA

The Official Narrative on Ukraine https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/the-official-narrative-on-ukraine

Mick Wallace Calls Out the Squad (video) https://youtu.be/HgAbCqd2DWE

Ilhan Omar Uses Identity Politics as a Shield for Pro-War Votes https://youtu.be/3jni7sofUf4

Finland Will Allow NATO to Place Weapons on Border with Russia https://www.newsweek.com/finland-will-allow-nato-place-nuclear-weapons-border-russia-1754925

House Progressives Pushed Negotiations with Russia Then Buckled Under Pressure https://truthout.org/articles/house-progressives-pushed-negotiations-with-russia-then-buckled-under-pressure/

"This is What Price-Gouging Looks Like": Exxon Profits Break All-Time Records  https://truthout.org/articles/this-is-what-price-gouging-looks-like-exxon-profits-break-all-time-records/

Seen on Twitter:

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Tuesday, January 5, 2021

The Fraud Squad


The Dude knows the score in DC!

The Fraud Squad: 

Window Dressing for the DNC Store

by Coast Watcher
 
The Squad! It began with those wonderful, talented women who set out to challenge the Democratic Party’s centrist-right stance! How they were praised for their progressive values, their drive, their youthful vigor! How we hoped they would pick up the torch of socialism from Bernie Sanders and carry it forward into a bright Democratic Party future!

Well, guess what? It seems our idols have feet of clay.

There’s no denying the so-called Democratic Party detested them from the get-go for the very reasons I outlined above. The Squad became a burr under the saddle of business-as-usual and attracted brickbats and catcalls from those of a Democrat persuasion as much as they did from the GOP and Trumpanzees. Then the dirty Dems figured out how to tame the Squad and bend them to its will.
To take one member in particular, Alexandria Occasio-Cortez, she has progressed from a barkeep to Congresswoman and blazed a path into the headlines. Now she pulls in tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees per speech. AOC now can earn more in one night giving a speech than she possibly made in all those years of tending bar combined.

Has she forgotten what it’s like to scrimp and save, to worry about health care coverage or if she has enough money to cover rent and/or food this month? Possibly she has forgotten what it's like to be a struggling worker. Her new Congressional plan health care coverage is premium quality and for life, regardless if she continues in government or not. If she does depart her political career, there’s many a Big Business concern that would offer her a lucrative position on its board, complete with perks.

How does that old adage go? Oh yes, Power corrupts. I'm sure all that lobbyist money helps you sleep at night if your conscience bothers you, too.

So all the so-called Democratic Party had to do was wait until the delicious benefits of being a professional national level politician kicked in. Then the Squad would no longer have any desire to overthrow a system which works so well for them. Instead, their new job is to act as window dressing, something shiny to make it appear the Democratic administration-to-be of Joe Biden really is progressive in its values, when everyone admits that in stark reality "nothing will fundamentally change."

What the DNC store has to offer isn’t worth the time of anyone to the left of center. It’ll be the same old attack on civil liberties from Biden, a man who made a career out of formulating oppressive laws. It’ll be a program of austerity and tightened belts from a man who has wanted to cut Social Security for decades. Biden flat-out stated he’d never tolerate Medicare for All, and he would veto any such bill that reached his desk.

The #ForceTheVote movement, birthed by the new People's Party and other aligned groups, has pulled back the curtain and revealed who the real Wizard of DC truly is. Surprise--it's the health insurance industry! The Squad of brightly painted mannequins in the shop window has failed to fool anyone for long.

When AOC came under pressure from the public for not agitating and pressing for Medicare for All in the middle of this dreadful pandemic, she complained and whined like a child that people were acting "violent" toward her on Twitter for calling her out. 
 
So sorry, Alexandria! You chose to become a politician. That means you have to take the blows as well as the bouquets. And if you think you’re under pressure to provide health care and a decent stimulus package for your constituents now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

In the recent vote for Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi gained re-election by the narrowest margin in modern history. Had even two of the Squad not voted for her then Pelosi, with all her neoliberal-centrist authoritarian attitude and praise for overthrowing democratically elected leaders of South American countries, would have been left high and dry. It seems the Squad’s main argument for following the Dem party line is that had they not voted for Pelosi then a Republican would have become Speaker of the House.

Like, there’s a difference? Since both parties receive funding and policy guidance from Big Business they are effectively one and the same. The so-called Democrats simply wear blue ties, the Republicans red.

Even a casual glance through social media shows a huge amount of anger at the way the Squad betrayed the working poor and the struggling across the country. The hashtag #FraudSquad has quickly trended. Has the window dressing failed to distract us? Are people sick of politics as usual? The rapid response of the American public via social media indicates this.

The United States seems to be at a crossroads. The neoliberals' happy fallacy that, "Things will be so much better once Trump is gone," is being shown for what it is. The divide between the rich and poor has never been so large and so clear to all.

Those bourgeoisie (who think nothing of spending their $600 stimulus check on a hair appointment before they go to brunch) keep telling us "Now isn’t the time to (insert urgent public need here)."  We're supposed to forget how the so-called Democratic Party screwed the Left—again—and move on, but they've underestimated the working classes. Soon they'll find a cold wind blowing through their lives, and the window dressing of the Squad won’t be able to save them.

BIO: Coast Watcher possesses Superman's super vision--he can see through the distractions of the neoliberal establishment and figure their game out. They enjoy the lobbyists' money they receive for simply being in office. They're not worried about dying in the Covid-19 pandemic since they know they'll get to go to the front of line at the hospital and the vaccination queue. We the struggling workers will have to become our own heroes and force a vote to gain what we and our families deserve, Medicare For All. The Squad and anyone else who tries to hold us up should get the hell out of our way.


Related Articles:

Dems Move On After Stimulus Check Standoff Ends 

https://www.salon.com/2020/12/31/stimulus-standoff-ends-in-democratic-surrender-after-mcconnell-blocks-2000-checks-dems-move-on_partner/ 

In 2021, the Best Way to Fight Neofascist Republicans is to Fight Neoliberal Democrats

https://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/67103-rsn-in-2021-the-best-way-to-fight-neofascist-republicans-is-to-fight-neoliberal-democrats

*** 

All right! An actual Socialist is running for governor of Virginia--Lee Carter. Virginians may be the first to enjoy universal health care in the US if he gets into office. Good luck, Lee!

https://youtu.be/kyawBhkeQ68

***

From Roots Action:

Too many of Biden’s cabinet nominees have deep industry ties and alarming track records. The predictable results would be nothing more than the status quo that landed us with President Trump in the first place.

RootsAction.org is organizing now to oppose the most problematic of Biden’s appointments. We have a real chance to prevent them from being confirmed by the Senate in early January -- but we need your help.

Fill out this short Action Survey to join our team of volunteers and help challenge Biden’s nominees.



Who is President-elect Biden nominating?

TOM VILSACK, also known as “Mr. Monsanto,” has (again) been nominated to head the USDA. During his first tenure as Agriculture Secretary, Vilsack racked up a grim record of protecting the interests of “Big Ag” over the needs of independent farmers, workers, consumers, and the environment. To top it all off, he’s currently serving as president and CEO for a major U.S. dairy lobby.

NEERA TANDEN is widely known as one of the most anti-progressive voices of the neoliberal establishment. She has been tapped to head the Office of Management and Budget, the department tasked with formulating the Biden administration’s spending plans -- an especially critical endeavor amid the current economic crisis. It is concerning that Tanden has, in the past, expressed support for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and has been a staunch opponent of Medicare for All and a $15 federal minimum wage.

We need your help to stop these confirmations in the Senate and ensure Biden’s appointees put the people’s interests over corporate interests. Sign up here to volunteer for the #NoHoneymoon campaign.

ANTONY BLINKEN has been nominated to serve as Secretary of State. He supported the war in Iraq, supported interventions in Libya and Syria, and co-founded WestExec Advisors -- a firm that provides “strategic consulting” for undisclosed clients in the tech and defense sectors, greasing the revolving door between industry and the federal government (i.e. the military-industrial complex).

AVRIL HAINES has been nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence. She was the former deputy national security adviser and former deputy CIA director under Obama. Haines helped author the Presidential Policy Guidance that established the legal framework and normalization of the Obama administration’s use of drone strikes, and failed to discipline CIA officers who hacked Senate Intelligence Committee networks while the committee was compiling a report on CIA torture.

Given the records of these nominees, we can’t expect them to meet this political moment and do what needs doing for the American people. The push for better leadership in the Biden administration is a vital part of our #NoHoneymoon campaign. We invite you to join us in this effort.

In solidarity,

Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen
Co-founders, RootsAction.org

P.S. Here are a few more actions you can take in under five minutes to amplify our campaign!

  1. Join our Facebook Volunteer Network for volunteer opportunities and campaign updates.
  2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for regular updates on Activism and Pressure Campaigns.
  3. Take Action at NoHoneymoon.org
Background
>>Vilsack
George Goehl, The Guardian: "Biden's pick for agriculture secretary raises serious red flags"
Claire Kelloway, The Intercept: "Tom Vilsack for USDA Secretary Is What’s Wrong With the Democratic Party"
>>Tanden
Walker Bragman, Daily Poster: "Biden Picks Budget Director Who Pushed Social Security Cuts"
>>Blinken
Stephen Zunes, Truthout: "Biden’s Pick for Secretary of State Has a Record of Militarism"
Bryan Bender and Theodoric Meyer, Politico: "The secretive consulting firm that’s become Biden’s Cabinet in waiting"
>>Haines
Sarah Lazare, In These Times: "Biden's Foreign Policy Picks Are From the Hawkish National Security Blob. That Is a Bad Sign."
Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner: "Avril Haines, deputy of John Brennan and Susan Rice, named Biden’s future spy chief"

www.RootsAction.org

 ***

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