MLK, 935 and an Anniversary

Long week -- Martin Luther King Jr. continues to touch my heart, even though I holed up on MLK Day instead of finding a memorial service. With a bit of a bug, I did not belong out in the cold amidst people. That said, I have been playing clips of MLK speeches and listening to Civil Rights music on my iPod. MLK, Jr. deserves to be celebrated not by a few words on one day but through our impacting the world with positive contributions for peace and justice in his memory. At the end of his shortened life, Brother Martin was working on issues involving peace and poverty -- against the military-industrial complex which is ruining the United States of America. It transcends race.

A week ago Friday, my paid work place honored me for 20 years of service. Oh my! This peace and justice worker was none-the-less happy to receive matching Eternal Circle sterling silver earrings and necklace from Tiffany's. Crass? No, pretty. It feeds my spirit and gives me more energy to do my p& j work.

This week an online database was announced which documents the falsehoods of the Bush-Cheney regime during the two years following 9-11. They categorized at least 532 occasions on which the regime gave 935 false statements [Read: LIES] leading up to the illegal invasion of Iraq. AAR's Rachel Maddow says this information should/could be used toward Cheney and Bush's impeachment. Check it out at The Center for Public Integrity.

Right now, however, I am working on preventing telecom's from getting immunity from being complicit with the Republican Administration in spying on God knows whom in an illegal power grabbing extension of the FISA law. Hold them accountable. The good news is that Senator Schumer is with Senator Dodd on this, but can the Democrats hold a filibuster? If they let the telecoms off the hook they will likely be letting off the Republican criminals complicit in the spying, too. And on whom, really, have they been spying? Not just terror subjects, but probably me, you and Democratic politicians.

Then last Sunday the West Queens Independent Democratic Club held a good meeting at our president Jimmy Van Bramer's home to celebrate the beginning of our 40th year and discuss issues, including the presidential primaries. Great discussions!! (And good food!)

Much to do for peace, justice and saving our democracy. Join me. At the very least, please sign up for impeachment hearings of Dick Cheney, led by Senator Robert Wexler, at wexlerwantshearings.com -- now over 210,000 signatures!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Edwama or Obawards But Donate to Edwards TODAY

God knows the two of them could be a great team. Edwards' policy plans would give Obama's hope some real flesh. I love spirit and hope but I want substance and change that positively affects the middle class and working people. I also don't want nuclear power and I know that Social Security is an insurance program that the other administrations since Reagan have borrowed from.

John knows. He speaks up. He scares the corporatist media and the corporate hacks, which reminds me:

Join me in giving John Edwards a Ron Paul day. I just donated a $100 to Edwards on BIG FRIDAY:

https://www.johnedwards.com/action/contribute/form/

Thanks and

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne <==who's wearing glasses in the picture at The Nation

MNYRCAT: End Torture, Close Gitmo

New York Fellowship of Reconciliation members joined with Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, World Can't Wait, ACLU and others in attending the Metro New York Religious Coalition Against Torture's prayer vigil to end torture and close Guantanamo, one of the January 11th events held worldwide on the sixth anniversary of the Guantanamo detention camp. As the vigil began, so did the rain, torrential at times -- but what is rain compared to waterboarding? It curtailed the length of the vigil, but didn't dampen our spirits. Check out additional photos on Flickr.com but please continue to contact Congress -- 202-224-3121 --and the White House comment line -- 202-456-1111 on this. And ask your friends to do likewise. Prayer and action together make a positive difference. Thanks!!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


Center: Sam Oast and Gail Harper, with 2 CCR staff

New Hampshire & Vote Concerns for Super Tuesday

Yes, I'm still concerned about the vote counting in NH and beyond and Rob Kall at OpEdNews.com shares my concern. Check out his article Do New Hampshire Vote Count Questioons Harbinger Super Tuesday Vote Theft Disaster?. He lists a number of articles that should be read and considered.

As for a New Hampshire recount, Nancy Tobi warned Mark Crispin Miller against it as we can not be sure of the chain of custody of the ballots and we can not be sure which precincts ("fixed" ones?) would be counted and then perhaps the flawed re-count would be used to "prove" that all is well with corporate ownership of our voting. Bottom line, if voting isn't open and transparent, we can not be sure of our vote. Mark has a lot of discussion at his site.

And, as an Edwards supporter, I love DailyKos' RDemocrat's blog post, Why Edwards Supporters are Sticking to Their Guns Part II.

As for Brutus John Kerry's support of Obama, I used his email announcement to unsubscribe any and all postings from betrayer-in-chief John Kerry. Please do likewise, if you are still on his list. I hope lots unsubscribe him. (And perhaps write a person note as one blogger noted to RDemocrat.)

Much to do today -- a peace prayer vigil against torture at lunchtime at Foley Square (12:30 pm) -- hope the weather doesn't waterboard us: lots of rain in NYC.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Matthews reports Raw Data indicated Obama Victory

Brad Friedman of BradBlog reports Chris Matthews quoting the Raw Data Exit Polls ("which only corporate mainstream media folks, not mere mortals, are allowed to see") indicated that Obama had a significant victory in New Hampshire -- see full story: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5535

Brad also noted a good follow-up article by syndicated Tribune Media Services columnist Robert Koehler: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5532 which Brad says "bumps up our serious concerns about last night's wholly untransparent, and still-uncounted (by anything but a hackable Diebold computer, and a company with an executive criminal past, to say the least) New Hampshire Primary election results, from 'blogger conspiracy theory' to mainstream media concern." For Koehler's full article check out his excellent website, Common Wonders (and bookmark it!).

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

New Hampshire - More Vote Theft??

I woke up this morning wondering about what happened in New Hampshire and the Light Bulb went on:

On Air America they mentioned that only certain people knew the results from the exit polls in New Hampshire. I'd like to know if the exit polls were ever announced and compared with the announced vote tally? There was such a discrepancy from all the pre-election polls (9?) and 81% of the ballots were optically scanned. (Were these scans precinct counted and then called in? -- This is important to maintain legitimacy as is good software.) Did Hillary's moment of tears really make an impact or have voters been ripped off again? Exit Polls vs Announced Count -- IMPORTANT TO KNOW.

I've asked this of Rob Kall at Opednews.com and have emailed Teresa Hommel of Where's the Paper and plan to email Thom Hartmann, especially after the chilling information I just now read on Bradblog -- we're talking serious problems again, folks. Read Bradblog and let's all stay on top of this again. I will apprise you of any light I hear.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Supporting the Writers' Strike

Politics is in the news but for peace and justice sake we must not forget the importance of settling the writers' strike. Isn't the drivel on TV enough to goad you to act? I just wrote Peter Chernin (FOX's CEO), thanks to a link at the UnitedHollywood blog. Visit the link to learn more about composing YOUR letter to make a positive difference. (Personalize their template.) And visit the blog regularly for continued updates and actions, as well as the Writers Guild. While we want a full settlement of the strike, let's encourage independent agreements like Dave Letterman signed for his Worldwide Pants company.

Thanks much -- and

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Back home -- Happy New Year

Back from the wilds of Ohio and Pennsylvania, I am just beginning to tackle my to do list. Catching up on my Hightower Lowdown -- even went to Jim Hightower's great website to catch his new videos. Check 'em out!

On a personal note, I got over to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. Gorgeous!



(More Christmas tree pix at QTakes.blogspot.com with other holiday pictures to be posted on Flickr.)

I bought my friend and kitty sitter Joan Pagan a Swarvorski crystal ornament which she wore out last night when a bunch of us WQIDC friends went out to see the not-to-be-missed Denzel Washington movie, The Great Debaters.

An unhappy note: Mac Cat continues to be ailing. It is difficult to witness my little long-in-the tooth pussy cat waning.

There are bills to be paid and the holiday letter remains unwritten, with lots of cards still to be sent, post Christmas. (Hey, I'm happy to be in contact with my friends anytime.) When I discovered lots of opera being shown on PBS's Channel 13 WNET, how could I not spend some time watching? I'm enjoying what is left of the holiday and my vacation.

Back to work tomorrow! Happy New Year! And ...

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne