Resisting Corporate Government And Whipping The Vote Against Corporate Welfare In Maine

A Bath Iron Works executive tried to convince LD1781's sponsor that constituent "Bruce [Gagnon] is a one man band" back in December. There are now so many members of the band that I can no longer fit their names in a legible font on my cartoon. 

Tireless tax resister Ginny Schneider sent a great email to all the legislators she could reach via organizer Bob Klotz's "whip" list for opposing LD1781. You can, too, using this handy tool that looks up your state representative and senator and sends them a message you can customize. If you're out of state but want to send a message, the whip list has email addresses for you to use. There is also a toll-free message center: (800) 423-2900.

Ginny's email signature includes some quotes. This one is pertinent:

This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations. — U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, 3/11/1888

A successful marijuana lobbyist in Maine, Paul Carrier, shared this tip:

Try to find a Republican member of the House that is willing to speak against LD1781 in caucus. Emphasize that many small business owners in Maine are struggling and could use tax relief -- why give it to a corporation that had $3.5 billion in free cash flow last year?

Meanwhile, organizer Jason Rawn has been doing his homework on corporate extortion at the state government level. He shared these articles with me and with many of the legislators on the whip list:

Corporate extortion: states are giving billions to corporations that don't create jobs by Steven Rosenfeld (Alternet, 12/12/13)

Corporations lead taxpayers to the shearing by Michael Hiltzik (Los Angeles Times, 1/5/14)

Several of us went on WERU yesterday for Amy Browne's Maine Currents show. Bruce Gagnon explained how effective the citizen lobbying effort against this bill has been. A senator told his constituent yesterday at the State House that he had never received as many message about any other issue or bill. Based on that, I'd say Bruce's hunger strike --which many of us joined by fasting for one or more days -- was a success. He had vowed to hold out until the bill came to a vote, but yesterday he ended his 37 day hunger strike in favor of his health.

Emails between the bill's sponsor Rep. Jennifer DeChant (D) of Bath and General Dynamics subsidiary Bath Iron Works vice president John Fitzgerald indicated both hoped the bill would be rushed through the legislature early in this session. Instead, the battle has dragged on for months while hundreds of letters opposing the bill have been sent to Maine newspapers; so many, they've stopped publishing them all.

The biggest argument for these bills is always the same: support the corporations who generate jobs. But BIW's largest union, S6, has declined to endorse the bill. Perhaps because GD has used past tax relief to further mechanize the shipyard and has cut thousands of jobs at BIW in recent years?

Bob Klotz spoke on WERU about how Democrats and Republicans in Maine can be seen to be drinking the "jobs, jobs, jobs Kool-Aid" and Bruce mentioned how former Democrat and legislator Ralph Chapman described the corporate money flowing to the leadership[sic] of both parties. Chapman explained that eaders who follow corporate directives are the ones promoted to chair the committees that send bills to the legislature.

Alex Nunes has been investigating and reporting on tax heists by General Dynamics in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine. He told Amy yesterday about stock buybacks indicating the vast wealth that weapons corporation GD holds, and an alarming development in the town of Bath. The police chief there has declined to comply with his Freedom of Access request for communications between BIW and the police around their collaborations to have protesters at the shipyard arrested during warship "christenings" recently. The chief cited an exception to Maine's FAA law: if it's planning about security around terrorism, he doesn't have to reveal it.

Jessica Stewart being arrested with eight of us at Bath Iron Works on April 1, 2017. Judge Daniel Billings ruled that our arrests for criminal trespass were wrong, and that "basically the police department is outsourced to BIW on these events. It was pretty clear that Lieutenant Savary was taking his direction [from] Mr. Cielinkski, [BIW’s chief of security]." The judge added, "And that’s not how this is supposed to work.” Jessica was subsequently arrested at Senator Susan Collins' Bangor office protesting Collins' vote for the federal tax bill that provides enormous cuts for wealthy corporations and individuals. Her trial for that arrest begins today in federal court today at 10am. FMI: Mainers for Accountable Leadership.

Pressed by Nunes, Chief Michael Fields denied that he was characterizing nonviolent protesters at BIW as terrorists. But, he still won't release the requested information. Hopefully Nunes will appeal the denial.

Violence is not actually as effective as its proponents would have you believe. Nonviolent direct action is powerful. And look how much we've accomplished by wielding pens (and radio ads) mightier than swords. Onward to defeat LD1781!

Hate Media Have Blood On Their Hands As Police Officer Dies Defending Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood Clinic

Gunman led away in cuffs after killing at least 3 people at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic yesterday.

Hate media have blood on their hands every day as incidents of misogyny, racism and xenophobia move beyond ugly words to fists, bombs and guns. A policeman who was helping defend a women's health clinic from a white, heavily armed male terrorist yesterday died of gunshot wounds. Others died in the attack in Colorado Springs, too.

When a society tolerates violent vigilantes who attack people as they go about their business, the concept of "security" has gone down the drain.

Mercutio Southall Jr. being removed by "security" who failed to protect him
from being punched and kicked for chanting "Black Lives Matter"
at a Trump rally in Birmingham, Alabama last week.

When a society condones, even applauds, violent attacks on citizens exercising their first amendment right of free expression, civil liberties are going down the drain.

Alice Ollstein reporting in ThinkProgress quoted Southall as saying about the incident:

 “A lady kicked me in the stomach. A man kicked me in the chest. They called me n*****, monkey, and they shouted ‘all lives matter’ while they were kicking and punching me. So for all the people who are still confused at this point, they proved what ‘all lives matter’ meant. It means, ‘Shut up, n*****.'”

Southall had gone to the aid of another Black Lives Matter activist who had his phone knocked out of his hand as he began livestreaming the racism fest. Birmingham was the site of an act of racist terrorism during the civil rights movement when a black church was firebombed there in 1963, killing four girls in Sunday school.

The Colorado Springs gunman was aiming for girls, too.

One of my family members has been gathering petition signatures for Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense this fall. The petition would create a referendum next November to close some loopholes in the background check requirements for gun purchases in Maine. She reports that the anger and argumentativeness of men she approaches with her petition is tiring. Sometimes their level of hostility is frightening. Moms Demand Action has trained signature gatherers not to argue if someone declines the offer to sign and wants to engage in debate; just say "thanks" and move on.

There's no sense in exchanging views with someone whose mind has been poisoned with hate language every day for years. If armed, they may very well be dangerous.

Armed men outside a mosque in Irving, Texas this month went on to publish
names and addresses of Muslim families in the area.
Reporting by Avi Selk in The Dallas Morning News.

What do terrorists actually look like in the U.S.? White men with guns. I refuse to fear them all.

The culture of racism, misogyny and xenophobic hate that U.S. corporate media have cultivated is making too many people crazy. And they are suffering, too.

As the winter solstice approaches, I will cultivate compassion and understanding. I will not give in to fear. And I will be prepared to protect myself or others if necessary. Dear Santa, about those tranquilizer darts I keep asking for...

Islamophobia Is The Predictable Response To More Terror, And Who Benefits From That?

All the predictable things happened after Friday the 13th's acts of terror and violence. France declared a state of emergency, closed its borders, and imposed a curfew. A refugee camp called the Jungle in Calais was set ablaze. 

Vast numbers in the U.S. and Europe "stood with Paris" by changing the color scheme of their avatar or profile picture. Small numbers in the U.S. and Europe wondered why those same folks didn't stand with Beirut, Baghdad or Garissa University in Kenya.

Source: Shafiur Rahman, YouTube video of the Calais "Jungle" refugee camp burning

Politicians in the U.S. jumped on the occasion to denounce Islam -- some demanded apologies from Muslims -- and vilify immigrants, notably refugees who are fleeing from the very violence being denounced. Maine's infamously thuggish governor joined other governors from a Republican Party increasingly defined by overt racism to announce that his state would not accept refugees from Syria. 

No one in my state was surprised that the governor would not know the difference between Algeria and Syria (or be able to find either on an unlabeled map, I suspect). That governors do not have this power wouldn't trouble him in the least. His compatriots in the U.S. Congress were already busy drafting legislation to say the same. 

That would be legal. Immoral and wrong, but legal. So was everything the Nazis did in Germany once they had gained control of the executive and legislative branches of government in that republic.

Besides, the U.S. has a long history of denying entry to persecuted people who aren't the right color or religion.

Jewish refugees on the infamous S.S.St. Louis were denied entry to the U.S. and turned back to Europe in 1939.
Many died in Nazi concentration camps as a result.

Media pundits and others on the right called for more violence to quell the violence. Because the "war on terror" has been such a success in reducing terror. Not. Nor was it because most were aware that Syria was on the list of regimes to topple even before the staged events of 9/11 in the U.S.

Hate crimes against Muslims broke out all over the U.S. Mosques were vandalized. Muslims in France became even more afraid than they have been since the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Source:  [Santi Palacios/AP]

Over 4 million refugees from the war in Syria continued searching for a safe place to bring their children.

And, as reported by Glenn Greenwald in The Intercept, "Stock Prices Of Weapons Manufacturers Soaring Since Paris Attack." 

Who profits from violence that feeds violence? I think we know.

@SenAngusKing Sticks Up For The Constitution

Candidate Angus King meets Mark Roman of the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign in Bath, Maine July 4, 2012.

In hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, May 16, 2013, freshman Senator Angus King dared to state that the emperor has no clothes.

As Pentagon officials presented justification for making war on anyone, anywhere, by any means, anytime they feel like it, Maine's ex-governor -- who runs as an independent -- objected. Noting that he is "just a little lawyer from Brunswick, Maine" he nonetheless waded into constitutional law over the expansion being proposed of the Authorization for Use of Military Force rushed through Congress following the drama of September 11, 2001.

Focusing on the term "associated forces," which he noted was found nowhere the original AUMF, Angus contended at length that the Pentagon was usurping the power of Congress to declare war.

"This is the most astounding and astoundingly disturbing hearing I have been to since I have been here. You guys have essentially rewritten the Constitution here today."

Here's video of what preceded his remarks, and the remarks themselves, shared by Democracy Now!:



One of the shocking -- though not surprising -- statements made by the Pentagon's team was that the entire world is now a battlefield "from Boston to Pakistan" citing an attack in the USS Cole that killed 17 U.S. sailors in Yemen in October, 2000 as evidence of this. The team also predicted that the current war on "associated forces" of those who mounted the  September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. would last another 10 to 20 years.

That day loomed large in Sen. King's remarks as well, as he noted that the AUMF was based on taking military action against the groups responsible for events on that specific date.

What do you want to bet that the next AUMF Congress passes will include the Boston Marathon bombing? Yesterday also brought news of the contents of a note found in the boat where the surviving suspect hid, justifying the terrorist attack in Boston as a response to U.S. policies. CBS News reported the note asserted that:

• The bombings were retribution for what the U.S. did to Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq

• The Boston victims were collateral damage, like Muslims are in U.S. wars

Damn if the military contractors haven't found the perfect mechanism for endless "war on terror" -- which war Sen. King, by the way, says he wholeheartedly supports. So maybe the emperor just needs a freshly tailored set of clothes? Stay tuned.

CODEPINK Maine delegation visits Sen. Angus King's senior policy advisor Marge Kilkenny in Augusta, Maine February 21, 2013.

Who's On The Verge Of Defeat?

Labeled MAP, the only one included with this AP story datelined Washington and hosted by Google. What country is missing from the picture?

Some official pronouncements cry out to be parsed. This is one of them.

Al-Qaida's No. 2 reported killed by US in Pakistan 

by Matt Apuzzo of Associated P-word

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Pakistani officials said Saturday that al-Qaida's second-in-command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, has been killed in Pakistan, delivering another big blow to a terrorist group that the U.S. believes to be on the verge of defeat. (emphasis mine)

Spinning the war as rock 'em sock 'em robots,  the writer goes on to report (i.e. repeat from a government news release) that U.S. forces believe al-Qaida is shaky since Osama bin Laden was captured. Something about his use of the phrase "unusually frank" makes me feel like I'm reading the Onion, as in: 

... the Obama administration has been unusually frank in its assessment that al-Qaida is on the ropes, its leadership in disarray.

But did the insurgency crumble once bin Laden was reported to have been executed? Hardly.

Senior al-Qaida figures have been killed before, only to be replaced. 

No kidding. Maybe because NATO and the CIA are creating terrorists by the cartloads with civilian bombing and night raids?

But the Obama administration's tenor reflects a cautious optimism that victory in the decade-long fight against al-Qaida could be at hand...Since bin Laden's death, counterterrorism officials have hoped to capitalize on al-Qaida's unsettled leadership. The more uncertain the structure, the harder it is for al-Qaida to operate covertly and plan attacks.

Thus the drone strikes in Pakistan week after week, month after month, year after year unto a decade. It's all justified, see? We have them on the run. Trust us. Go back to your MAP.

Don't look at any photos like this because we have it all under control.

Olympia Snowe intervention: Bring our war $$ home now!

"Olympia Snowe Thinks / Speaks" by Elizabeth Kelley, from Draw-a-thon I to Bring Our War $$ Home. Interactive: you fill in the blanks.

On Thursday 8/11 I had voicemail from my sister in PINK Pat Taub saying that today she had a chance encounter with Sen. Olympia Snowe, and had about 5 min. to "do an intervention" with the senator. Sen. Snowe has voted for every military funding bill ever, and refuses to meet except accidentally with campaigners from the Bring Our War $$ Home coalition in Maine.

Pat wrote in an email later: "I recognized Sen. Snowe because she was sitting right behind me on the plane.  When I got up to collect my overhead bag I turned and noticed her.  I immediately decided that I had to use this opportunity to address my anti-war concerns and BOW$H.  I got five minutes or more with her because we were stuck waiting for the plane to disembark.  She was a captive audience and uncomfortable but forced to listen to me because she had no where to go! I introduced myself as a member of Codepink Maine."

CODEPINK Maine Interventionist Pat Taub (right) with keynote speaker co-founder Medea Benjamin and Local Coordinator Lisa Savage at Peace Action Maine annual supper, Portland, Maine  May 7, 2011

Pat said she talked up the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign and Olympia said she had NEVER HEARD OF IT. Wow, who does our senator think is buying this b.s.? Bruce Gagnon just had a conversation with her at a parade last month, I delivered letters to her Bangor office twice in the last three weeks, plus there have been numerous visits to her offices by various BOW$H activists over a two year period.

Dud Hendrick looks on as Sen. Olympia Snowe hears from Bruce Gagnon about the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign in Maine, Old Hallowell Days parade, July 16, 2011

Then Pat said we'd better start funding needs at home before we end up like London. Of course the senator said, but we need to fight terrorists. And Pat said, we're creating more terrorists every day with our policies.

Pat writes: "I felt great, empowered at being able to speak my truth to her, to deliver an anti-war message in the context of our budget deficit, growing social cut-backs, etc.  I wish now that I had challenged the Senator with the fact that considerable BOW$H materials have been left at her office. Essentially she said very little except to nod in a concerned way; she was speechless without a rebuttal to my comments.  Her very tall aide looked annoyed.  I loved that I had them trapped with nowhere to go until the plane disembarked."

Here I am having a conversation with Sen. Olympia Snowe at the Old Hallowell Days parade in July, 2010. Guess what the banner that Mark Roman and I are holding says on it in bold letters? (Mary Beth Sullivan and Cat Erdman are witnessing the fact that this conversation really happened.)

Why not let Sen. Snowe hear from you? 202-224-5344 Toll-Free in Maine:800-432-1599