Monday, June 30, 2008

Torture has always been evil and it still is.


"Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law…Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term."
George W. Bush

Situational ethics was a much beloved catch phrase of the Moral Majority. I haven't heard it mentioned for a long time now. That's because the conservative right has embraced 'the end justifies the means' thinking, which is truly worse. Anything they think would advance God's will, as they see it, is the morally responsible thing to do. This has led to an embrace of evil, such as torture.

They worship at the Alter of Commerce in the Church of Supremacy.

Their dungeons are full of skeletons and sinister secrets.
Half truths, self- aggrandizement and trepidation are the subjects of their sermons.
The virtues they cherish are greed, pride, gluttony and tyranny.
The fruit they bare is misery, death and devastation.
Darkness follows in their wake;
And ruin is their toll.

Poll: 44% of Americans favor torture for terrorist suspects

To torture a mother's innocent children in front of her in an effort to solicite information is evil. To not even be able to say that burying somebody alive is something no human being can order is evil. This isn’t American. This isn’t who we are or what we’re about. This is something unholy; a cancer.

Hearing on Torture with Addington & Yoo: Nadler's Questions


Hearing on Torture with Addington & Yoo: Conyers' Questions


Senate Conservatives Uses Rare Maneuver To Try To Close Down A Hearing On Torture»

General who probed Abu Ghraib says Bush officials committed war crimes

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/41514.html

FBI General Counsel: Waterboarding Is ‘Clearly Not Permissible In The United States’»

Ex-State Dept. official: Hundreds of detainees died in U.S. custody, at least 25 murdered.»

Torture and the nation's soul
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=1085

CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or DegradingTreatment or Punishment
http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html







McCain Denounces Detainee Ruling
View Aligns Him With President
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/13/AR2008061303414.html?hpid=topnews

Bush Neocons put Human Rights LAST!


How to train death squads and quash revolutions from San Salvador to Iraq
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/How_to_train_death_squads_and_quash_revolutions_from_San_Salvador_to_you
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Senate MUST block FISA bill!!!

House Approves Unconstitutional Surveillance Legislation
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35740prs20080620.html




I sent this email out to every Democratic Senator on Sunday. Today is the day to bombard them with emails, faxes and phone calls.

The House leadership led a march to shame by passing the FISA pretend compromise. If the Senate is truly the saucer where the issues of the day go to cool this is one time when that is desperately needed. Please, block this horrible FISA stab in the back to the Constitution.


Some quotes from Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office:


"In March we thought the House leadership had finally grown a backbone by rejecting the Senate’s FISA bill. Now we know they will not stand up for the Constitution...

No matter how often the opposition calls this bill a ‘compromise,’ it is not a meaningful compromise, except of our constitutional rights. The bill allows for mass, untargeted and unwarranted surveillance of all communications coming in to and out of the United States. The courts’ role is superficial at best, as the government can continue spying on our communications even after the FISA court has objected. Democratic leaders turned what should have been an easy FISA fix into the wholesale giveaway of our Fourth Amendment rights...

This immunity provision will effectively destroy Americans’ chance to have their deserved day in court and will kill any possibility of learning the extent of the administration’s lawless actions. The House should be ashamed of itself. The fate of the Fourth Amendment is now in the Senate’s hands. We can only hope senators will show more courage than their colleagues in the House."

You all swore an oath to protect the Constitution. You need to honor that oath now. We are all counting on the Senate to show we are heading in the direction of 'Change we can believe in'.

I received this response, the only response, from my once home state Senator from Illinois...

Dear Mr. Ken Wells:

Thank you for your message regarding the surveillance of American citizens by the National Security Agency (NSA). I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and share your concerns.

Protecting both the security and the freedom of the American people is among my highest priorities. We must ensure that the federal government defends the people of the United States from external threats while preserving the civil liberties that have helped make the United States the greatest and most enduring democracy in the world.

President Bush authorized the NSA to conduct warrantless electronic surveillance of communications made by American citizens living within the United States. At the time of the President's authorization, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) required the government to seek a warrant from a special court in order to conduct electronic surveillance of communications between American citizens and anyone outside the country. The NSA did not obtain approval from the FISA court or from any other court before initiating its domestic surveillance program.

For most of its existence, the NSA's program has operated without meaningful oversight. Few members of Congress were briefed about the program until its existence was revealed by the media, and those members who were aware were sworn to secrecy. The majority of the members of Congress still have not been fully briefed about the program's operational details. The Administration also has shut down its own Justice Department investigation into the NSA's program. In essence, the Administration has attempted to operate this program without any supervision or oversight. The lack of a mechanism for correcting potential abuses in the program undermines our Constitutional system of checks and balances and raises serious concerns about the possibility of excessive intrusion.

Congress has tried to work with Administration officials to update FISA in light of technological advances in communications. Too often, however, the Administration has taken advantage of the program's secrecy in its negotiations with Congress. In August 2007, the Administration proposed amending FISA through legislation known as the Protect America Act. I voted against the measure because I believed the bill provided too much opportunity for abuse by the NSA and other intelligence officials. Nonetheless, Congress passed the bill and the President signed it into law.

Congress currently is engaged in a debate about the appropriate scope of FISA. At the center of this debate is the issue of whether telecommunications companies that assisted in illegal surveillance should receive retroactive immunity from prosecution.

I oppose retroactive immunity for these companies and supported an amendment to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 2248) that would have prevented them from obtaining retroactive immunity. This amendment, however, was unsuccessful. After the amendment failed, I voted against the bill, but it passed by a vote of 68-29.

The House of Representatives has refused to support any similar bill containing a retroactive immunity provision, and negotiations on this matter are continuing. Any legislation amending FISA should hold telecommunications companies responsible for their unlawful actions. The legislation should bring to light the role telecommunications companies played in the Administration's unlawful attempts to listen in on the communications of American citizens.
When the President and his Administration order surveillance of American citizens, these actions must be conducted in a manner consistent with the rule of law and the Constitution's commitment to civil liberties. I am deeply concerned about the manner in which the Executive Branch has initiated and conducted the NSA surveillance programs. I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress continues to debate this issue.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

Feingold, Dodd planning filibuster of wiretap bill

Dodd Filibusters FISA

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more from Countdown and Jonathan Turley...

Dems Give Bush FISA Bill

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an unfortunately pretty good explanation/arguement from Randi Rhodes...
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Why do YOU think Democrats don’t support IMPEACHMENT?
http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?showtopic=2497
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Whistleblower: FISA ‘compromise’ advances police state agenda
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Senators voting against Cloture (to keep the debate going-block)...

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)

Five Senators did not vote. Two who are seriously sick and need get well prayers and three who are up to their necks in the campaign...

Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY) - I guess she was planning Unity with Obama - and whatever else.
Kennedy (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL) - from all the rhetoric you would think he voted for cloture; he just didn't fight it.
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Keith Olbermann: Then and now
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/06/26/olbermann/index.html

Olbermann on FISA and Obama

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Obama would ask his AG to "immediately review" potential of crimes in Bush White House
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Barack_on_torture.html
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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Ripped off by Big Oil and the GOP

Energy price gouging is criminal; I wonder if it's treasonous, also?


Sturgis5 045

People who love America,
are loyal to America
or put America's national interests first,
wouldn't act this way.

ENRON FORCED UP CALIFORNIA PRICES, DOCUMENTS SHOW
By RICHARD A. OPPEL JR. AND JEFF GERTH -May 7, 2002
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DD1430F934A35756C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Hearing on Energy Price Manipulation - Greenberger Testimony



PERHAPS 60% OF TODAY'S OIL PRICE IS PURE SPECULATION
by F. William EngdahlMay 2, 2008
http://www.financialsense.com/editorials/engdahl/2008/0502.html

Enron loophole


Obama on high gas prices


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Conservatives Echo McCain’s False Claim That Katrina Caused No Oil Spill Damage
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Barack Obama is the clear choice for president.


There's such a clear choice for president I don't see how any one could entertain, even for a moment, such a risky choice as McCain.

I saw Bush waving three fingers up before the crowd when appearing on stage with McCain. The senator from Arizona is proud to be running for the third term of the failed Bush regime.We don't need another ill-prepared, confused arrogant hawk running our nation further into the ground.


Al Gore Endorses Barack Obama in Detroit, MI


Change that Works for You: Flint, MI


John McCain... Electable? Nooooooo!


You can't have him, John McCain


Barack Obama: Foreign Policy Summit in Washington, DC


Isn't it about time we had a grown-up for president?
Isn't it about time we had someone knowledgeable for president?
Isn't it about time we had someone presidential for president?
We need Barack Obama for president.

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Monday, June 16, 2008

GOP - voluntary victims to Right Wing extremists


Headzup: Profiles In Obstructionism

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"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power."
Benito Mussolini
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"We stand for the maintenance of private property... We shall protect free enterprise as the most expedient, or rather the sole possible economic order."
Adolph Hitler

The modern Republican party has been taken over by the extreme right-wing during the past several years. They no longer have the interests of the United States at heart; not for it's people or it's entrepreneurs. Loyalty to large corporations has replaced it's loyalty to the citizens of this nation.

The corporate mind is concerned with it's own survival and profitability like a giant amoeba gobbling up all around it without conscience, only concerned with winning the competition for it's own best interests.
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Government is needed to keep this sprawling entity within bounds acceptable to all those sharing the same global community.
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History is full of examples of corporation excesses being detrimental to society. A little well placed regulation removes these negative aspects for the better well being and protection to both society and the environment.

These corrections to corporate power were really begun in earnest, in the U.S. under, ole rough and tumble, rough- riding Teddy Roosevelt (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-8429/Theodore-Roosevelt), our nations first prominent progressive and a proud Republican.

some examples of his successes for all Americans...

making the Sherman Anti-trust act work;

protecting public lands from exploitation;

standing by the miners of Pennsylvania against the 'wooded headed gentry' that owned and operated the mines;

created the Department of Commerce and Labor;

the Meat Inspection Act of 1906;

and much more among the planted seeds of good fruit to come.

The conservatives often mention the name of 'Great Depression beating-WWII winning FDR' with a mouthful of spit and dream of rolling back all he accomplished but it's not just progressive reforms back to the time of Franklin Roosevelt that they would like to destroy but reforms for the good of the American people all the way back to the time of Teddy and his 'square deal' reforms.

"The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group or any controlling private power. "
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

VIDEO: Two straight days of GOP obstructionism.»

Senate Conservatives Uses Rare Maneuver To Try To Close Down A Hearing On Torture»

Senate conservatives block windfall profits tax.»

McClellan: White House Officials Blocked Intelligence Report, ‘Continue To Bury Their Heads In The Sand’»
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52 Republican Filibusters (from late last year)

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All these acts which amount to an attack on our lifestyle,cherished system of government and the American populace are being done in the name of the Republican Party especially among the conservative to neoconservative abusive right wing. You good Republicans, ( Oh! I know that 99% of you are good. I realize that we have a difference of opinion on a wide range of issues, most of which you are sadly misguided on, but the troubling thing for your party and the nation is that you have allowed yourselves to be taken over by right wing religious zealots and most recently fascist-leaning to outright fascist-embracing neoconservatives.) and most are, need to develop the courage to see the truth because these monsters are destroying you from within and along with you they’re dragging the whole nation into disgrace. These are not your fathers Republicans they’re essentially fascists and devastation is their mistress.

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Some sad examples of hate media in action...
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Fox Attacks: Black America

FOX ATTACKS OBAMA

CNN's Beck to first-ever Muslim congressman

Michael Savage hates Muslims

President Reagan's son Michael expresses Nazi-like hate

finally a little reason from Mike Malloy...

Mike Malloy - Michael Reagan threatens Mark Dice

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"Karl Rove" - Caught on Tape! - The Plot to Bury Progress


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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bush/Cheney impeached then tried for war crimes; NOW ALL READY!!!



Bush/Cheney should be impeached then tried for war crimes among others against the people of the United States and the world.

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Impeachment is a necessary exercise for our democratic republic at this time. Whether the Republicans in the Senate want to support our nation or not should bare no consequence on the House doing the right thing. It is imperative for our representatives in the People’s House to support the Constitution and its Bill of Rights.

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To do nothing would be, by Congressional silence, an affirmation of the presidents’ position on all the wrong doing he and his administration have conspired against the laws and values of our nation. The president and the Republican congresses he possessed will go down in history as the worst ever. The Democrats will follow suit if by their inaction they go down as affirming, for future presidents, administrative branch excesses.

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Kucinich Impeachment Articles Against President George W. Bush



Kucinich presents Bush impeachment articles
David Edwards and Mike SheehanPublished: Monday June 9, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Kucinich_presents_Bush_impeachment_articles_0609.html

Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment-a list
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/10/65218/2813/707/533212

Dennis Kucinich - Patriot!!!

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Patriot


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Impeachment resolution gains co-sponsor
Nick JulianoPublished: Tuesday June 10, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Impeachment_resolution_gains_cosponsor_0610.html

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BILL MOYERS JOURNAL Impeachment Panel - Bruce Fein

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an unfortunately pretty good explanation/arguement from Randi Rhodes...

Why do YOU think Democrats don’t support IMPEACHMENT?
http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?showtopic=2497
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Bush Neocons put Human Rights LAST!


The world was horrified by these events and came together in the United Nations to form the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html).

The Neoconservative-absorbed Bush Administration is running away from not only the UN but these very precious ideals, also.


Never Again-The Holocaust


The Wrath of Stalin

very cleverly done...
Universal Declaration of Human Rights animation


It's past time I hightlight the extreme human rights violations of the Bush Administration, once again. I seriously doubt whether they have any love or respect for this dream which is America. I have a lot of links here which show the extent to which the Bushies are willing to go to abuse their fellow human beings. However we only know a little bit. I fear the whole truth is far worse. I also fear to what extent the conservative right wing Americans would allow them to go if they became absorbed by fear and military bravado. Its just one of the things I worry would happen if the Bush Neocons were to launch a military attack against Iran.

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US Wants 58 Bases In Iraq, Shiite Lawmakers Say

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They truly are war criminals and this country MUST have the courage to prosecute them.


The Military Commissions Act in action
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/11/military-commissions-act-in-action.html

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, Qatari student
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/us_law/inthecourts/supreme_court_al_marri.htm

Document - USA: Incommunicado detention/detention without charge/legal concern, Ali-Saleh Kahlah al-Marri (m)
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/112/2003/en/dom-AMR511122003en.html

The evil of torture touches the whole nation.

US residents in military brigs? Govt says it's war
May 24, 2008
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/US_residents_in_military_brigs_Govt_05242008.html

path to dictatorship

police state

Iraq Soldier Discusses His "Kills" (VIDEO)

Human Rights Report Assails U.S.
May 29, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/world/29amnesty.html?_r=1&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

US accused of holding terror suspects on prison ships
· Report says 17 boats used · MPs seek details of UK role· Europe attacks 42-day plan
Monday June 2 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/02/usa.humanrights

Pentagon Told Guantanamo Interrogators To Trash Evidence


United States pulls out of UN human rights body
Nick Langewis - Published: Sunday June 8, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/United_States_pulls_out_of_UN_0608.html

Locked Up Alone
Detention Conditions and Mental Health at Guantanamo
http://hrw.org/reports/2008/us0608/
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Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal in Civilian Courts
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 12, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Scotus-Guantanamo.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

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retreat from civil rights and now a private army!?!

*MR BUSH YOU ARE A FASCIST!*

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The United States was at one time the leader of the world in human rights. We liked to call ourselves the greatest nation in the world.

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Oh, it's true we stumbled along the way but we always moved ahead in a positive direction. We haven’t always lived up to the fullness of what our Constitution and Bill of Rights calls us, so there were bumps and sometimes giant ruts along our shared histories path that brought great trials and sometimes costs many lives. But America grew brick by brick laid by the tough hands of our forefathers and foremothers whose lifeblood flows throughout the heart of our land.

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History is full of the tales of their labored lives, hardships, troubles, and accomplishments. The dust of their bones will be desecrated if we take a wrecking ball to the foundation they set.

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Now, because of a desire for power, secrecy and control among those in the Bush administration our nation has embraced a cancer of cruel suppression of the dignity of humanity. A sheepish fear among their followers, has allowed them to become mesmerized by a calculating group masquerading as trustworthy, giving the neoconservatives approval to disregard, as if it didn’t exist, the law and ethics of our nation. Acting as all cancers do if not removed it will grow and bring death to our democratic republic.

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The loyal dissenters believe this to be a horrible wrong. Driven more by the love we have for this country than by fear, we believe that all must speak out; that every one must shout’ STOP’. We believe it is time for all to demonstrate the courage of our ancestors and love America more than fear the unknown. And that goes especially for our new Democratically controlled Congress who have given us a new found hope for a return to constitutional order, an end to Iraqi occupation and a halt to military adventurism in Iran and elsewhere.

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Dissent is as American as Mom & Apple Pie.

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We our now facing our giant rut along the path, will we dishonor the legacy of those who stood so bravely on this land before us?

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Rumsfeld shakes hands with Saddam (full video, no sound)

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Powell and Rice assure everyone Iraq is NO THREAT pre-9/11

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Pinky(george) and the Brain(dick)



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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

It's fun watching history made for the good!!!

US elections: Barack Obama wins Democratic nomination for president
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/04/barackobama.hillaryclinton

Morning News
Jun 4th, 2008
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5xGH

These great African American leaders and many countless others were standing in spirit and enthusiasm with Barack Obama last night in St. Paul, Minnesota. They will be standing along side him again, with pride, on Inauguration Day.

Dred Scott
Frederick A. Douglass
George Washington Carver
Rosa Parks
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Barack Obama's Victory Speech on June 3, 2008

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I was one of those who felt Hillary Clinton would damage the Democratic Party for her own gain. I am sorry for that. I was wrong. It took courage to do what she did along with a love for the Dems.

Hillary Clinton speach for party unity and Barack Obama!

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Obama in St. Louis - June 10

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