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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney withheld key information from Congress
Reuters news service is reporting that the CIA withheld information about a secret counter-terrorism program from Congress for eight years on orders from former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the New York Times said on Saturday.
Citing two unidentified sources, the newspaper said Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta disclosed Cheney's involvement in closed briefings to congressional intelligence committees late last month.
Panetta, who was named to head the agency earlier this year by President Barack Obama, ended the program, which remains secret, when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, the Times said.
Intelligence and congressional officials told the newspaper the agency began the program after the September 11 attacks and said it never became operational and did not involve CIA interrogation programs or domestic intelligence activities.
The newspaper said its efforts to reach Cheney through relatives and associates were unsuccessful.
Asked about the Times report, CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said it was not the agency's practice to discuss classified briefings.
"When a CIA unit brought this matter to Director Panetta's attention, it was with the recommendation that it be shared appropriately with Congress. That was also his view, and he took swift, decisive action to put it into effect," Gimigliano said, declining to comment further.
Cheney was a key advocate in the Bush administration of using controversial interrogation methods such as waterboarding on terrorism suspects and has emerged as a leading Republican critic of Obama's national security policies.
Panetta has vowed not to allow coercive interrogation practices, secret prisons or the transfer of terrorist suspects to countries that may use torture, a pledge seen as a break with the agency's policies under President George W. Bush.
Critics of the agency, however, want it to be more forthcoming about its secret programs.
Fears the CIA withheld key information from Congress were rekindled in May when House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, accused the agency of failing to reveal in 2002 that it was waterboarding a terrorism suspect. More HERE
CNN's Black In America 2
Check out how on Chicago's Southside, life expectancy for Black men is 8 years less than the
national average. Can barber shops help? Hmm...
This should be pretty interesting...
Friday, July 10, 2009
Boston's Black Newspaper, Bay State Banner Suspends Publication

AAPP: The weekly Bay State Banner is closing after 44 years. It's a damn shame that President Barack Obama's Stimulus Plan helped all the big corporations, banks and investment corporations, and did nothing for black businesses and newspapers like the Bay state Banner. The Bay state Banner is one of the few Black Newspapers that has covered the impact of Black bloggers."
I'm reminded of the article by Talia Whyte who wrote:
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Today, through the use of the Internet and new media tools like blogs, YouTube and Twitter, everyone can make their voices heard. An increasing share of the African American community is taking the opportunity to do just that, including a number based here in Boston.
Many are choosing to use blogs as a medium for mobilizing around political and social justice issues. According to a 2007 study conducted by Brown University researcher Antoinette Pole, 85 percent of blacks use their blogs to engage in political advocacy and to raise money for charitable causes.
Though there has as yet been no scholarly follow-up to measure the effect of Barack Obama’s landmark presidential campaign on the black blogosphere, the explosion of online conversations about race in America and in American politics suggests that the percentage may have significantly increased.
The presidential campaign also helped some black bloggers become “cyber-celebrities.” Bloggers like Wain Bennett, the Philadelphia attorney behind Field Negro, Gina McCauley of the feminist site What About Our Daughters and Harvard graduate Baratunde Thurston, one of the founders of Jack & Jill Politics, have been featured in print and on air to offer their perspectives on the news of the day.
Recent political controversies in Boston have also been bantered about in the black blogosphere. On his popular blog African American Political Pundit, Roxbury native L.N. Rock covered closely — and sometimes harshly — the ongoing legal and financial woes of embattled former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner. More HERE

In an undated photograph, Dr. Charles Steward stands near the entrance of The Guardian, the weekly newspaper started by his brother-in-law William Monroe Trotter. Steward and his wife, Maude, ran the paper after Trotter’s death in 1934. Maude died in 1957 and with Dr. Steward’s blessing, Melvin B. Miller started the Banner eight years later. (Banner File Photo)
It's interesting to note that one of the white newspapers, is finding the need to harass the Banner staff.
Boston Phoenix reporter Adam Reilly says:
A few minutes ago, I reported that, according to Bay State Banner publisher Melvin Miller, the Bay State Banner is just ceasing publication, not going out of business.
Now a Banner advertiser forwards a recent message from Sandra Casagrand, the Banner's VP/marketing and Miller's wife. Here it is:
I’m really sorry to report but the Banner is not publishing after this week’s paper. We cannot remain in business in this economic climate and will continue to look for new owners/investors while we are closed so at some point it can reopen and continue on its mission. Until then, there is no Banner. Real bummer – and sorry for the inconvenience. [emph. added]
Based on this, I'd say, I guess Boston like the rest of this country is not the post-racial community Barack Obama visions. The Boston Phoenix reporter Adam Reilly needs to get a life, and allow the Bay State Banner to do what it needs to do.
I salute Melvin Miller and his team, they have done a remarkable job over the years for all people in the Boston/NewEngland area.
Again, I saluate Melvin Miller and his team. It's too bad The Boston Phoenix and others don't know how to do the same thing.
Palin Wants Michael Steele's Job,
AAPP: It's unfortunate that Michael Steele can't smell the coffee. Even as Politico.com reports on how Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said he would love to see Palin become more engaged in national politics. well connected Republican sources report that Palin would love to have Steele's job in order to rebuild her creds within the party. Micheal Steeles comments that he is“very excited about the opportunity to have Sarah Palin freed up now to engage across the country to help, you know, reorient the party and grow it.” may be an omen say some party leaders who wish to remain annonymous.

But then again, Steele is no dummy, Steele has already taken Palin 2012 'off the table' as reported by Politico's Ben Smith:
Buried a bit in Fox's interview:
"Not having talked to the governor, I take 2012 off the table right now simply because given everything she's going through personally, dealing with the financial mess that all these ludicrous investigations have put her and Todd in, at the moment, I think she's trying to focus on getting her house in order, her personal house in order," Steele told Fox. News.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Bigot Bill O'Reilly Likens Michael Jackson to O.J. Simpson
- Jackson’s "incredible selfishness, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on himself while singing ‘We Are The World’" should make anyone nauseous.
- Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other African-Americans are shamelessly “playing the race card” by claiming Jackson as one of their own in death.
- “If (Jackson) were a white guy,” his behavior would never be tolerated.
- “You don’t become an African-American icon” if you bleach your skin.
It appears to me that color aroused bigotry and ignorance is reaching critical mass in America. From Black kids getting kicked out of Philadelphia pool because of their color to the ignorance involving former Marion Barry the news involving blacks is getting more bizzare.
Federal Ban on Needle Exchange and Barack Obama
That is why:
A group of 26 AIDS activists chained themselves to each other in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday morning, startling visitors, shutting down the landmark area and prompting their arrest by Capitol Police.Candidate Obama said he would help overturn the ban on needle exchange. President Obama reversed himself and banned federal funding for needle exchanges in his budget this year. Get this, 1. Obama promised to lift the ban. 2. The White House Web site reaffirmed the president's commitment to lifting the ban. 3. The White House Web site no longer reaffirms his commitment to lifting the ban. 4. The president now refuses to lift the ban. 5. The president actually affirmatively makes things worse by administratively supporting defending the ban. 6. The spokesman reiterates the president's support for lifting the ban, some day, once Congress gets around to it. More HERE
The group, which was protesting President Barack Obama’s failure to get rid of a ban on funding needle exchange programs, arrived at the Rotunda around 10 a.m.
What do you think about the ban on needle exchange? is is something President Barack Obama needs to be addressing at this time?
Marion Barry, Ignorance, The City Paper and Bigotry

And they consider themselves a newspaper? Now everyone on the internet, including, the Huffington Post are reporting how Marion Barry threw his girlfriend out of a hotel room for refusing oral sex.
Get this, The Washington City Papers' Web Servers has been under strain after the Marion Sex Barry Tapes emerged.
Local media outlets like WUSA9.com and the Washington Post.com are covering the story. The Salon.com is also reporting on how Marion Barry can't keep his nose clean.
The blog, Wonkette says, Marion Barry's Life Continues To Be Gross Public Joke.
There is more... Prosecutors won't pursue charges against Marion Barry, while many residents in Washington, DC are questioning the City Paper's Lewd Cover.
The $420 Billion Dollar Black Church Rip Off - Black Pulpit Pimps
Hat Tip: OregonSistah for the link.

A number of bloggers have been following these Pulpit Pimps for some time. Now we learn from The Harlem World Blog that a LiveSteez Investigative Report on the Black Church shows that Black churches, in aggregate, have collected more than $420 billion in tithes and donations since 1980.
As noted by The Harlem World Blog, with a Senate investigation into the finances of several mega churches underway, the “Prosperity Movement” has been the target of mounting criticism from inside and outside the Black Church. Specifically, the affluent ministries of The Reverend Creflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long and others have drawn the attention – and ire – of some clergy and laypeople alike.
Researcher Henry E. Felder’s study of Blacks’ donation habits demonstrated per capita spending of $508 per year in 2009 dollars. Another source, Tyler Media Services, estimated that Black Church revenue approached $17 billion in 2006.
One church, the Reverend Dollar’s World Changers, reported $69 million in 2006 income, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. More HERE
AAPP: Has the black community really benefited from the $420 Billion Dollar Black Church Rip Off? Just look around in black communities across America and you decide.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Attorney's Rip Off The Jackson Family - Get Control of Michael Jackson Assets
The judge appointed the men special administrators until another hearing on August 3.
He said they will be responsible for protecting the estate from immediate losses.
AAPP: My thought is this. These two attorney's may have conspired with the doctor to kill Michael so that they could take control Michael Jackson assets. Another effort to steal black wealth.
Attorneys for Michael Jackson's mother repeatedly objected to their appointment at Monday's court hearing. Get this, these two con men said, "It's our desire to do everything we can to carry out Michael Jackson's wishes and to maximize the estate," said Howard Weitzman, who spoke after the hearing on behalf of Branca. Weitzman issued a statement later calling the judge's ruling "the correct decision."
The fact of the matter is MJ's mother, Katherine Jackson, had applied to oversee her son's estate, but that was before the 2002 will all of a sudden surfaced. Her attorney, Burt Levitch, expressed concerns about McClain and Branca's financial leadership. oops... there goes more black wealth out of the hands of a black family. Well, lets hope the Jackson's don't allow this to happen.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Was Michael Jackson Killed Like MLK and Malcolm X?
What do you think?
Michael Jackson-They don't care about us(Prison Version) Don't watch it if you don't like Mj. Songtext: Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Situation aggravation Everybody allegation in the suite, on the news everybody dogfood Bang bang shot dead Everybodys gone mad All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Beat me, hate me You can never break me Will me, thrill me You can never kill me Chew me, sue me Everybody do me Kick me kike me Dont you black or white me! All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Tell me what has become of my life I have a wife and two children who love me I am the victim of police brutality,now Im tired of bein the victim of hate,youre rapin me of my pride Oh for Gods sake I look to heaven to ful- fill its prophecy... Set me free Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Trepidation,speculation Everybody allagation In the suite on the news Everybody dogfood Black man black male Throw the brother in jail All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Tell me what has become of my rights Am I ivisible 'cause you ignore me? Your proclamation promised me free liberty now Im tired of bein the victim of shame They're throwinme in a class with a bad name I cant believe this is the land from which I came The government dont wanna see, but if Roosevelt was livin he wouldt let this be, no,no Skinhead,deadhead Everybody gone bad Situation,specultaion Everybody litigarion Beat me,bash me You can never trash me Hit me,kick me You can never get me All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us Some things in life they just dont wanna see But if Martin Luther was livin,he wouldnt let this be no,no Skinhead,deadhead Everybodys gone bad Situation Segregarion Everybody allagation In the suite on the news Everybody dogfood kick me,Kike me Dont you wrong or right me All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us All I wanna say is that They dont really care about us....
Assault on Black Women - Tasered While Black After her toddler Murdered

The Blog Tasered While Black has been following the Tasering of Black folks in America and Canada for some time. This blog and bloggers like Villager at Electronic Village, and Francis Holland at Electrocuted While Black have been been tracking the tasing of black folks for some time as well.

John McCusker / The Times-Picayune
But the tasering of a black teen-aged mother, after she learned her toddler son and a 6-year-old boy were killed inside an apartment at 945 East Monterey Court in Terrytown early this year goes beyond abuse of auhority and power. This particular post about the Tasering of a black Woman after she discovered her child was murdered is particularly disgusting. Yes a black mother of a 6-year-old boy killed in a triple murder in Terrytown, LA who was subdued with a Taser gun by Jefferson Parish deputies at the murder scene is just another in the continuerd attack on black women in America.
One has to wonder if this would happen in a middle class community and the women was of another color?

Handout Robert Claiborne, Jr,
Get this, as reported by ther newspaper NOLA, back in April 2009, The mother of Four Overstreet grew irate with authorities when she arrived at the Monterey Court apartment where the rampage happened before 4 a.m. Saturday. When she got physical, deputies stunned her to bring the situation under control, Col. John Fortunato said.
There is more:
Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office released the names of two other people killed in the brazen shooting, a teenage mother and her toddler son. An 11-year-old girl who was critically wounded hasn't yet been identified.
The dead mother was 19-year-old Domonique Sterling, Fortunato said. Her 23-month-old son was named Robert Claiborne Jr.
Sterling is said to have been babysitting Four Overstreet and the girl who survived the attack.
The incident happened around 3:43 a.m. in the 900 block of East Monterey Court, Fortunato said.
Authorities believe two unidentified men entered an apartment in the area and "executed" Sterling and baby Robert, he said. Wielding handguns, the men also shot young Four and the 11-year old girl in the home.
Four died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.
Robert was also shot in the head. Sterling was shot in the back, and the 11-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body, Fortunato said.
Fortunato said witnesses told authorities that two men dressed in dark clothing kicked in the door and began firing. The teenager was found lying on the floor in the living room, while the two deceased children were found in a rear bedroom. Authorities also located crack cocaine and marijuana in the apartment.
One of the suspects, said to be in his 20s, wore a red bandana over his face, a black baseball cap and a dark hooded sweatshirt. MORE HERE
It's time to have Congressional Taser Hearings into Taser Torture in America. Sign the petition HERE.
Place a Congressional Taser Hearings Widget on your blog.
Friday, July 3, 2009
DID ISRAEL ATTACKS JUSTICE BOAT; KIDNAPS HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS; CONFISCATES MEDICINE, TOYS AND OLIVE TREES
AAPP: oops, even the Washington Post is getting into the "Where Are They Now: Cynthia McKinney Strikes Again" dogma. I wonder whey there is so much hate towards former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney? At least the Green Party is following how a fiormer Congresswoman was detained.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. “President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel ’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel ’s disruption of medical supplies.
“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza , hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of "Cast Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone" said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland .
Just before being kidnapped by Israel , Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel . We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: +972 2646 6666 or +972 2646 6340
fax: +972 2646 6357
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2530 3111
fax: +972 2530 3367
CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
tel: +972 5 0620 3264 or +972 2670 5354
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CONTACT the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask for their assistance in establishing the wellbeing of the kidnapped human rights workers and help in securing their immediate release!
Red Cross Israel
tel: +972 3524 5286
fax: +972 3527 0370
tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org
Red Cross Switzerland :
tel: +41 22 730 3443
fax: +41 22 734 8280
Red Cross USA :
tel: +1 212 599 6021
fax: +1 212 599 6009
Quitter and Rambler Sarah Palin Stepping Down
Yes, in a rambling speech Sarah Palin said she plans to resign as governor of Alaska in a few weeks, KTUU-TV reported Friday. Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, made the announcement at her home Friday morning, the station said. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will take over at the end of the month, KTUU reported. More HERE
Get this, 'She didn't take any questions,' in making the announcement in Alaska. 'She did say in her speech that she feels she can be more effective working outside of government'. Get this, Palin said her decision came after much 'prayer and consideration'. She said she did not want to waste time on 'political blood sport' and cited public criticism of her actions and her family since the 2008 campaign.
AAPP: This is so bogus, maybe her daughter is having another baby, or maybe she had an out of marraige relatioship, like so many other Governor's or maybe Palin wants Micheal Steele's job? But, then again, she just don't care about the folks in Alaska, or for that matter, she just don't care about...
Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service announced

The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, California and simulcast inside to Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE across the street. A limited number of free tickets to both venues will be made available for Michael Jackson's fans to attend.
Due to the expected overwhelming demand, the following procedures have been set to accommodate registration for the tickets. Please note that by registering for tickets to attend the Public Memorial Service, it does NOT guarantee the registrant tickets.
The opportunity to register for tickets begins at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, July 3, 2009 and ends at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, July 4, 2009.
You can register to receive two tickets, that will be randomly distributed for either STAPLES Center or Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE to attend the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service. Only one entry per individual will be accepted. Registering to attend the Public Memorial Service is NOT a guarantee of tickets. Two tickets will be issued to each randomly selected attendee. Offer valid to residents of the United States only. More HERE
Diprivan Found In House - Michael Jackson May Have Been Murdered
The drug was just one of many among the pharmacopeia found in his Holmby Hills home. Officials have previously said that they believe the star was addicted to a daily dose of the pain medications OxyContin and Demerol and that Jackson was injected with Demerol shortly before his death June 25. More HERE The Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home.
AEG Video of last Michael Jackson Concert - Michael Jackson rehearsal video NEW RELEASE 6 - 23 Staples Center AEG Live "This Is It" concert