Welcome To The New Llano Ledger Website.

A Heartfelt Thanks To All For Having Followed This Publication From Maxpages To Stormpages And Finally Now, To This New Commercial Site.  Kindly Be Patient As Llanoledger.Com Is Created And This Fledgling Webmaster Not-So-Humbly Climbs The Learning Curve. ... Hopefully, Quickly.

Index:
What Did The "President" Know?
War Profiteering
Miranda Jeopardized
"President" Against Lifting Cuban Embargo
Bush Signs Farm Subsidies Bill
Anti-Drug Ads
Reagans Receive Congressional Gold Medals
Governor's "Unusual Economic Hardship"
No Honor Among Thieves
Juvenile "Justice" Need Not Fit "Crime"
Likud Votes Against Palestinian State
Arafat Genuflects
Ouch
Fraudulent Deletion Of Ledger Websites
Klee's Kaleidoscope
An Honest Business
Unbridled Fear
 

Two years before 9/11, a September 1999 U.S. intelligence analysis report chillingly declared: "Suicide bomber(s) belonging to al-Qaida's Martyrdom Battalion could crash-land an aircraft packed with high explosives (C-4 and semtex) into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), or the White House.''  White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer admitted the "Administration" was acutely aware of the report.

On May 17, the "President" of the United States asserted: "The American people know this about me and my national security team and my administration.  Had I known that the enemy was going to use airplanes to kill on that fateful morning, I would have done everything in my power to protect the American people."  Clearly, Mr. Bush is a liar.  Not only was he privy to the 1999 intelligence report, he had information bin Laden was about to hijack aircraft two months before 9/11.  He did absolutely nothing.

Indeed, time for an investigation.  It was time the day after that fateful September morning.  It is time now for a biased media, leaning heavily to the Right, to get up off its ass and finally do its job.  It is time for Democrats to aggressively question the jackass occupying the White House, instead of cowardly hunkering down in fear of political consequences.  -- As glaringly evident on this morning's, Sunday May 19, talking head shows.

The United States has apparently forgotten the lessons of Pearl Harbor.  Back then, government quickly looked into how intelligence could have so egregiously failed.  Also did something about the problem promptly.  Since 9/11, however, the U.S. Supreme Court-appointed "President" who successfully stole the election has done all he could to stonewall all inquiry into who was asleep on the job.  Worse, he has repeatedly defended all intelligence and law enforcement agencies and has refused to assess responsibility.

"Personal responsibility" is reserved for the unwashed masses, particularly welfare recipients and the poorest of the poor,  -- not government officials.  Not only has the "President" decimated civil rights and liberties since 9/11, he has presided over the most secretive "Administration" since Richard Nixon.  Mr. Bush, as all fascists, does NOT believe in open government.  Never has, never will.

Not surprisingly, Ole' George "The Tush" has ferociously reacted to criticism over the last few days regarding what he knew and when he knew it.  Mr. Bush clearly understands the consequences should he lose confidence of an outrageously aggressively stupid public who has stood behind him despite his most determined and concerted effort to impose fascism.  … Certainly can't expect the Supreme Court to again bestow the trappings of power should he lose a "re-election" bid.

Working definition of fascism for new readers? An abusive and dangerous oligarchy based on a pernicious blend of government, big business, and religion. ... A boot-heel cynically placed on the throat of the masses, justified in principle by perversion and bastardization of religion.

Despite warnings bin Laden had imminent plans to hijack American aircraft some two months before 9/11 and the 1999 intelligence analysis warning of use of aircraft as missiles, National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice disingenuously and falsely asserted May 16:  "I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon, that they would try to use an airplane as a missile."   Ms. Rice should resign in disgrace.  Either she lied to deliberately mislead the public or is grossly incompetent and unworthy of her government position.

… Hey, Condi?  Why wasn't the information publicly released BEFORE 9/11?  As numerous reports subsequently have been?  Fortunately, all false to date.  Don't you and the fascist occupying the White House believe in open government and the right of the people to know?  While it may indeed have not prevented the catastrophe, it would have given people the option as whether or not to fly.  Or at least would have alerted the public so plans could have been altered or activities changed.  Ultimately, people have the right and responsibility to decide what personal action to take to protect themselves.

It is the subterfuge and the Aryan arrogant attitude of government knowing best that's so disturbing and enraging.  It is also quite possible publicly warning the people prior to 9/11 of imminent terrorist action might have caused bin Laden to delay or cancel his plans.  Might also be why there have been no further major domestic incidents since the catastrophe.  -- Every time the government has gotten wind of imminent possible action since, it has wisely quickly issued an alert.

In a shameless act of war profiteering, the "President" of the United States sanctioned sale of  9/11 photographs of himself to raise funds for the Republican Party.  No question this is a slap not only at the over three thousand killed that day but to service members killed in action in Afghanistan since, defending their country.  Whether or not such blatant huxterism is lawful is beside the point.  It is unethical and terribly disrespectful to those lost.  It demonstrates the jackass occupying the White House places himself and political expediency before duty and honor.

By a 67-20 vote, the jackass occupying the White House secured Senate confirmation of a fascist to the federal judiciary.  Paul Cassell was enthroned on the Utah District Court bench, despite the fact he aggressively challenged Miranda, not wanting police to inform suspects of their constitutional rights.  -- The right to remain silent, the right not to self-incriminate, the right to an attorney, etc..

Perversely, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a right wing fascist himself, crowed: "He is going to be a great judge and an excellent addition to the Utah District Court bench."  No, Mr. Hatch.  He will further eviscerate the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution.  Precisely what Nazis like you and the "President" desperately want.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy declared:  "Professor Cassell is a highly intelligent man, with an admirable passion for teaching and advocacy.  But his written work, the record established at our hearing, and the answers he submitted to written questions raise grave doubts about his intellectual forthrightness and his capacity and willingness to put aside the extreme views he has long held."  Exactly right, Senator.  Pointedly sir, why were you only one of twenty Democrats to vote against this sad excuse for a judge?  Where in hell were the rest of your colleagues?

Although over forty years of sanctions against the Castro regime have led to nothing other than suffering for the Cuban people, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer declared: "The president believes that the trade embargo is a vital part of U.S. policy ... because trade with Cuba doesn't benefit the people of Cuba.  It's used to prop up an oppressive regime."  … Is that right, Mr. Fleischer?  The same is true of China.  Yet you and the jackass occupying the White House continue to support free trade with one of the last outrageously repressive communist regimes left on the planet.  Why, sir?  Wouldn't want to damage the best interests of your friends in big business, right, Ari?

Mr. Bush responding to a question regarding the recent Carter trip to the island nation pontificated:  "It doesn't complicate my foreign policy, because I haven't changed my foreign policy.  That is, Fidel Castro is a dictator, and he is oppressive, and he ought to have free elections, and he ought to have a free press, and he ought to free his prisoners, and he ought to encourage free enterprise."  … Hey, George?  The same is true of China, you jackass.  Your hypocrisy is stunning, sir.  Your comments regarding the Cuban dictator are equally true of yourself, Mr. "President".  Particularly after passage of the "Patriot" Act, equally unconstitutional Executive Orders, and unlawful imprisonment of "detainees" with no charges filed.  -- Kettle calling the pot black, you hypocrite.

Republicans must indeed wonder if "President" Bush is one of their own.  Ole' George signed legislation May 13 ensuring farmers will receive at least an additional $83 billion over the next decade.  … Runs directly counter to GOP opposition for years.  Of course, Republicans support corporate welfare with a passion.  -- Just don't like payments to small business or impoverished women with children.  … While laughing their portly asses off all the way to the bank.  The GOP, however, may change its position on farm subsidies in the future since farming is quickly becoming increasingly corporate, weeding out small farmers.  In fact, the "President" may be way ahead of the curve.  Expect farm subsidies and corporate welfare to skyrocket as GOP fascists become more securely entrenched and emboldened by the relentless aggressive stupidity of the public.

Drug Czar John Walters declared $929 million spent on anti-drug ads over the last five years a miserable failure.  In fact, fell flat on their face.  Nearly a billion taxpayer dollars wasted.  Will it change future expenditures?  Hell no.  The White House Office Of National Drug Control Policy intends to regroup, and come up with a new series of ads.  … If at first you don't succeed, keep screwing the taxpayers until finding something better to waste money on.

Obscenity?  All in the eye of the beholder, no?  Ronald and Nancy Reagan were awarded highest civilian honors by Congress May 16.  For what? Raising the national debt from $1 trillion to nearly $5 trillion by outrageously wasteful military spending such as $5,000 toilet seats and $30,000 johns?  For what?  Lying like hell about Iran-Contra, i.e. trading arms for hostages?  For what?  Illegally aiding Nicaraguan Contras against federal statutes?  For what?  Allegedly bringing an end to the cold war?  The Soviet Union had been collapsing for decades and finally happened to implode on Ronny's watch.  How many "five-year" plans failed miserably one after the other?  Yet, the former president unjustifiably receives credit for something he never accomplished.  … Literally, slept through eight years of office while the aggressively stupid public could care less and even cheered him on.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry receives a $115,345 annual salary courtesy of looted taxpayers.  Also has DPS stormtroopers at his disposal to provide transportation and protection.  Yet, his daughter Sydney, 15, applied and received a "minor's restricted driver license" for "an unusual economic hardship on the family of the minor" as signed and checked on the application by the Governor's wife.  If a +$115K income represents hardship, what the hell does the jackass occupying the Governor's Mansion call a minimum wage and no healthcare benefits or childcare forced on impoverished women with children as a condition of welfare?  … As the Governor laughs his financially portly ass off all the way to the bank.

The Irving Police Department has its problems.  Fourteen recruits were fired May 13.  Why?  Cheated on exams.  All submitted exactly the same answers, both right and wrong.  … Who'd a 'thunk' it, no?  Couldn't happen could it?  Police officers and recruits don't lie, cheat, steal, rape, or murder, do they?  Irving Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Rick Stopfer bluntly asserted: "If someone cheats on a test, they're bribable."  Damn right, Mr. Mayor.  Remarkably, it was not swept under the rug.  The City and Department should be commended for doing the right thing, -- dumping "trash" before it trashes the City.

Remember what it's like to be young and stupid?  Finally grow out of it?  Sadly, the aggressively stupid public has apparently not.  Certainly, gutlessly silent when travesties of justice are taken to the extreme.  Example?

Jeffrey Figueroa, 13, did what thousands of other idiotic kids have done over time, -- hit another student with a spitball.  Big deal?  Sadly, certainly became one.  His fellow seventh grader was accidentally hit in the eye, requiring surgery and suffering permanent vision problems.

The incident was investigated by school authorities and determined NOT to be malicious.  The District Attorney apparently thought otherwise and Figueroa was convicted of felony charges of battery and mayhem and is awaiting sentencing.  … Can be imprisoned up to eight years in a California Youth Authority facility.

In an absolute act of lunacy May 12, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud party voted against creation of a Palestinian state.  Interestingly, Sharon was against the resolution and did all he could to avoid the vote.  Former Premier Benjamin Netanyahu was behind the confrontation and seeks to replace Sharon as Prime Minister.  Netanyahu is well right of Sharon politically, a bona fide fascist.  Neither man wants peace and both are two sides of the same coin.

While the resolution is not binding, Sharon will find it more difficult to govern and may be toppled from power.  Parliamentary governments are notoriously unstable, resulting in frequent changes of leadership.  ... Might be refreshing and a badly needed change here, no?  Sadly, Netanyahu is far more ruthless than Sharon.  Should he become Prime Minister, there will be no possibility of peace.

Extraordinarily slick, "Bibi" cleverly knows how to effectively manipulate the American Israeli lobby.  Be interesting to see how well he's received as suicide bombings increase and the situation continues to deteriorate.  Extremely bright and gifted, Netanyahu will be a force to be reckoned with regardless of the effect of the resolution.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat has once again bowed to the wishes of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.  Sharon declared: "The Palestinian Authority must be reformed in every respect.  Everything must be overhauled."  Arafat quickly complied, ensuring Hamas will continue its murderous rampage of suicide bombings in Israel.  Hamas may also run candidates for office in elections announced by the Chairman.  Catch?  Israel must first withdraw from all occupied territories.  Regardless, Mr. Arafat has become a convenient puppet for the Israeli seat of power.  Be interesting to see how long Hamas and other more radical organizations tolerate him and his seemingly limitless deference to Israel.  At the time of this writing, Sunday May 19, another suicide bombing racked innocent citizens in Israel.

Date:  Thu, 16 May 2002 16:21:44 -0400
From:  ouch-admin@ouch.org [add to address book] [add to spam block list]
Subject:  AAAHHH! (#3--The Good News)
To:  ouch@ouch.org
Reply To:  ouch-reply@ouch.org
 

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                        AAAHHH! An Occasional Bulletin
                on How Clean Money in Politics Can Help You
 #3                              Public Campaign                    May 16, 2002
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THE GOOD NEWS
In Washington, DC, it’s business as usual. The other night, Republicans took in over $33 million at a gala featuring President Bush. Hundreds of corporations with pending matters before the administration, including the Big Five accounting firms of Ernst and Young, Deloitte & Touche and KPMG; energy conglomerates, defense contractors, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies, ponied up $50,000 to $500,000 each, getting intimate high-level meetings with top administration and congressional officials in exchange. Democrats attacked the RNC for selling a September 11 photo of Bush onboard Air Force One as crassly capitalizing on the tragic events of that day, but the real scandal was the wholesale auction of public offices to wealthy private donors.

Meanwhile, something inspiring is taking place outside the Beltway, where real change always begins. With filing deadlines approaching for office-seekers in Arizona and Maine, a bumper crop of serious contenders are lining up to run “clean” for statewide office in 2002. This extensive participation demonstrates deepening support for these states’ far-reaching systems of full public financing for candidates who agree to raise little private money and abide by strict spending limits.

In Arizona, 29 out of the 34 declared candidates for statewide office are participating in Clean Elections, including 7 out of 8 major candidates for governor. Janet Napolitano, the current Attorney General and leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has already handed in more than 6,000 qualifying contributions of $5 (2,000 more than needed) and received her first grant of $409,950 in public funding. So far, 44% of the candidates for state legislative office have announced their participation, up from 27% in 2000.

In Maine, two gubernatorial candidates, a Republican, Jim Libby, and a Green Independent, Jonathan Carter, have been certified for Clean Elections funding. (Libby stands to get almost $315,000 for his primary battle with a traditionally-funded candidate, while Carter will get about $42,000 for his uncontested primary. In the general election, these gubernatorial candidates could receive as much as $1.1 million.) A total of 206 out of 375 candidates for the state legislature have been certified, or 55%. That’s a big jump compared to 2000, when 31% of all the primary candidates ran “clean.”

Listen to what these would-be public servants have to say about the transforming effects of this process:

The day Jim Libby, a Republican former state legislator who is running for governor of Maine, brought in his tub-full of 2,618 $5 qualifying contributions, he said, “It’s in the best interests of the people of the state of Maine. It’s not just some fad. It’s here to stay.” On his campaign website, he tells voters that he is proud to be taking public financing. “I will not be coming to you, for example, with my hand outstretched, looking for a big personal contribution, while at the same time taking money from a special interest that you do not support. I refuse to go to the Blaine House having to give a copy of the keys to the mansion to some special interest lobbyist.”

Jonathan Carter, the Green Independent party’s gubernatorial candidate, says that “clean” funding will make him “beholden only to the people of the state of Maine.” He and Republican Libby actually gave each other $5 qualifying contributions. “We [both] believe in a democracy where all ideas can be heard and then the people decide in a fair way,” Carter commented, “and it shouldn’t be influenced by big money and special interests.”

The day that Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano dropped off her qualifying contributions and nominating petitions, she said, “I feel like I just completed a final exam. It’s been a great grass-roots Phase I of the campaign. You don’t have to come to a $250-a-plate dinner to take part. Most people can afford $5 and can invest in a candidate for governor.” She told the Arizona Republic, “I sat in my office for five or six hours a day asking people for money when I ran for attorney general [in 1998]. This is definitely the wave of the future.”

“If people elect a Clean candidate, it will take away the special interest hammer,” says Wes Gullett, campaign strategist for Secretary of State Betsey Bayless, a Republican candidate for governor who is still in the process of collecting her qualifying contributions. “It will change the way Arizona is governed.”

Current legislators from Maine and Arizona who participated in Clean Elections in 2000 say that not only did that experience cause them to run campaigns that were more grass-roots oriented—“you have to talk to people more,” says Beth Edmonds, a Democratic state senator from Maine—it has changed life in the statehouse. Edmonds, the chair of the senate’s labor committee, recalls the debate over a bill to give more overtime to truckers. “All the trucking companies were in my committee room. The truckers themselves weren’t there. But I know I haven’t taken a penny from the companies and they know that too. None of them have any ownership of me.”

“Working with lobbyists now is fascinating,” adds state representative Jim Sedillo, a Democrat from Arizona. “Their approach is ‘may we talk to you and share some information,’ not, ‘I did something for you, now you owe me.’”

Let’s leave the last words to Jim Brunelle, a columnist for the Portland Press Herald who has closely followed the advent of Clean Elections in Maine. On May 3rd, he wrote, “The crush of clean-elections candidates filing for legislative seats this year demonstrates an enormous jump in popularity for the system….Two years ago the amount of private contributions poured into the election was about half what had gone into the 1998 legislative campaigns. Overall spending fell by nearly 20 percent. Look for both figures to show an even more impressive decline this year, proving that the new system is getting better and better at doing what it is supposed to do….The important thing is that more politicians are beginning to embrace the new system. The experience has been a promising one, and four years from now it is likely that more candidates for governor will use clean elections funding. Slowly but surely, the people of Maine are regaining direct control over the state’s election process. Rejoice.”
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AAAHHH! is brought to you by the same people who produce OUCH!,  a regular e-mail bulletin on how private money in politics hurts average citizens, published by Public Campaign, a non-partisan, non-profit organization devoted to comprehensive campaign finance reform. Every day, we pay more as consumers and taxpayers for special interest subsidies and boondoggles because of our system of privately financed elections. It's time for a change.

Want to take action? Go to HowDareThey.org to send an instant message to your representatives in Congress. And help spread the word! Send copies of this message to your friends and join the growing movement for real campaign finance reform. If you would like to add yourself to the OUCH! listserv, send an e-mail reading ‘subscribe’ to ouch-request@ouch.org or go to http://www.ouch.org/mailman/listinfo/ouch.

Want more info about Public Campaign? Visit www.publicampaign.org or write to info@publicampaign.org. You can also help support our work by making a credit card contribution on our website. This bulletin may be reposted to newsgroups as long as it is printed in its entirety.

As promised, the letter of complaint sent to Burnet County Judge Martin McLean, regarding fraudulent Ledger Maxpages and Stormpages site deletions originating from the Burnet County Library System and resulting in the ejection of this writer from library computers, has finally been posted.  Readers are reminded this is not the end of the matter.  Just the beginning.  For ongoing coverage of the criminal attacks as well as the letter to the Judge sent in response, click here.

Be sure to click on Klee's Kaleidoscope for Harvey Klee's latest edition.  This publication is a forum for a diversity of viewpoints. All are encouraged to submit material.

A rare commodity, honest businesses need a plug.  Although this publication receives no financial remuneration or funding of any kind from Mike's Transmission, this writer has personally known the owner of this new business quite some time and has enormous respect for his integrity.  Mike has had years of experience working on transmissions, -- foreign and domestic, standard and automatic.  This guy has heart and takes enormous pride in his work.  Give him a call at 915-423-1694.  The business is in the process of being launched.  If you like the quality of service, let me know.  Better yet, ask him to send a donation to the Ledger.

As strongly asserted in the last 55 editions, gut-wrenching fear generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team is quite impressive. After all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only outrageously intimidate defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even innocent third parties who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive hands.

Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly, the survivor got cold feet.

Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to stand up and expose them to the light of day?

Every time a source cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and abusive sons of bitches win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another nail is driven into the coffin of liberty.

If you don't have the courage to stand up and do the right thing, why should this writer continue to place himself in physical and legal jeopardy trying to expose the outrageous corruption and abuse?

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
 

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