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Last Chance - Stop Florida's HB 87 and ForeclosureGate II
By Michael Collins
Florida Governor Rick Scott may have just one more day to veto Florida's big-bank friendly foreclosure act, HB 87. Nearly 1,200 Floridians have signed the Veto Florida's Foreclosure Act Petition, despite indifferent coverage by Florida's mainstream media. We would know the exact deadline required for the governor's veto if HB 87 appeared on the governor's live legislative action web page. For some reason, it's not there. (Image)
HB 87 speeds up the Florida's home foreclosure process by making it easier for banks to throw citizens out of their homes. The burden of proof is switched from the plaintiff, banks, to the defendant, homeowners. When the bill's requirements for evidence gathering to appeal an initial judgment combine with general rules for discovery, defendants have just days to put together a case. See Florida HB 87, Homeowners, and the Foreclosure Inferno for a detailed run down of just some of the major problems.
Why do Banks Want a Friendly Foreclosure Bill in Florida?
Stop and Frisk: NYPD Racial Profiling
by Stephen Lendman
The Fourth Amendment states:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
In other words, constitutional law requires reasonable suspicion that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed to justify stopping and frisking a suspect. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, section 140.50, authorizes stop and frisk. It's based on the 1968 Supreme Court's Terry v. Ohio ruling.
Israel Threatens More Syrian Attacks
by Stephen Lendman
May 15 is Nakba Day. It follows Israel's May 14 Independence Day. This year was no exception.
Clashes erupted across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel confronts peaceful demonstrations violently. Fundamental human rights are spurned. Rogue governments operate that way.
Preemptively attacking other countries is official Israeli policy. On May 4 and 5, Israeli warplanes targeted Syria. Doing so was preemptive, unprovoked, lawless aggression. On May 15, The New York Times headlined "Israel Hints at New Strikes, Warning Syria Not to Retaliate."
Inspiring and Courageous: Popular Resistance Percolates Throughout the Land
By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
Every week we are inspired by the many people throughout the country who are doing excellent work to challenge the power structure and put forward a new path for the country. The popular resistance to plutocracy, concentrated wealth and corporatism is decentralized, creative and growing.
One growing series of protests has been the “Moral Monday” demonstrations in North Carolina. They do not have ‘one demand’ but rather are challenging the systemic corruption, undermining of democracy and misdirection of a state government that puts human needs second to corporate profits – which they have dubbed ‘Robin Hood in Reverse.’ This week 49 of 200 protesters inside the capitol were arrested singing, chanting and echoing many of the same concerns that demonstrators have for the past three Mondays. Last week there were 30 arrests, the week before 17. Among those arrested was an 83 year old retired minister, Vernon Tyson, who was merely a spectator, but he gave a great interview cheering on the protests after his release. And, a group of historians were among those arrested who put these protests in the context of US history.
Russia Catches CIA Spy Red-Handed
by Stephen Lendman
CIA agents operate most everywhere. They don't promote friendly relations. They're up to no good. Some pose as diplomats.
Diplomacy provides cover for why they're sent. Christopher Fogle was caught red-handed. He was assigned to Washington's Moscow embassy political section. He was third secretary.
A web site name search found no match. It's no surprise why. He was arrested, declared persona non grata, and expelled. He got off easy. He committed espionage. He should have been imprisoned. On May 14, Voice of Russia (VOR) headlined "FSB catches CIA Agent Controller red handed," saying:
The previous evening, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Fogle "was arrested while in the process of attempting to recruit a member of one of the Russian special services." No name was mentioned.
Obama's Contempt for Venezuelan Democracy
by Stephen Lendman
It's no surprise. He exceeds the worst of George Bush. He abhors democratic values. He defiles rule of law principles. He governs by diktat authority.
He's waging war on humanity. He targets all independent states. He wants puppet pro-US regimes replacing them.
Venezuela is hugely important. It's the oil, stupid. Venezuelan reserves are the world's largest.
Its democracy is real. It shames America's sham system. It's the best democracy money can buy. Each electoral cycle proves it. Business as usual reflects it.
Money power runs things. Duopoly power rules. Republicans and Democrats are two sides of the same coin. Not a dime's worth of difference separates them.
Green Shadow Cabinet Report: The People Provide Obama a Path to Escape the Quagmire of the Marijuana War
By Kevin Zeese
More than three million people have been arrested on marijuana charges, at a rate of 90 per hour, during the Obama era.
Marijuana was first made illegal by the federal government in 1937, 76 years ago. This year when the National Drug Control Strategy was released, the only thing President Obama wrote in the introduction about marijuana was: “we continue to see elevated rates of marijuana use among young people, likely driven by declines in perceptions of risk.” That one-sentence shows the failure of marijuana prohibition: after decades of a “war on marijuana” use is increasing and perceived risk declining. Indeed, according to federal research marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug; and adolescents use marijuana at higher levels than tobacco and find it easier to purchase than alcohol or prescription drugs.
Spies "R" Us
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed institutionalized spying on Americans. Anyone can be monitored for any reason or none at all.
Manufactured national security threats, silencing dissent, targeting whistleblowers, and challenging press freedom subvert constitutional rights.
Doing so is worse than ever now. Obama bears full responsibility. He governs by diktat authority. He's waging war on humanity. He's spurning fundamental rights. He's targeting press freedom.
James Madison understood the threat, saying:
"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce or tragedy, or perhaps both."
America and Pakistan in Search of New Future
Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD
America and Pakistan both stand at a critical juncture in time and history and are searching for new policies for change and new relations. America had the opportunity when President Obama – the first colored president to enter the WHITE- White House erected by his black folks predecessors over the centuries and promised to enliven his moral conscience for a new beginning in American history-making. But once in inside the White powerhouse, he lost touch with the prevalent realities demanding navigational change. So the bogus War on Terror and its worst impacts on so many nations continue to this day because the President of the United States turned out to be the least powerful person in decision-making. Pakistanis have the opportunity over this weekend in their first-time ever free national elections to reject leaders of corruption, deceit and insanity and to use the ballot box for change, new beginning with new leaders. If they happened to miss this opportunity, time and history will hold them accountable for their own demise.
How Your Town Can Stop Drones
By David Swanson
Local resolutions have helped advance many issues, including war opposition, when they've been passed in large numbers. When we passed a resolution in Charlottesville, Va., last year opposing any attack on Iran, I heard from numerous cities that wanted to do the same. As far as I know, none did. I heard back from some that they'd been told it was anti-Semitic to oppose a U.S. attack on Iran. I didn't have an answer to that -- not a printable one anyway.
When Charlottesville passed a resolution against drones in February of this year, I heard from people all over the country again. Since that time, to my knowledge, one little town in Minnesota called St. Bonifacius has passed something, while dozens and dozens have tried and failed. The problem seems to be that drones can have good uses as well as bad. Of course, that's grounds for halting the lawless and reckless spread of drones until we can figure out any ways in which their good use can be compatible with our Constitutional rights. But that would make too much sense. When there's money to be made, technology to be played with, and terrorists to destroy our freedoms if we don't hurry up and destroy them first, the American way is full steam ahead. But I actually think I might have at least a partial answer this time.
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