September 11- Unanswered Questions (good overview with links!)
|
|
A delegation of people met with Senator Feinstein's and Senator Boxer's staff, to raise our concerns, demand a Congressional Inquiry, raise these questions, offer copies of (some of) the articles listed to draw public attention to these issues which concern us and the entire world.
I represented myself as a member of
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
The questions-
On January 15th activists marched to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s office to submit documents and demand an inquiry of 9-11, the event was covered by Channel 2 and broadcast on local television.
Details were posted as an
article at the sf.indymedia website.
Scholars Call for Release of 9/11 Information (Over 20,000 signatures so far).
Support Ellen Mariani who is taking legal action against Bush and others under the RICO Act to get to the truth of 9-11 and hold those most responsible accountable for the death of her husband all all those others who lost their lives.
Toward a New Criminal Investigation into the Events of September 11, 2001.
A PETITION OF SOLIDARITY with New York legislators, first responders, victim families, and millions of NY citizens calling for a new investigation of unsolved 9/11 crimes, and the full prosecution of those found responsible. (Over 10,000 signatures, so far.)
Here's another petition worth signing- Calling for an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION (not the obvious government sanctioned cover-up commission).
Repeal the Patriot Act- (over 15,000 signatures)
Release of Classified DOJ-IG Report on FBI Cover-Up (on behalf of FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds) (over 14,000 signatures)
And another!...Truth, Amnesty and Reconciliation for Sustainability
A new petition, created by the women appearing in the documentary, 9-11 Press for Truth
9/11 Call for Truth, a petition created to draw attention to 9/11 Truth Candidates
The SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TREASON INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR ACT, A petition urging Congress to try Bush/Cheney for treason for their role in 9/11.
Repeal the Torture Law
The recently enacted Military Commissions Act of 2006 not only constitutes an assault on habeas corpus, it has effectively legalized the use of torture by the United States government. Of this act, George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley has said, "What the congress did and what the president signed essentially revokes over 200 years of American principles and values."
Oppose Blackwater's Plans for a Training Facility in California
Increasingly corporate, mercenary armies are being created which are unaccountable and make mega-bucks for corporate cronies. Blackwater needs to be exposed and stopped nationally. Check out Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
by Jeremy Scahill to learn of this new threat against Americans and the world under the guise of the "bogus war on terrorism."
May 12, 2008
Recovering from being sick, construction work on the house, the radio show, and trying to drum up more State Senators in support of Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson kept me busy last week. I'm also drowning in paperwork, and have to do lots of accounting for Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance. Last weekend, there were conflicting events- and I found it impossible to be at three places at the same time. I gave Chuck stuff to table at the Richard Gage event in San Jose, and I went to the Truth Convergence in San Francisco. I baked cookies and brownies on Saturday morning and had a helluva time just finding my car keys and making it to San Francisco on time. There were folks from all over. My sound system didn't seem to work very well- I think I was so frazzled, I probably just goofed on the volume control on the ipod, but people were dispersed on the street corners, and there seemed to be no effort or desire to actually have a rally. At 4 pm or so we did start marching to Market and circled the Civic Center where an actual rally, with lots of volume and music was taking place in support of the Palestinians. The police kept us away from the rally. I was going to meet Chuck at 6pm at Mission and 16th, which is where we were scheduled to go, but the organizers decided to go to Powell and Market and blow off going to 16th and Mission, so I went with the "Impeach the Terrorists"/Billion Deception Dollar banner to rendez-vous with Chuck who was going to give me the tabling stuff. A few other 9/11 Truth activists also converge there. We passed out some Deception Dollars and enjoyed meeting one another. My old friend, Bob Gipson was there. We tried to find out where the "tba Activist Summit" was taking place and were given the location of a pub near Union Square. Three of us went via car and three by BART to the pub, but we never found any other 9/11 Truth activists at the pub nor were able to reach Cosmos or anyone else. So, Chuck, Bob and I just found a Thai Restaurant and enjoyed having dinner together and went home.
On Sunday morning I couldn't sleep past 6 am thinking about all I needed to do to be ready for the Convergence in San Francisco. I baked more cookies, put 100 or more of the new DVDs (Behind Every Terrorist- There is a Bush) into clamshells to give to activists, printed out directions for the Gage video shoot (which I forgot to pack), and loaded the car with the sound system, tables, handouts, chairs, banners, cookies, brownies, food and headed for San Francisco where I met John at 10 am and we set up the tables. Kai and Bill both came to help. It was very quiet- hardly anyone around and I wanted to be able to do the march, so Kai called John, learned that it hadn't even begun at 1 pm and drove me to the rallying point.
In hopes of getting the rally to move, I got the sound system running and introduced Cosmos. A few speeches followed (including one by Robin Hordon and folks from LA) and we finally started to move. My voice was shot, but I spotted Remos and persuaded him to chant...
It was a long march, Cosmos chose the site of the first "Bush Did It!" rally where there is a statue of McKinley (who launched a major imperial war against Spain and the Phillipines under false premises over a century ago.) We really didn't see that much of the public and it seemed like the march was more for the benefit of the Truthers with video cameras. Because I had to pack up the table/banners and get to Marin for the Video shoot, I didn't have much time to meet people or socialize by the time they reached our Golden Gate Park destination, which to me was a bit of a shame. People had come from so far away and I wish we could have been more hospitable.
The video shoot was long, but very interesting. I hadn't seen Richard's presentation since he tried it for one of the first times at our December 2006 strategy meetings (and I still haven't seen the video). He did a good job, although I am always shocked by omissions of what I think are key points by every major speaker. He also had a Structural Engineer and another engineer who specialized in understanding the collapse of buildings damaged by fire. Both of them offered powerful insights into their professions and the problems with the official story. I also learned that engineers are committed ethically and professionally to exposing fraud. They gave me hope that not all professionals could be bought off into complying with the Empire and remaining silent over falsehoods that were increasingly evident to rational, intelligent people.
It was a struggle, though, to stay awake and drive home, but I had good company to San Francisco- a talented musician who has done some great political songs, including ones on Controlled Demolition and Impeachment.
Back to the zillion chores that I have to do...
I also went with Jean-Luc to see the specialist last Friday regarding the tumors in my pancreas, and decided to go ahead with the biopsy. At this stage they don't look malignant, but they are throughout the pancreas and they couldn't remove them without removing the whole pancreas. They could do that and I could live (like a diabetic), but we'll have to see what kind of cysts/tumors they are before I have to think about whether or not I would go through treatment or not. Jean-Luc's been extra nice and supportive and people are giving me all sorts of great advice and suggestions. I just wish I had more time to sleep, drink, eat, exercise and keep up with all the work that comes my way. Perhaps I should drop the radio show, but I don't want to.
May 5, 2008- Cinco de Mayo
I'm better, but have been struggling with a cold all week, sadly my husband is sick now, too- and on top of that the house is a construction site thick with dust, as they have replaced all the windows.
I posted a Report Back from the Newstools Conference on 9/11 Blogger -

By ALAN BENJAMIN
This year, Cinco de Mayo takes place in Mexico in a situation of profound political and economic crisis.
La Jornada today published an article detailing the disastrous effects 14 years of NAFTA have had on Mexican agriculture. Top economists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) report that Mexico is paying US$20 billion per year to import grain and basic food staples -- mainly from the United States -- that were produced in Mexico prior to NAFTA. Not only is the bleeding the Mexican economy, the economists explain, it is forcing millions of peasants to leave their farms. It is also imposing near-famine conditions in certain regions of Mexico. The destruction of millions of acres of corn, rice and other grains is the direct result of NAFTA, as these native crops are not able compete on the market with the genetically modified and high-tech-production grains brought in from the United States. (1)
This report in La Jornada exposes the criminal lie presented by the Usurper ("El Espurio"), Felipe Calderón, in New Orleans, when he told the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Summit meeting that Mexico under NAFTA is making "great progress" on the economic front, modernizing its productive capacities and improving its ability to feed its people. (At the SPP Summit in New Orleans, Calderón also lambasted the takeover of the Mexican Congress buildings by the opposition congresspersons in the Broad Progressive Front (FAP), stating that it made "Mexico look ridiculous in the eyes of the world." Calderón also accused the legitimately elected president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, of "taking his power trip to a new level, thereby endangering the security and stability of our country.")
Last Thursday, May Day was celebrated in Mexico with a number of mass labor rallies and marches. The largest rally, spearheaded by the Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME), the Mineworkers' Union and the National Union of Workers (UNT), witnessed speaker after speaker denounce the proposed "Energy Reform" packet submitted to the Mexican Congress on April 8 by Felipe Calderón. "The Mexican workers will not allow these reforms to go through," said Martin Esparza, general secretary of the SME. "If we allow these energy 'reform' measures to be passed, they will immediately move to 'reform' our labor laws. Calderón and his ilk have stated as much. This would destroy our collective-bargaining agreements, our unions, and our workforce."
Also on May Day, Andrés Manuel López Obrador answered publicly the widely circulated charges leveled by PRD founder Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas against him and against the Peaceful Civil Resistance Movement. One day earlier, Cárdenas had denounced the takeover by the FAP deputies and senators of the Mexican Congress buildings, calling it an "unnecessary and irresponsible" action that endangered the legitimacy of Mexico's political institutions. (Cárdenas has sided in the fierce internal struggle within the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD), the party of López Obrador, with the wing that has recognized the election of Felipe Calderón and that has voted to support the "reform" measures demanded by Calderón and Bush.)
López Obrador's reply to Cárdenas was respectful in tone but unyielding in content. "How can anyone think that Calderón was not aiming at ramming his reforms through this session of Congress?" he asked. "That was Calderón's stated goal, his mission. ... We must remember that Calderón was imposed in the presidency by the influence-peddlers, both domestic and foreign, whose aim has been to turn over to foreign oil interests the exploration, perforation, refining, petrochemical production, oilducts, transportation and storage of Mexico's oil resources. ... We will not allow Calderón and the foreign oil corporations to do this!"
López Obrador continued, answering the charge by Calderón in New Orleans that López Obrador and this Resistance Movement are opposed to progress and modernization in Mexico. "This claim is absurd," he stated. "On the contrary. We believe Mexico can make great progress. We believe we have the engineering and technical expertise in Mexico to modernize our equipment and drilling in our oil industry. But what we oppose are so-called 'reforms' that only benefit a handful of people in Mexico who are beholden to foreign interests."
López Obrador concluded his statement explaining that "before any country-selling energy 'reform' is enacted, he and the Peaceful Civil Resistance Movement will insist that the people of Mexico are allowed to express their point of view through a referendum or a plebiscite -- so that no decision is made behind their backs." He went on to urge the Mexican people to join the Brigades and Committees being formed across Mexico to defend Mexico's oil and sovereignty.
To be continued. ...
----
Endnote
(1) In their speeches on May Day in San Francisco, both Cynthia McKinney, presidential candidate of the Power to the People coalition, and Cindy Sheehan, independent candidate for U.S. Congress (challenging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi), called for repealing NAFTA, explaining that this agreement is responsible for the destruction of jobs and communities and both sides of the border. Their call must be taken up by working people and the trade union movement across the United States. (Video posted at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4832122434521971338&q=may+day+cindy+sheehan&ei=9DsfSKbhG4-eqgOflOnEAQ).
April 29, 2008
Last week the Impeachment event at the Grand Lake Theater was a great success with a good turnout and a very good, inspiring program. (Read the keynote by David Swanson here- Sympathy for Dick Cheney). I went to dinner beforehand with a number of folks and Paul Burks put forward the idea of suing various members of Congress for failing to do their jobs. We still have to find out more details and get some good lawyers willing to help us.
I passed on the tabling stuff and banners to John Wright so he could take them to the Beach Impeach, and hopefully the May Day march/rally/protests.
Generally I miss out on the family/scout events and go to the political events, instead, but I made an exception last Saturday, because I had agreed to go canoeing with the family and the scouts, before they revived the Beach Impeach, and I love canoeing. So last Saturday, I was on the Russian River with the scouts. I have done a lot of white-water canoeing, but last Saturday we had two canoes overturn and get trapped by submerged trees in strong currents, one five feet below the water. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. I also was the one to venture up the bank and find a house, people, and borrow a rope which allowed us to haul the buried canoe out of the tree in deep water. Everyone was glad that we were able to save the canoe- and that I was there.
It was a beautifully hot summery day, but the water was freezing. I couldn't resist swimming, and unfortunately by evening I could feel myself coming down with a cold which knocked me out for a couple of days. Richard Gage called me Monday afternoon for the phone number of the Stanford Radio Station, reminding me that I had a radio interview. Besides feeling feverish and sick, the construction workers tore out our bedroom and office windows on Monday forcing us to move tons of stuff around, and I had completely forgotten about the radio show.
My own show is so much work, but I do enjoy it, even when I'm sick. I'm just way behind on a ton of paperwork, including taxes, the forms for Agape Foundation... posting events on the calendar, lining up guests for upcoming shows... And I need to rest to get well, but Life is so irresistable, and today is my husband's birthday, and I'd love to be able to bake him a birthday cake, at least.
April 19, 2008,
I have been struggling to balance the demands of my life, my family, with the demands of my "work." Sometimes there are surprising overlaps. Before I had Paul Krik on my radio show, last Monday, I realized that his great film Able Danger was inspired, to some degree, by the first "film noir" - The Maltese Falcon, which I had never seen. As it was, I was so interrupted by the demands of family that I never got to see the whole thing before the radio show, but Daniel watched it, too, and then afterwards Daniel and I watched Able Danger. On my second viewing, I could catch more of the jokes, parallels to the actual film, although Daniel (who is 14 was completely lost by the plot line). It's quite possible to enjoy Able Danger, without having seen The Maltese Falcon, but I think seeing both of them is a good idea and more fun...
On Tuesday I went to Stanford to question Morgan Spurlock about his new film- "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?"
Wednesday, I worked on the website and posted some of the news from Europe.
Thursday, I spent most of the day at the FCC Hearings on "The Future of the Internet" at Stanford.

I hurriedly bicycled home, skipped dinner and left for Oakland where I was half an hour late to a well attended meeting. The big action item was the upcoming 9/11 Truth Convergence being organized by Cosmos, we allocated $250 and encouraged him to find a defined space for people to meet, network, socialize, besides the street actions, so that it isn't just a vague, dissolve, bar hop later on your own, type of event. Those who could host folks from out of town are encouraged to let Cosmos know, so he can hook you up with folks who are coming. Most of the organizing is being done online at truthaction.org but we do need support from folks in San Francisco to help with logistics, actual meeting space, and there are monies allotted for that. Our next meeting is a joint meeting with us and Aaron Dames group on Thursday, May 1st, which I won't be able to attend because I'll be at the Media Conference in Sunnyvale. I do hope people will pitch in and help to make the Convergence a success, and that means helping with the real nuts and bolts logistics.
We also discussed other upcoming events and opportunities- The big Impeachment Event at the Grand Lake Theater on the 24th, the Beach Impeach, the upcoming media conferences, and the Week of Truth, and I urged folks with websites to put up banners on their sites. I still need to send out an email blast to our list and the Deception Dollar webmasters, but I have been "in triage" trying to do the most urgent stuff first- like feeding hungry kids, getting Behind Every Terrorist- There is a Bush republished, in time for the media conference, ordering all the DVDs that I should have ordered last January, plus The Shell Game to support the national effort and have the book available at our upcoming tabling events. I've also been working on the upcoming radio shows, and the interview I needed to do for the media conference. I have also had to do our taxes, pay the bills, do the banking, shipping. The demands never end, but my time keeps running out. I never can catch up with my Impeachment page, either, because my back just doesn't allow me to spend too many hours at the computer.
April 12, 2008
My appreciation for the outpouring of concern and support from friends and listeners who have been sending me emails, and my apologies for not being able to reply to all of them or even keep up with my phone messages. It has been challenging for me this week because the windows and doors are being replaced in our home and the sounds of construction and plastic spread to prevent the dust from getting everywhere has even shrouded the phone answering machine, so there obstacles for me to simply do the "ordinary things- like eat, drink, cook, sleep, as well as hear the phone or think when being blasted by the noise of walls being shattered by machines.
I have tried to escape when possible, to go for my hikes and it was a pleasure to set up the Listening Project on Friday, the 11th, in solidarity with the 11th Day od Actions. It almost felt like summer weather and I wished that I had worn shorts. Women in Black also gather in Lytton Plaza every Friday and they were very nice to us and welcomed our presence.
I also had a good long chat with John Bursill and shipped him 4 cases of Deception Dollars and 9/11 Fact Sheets. I'm getting so low on stock now, that I think I might have to reprint soon. I still hope to make "Conception" or "Perception" Dollars for Truth, Peace, Justice, Impeachment candidates, but I've been in triage mode for so long, I haven't even officially launched my Congressional campaign- or sent out a single press release. The guy who created my 2006 website (and the only one who has access to it) hasn't made it available to me, and has had his hands full with taking care of his mother who is seriously ill. Some day I hope to catch up with my life and become better organized.
Next Thursday, the 17th are the FCC hearings at Stanford (and the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance meeting in Oakland), plus the Week of Truth begins on Wednesday. Just doing my radio show, planning for the upcoming events, conferences, keeping up with the ordering, bookkeeping, taxes for Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance, and feeding the ever hungry family still occupy most of my time. At least the weather is beautiful and I am feeling well and happy. When I spoke to my son (in Oberlin, Ohio) yesterday, he told me that the hardest thing for him to do was his schoolwork when it was beautiful weather outside. I could sympathize 100%. I enjoy being outside and being with family and friends so much, it is hard to hunker down at the computer and catch up on all the "work."

April 8, 2008
I have several emails waiting to go out, but for the past two days I have been having trouble sending them out- they are blocked, and I've only been able to send them when they have more or less become obsolete. I am not sure what the problem is.
I worked far too long on the computer today on a review of the great new film Able Danger and updating my radio show blog with the upcoming 9/11 Film Makers' Show with Samira Goetschel, director of Our Own Private Bin Laden and Paul Krik creator of ABLE DANGER.
This evening I went to see John Pilger's new film - The War on Democracy which I had really been looking forward to seeing. I suppose I might have been more moved, had I not been familiar with all the material that Pilger covered, but I felt that the film would never attract a large general audience or people like my husband or kids who probably wouldn't have been able to sit through it.
I'll probably get blasted by my hardcore fellow 9/11 truth activists, but I think Able Danger could draw, and hold a larger crowd. I will post my review- of Able Danger - the film when my back recovers from today's ordeal.
April 6, 2008
On Thursday night we voted to donate $300 to the Feal Good Foundation (We did hold a benefit for them and us in December, but we lost money on the premieres of Loose Change- Final Cut, but we're in better shape now financially.) We also voted $300 to the organizers of the conference in Australia, and an additional $200 to help cover my expenses to attend the National Conference on Media Reform in June.
On Friday workman began ripping apart the walls of our home to replace the dead furnace, and I spent way too much time working at the computer, aggravating the pain in my lower back.
Saturday, I drove to UC Berkeley to attend the California State Green Party Plenary and press conference (I did interviews with 3 TV stations- abc, cbs, kpix, as well as interviews with KGO and KPFA radio stations (although I have no idea, if any of what I said was aired.) Here's the written statement of what I said at the press conference, although I did modify this somewhat:
The Federal Reserve itself was a horrific scam foisted upon the American people that has only benefited the “banking class” and never served the public good. The Fed has recently been responsible for deregulating the financial sector and encouraging speculative derivatives that created the housing bubble we are faced with now. Fortunes have been made by some, but many people were lured into debt traps through promises of credit, no questions asked.
Charging exorbitant interest used to be called “usury,” and it was forbidden by all the world’s religions. In recent years the federal government intervened to prevent state governments from protecting their people from the predatory lending practices of the largest financial institutions in the country. As a result, for the first time since the data began to be tracked in 1945, homeowners' debt on their houses now exceeds their equity [1]. California has the dubious distinction of being the state with the largest total number of foreclosures--more than 57,000 filings in January, one for every 227 homes [2]. This is serious. Personal bankruptcies are expected to be the highest ever this year, and all levels of government are facing fiscal crises.
There are solutions available to help those suffering the most in the short term--and we should help the most recent victims--but frankly, these are just band-aid solutions. We need systemic solutions that recognize that the debt crisis that has toppled empires historically--when wealth is so concentrated in the hands of the upper class that they blindly destroy their economic base. What our nation needs is basic and comprehensive monetary reform, to move us away from a debt-based system to an honest, transparent, accountable system. But as long as our political system is dominated by liars, crooks, and corrupt politicians--who ignore their oaths of office and our Constitution--such comprehensive reforms are highly unlikely at the federal level; it is only at the state level that we might have a chance of initiating minor reforms.
I am appalled that Congresswoman Eshoo--the incumbent I am running against--has been working closely with the NSA to “fight counterterrorism.” The so-called “War on Terror” has provided the Bush administration with an excuse to undermine civil liberties at home, siphon resources from the poor to the rich, and Eshoo has embraced this agenda. The real terrorists are in the White House and should be impeached. We should be exposing the lies and criminals, getting out of the war business, and redirecting resources to healing and improving people’s lives and the failing ecosystems upon which they depend.
[1]
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-03-06-foreclosures_N.htm
[2]
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/26/real_estate/foreclosures_rise_again/index.htm?postversion=2008022608
The media is still vital to the battle for "democracy"- within KPFA, as well as in this country, the world. On Friday I learned that the FCC will be holding their hearing Thursday, April 17, 2008, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University. At the same time I read a tongue in cheek article on Eshoo's working with the NSA to combat "cyber-terrorism" which I suspect is their euphemism for "free speech"- dissenting websites/information/the truth. We have a huge amount of work to do, and much of it will be "framing issues," getting out the information, helping people to realize what is at stake.
April 3, 2008
Just got an email from David Ray Griffin- the funds have been raised to get his new book to Congress.
April 2, 2008


Impeachment- The Key to Justice
Here are the wonderful signs that Cam made for the Impeachment/Anti-War Rallies in March. These photos were taken by Sandy Taylor who also created the great Pelosi on a Peach Impeachment image. I just wish we could get these ideas seared into the brains of the Peace and Justice Movement. There is still rampant fear and denial over the most blatant, obvious facts about 9/11.
Hard as our issue is, I think David Ray Griffin's gentle approach might be the most effective at winning over politicians and the press. Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance would like to help get David Ray Griffin's excellent new book, 9/11 Contradictions: An Open Letter to Congress and the Press, sent to Congress with the assistance of the publishers (Interlink).

So far $3000 has been raised and we hope to raise an additional $1144.(April 3, 2008- The money has been raised. DRG just sent me a note today!) If you would like to help with this effort please earmark your donations "DRG- 9/11 Contradictions." Donations can be made out directly to Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance or, if you would like a tax deduction, checks can be written to Agape Foundation- or you can donate through Agape's webisite.
(Mail checks to Northern California 9-11 Truth Alliance, PO Box 60511, Palo Alto, CA 94306)
All donations of $50 or more that go through Agape Foundation to the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance are tax-deductible. Although we do not have our own tax-exempt status, the Internal Revenue Service allows our donors to make charitable contributions through our Fiscal Sponsor, The Agape Foundation. As such, their name, not ours, will appear on your bank or credit card statement.
We greatly appreciate all donations. Our work depends on the generosity of people who share our vision for a non-violent world, and an end to state-sponsored terrorism. Donate through Agape Foundation
Our campaign is also in solidarity with another national campaign-
Let's make 9/11 Truth part of the National Dialogue.
Help drive Steve Alten's novel- The Shell Game onto the NYT's Bestseller's List
When the book hits the top 10, hopefully #1, on the NY Times list, we should be able to have a major dialogue on this issue- a real break in the dam which has kept so many basic facts hidden from public consciousness. (Although a work of fiction, the book raises important issues and draws attention to the work of Griffin, Ruppert and the 9/11 Truth Movement, in general. It's a good read. My Review is posted here. Watch Steve Alten in this Video Interview by Jon Gold and decide whether or not you would like to see him in the national spotlight.
March 29, 2008
When I was 22 years old, facing a suicidal friend in Grenoble, France, I had my first "mystical experience" which lasted less than a minute, but profoundly changed my life- allowing me to forgive, accept and love my friend, myself, my family, the world. I felt that I had learned life's most important lesson, and while I had been extremely fearful of death as a child, from that moment onward, I felt that it would be no great tragedy, if I died, because I had learned life's most important lesson, I had found an inner peace which allowed me to live a full, joyous life.
When, on the verge of getting married (at age 25), I was informed that my fiance had a tumor, the size of an orange at the center of his brain, and might not survive the weekend, that certainly rocked my "inner peace" a bit and my values changed, as the future took on aspects of "a black hole" and each day, I never knew whether it would be my fiance's last day for about two years, while we lived on the intense edge.
In the last two weeks, I have had to confront the possibilities of death, again, my own and my husbands, as we have both been in and out of Stanford Hospital and had to undergo various tests. It's a little chilling to be in a Cancer Clinic, have a doctor remark, "Oh you're so young, I thought you'd be older." Point out giant cysts/tumors which are "probably benign," but suggesting a biopsy because, "Well, why? If they are not, then I would get the joyous news that I would probably die, soon."
Facing the possibility of knowing or not knowing, I can't help but think about whether or not I would live my life differently, if I was told that I did have cancer. As a political activist, maybe an effective one, maybe an abysmally ineffective one (Certainly, it is hard to say, to judge, and I'm hardly in a position to be objective), I do feel like I have stuck my neck out and, if I actually am successful, then I am putting my own life, and possibly those of my family and friends at greater risk. On the other hand, I usually take on giant, global issues, which have a huge impact upon humanity, and perhaps the survival of our species. I often see myself, and each of my colleagues, fellow activists, engaged on a multitude of issues, as the immune system of humanity and perhaps the biosphere, doing all we can to prevent "terracide." Each day could be my last day, and I am forever grateful for each moment that I am alive and for what I am able to do, although usually it is a small percentage of what I wish I could accomplish in the course of a day. I am forever trying to balance my life- the work, the kids, the husband, the friends, my body, my spirit, my intellectual curiosity, my passions.
So, I felt a certain ambivalence about more tests, a biopsy, and would like to avoid as many as possible, and just live my life.
I confirmed my attendance at a couple conferences, made airline/hotel reservations, lined up guests for my radio show in April, tried to update my calendar of events. I also baked lots of cookies for the horde of teenage boys who filled the house over Spring Break, playing all day long, and for Jeremy to take with him snow-camping with the scouts this weekend, and for Jules to take with him back to Oberlin (I was up at 5 am to get him to the airport). I missed the impeachment rallies in San Jose. I need to improve my write up for my next radio show with David Ray Griffin and Janette MacKinlay and post that, and finish and post some of the articles that I have neglected for years. Chuck and Adam contributed edits to the interview with Adam Trombly that I did on March 17th. I still need to figure out the voice recognition software for use on the other interviews (plus how to use the camera and audio tools that I have now). So much to do, to learn, and yet, I think of the lovely 84 year old woman dancer who shared her house with me in Berekely and advised- "Meditate an hour every day" and if you are really busy "Meditate for two hours."
On my list of favorite things to do, and things that I need to do, is simply going for a walk, a hike, a bike ride (getting away from the computer which causes me physical pain). I will never be able to do all that I wish to do, but I hope that I at least find the balance, so that I can enjoy every moment, of every activity, that I choose to do, including the work that I am still passionate about.
March 24, 2008
I've spent the last few days, transcribing the interview with Adam Trombly and I just posted an excerpt of it on this website, and need to edit it even more and post it elsewhere, if my body can bear working at this computer more. Actually, I need to take a break. I can't sit here too long without paying a horrible price physically, and I want to ship some stuff to Australia for the organizer of the Sydney 9/11 Truth Now Tour. My husband's sick, the kids are out of school, and I need to feed them and give them some attention, too.
I'm glad I did the transcript, however. It should help me prepare questions to ask Trombly, as we continue our conversation on tonight's radio show.
March 20, 2008
Many of my friends were hanging banners, getting arrested, demonstrating in creative civil disobedience actions yesterday, while I went with Jeremy very early to the oral surgeon's office to get his wisdom teeth pulled. Between taking the ice on and off his jaws, changing gauze, getting medication for him, I baked lots of cookies for the anti-war rally in San Francisco. I couldn't leave Jeremy, or home, though, until my husband returned from work to be with Jeremy. I was pretty late setting up, and glad to see some familiar faces, especially Jody and Bill, who helped me table. We set up banners, I brought the sound system, but we were so disorganized (my fault- I forgot to send out an email to people- and we never really figured out an organized action at our recent meetings.) Also I think a lot of people were arrested yesterday (not necessarily expecting to be arrested)- so I wasn't able to find people to carry our banners or form a contingent in the march. I can also blame my hand injury, light rain, for making it very challenging to spontaneously organize at the rally. The table was swamped/popular as usual, although the crowds were smaller than usual, the rally shorter than usual, and with the table covered to protect the papers/books from the rain a good part of the time, we still received a respectful dose of support from the public who gave us about $500 in donations, and for our educational materials- books, DVDs, bumper stickers, buttons. The cookies and Deception Dollars we gave away for free.
Yesterday I also got an email from Adam Trombly, agreeing to be on my radio show again next Monday. I'm so glad, we covered just the tip of an iceberg. If I didn't have to unload the car from yesterday's rally, get to the Post Office, bank, grocery store, feed the family and get to the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance Meeting tonight- I'd try to do a transcript of our last show and get out a better article tomorrow to promote the next show.
Despite all the obstacles, and the seemingly glacial pace of change, however, I am so deeply encouraged at the raising of consciousness that is taking place- still beneath the mainstream media radar...
March 18, 2008
While I agree that "responsible" means being able to respond to the reality of the moment, I must admit that I cannot "respond" to everything or be at more than one place at a time, hence the belated, inadequate updating of this website, and I am missing the Impeachment caravan, as I write this, and prepare for the rally this afternoon in Palo Alto. I could not resist joining Tian at White Plaza yesterday (at Stanford) to pass out a few hundred flyers on today's Impeachment Rally, flaunting our great banners, and blasting our Impeachment- 9/11 songs on campus. Despite a few rude hardcore Bush fams, we found a lot of support and appreciation from the people who crossed our paths.
Last night I had a rather dramatic interview with Adam Trombly, if anyone has time to write up a transcript of the show- please send me a copy. I'd do it myself, if there were more hours in the day... Tomorrow there are major anti-war demonstrations in San Francisco (and on top of that my poor 17 year old is getting his wisdom teeth pulled- so I need to be mom first- activist second).
March 16, 2008
A cold, rainy forecast made it hard to coordinate our rally/march/tabling efforts in Palo Alto on Saturday. Camille made a beautiful key shaped sign with "9/11 Truth and the Peace symbol" on one side and "Impeachment and a Justice symbol" on the other. We missed one another for the first hour or so, as I set up banners in the Civic Center and then tried to make it to Town and Country Village for the Impeachment March, since I had the sound system and our two big Impeachment banners. Camille and Dana found us later when the rally began at the Civic Center. They brought a large case of the new Patriots Question 9/11 cards. The Peninsula Peace and Justice Center had rigged up some large awnings since there was a 70 % chance of rain and thunderstorms and the turnout was much smaller than usual- a couple of hundred of people. Many had gone to the direct action in Richmond against Chevron and others to the Winter Soldier Hearings in DC. We also did a side march for Impeachment to Lytton Plaza and up and down University with our Impeachment & 9/11 Truth Music, and flyered for the upcoming Impeachment Actions/Meeting/Rally. I was glad that it didn't rain. Our table was popular, especially since we had lots of cookies. There was a little coverage in the local papers, but by and large, the local press didn't have a clue about the events taking place nationwide, internationally, and the growing opposition to the war and the Administration.
I just wish I had figured out and brought my camera. As usual, I didn't get photos of our marches, and our wonderful new sign and handouts. We had an embarrassment of riches, as far as educational materials are concerned- more than we could pass out to all the people.
March 11, 2008
On Sunday night I had an extraordinary conversation with Adam Trombly who has agreed to be on my radio show next week. We started talking at 8:30 pm, at 1:20 am, I had to hang up on him, because my husband wanted to go to bed, and I didn't want to harm my marriage (plus I had to be up early the next morning). Monday, I spent most of the day on an article which I never was able to finish, before my back complained too much, and I had to shift to other tasks- baking cookies for today's Listening Project, feeding the family...and doing the radio show with the Australians, which was a wonderful experience.

It is heartening that so many people are doing outstanding consciousness raising work, not just on 9/11, but in exposing how the media controls information, creates lies/myths out of whole cloth. I just posted the links to the outstanding 8 part series of Expert Testimony by William Schaap on the FBI and CIA's control over the media and how it has been used to manipulate the public and crush dissent.
In this 8-part series Dr. William F. Pepper leads the co-publisher of Covert Action Quarterly, William Schaap, through a history of US Government Approved disinformation, beginning with examples in WWI and then WWII, when things really began to take off. The techniques of disinformation that the government employed during war-time were carried over into peace-time under the aegis of the Cold War. Schaap sites specific examples of CIA and FBI disinformation, concluding with Hoover's FBI attacks on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 (due to tape changes, some footage is lost in this section, please refer to transcript)
Part 7
Part 8
There is so much I want to do. I have been thinking of a short "to do" list so as not to overwhelm myself:
2. Abolish the CIA.
3. Change the monetary system, from a debt based to a more honest system.
4. Restructure the global economy from war to healing people and planet.
2. Get treatment for the kidney stones.
3. Get oil change and car fixed.
4. Clean house and organize papers so I can find stuff, and catch up on my mail.
5. Clean garage, so I can find stuff and be prepared for the anti-war rally Saturday.
6. Finish and publish article I was working on Monday.
7. Schedule radio show guests for the rest of the month.
8. Get access, control over the website for my Congressional run that Christian created for me.
9. Fulfill all the promises, committments that I have made, the business work for NO. Ca 9/11 Truth Alliance.
10. Get some new pants, cause all my jeans have holes in them.
March 9, 2008
It has been a very difficult week for me and my family. At the same time, some good things did happened and I was encouraged by the activism and efforts of many people from around the world and locally. Last Tuesday when I was dealt a heavy blow at the Voter Registrar's office, telling me that the signatures we had gathered were on the wrong form and wouldn't count, I also was hurrying back and forth to Stanford University to meet with filmmakers and see a documentary called-

Students had organized a lunch for the filmmakers, that was well attended. They spoke and showed poignant clips from their film and shared their story, which was quite moving.
What had started out as a ten minute organizational tool for activists working on a boycott to protest sweatshop conditions in LA, turned into a 6 year project, film, which followed the transformation of three women's lives> In the course of their organizing efforts, the women become empowered and understand how their own struggle is connected to the larger struggle of immigrant rights,and labor struggles taking place throughout the world.
I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet student activists, and people who would be good to ask to speak on my radio show on the topic of workers and immigrant rights.
After my ordeal at the Registrar's office in San Jose, I hurried back to feed my kids, and was slightly late for the evening film screening (which sadly was not very well attended). I could not be unmoved by the film, however, especially since it was so personal in showing how hard they worked at their jobs, and devoted all their free time to their organizing efforts, and tried to meet the demands of their families. I saw my own story in their story (plus I was born and raised in LA...). When the film concluded, I was the first to ask a question (actually more than one question- the second having to do with the larger picture and issues- how their struggle impacted sweatshops oin LA and pushed the industry to relocate elsewhere)> My first question was a very personal question about the mother who left three kids behind in El Salvador, and worked to support them in LA. In the film the kids try to rejoin her, but they don't make it. So I asked if she ever got to see her kids. The filmmaker said that at the World Premiere in DC, the three women were at the showing, and the organizers of the event arranged for the eldest son to come, as well. Mother and son were reunited at the World Priemire- and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The son fully understood what his mom had been through to support his family for those many long years when they were separated.
The film's message is deeply personal and universal and is reaching audiences across all sorts of cultural boundaries, because everyone can relate to unjust laws, tyranny, oppression, exploitation, the daily struggle, the need to organize to defend rights not only for oneself, but for others.
I plan on doing a radio show with the film producers and others, when I can schedule it.
On Thursday, there was a rally that I could not resist going to at Stanford, in defense of habeus corpus and the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, organized by students. That morning I also received a stunning report from the Palo Alto Police Department, completely exonerating themselves from my formal complaint- when they threatened to arrest me for gathering signatures on my Impeach Cheney petition in the local park last year.
Speaking at the rally were some amazing people, including a young man who spoke about the Wikileaks case, where a website was shut down because it posted some damning leaked documents about a bank's behavior. They won their case and got the website back up again, and he shared that they were posting leaked documents which showed how systemic the torture was at Guantanamo, and how the model was then systemically expanded to Abu Graib and other prisons.
Another speaker won three cases at the Supreme Court on behalf of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners (and will probably win a fourth case), but she expressed her frustration at winning cases that the Adminsistration chose to ignore. They have yet to comply with the law of the highest court of the land.
The same lawyer volunteered to write me a letter for the Palo Alto Police Department, as she agreed with me that the First Amendment trumps the city ordinance that they cited to shut me up, and use to threaten me with arrest. That should help me and others to exercise our rights, and prevent the police from intimidating us with arrest threats.
On Thursday, I continued to call the Secretary of State about what happened in Santa Clara County, and eventually she responded to my email. Here is her response- and my response to it:
Dear Ms. Brouillet:
Thank you for contacting me about the problem you had with submitting signatures to the Santa Clara County elections office in order to waive your candidate filing fees.
Under current law, California Elections Code sections 8020 and 8106, candidates must submit nomination documents and petition in-lieu filing fee forms according to specific deadlines set out in statute. Local elections officials verify the signatures submitted on those forms.
It appears that in your case, you attempted to submit additional in-lieu signatures on March 4, 2008, but that Santa Clara County was unable to accept the signatures, because they were submitted on a nomination form instead of a Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee form. You mentioned you were misinformed about which form to use. While I certainly understand your frustration, the law is very specific in this area and does not provide for exceptions. Fortunately, there is still time for you to submit signatures on the appropriate form. Friday, March 7th is the filing deadline, which should allow you time to resubmit your signatures to Santa Clara County on the proper form.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions, or if I can assist you on another matter related to the Secretary of State’s office, please contact my office at (916) 653-7244.
Sincerely,
Debra Bowen March 6, 2008
Secretary of State
Dear Ms. Bowen,
This is unfair and outrageous. We cannot go back to 35 people and tell them that I was misinformed by a horrific bureaucrat at the County Registrar's Office who gave me 3 copies of a useless form on February 21st. It was their mistake, but I am supposed to pay the price- in this case- a lot of work and annoyance to a lot of people or hundreds of dollars. I have turned in over 150 good signatures- 120 on the Petition in lieu of filing fee form which I received in January, and the rest on the form that was given to me on February 21st when I knew that I would need to gather replacement signatures, if some of the 158 signatures that I turned in on that day in were not good. We spent days gathering signatures. I'm a busy woman with an injured hand, people working on my house, meetings, kids to feed, rallies to attend, a radio show to organize.
I was misinformed, misdirected by the Santa Clara Office- and I think I should not have to bear the cost of their mistake, that the signatures were gathered in good faith (I thought the old form was no longer good) and all the signatures that I gathered should be honored as 122 were on Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee on them and 29 on the form given to me on February 21st which said "Nomination" on it. I thought it was the date/time period that was the important thing- and all of the signatures were gathered within the required time period- less than 40 stated Nomination on them. There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
Of course today I spoke with a lawyer, who is willing to represent me for free on a more serious matter, but she won 3 cases in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners who were denied their habeus corpus rights (and other rights). The White House ignored the Supreme Court's decisions.
I am running for office because I think Cheney and Bush should be impeached, and that Congress is failing to live up to their oath of Office. I have been threatened with arrest for trying to exercise my First Amendment Rights. I have been pulled to the side of the road and had "law officers" hold me and my sixteen year old son at gunpoint, and been handcuffed and placed in an unmarked police car "supposedly because we fit the description of suspects in a non-existent armed robbery"- but, in actuality, it was a clear attempt to intimidate me and curb my activism. Under the new laws- I'll probably get labeled a "domestic terrorist" and tortured, killed in some undisclosed prison/concentration camp.
I shouldn't expect fair treatment, honesty, from bureaucrats who certainly don't want me to get elected to public office. I should expect lies, roadblocks, obstacles, on every step of my journey, especially since there are enough laws that contradictions are bound to exist, and I could probably be prosecuted for almost anything I do or say under some law or another.
I had expected better treatment from you, since I thought you cared about the blatant stealing of our elections, and I had hoped that you would be ethical, understanding, human, and working towards improving the electoral process.
I am angry, but I will direct my energy, efforts, towards other battles. This is, I think, grossly unfair and unjust, but emblematic of a corrupt system, that does not care if it hurts people, lies to them, denies them justice, and would like to shut them up- whatever it takes.
We have suffered enough calamities from trying to do too much. The health bills and getting the car repaired would cost more than $400, but $400 hurts, and I am very mad at the Santa Clara County Registrar's Office and at your response. You can be sure that everyone will hear the story!!!!!
Carol Brouillet
I didn't tell Ms. Bowen, but I was feeling pretty ill, exhausted, and angry when I wrote my response (perhaps that comes through in my choice of language). However I had a headache from Wednesday through Saturday, and felt ill, particularly on Friday and Saturday. I think because of the kidney stones. On Monday, I will have to schedule the treatment for them. My husband's back is still hurting him, my hand is still in a splint and I hope it heals correctly, but if I try to bend it- I am still missing the lower knuckle. Secretary of State Bowen might think that gethering 35 signatures was no big deal for me, but to me it was just a huge, unnecessary, obstacle thrown in my path- a real blow to my spirit, more than anything else. Tian said he went out and got five more (I don't know if he turned them in or not), but I didn't find the strength or energy to gather anymore.
On Wednesday night, I went to bed at 6:30 pm. Then I got a really nice phone call from Larry Pinkney and his girlfriend thanking me for having him on the show. I thought he was great and hope to have him on again with Cynthia McKinney, who did agree to do the show (on Movement Building)- but didn't get back to me in a timely fashion. [It is hard to schedule shows with busy people, which is one of the things I need to do today- work on scheduling, especially since they just changed the clocks in the US- and tomorrow night I want to be sure to get John Bursill and Glen Clancy on at the right time- John's in Sydney and Glen is in Japan- and it is so easy to make mistakes when we are on different days and different clocks.]
On Thursday night Chuck came over and we went together to the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance meeting in San Francisco. It was a pretty small meeting- I know Ken and Cosmos were preparing for their trip to Australia, so we really never bothered with an agenda, financial report, but just had a discussion and I passed out the latest Rock Island Free Presses. Chuck and I agreed to go to the Impeachment rally the next day at Zoe Lofgren's office. I'd bring the sound system and he's brings the songs.
Friday, I felt so ill, I wouldn't have gone, had I not agreed with Chuck that I'd bring the sound system- which really does help at those rallies. It was a struggle to get out press releases and post articles about my upcoming radio show.
Last week I also was cheered by Valentine, whom I sent the 32,000 Deception Dollars to, just in the nic of time, to be passed out at the EU parliament 9/11 event... I had sent Valentine the wrong account number for the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance. She wrote back the sweetest note-
We have had a very instructing week end in Amsterdam
With more than 40 europeen activists, Chiesa and Fujita
We want to start trials against these morons for genocide
An idea from Chris Coverdale who started this in the UK
Based on 4 international laws.
'Make war history' with Annie Machon.
You will hear from us.
love
Valentine
P.S. I just revised some of this when I realized that I had made some mistakes. On Friday when I returned from the Impeachment Rally, I immediately went to bed, and got up in time to go with my husband to see the High School production of The Winter's Tale which our son, Jeremy has been working on for so long. It was classical Shakespeare, a story about misplaced jealousy which causes death, heartbreak, various calamities, lots of suffering... but eventually with time, love, and forgiveness, the situation is resolved.
I know I should be more forgiving, but it is always hard when one is still in the "painful moment" and much easier when there is time and distance.
March 5, 2008
The Good News- I had a great time gathering signatures last weekend to get on ballot. It was wonderful, finally getting to speak directly with Wade Frazier on Monday's radio show, creator of the voluminous, insightful website- www.ahealedplanet.net exploring New Energy and the Abundance Paradigm. Lots of people helped me to hammer out a press release on the latest International Developments on the 9/11 Truth Movement, and John Bursill, organizer of the Sydney Conference agreed to do a radio show on it next week.
[Here's a short version of the Press Release]:
In 2008 alone, in Japan, in Europe, Australia, the US Congress, and New York, elected officials and citizen activists have questioned the Official Story of 9/11.
On January 10 in Japan, Yukihisa Fujita, a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, challenged Bush’s request for the Japanese to assist in supplying the US military effort in Afghanistan, by raising questions about 9/11 and the “War on Terrorism” before the Japanese Parliament.
On February 26 in Italy, Giulietto Chiesa, a journalist and member of the European Parliament, invited colleagues and the press to attend a screening of the documentary Zero, an investigation into the events of 9/11.
On February 26 in Washington, Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher spoke out on the floor of the US Congress about the Bush administration’s obstruction of Congressional inquiries related to the crimes of 9/11, stating that he has “come to the sad conclusion that this administration has intentionally obstructed Congress' rightful and constitutional duties.”
In New York City, 2008 has seen a citizen effort to place on the November General Election ballot an initiative that will allow the voters of New York City to mandate, through public referendum, the formation of a new Citizens Commission to Re-Investigate 9/11.
In Australia, from March 14 to March 16, Sydney Truth Action will host an international conference to critically examine the events of 9/11 and Australia’s participation in the War on Terror. The central issue of the conference will be "Did Australia go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan on a false pretext?" The conference will focus on what really occurred on 9/11 and what has been done in the name of 9/11 by the Australian government. The conference will also examine whether the US and Australian governments have actively sponsored, or been complicit in the cover-up of, terrorism.
For more information about this international conference, go to www.truthnowtour.com
The Bad News- The cascading personal, family calamities continue. We've rented the same house for 18 years. Suddenly the owner wants to cherry it up (horror- will we have to move????). Workman coming to remove the dead water heater which has always lived in the garage forced us to move out a ton of stuff (including all the priceless banners and art onto the porch), we spent hours cleaning out a fraction of the garage, and it was extremely hard on our backs- particularly my husband's back- which is seriously traumatized (he can hardly walk and couldn't lay down because the pain was so bad last night he hardly got any sleep). In the turmoil which cost me my thumb last week, my son's notebook was lost plus the big assignment due today in his Honors English class.
Yesterday I joined Tian, Gerry and Dana to deliver signatures to the Voter Registrar's office in San Jose. As I was leaving the house- all the stuff on the porch (which I hadn't had time to put away) was getting wet and soiled by a guy cleaning the roof (argh- a thousand dollars worth of art wrecked- but I think they rescued it- I'm not sure yet- but I had to move it in the dark garage last night and I hope its ok.) I had to hurry...
What started out to be a joyous triumph turned into an ordeal when I was informed that the 35 signatures we had gathered "were on the wrong form and useless..."
Today I sent an email to-
The Secretary of State- Debra Bowen
Dear Debra,
Having spoken at one of the hearings you organized regarding the integrity of our elections, I am confidant that you will be able to help me, and be understanding of the outrage I felt today when I submitted 37 signatures of Registered Green Party members to eliminate my filing fee in the June 6th Election, where I hope to be on the ballot for the Green Party nomination for US Representative District 14 in the November Election.
In 2006, I also ran for Congress, and I enjoyed gathering signatures, and was able to do so in a timely fashion. In 2007, I was thinking about running for Congress, but I was also organizing film premieres, rallies, hosting a weekly radio show (one with Sherry Healy on Election Protection), and very active in the organization that I founded- The Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance. The day after our major rally/action in San Francisco, on December 17, 2007) while I was hosting my radio show, I became violently ill. I was unable to complete the broadcast, my husband called 911, and I was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. I was diagnosed with kidney stones. When I was able to leave the hospital, I was very weak.
Following the Green Party Presidential Debate, (January 13th, 2008) friends within the Party encouraged me to run again. I told them that if they could help me gather the necessary signatures to waive the filing fee that I would run again, although we really didn’t have much time, and I knew I would need help, especially since I hadn’t the physical strength that I was accustomed to. I did receive lots of help, and I also stopped taking the medication that was responsible for the weakness that I felt and regained my strength.
On February 21, 2008- the last day of signature gathering, I turned in 158 signatures in Santa Clara County (I had already turned in 3 in San Mateo County). The next day I received a phone call telling me that 120 were “good” and that I could turn in up to 38 replacement signatures.
On February 21st I also received a form and two copies of that form at the Registrar’s office and the distinct impression that these were the new forms for the replacement signatures, in case I needed them. They were dated February 21st and I thought that the other forms were only for signatures gathered before that date, not subsequent to that date.
Today when I tried to turn in 35 signatures, gathered between February 21st and March 4th, I was informed that they were on the wrong form and would not qualify to replace the needed signatures because they said “Nomination” not “Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee.” (The additional two signatures which someone handed me that day, I didn't think would count because they were on the "old form," but to my surprise- they were accepted and the staff tried to reject the others and say that they would not count towards the 150 signatures needed.) I was outraged, and the staff said that there was a terrible misunderstanding between me and whoever gave me the forms, but that there was nothing they could do- the situation was out of their control, and rested in your hands. Rules are rules, there are lots of candidates, no one could make an exception, I should have read all the rules. Well there is common sense and justice, and I assume you are amply endowed with both from my personal observation of you, and your actions, so I appeal to your humane understanding to acknowledge and grant the signatures that I gathered in this brief time period (that are good and from Registered Green Party members) to count towards the reduction of the filing fee. I'd rather save my anger, energy, efforts for larger justice battles that I am currently engaged in. Thank-you for your time, attention, and hopefully assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Carol Liane Brouillet...
PS I thought of ccing this to the press, but I’d rather just draw it to your attention and have it quickly rectified and suggest that the “current process and procedures” be improved, so that other candidates do not suffer from the situation I found myself in today. Thank-you.
Sometimes one doesn't have time to shorten and edit a message. Here's the first draft (with more info) of my DRAFT press release:
In Japan, in Europe, in the Congress of the United States, in New York City, in Australia, elected officials and citizens are questioning the events of 9/11, the obstacles that the Administration has placed before the official Commission, and other Congressional investigations into terrorists’ attacks. People are challenging the official narrative of 9/11, and other attacks that have taken place in the US, and abroad, and challenging policies which assist the US to carry out its “War on Terror” and threaten civil liberties.
On January 10, 2008, Mr. Yukihisa Fujita, a member of Democratic Party of Japan, challenged Bush’s request for assistance from the Japanese to supply the US military effort in Afghanistan, by raising questions about 9/11 and the “War on Terrorism” in the Japanese Parliament.
On February 26, 2008 Guilietto Chiesa, a member of the European Parliament, journalist, and author, invited his colleagues and the press to attend a screening of the Italian documentary named ‘ZERO, an investigation into the events of 9/11’ and a debate with Mr. Yukihisa Fujita, Dr. David Ray Griffin, theologian and author of seven important books on 9/11, Tim Sparke, the film distributor, as well as the director and producers of ‘Zero’- Paolo Jormi Bianchi, Thomas Torelli, Francesco Trento and Franco Fracassi.
On the same day, the anniversary of the first World Trade Center bombings, Representative Rohrabacher spoke out on the floor of Congress.
Rohrabacher detailed the lack of cooperation in many specific cases, including his request to the acting Attorney General last October-
“In 2005, former Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger pled guilty to the mishandling and destruction of classified documents.
“He admitted to entering the National Archives and unlawfully removing, then subsequently destroying, classified documents dealing with terrorist related issues. He removed the documents by stuffing them down his pants and in his suit jacket, presumably with the intention of getting rid of any damning evidence showing his involvement in the failure of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to prevent the Sept. 11th attacks prior to his testimony before the 911 Commission. These documents have never been recovered.
“As part of a plea deal, Mr. Berger agreed to take a polygraph test to be administered by the Department of Justice. It has been two years since that agreement and Mr. Berger has yet to fulfill his obligation.
“We are writing to officially request that as Attorney General you direct the Department of Justice without any further delay to administer a lie detector test to Mr. Berger and determine what documents were stolen and how our National Security was compromised.
“The Congress, and the American people, deserve to know the facts of this crime and what Mr. Berger was covering up.”
“may well have had something to do with the bombing of the World Trade Center and the bombing of the Oklahoma City building… This request is well within my committee's jurisdiction as ranking member of the Investigative Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This request has been supported by the chairman of the Investigative Subcommittee, the chairman of the full Foreign Affairs Committee, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee…
“Nevertheless, the Department of Justice, consistent with its treatment of congressional inquiries during the tenure of this President, has dismissed this valid request. This request has been treated with what can only be described as contempt and condescension.
“So, why would this administration obstruct congressional inquiries such as this? Remember, Ramzi Yousef was the mastermind behind several devastating terrorist attacks and plots against America. He led the first murderous attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, as I say.
“After fleeing to the Philippines, he and two other terrorists plotted to kill thousands of Americans by blowing up 12 commercial airliners over the Pacific at the same time. It was known as the Bojinka plot. It was within 2 weeks of being executed when it was discovered and thwarted by Philippine police.
“Interestingly, the terrorist operation, the Bojinka plot, was to take place about the same time as the Oklahoma City Federal building bombing, perhaps on the same day. We don't know. Perhaps we should know. Perhaps we should ask Ramzi Yousef about that.
“Ramzi Yousef has been in Federal prison for over a decade. He is a prisoner with a unique understanding of the al Qaeda terrorist structure. He is the nephew of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
“In 2006, when I was the chairman of the House Oversight Investigations Subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I was investigating Yousef's movements and activities not only in the United States but in the Philippines. I even traveled to the Philippines to question authorities who had captured Yousef's roommate and coconspirator in the Bojinka plot.
“In spite of that fact and in spite of the fact that I was looking into Yousef's terrorist activities and in spite of the fact that I had obtained new information about Yousef's phone calls right here in the United States and new information about his associates while he was in the United States, the Department of Justice still dismisses the effort and, more than that, they are obstructing a legitimate congressional investigation, refusing to permit this elected Member of Congress, a ranking member of a congressional investigating committee, to interview a Federal prisoner. They refused access to Yousef claiming that there is a ‘ongoing investigation.’
“This prisoner has been in jail for over 10 years. It is more likely that what we have here is an ongoing coverup and not an ongoing investigation. In fact, I have been told recently by a former member of the Justice Department that they were told routinely simply to give answers that there is an ongoing investigation even if no ongoing investigation was underway, but simply using it as a phrase to dismiss a request from Congress.
“Well, this is outrageous, but it's typical of this administration… Is it really the rules of engagement that we want for our government that Members of Congress and the legislative branch don't have a right to talk to Federal prisoners?
“Well, that's apparently what the Bush administration is trying to establish as the executive authority, as executive authority, the right to deny congressional investigators access to Federal prisoners. The danger of this should be easy to understand, both on my side of the aisle, the Republican side, and the Democratic side of the aisle.”*
In New York City, there is a citizen effort to place on the November 2008 General Election ballot an initiative which will allow the voters of New York City to mandate, through public referendum, directly and democratically, the formation of a new Citizen’s Commission to Re-Investigate 9/11.
Sydney Truth Action of