Politics Plus

WikiLeaks, the whistle blowing website, may have to close it’s doors, because they are running out of money.  While they have not divulged information that would do any real harm to this nation, they have revealed information that was classified inappropriately, to save leaders from embarrassment, and caused much embarrassment both here and abroad.

Julian Assange, co-founder of WikiLeaks, has announced that the whistleblowing website is suspending publishing operations in order to focus on fighting a financial blockade and raise new funds.

Assange, speaking at a press conference in London on Monday, said a banking blockade had destroyed 95% of WikiLeaks’ revenues.

He added that the blockade posed an existential threat to WikiLeaks and if it was not lifted by the new year the organisation would be "simply not able to continue".

The website, behind the publication of hundreds of thousands of controversial US embassy cables in late 2010 in partnership with newspapers including the Guardian and New York Times, revealed that it was running on cash reserves after "an arbitrary and unlawful financial blockade" by the Bank of America, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Western Union.

WikiLeaks said in a statement: "The blockade is outside of any accountable, public process. It is without democratic oversight or transparency.

"The US government itself found that there were no lawful grounds to add WikiLeaks to a US financial blockade. But the blockade of WikiLeaks by politicised US finance companies continues regardless."… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Here’s the video.

WikiLeaks have committed illegal acts.  That’s normal with civil disobedience, and the legal consequences serve to emphasize the commitment to a cause.  I would like to see WikiLeaks survive.  This nation classifies far too much information for all the wrong reasons, so WikiLeaks have provided a valuable service.  Most important, WikiLeaks have been responsible about filtering out the kind of material that should be classified, so needed intelligence operations have not been compromised, and assets have not been killed as a result.  If the US is successful in taking WikiLeaks down, others will take their place.  Perhaps those others might not be so careful.

One moment demonstrators were singing, chanting and peaceful, many were talking to police who were formed in a tight formation in front of us.  The next moment, tear gas canisters arced into the demonstrators. One hit me in the shoulder.  That was the signal for police to attack, and they waded into us, batons flailing.  Hours of bloody mayhem followed. I was unconscious for most of it.  That was Grant Park in 1968, and I’m pleased that it was not repeated last night.

About 130 protesters have been arrested at an Occupy Chicago demonstration after they erected tents and refused to leave a park at its closing time, police said.

The breakup of the protest in Grant Park, next to Lake Michigan, was the second mass arrest of demonstrators from Occupy Chicago in the past week. Last weekend, about 175 protesters were arrested.

The protesters were charged with violating a city ordinance and most were released after agreeing to appear in court, Chicago police said.

Grant Park, the site of major anti-war protests during the Democratic convention in 1968, is closed after 11pm… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Well, I tried to tell Chicago not to elect Rahmbo. Next he’ll arrest 150 for not having their shirt tails tucked in.

Most of you are probably aware that, in states where Republicans control state government, they are rolling out almost identical Voter ID laws, financed by the Koch Brothers and other corporate criminals.  Their intent is to make it harder for people who are most likely to vote for Democrats to vote.  But Republicans have now hit a new in voter suppression: trying to enforce voter ID laws in a place that does not even have voter ID laws.

Failed Massachusetts GOP candidate and anti-vote operative Tom Weaver recently set up a camera at a polling station in New Bedford, Massachusetts in hopes of catching a plethora of poll violations. He caught nothing, except himself and his colleague Ralph Zazula sitting behind the desk at the polling place with a sign, “Show I.D. To Vote.” On the sign, Weaver had “Rules”: including, “be polite,” “have valid government issued ID,” and “voluntary compliance.” Telling Elections Commission Chairman Maria Tomasia that they had permission to be there (they didn’t), Weaver proceeded to tape himself suppressing the vote.

Though the “rules” said “voluntary compliance,” New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang (D) said Weaver’s act was tantamount to “voter suppression” and he demanded an investigation. The Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin took a look, and informed Tomasia the sign was indeed “illegal”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Rachel Maddow also covered this story.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I have to wonder how many voters saw these cretins and their sign, realized that they did not have a voter ID with them, and went home.  How many votes did the Republican Party steal  at that election?  Weaver and Zazula should be criminally charged.  Remember, when Republicans claim fraud, the only election fraud that can be demonstrated is Republicans defrauding voters.