Five Buzz Night

David Rovics came to town and Hampton Roads underground and activist communities came together to create an unforgettable Five Buzz night.

I'd heard the buzz on Rovics so I had to go....the people who have seen him are passionate about him. I came prepared. I read the reviews comparing this protest folk singer to the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. I didn't expect to end the night knowing that Rovics is our modern day troubadour and is the rightful heir to take the stage once dominated by the likes of Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs.

The 40th Street Theatre was almost packed....but that was the only near miss of the night.

Rovics revived us....He is a master of being with an audience. The charisma and camaraderie ricocheted back and forth between Rovics and the people. It was warm, tender, funny, insightful and everyone got charged up together....

I rarely give something Five Buzz night....But for any educated grassroots activist Rovics is the king of protest folk.

If you missed this evening you missed the chance to mingle with a diverse, colorful community filled with young anarchists, older socialists, a self defined "communitist", progressive democrats, progressive entrepreneurs, and even surburban yuppies who have simply had enough.

The entire left stage area was filled with young anarchists who knew the chorus to many of the songs. Right stage had an older crowd of activists settled down with families, and the middle, larger area was filled with folks of all ages, and from various walks of life from Ghent business folk, entrepreneurs, college kids, and even some gray haired hippies.

You also missed out on the opportunity to hear a great indy artist in the perfect environment. Unlike Dylan who never participated in demonstrations and according to Joan Baez wrote peace songs because they sold well...Rovics is in the trenchs and this is obvious in his music. His music is real and in your face...there is nothing distant or subtle about it. Rovics is direct with his message and many of his songs could be called anthems for the worldwide people's movement.

After the concert, my friend Star asked David Rovics what he thought about performing in Norfolk. According to Star, Rovics said Norfolk was an exciting and enjoyable venue. He loved the theatre setting and he loves Norfolk's underground progressive community. It seems that places like New York City and San Francisco can seem jaded in comparison. The folks there have an abundence of progressive artists on a regular basis.....Rovics gets a charge playing for the Norfolk Community.

Do did we David....So did we...

So Rovics will return....IF it happens in the same place the show will be undoubtedly be sold out because everyone left saying they were going to have to get their best friend to see Rovics when he comes back to town. So if you want to catch Rovics when he returns to Norfolk I suggest you purchase an advance tickets so you'll know you'll be able to attend. This is truly a must experience event for all folks desiring a more compassionate, saner, and humane world.

Kudos to Hampton Roads Indy Media Coalition and their producer Luna for this fabulous event.



NEW ORLEANS

David Rovics is a firm believer in the commons so he makes all his music available for download at his website Do yourself a favor....download David Rovics...Then I'll see you at his next attendence in Norfolk, hopefully in 2007.

A glimpse of Norfolk life tonight

Hope you can make the David Rovics concert tonight and network with other Hampton Roads grassroots activists. You'll also be supporting an Indy Artist.

WHERE: 40th Street Theatre
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 423-4084Norfolk VA
Tickets:sliding fee scale of $15.00-$20.000 at the door
WHEN: 7:30 pm Monday nite Nov 13th

David Rovics Performing In Norfolk

WHERE: 40th Street Theatre
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 423-4084Norfolk VA
WHEN: 7:30 pm Monday nite Nov 13th

WHY: A "Perfect" way for Virginians of all stripes and colors to come together and celebrate a new unity in Virginia with the recent Jim Webb Victory!

"Listen to David Rovics..."
Pete Seeger

"Rovics has his fist tight on the pulse of intervention through music."
Sing Out! Magazine

"David Rovics is the musical version of Democracy Now!"
Amy Goodman, host, Democracy Now!

"David Rovics is a guy George W. Bush would probably like to clamp in chains at Guantanamo Bay -- the last American protest singer (or so it seems)... In these days of ongoing neo-conservatism he carries the torch of dissent and protest -- in fact if the great Phil Ochs were to come back from the dead tonight he'd probably be hailed as the new David Rovics."
Andy Kershaw, BBC Radio 3

"If Alternative Radio had a musical voice, it would be David Rovics. He will tell the people."
David Barsamian, host, Alternative Radio

"David Rovics' music gives life and hope in the struggle for peace and justice. He is an inspiration."
Reverend Roy Bourgeois, founder, SOA Watch

"If the key to building a mass movement is to make it 'irresistible,' David is opening the flood gates."
Medea Benjamin, Founding Director, Global Exchange

"In that Wobbly tradition of sharp social commentary, David is a master."
The Industrial Worker

"Inspiring, and inspired... For anyone despairing of finding the next generation, worry no more!"
AK Press

"David Rovics is the peace poet and troubador for our time."
Cindy Sheehan

"David Rovics is the musical version of PBS — that is, if PBS had more cojones!"
The Lone Star Iconoclast, Crawford, Texas

Come on OUT, have a GREAT TIME, and SUPPORT an indy artist and the local Hampton Roads Indy Media Coalition. Tickets are $15.00 BUT if you buy an advance ticket over the weekend they are $10.00...Buzz...Buzz....Buzz...Mosquito

Deer breaks fence in Portsmouth...and life goes on

We are on the long road to taking our country back....hopefully we celebrated some last night...I know I did. I couldn't go to sleep and kept checking the election returns...but now I'm short on time. I have to shower and dress to leave in an hour for a big community activist meet up tonight....

But life goes on....my dear friend called to say a large buck was spotted in her Portsmouth neighborhood....not only spotted but it broke her fence...so I went over to help her fix her fence b/c her dogs "have" to have their space. It's an old Portsmouth working class neighborhood...you probably know it...Park Manor...so we are all wondering where in the world that deer came from?

Approximately three decades ago, some bears were cut off from the dismal swamp and they lived for quite a while where Manor High School is located. No one believed the children in the neighborhood who spoke of "strange creatures" in the area. But when a Portsmouth police officer saw a momma bear and her cub in his next door naighbors yard the bear hunt was on. They caught 3-4 bears and transplanted them to the great Dismal Swamp.

Hopefully this "deer" Buck will have the same fate.

My big wish for the day is that Allen will take the advice he gave to Gore when Florida was "stolen"....just concede and let the nation move on. Well Webb did not "steal" the VA election...the dirty tricks that are being investigated have ties to Allen's staffers....(e pluribus media...the link can be found at Daily Kos).....

Amazing...the media knows that Montana's Senator has been declared a winner with 2,000 votes....so why is Webb with over 7 thousand votes?

Hopefully as soon as the canvassing is done Allen will spare Virginians the cost of a recount. But with what I know of Allen's character...it would be a BIG LEAP for Allen to concede gracefully. But on this point I do hope I'm wrong.

Hope all is well is your world....Buzz...Buzz...

Dems have the Senate too....WOW...Almost perfect!!

Almost perfect here in VA. The results here probably won't be "official" until near the end of November but I'll bet that Webb keeps his lead. So with Webb from VA and Tester from Montana maintaining their wins at the end of this month the Dems will have the majority of the Senate and the House.

It's about time to get some accountability back in DC....

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz....

White House Video Re-Writes History

There should be a law against this sort of propagandistic historical revision....

Check it out.

Buzz...Buzz...VA is trying to turn blue...

And many of us living in VA are getting blue faces and red eyes from checking the VA state board election returns....

But it does look like Webb is going to get this by a squeaker.....the majority of the remaining precints are Webb Country....But this election is probably going to have to have a recount to make any results official...

So go ahead and celebrate Webb supporters....mis me a marguerita...it's time to start partying and maybe our eyes will "un-cross" while we continue to monitor thewe election returns.

Unfortunately, the 2nd district will continue to have to put up with the bought off, sold out Drake.

Thankfully I don't live in that district.

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz....

My Town is Webb Country

CANDIDATES Party Vote Totals Percentage
J. H. Webb JR Democratic 7,235 62.09
G. F. Allen Republican 4,277 36.71
G. G. Parker Independent 121 1.04
Write Ins 19 0.16

Precincts Reporting: 16 of 31 (51.61%)
Registered Voters: 57,644 Total Voting: 11,652 Voter Turnout: 20.21 %

Will Hussein's Verdict include the Republican WMD aid?

I wonder if on Thursday when Hussein's verdict is expected to be completed IF there will be any mention of the fact that Germany and a US Republican administration actually supplied Saddam with the chemical resources necessary for his horrendous gas attacks on his own people.

Or, if one year after these attacks, Rumsfeld is photographed shaking Saddam Hussein's hand. The Republicans don't want us to remember they counted Hussein as a great ally a year after he gassed his people.

The great Corporate Media is not going to remind you of the history....

Fox News can't spell it out

The Fox News crew who love to crow that they are fair and balanced....need to learn how to spell Democrat....

Check this out.




Here's the source

For those of you who want REAL investigative journalism link to democracynow.org

For those of you that would love to see some GREAT television sign up for the basic Dish Network package...the FSTV (Free Speech TV) and LINKTV provide great news programs and documentaries with sound investigative journalism. Cancel the cable and switch to Dish Network...you won't regret it.

Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death without a verdict

It Looks like the Corporate Media continue to collarboarate with the Bush/Cheney/Rove propaganda team.

On Sunday we watched Saddam Hussein sentenced to death. Didn't you find it interesting that there wasn't a verdict? The news sure "pretended" like there was a verdict.

A sentence of death without a court verdict is itself newsworth. So why wasn't that reported? (B/C it would have exposed this "news" as nothing more than spin and propaganda with the purpose of "influencing" the midterm elections.)

The "actual verdict" won't be ready until Thursday. The judicial system is obviously under some heavy duty Bush administration influence...Have you ever heard of a court trial give the sentencing first and wait for the verdict?

The reports did not mention that former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark actually walked out of the trial but I haven't heard why Maybe it was this new Court system of sentence first verdict later?

Reality in Bush World is so bizarre...How much more of this charade can we take?

Here's the source

Nov. Surprise? Bush has everything in place to attack Iran....

Exclusive to DEBKAfile’s military sources: US aircraft carriers USS Eisenhower and USS Enterprise in the Red Sea off the Saudi Arabian coast. It is considered “extraordinary” that the US has two large aircraft carriers and their battle groups in such a small body of water as the Red Sea.

A fourth US aircraft carrier, the USS Boxer, is expected to be “on the scene” at the beginning of next week, as soon as it has completed it’s military training exercises off the coast of India. According to DEBKAfile, “…the intelligence reaching Iran, the Boxer and its escorts carry 850 Marines who have just spent months in special training for operations on offshore oil rigs and platforms.”

If the US attacks Iran before the November 7th elections this could be the dreaded October/November surprise promised by Karl Rove.

However, breaking news reports show that the Bush administration now has a it’s own public relations disaster brewing regarding Bush administration's incompetence in defense matters. According to the Chicago Times, the Bush administration put up a website to make public some of the documents seized when they invaded Iraq. Unfortunately, they recently posted extremely sensitive documents that could assist terrorists in building a nuclear bomb.

This latest incident of incompetence may be enough to deter Bush’s longstanding plans to invade Iran.

Sources are:

Nov 01

Oct 30

Chicago Times

Saudi's Say Iraq is Lost

The Saudi's released a study concluding that Iraq is lost and there is no way the US. can win it.

According to the Hindustan Times:

The question in Iraq is not "if the US succeeds - it has failed by every single measure that you can think of," said Obaid, private security and energy advisor to the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki al-Faisal.

"The failure is only compounded by the fact that we just don't know what the endgame is." said Obaid, head of the Riyadh-based independent consultancy which advises the Saudi government....

The study concluded that a Kurdish drive for quasi-independence within Iraq would gather speed, as would the insurgency, and Iranian influence in the country could be expected to increase as American influence waned.

Vice President Dick Cheney said in an interview yesterday violence would go on "for some considerable period of time in Iraq," but argued progress had been made.

Here's the source

Gas Sale ENDS on Nov 7th

As if you hadn't already figured this one out.

It is predicted that gasoline is going to go up right after the elections. We had a pre-election sale on gas courtesy of the Saudi's and Big Oil....

So tell all your friends to top off their tanks now....heck we all might want to buy some gas containers and top them off too!

But the Grand Oil Party was susing this pre-election sale for their benefit not yours. Don't worry about Big Oil...The GOP will make make sure Big Oil gets theirs...and at our expense.

Vote all the bums out!!

Buzz....Buzz....Buzz.....Mosquito

Here's the source

VDOT NEEDS TO ELIMINATE COMMERCIAL BILLBOARDS

With the argument that VDOT is using to get rid of a Webb sign--that it's "distracting" drivers--then no commercial billboards should be allowed on any of Virginia's highways.It's ILLEGAL to put campaign signs up on public property...notice how many Allen signs are on public property...they've seem to be having trouble getting private property owners to put up Allen signs.

IF a driver is that distractable should they be driving?

It reeks of politics to me.

Here's the story.

George Allen's best doesn't trump Keith Olbermann

George Allen has a video up at his website which is his response to Keith Olbermann. If that's the best Allen can do I would "normally" say that George Allen is in trouble.

The pudgy fellow (who's built like a tank) is the same guy that ran interference on Webb's tracker and would rudely get in the way of any shot she tried to take of Allen. I've seen him before at Allen's stops and he's like a linebacker on a football team...His job is to keep you away from his quarterback. He's "pushing" Mike Stark with his heavy body...that's what this clown does...and is preventing Stark from getting close enough to ask Senator Allen a question. So the assault started there...with the body push...Stark is simply trying to leave the room and yes he does use his arms to push the body off of his so he can exit the room.

I say "normally" b/c with all of Allen's "connections" in this case I'm sure he's going to pull every string he can to get his folks off of the assault charge they so soundly deserve.

ALL Virginia elected officials should make themselves available to constituents questions.

Allen's staff is notorious for shielding him from his constituents. IF you were one of the many constituents calling Allen on any issue (let's use Net Neutrality for example) you will know from experience that they are good at putting up a castle wall around their king.

I'm also tired of the corporate media painting Allen as a "popular" VA Senator. Obviously they did not do any research. One glance at Allen's approval ratings would show this is not the case. Allen may have been a popular governor but as a Senator he has let Virginians down.

I'll be so glad when Webb replaces Allen.

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz...

George Allen is a Rotting Fish Head--Sign Wars Part 2

Jim Webb is right....The fish rots from the head down.

Mosquito says that George Allen is a BIG Rotting Fish Head

Allen's Goons not only attack Virginians who ask legitimate questions about Allen's character but his "supporters" think it's okay to break the law....My Portsmouth friend has been taking her Webb yard signs in at night so they won't be stolen. Allen's supporters STOLE her Webb yard signs at 1 pm today. These folks are shameless.

Well my industrious friend had a back up plan....She actually attended one of those Vote Yes rallies to study the opposition and they gave her vote yes yard signs to put up in her yard. So she's reversing them and making her own yard signs.....

"THEY" STOLE MY JIM WEBB YARD SIGNS.
THEY ARE LIARS AND CHEATERS!
VOTE THEM OUT!!

We are all proud Webb Supporters and we do NOT Lie, we do NOT Cheat, and we do NOT Steal!!

George Allen is going down!

Big Brother's PENTAGON to Monitor BLOGS....

According to United Press International:

Pentagon expanding PR office

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense is creating a Public Affairs "rapid response team" to respond to what it sees as unfair or inaccurate coverage.

Many of the additional staff at the Pentagon Public Affairs Office will be dedicated to booking television news appearances for DOD officials and their representatives, and to trying to convince reporters and newspapers to cover the stories that the Pentagon wants to see more of.

Others will be dedicated to monitoring the Internet, creating podcasts and responding to reports on blogs, negative stories and terrorist propaganda.

The Pentagon press office in the last few weeks has also inaugurated a new blog on its Web site defenselink.mil to respond immediately to news reports it objects to.

Now Mosquito has to wonder....did those folks up in Washington get their letters mixed up again and misidentify their countries? It looks like they think this is the old USSR instead of the USA.....

Buzz....Buzz.....

George Allen has alot of questions he needs to answer!

Here's a letter from the marine veteran, University of VA law Student who was attacked by George Allen's goons the other day....I wish Allen was going to be appearing in my neck of the woods....I hope that other Virginians will show up and ask Allen why he won't release his bar application and open the book on why he was arrested when he attended UVA. Was it a hate crime? Was it an assault? Was it worst than this? "Many" are thinking that his divorce records are closed due to domestic violence.

So if George Allen is going to be the "open book" he says he is...then he needs to open the books and let Virginians take a look at the book for themselves.....

Too bad the media failed to accurately report this major "macaca" incident of Allen's campaign. The attackers were NOT simply supporters showing up for the event. They are in George's inncer campaign circle...I saw two of these guys at other campaign appearances in other parts of the state.....But Virginians won't forget what happened....

Letter from Mike Stark

The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday.

My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.

I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.

George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator's constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen's campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault.

I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.

It just isn't the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now.

W. Michael Stark

When will they call out the Bush Cabal?

The press has gone on "ad nauseum" about Kerry's botched joke.... I'm wondering why they ignored the botched DEEDS of the Bush Cabal related to the Iraqi War. It's not too late to call them out on this stuff...Since the same thing is often repeated by different members of the Cabal these are not just gaffes….they are often actual Bush Policy….

On the IRAQI War
"Bring 'em on."
-President George Bush [source: CNN]

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Truer words have never been spoken George…)

"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."
-Vice President Dick Cheney [source: Washington Post] Too bad “belief” is not a fact.

"It could last, you know, six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."
-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld [source: Washington Post] another belief vs. fact scenario.

"...weeks rather than months."
-Vice President Dick Cheney [source: Washington Post]

"Support for Saddam, including within his military organization, will collapse at the first whiff of gunpowder."
-Former Pentagon Chairman Richard Perle [source: Washington Post] When is this regime going to get it….FACTS are necessary for good governance

"I don't know anyone who thought this would be a war without resistance."
- Former Pentagon Chairman Richard Perle (after the war began) [source: Washington Post] What were all those protestors and experts (that were not given airtime saying?) You need to expand your circle of advisors….

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
-President George Bush [source: Whitehouse.gov] LOL…Life is interesting in Bush World…

"I have a special word for Secretary Rumsfeld, for General Franks, and for all the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States: America is grateful for a job well done."
-President George Bush (using the troops as shields to praise Rumsfeld and Franks) [source: Whitehouse.gov]

"It's very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course."
-President George Bush [source: US Department of Defense] Repeated Ad Nauseum by Bush and other administration officials

"You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. No President wants to be a war President, but I am one."—Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006 Yes George and you still treat the troops like they are your personal toy soldiers….

"One has a stronger hand when there's more people playing your same cards."—Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 2006 Only in the Bush World you grew up in George. The rest of us only get a stacked deck AGAINST us…courtesy of you and other ELITES….

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."—Interview with CBS News, Washington D.C., Sept. 6, 2006 Funny how facts get in the way….

On IRAN….


"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table." --Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 22, 2005

Seymour Hersh and others have been warning us that Bush has made up his mind to invade Iran next….We now have two major Naval battlegroups off the coast of Iran and the alleged plan is to start a war with Iran.

The Press is not doing it’s job…but we need to do ours….

VOTE THE REPUBLICANS OUT AND HOLD THESE BUFFOONS RESPONSIBLE BEFORE THEY DRAG AMERICAN DOWN TO DEPTHS WE’VE NEVER KNOWN….

Buzz…Buzz….