For years throughout human history there have been the murmurings of dark alliances. Improbable and outrageous conspiracy theories regarding the “true” powers that controlled the world… and for years, despite evidence to the contrary, the people that have adamantly proselytized over and over that there was a “worldwide conspiracy to control the world by unseen powers” were dismissed as “alarmist” and “unbalanced”. While I do no argue that there are unbalanced people in this world recent world events have pushed some ugly truths out into the light.

The age old conspiracy was that there is a global international banking cartel that plots to subjugate every man, woman, and child on this earth through financial means is an old one. Growing up, I would watch as adults would guffaw in outrage and pass such ideas off as radical fringe behavior. I was guilty of the same behavior myself but the conspiracy cat is out of the proverbial bag at this point.

In a strange sort of way this financial collapse is a good thing for everyone (everyone who is paying attention that is…). Its positive in the regard that it has pushed into the light, the fact that the world’s banking and financial system DOES in fact run the civilized world. I don’t think it was planned this way but the “masterminds” behind this financial disaster forgot to include one important factor in their calculations, and that is the fact that greed takes on a life of its own and ends up consuming itself.

The financial institutions, investment firms, hedge funds and loan providers got so greedy, that its culminated into a “DEFCON 1″ scenario where the whole financial system was on the verge of total collapse. So in response, the insolvent banking systems, freshly “evaluated” from the recent government stress tests are now pillaging the very citizens in which they intended to enslave, and our government is in complete support of the saddling of insurmountable debt for many generations to come.

What does it say about the power structure in this country and more importantly, the world when the flailing banking and financial industry has consumed itself in endless greed and now crawl back to world governments and begged for bailouts? The government gives the banking system the bailouts they groveled for and in response, the banks take the money that the citizens have loaned them by proxy and then re-loan our money back to us with interest!

How much more uncapitalist can you get? So my question is “when does it stop being a conspiracy and start becoming fact?”.

Once again, the corporate controlled media wants you yo focus on the SHOCKING American Idol final! and none of the main U.S. outlets want you to hear about or care whats going on in our government. Latest news, there are currently 16 members of congress under investigation by various federal and state agencies. As you can see both Republicans and Democrats are both equally corrupt and time and time again are accused of lining their own pockets and pockets of families and friends. Feel free to write your representative or  Senator and let them know your feelings! Thanks to CREW for this information.

Either click on the link posted above or just read the list here posted after the jump…

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE:
Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA):
• Under Investigation by: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
• Under Investigation for: The GBI launched an investigation into a youth program for
which Rep. Bishop has earmarked almost $200,000.1 The “Junior Marshall” program
employed Rep. Stanford’s step-daughter and her husband.
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Bishop paid $25,000 in legal fees. In March
2009, a GBI special agent stated, “The FBI is aware of it, but there is not a criminal
investigation at this time.”
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL):
• Under Investigation by: The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and the Department
of Justice (DOJ).
• Under Investigation for: The OCE is reviewing Rep. Jackson’s actions surrounding his
bid to be appointed to the Illinois Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. The
OCE asked former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s former staffers and campaign
aides to turn over correspondence between Rep. Jackson and the governor.
Additionally, DOJ has interviewed Rep. Jackson in the probe of Gov. Blagojevich.
Federal authorities have subpoenaed individuals with knowledge of a possible
fundraising effort by Rep. Jackson’s supporters to encourage Gov. Blagojevich to appoint
Rep. Jackson to the Senate.
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Jackson paid $15,000 in legal fees in addition to
the $100,000 he paid in December 2008.9 The investigation is ongoing.

Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Lewis is under investigation for steering millions of
dollars in earmarks to family and friends in exchange for contributions to his campaign
committee and political action committee.11
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Lewis paid nearly $50,000 in
legal fees.12 Since the start of the investigation in 2006, he has paid nearly $1.2 million
in legal fees.13 The status of the investigation is unknown.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile:

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/lewis.php

Representative Gary Miller (R-CA):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Miller is under investigation for failing to pay capital
gains taxes after he claimed he was forced to sell his land to two cities under eminent
domain, allegations both cities have denied.14
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Miller paid about $12,000 in legal fees.15 The
status of the investigation is unknown.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile:

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/miller.php

Representative Allan Mollohan (D-WV):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Mollohan has been under investigation since 2006 for
directing millions in earmarks to groups with which he has close ties.16 Rep. Mollohan
allegedly earmarked funds to five non-profits, one of which is headed by a former aide,
and in turn staff at these non-profits contributed to the congressman’s campaign
committee.17
• Status: In the 2008 election cycle, Rep. Mollohan paid $152,000 in legal fees.18 The
status of the investigation is unknown.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile:

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/miller.php

Representative Timothy Murphy (R-PA):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Murphy is under investigation for misusing official
resources for political campaign activity.
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Murthy did not report paying legal fees.20 In
2008, Rep. Murphy paid more than $28,000 in legal fees.21 The status of the
investigation is unknown.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/314

Representative John Murtha (D-PA):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Murtha has been under investigation for his ties to
lobbying firm PMA Group and defense contractors. As chair of the House Defense
Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Murtha has steered millions in earmarks to
contractors in return for campaign contributions. In November 2008 and January 2009,
the FBI raided the offices of the PMA Group and Kuchera Corporation respectively; both
companies have close ties to Rep. Murtha. The PMA raid reportedly was part of a
widening federal probe into Rep. Murtha’s relationship with lobbying firms and defense
contractors.
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Murtha did not report paying
legal fees, but he owes $2,781 in legal fees. Rep. Murtha insists he’s not the subject of
the federal investigation and he has not hired a lawyer. DOJ has not confirmed whether
Rep. Murtha is under investigation.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile:

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/summaries/murtha.php

Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY):
• Under Investigation by: The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Rangel is under investigation for leasing four rentstabilized
properties in New York, one of which he used as a campaign office;29 for using
congressional stationery to raise funds for the Charles B. Rangel Center at the City
College of New York;30 for failing to report on his financial disclosure forms and to the
IRS approximately $75,000 in rental income on a Dominican Republic villa;31 and for
supporting a tax shelter for Nabors Industries in return for donations to the Rangel
Center.32
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Rangel paid almost $445,000
in legal fees.33 At Rep. Rangel’s behest, the House Ethics Committee initiated a probe
into his conduct on September 24, 2008.34 Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement in
November that the investigation into Rep. Rangel would be concluded by the end of the
110th Congress.35 The investigation was not completed last Congress and was reopened
in the new Congress on February 10, 2009.36
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/432

Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA):
• Under Investigation by: The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.37
• Under Investigation for: The House Ethics Committee is reviewing whether House
rules were violated when three of Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s aides were put on Rep. Linda
Sanchez payroll in late 2006 after an embezzlement scandal left Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s
office short on funds.
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Loretta Sanchez spent over
$6,000 on legal fees.39 In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Linda Sanchez did not report any
legal fees.40 Stan Brand, an attorney for Loretta Sanchez, confirmed on May 19, 2009
that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct was investigating, adding that Reps.
Linda and Loretta Sanchez sought the Committee review in late 2006 or early 2007.

Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Visclosky is under investigation for his ties to the PMA
Group.42 In fall 2008, the FBI raided lobbying firm the PMA Group for potentially
making improper campaign donations to members of Congress.43 Rep. Visclosky is one
of the top three recipients of donations from the firm and its clients.44 In March 2009,
Rep. Visclosky returned over $18,000 in campaign contributions from the PMA Group’s
board of directors and lobbyists.45
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Rep. Visclosky did not report
paying legal fees.46 On March 21, 2009, Rep. Visclosky’s campaign wrote a letter to the
Federal Election Commission seeking permission to use campaign funds for legal
expenses that may arise from the FBI’s investigation into the PMA Group.47 The
campaign, however, reported that the details of the investigation are unknown.48

Representative Don Young (R-AK):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Under Investigation for: Rep. Young is under investigation for earmarking $10 million
dollars for a Florida construction project in exchange for campaign donations from
Florida developers.49 Rep. Young is also the subject of a criminal inquiry into whether
he accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corporation.50 Rep.
Young’s ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff also have been the subject of a grand
jury investigation.51
• Status: Rep. Young’s most recent 2009 federal disclosure revealed that he pays legal
fees from his defense fund, rather than campaign funds.52 The defense fund has raised
$82,000, mainly from fishery interests, and spent $73,415.53 Rep. Young spent over $1
million in legal fees in the 2008 election cycle.54 The status of these investigations is
unknown.
• Link to CREW’s Most Corrupt Profile: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/305

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE:
Senator Roland Burris (D-IL):
• Under Investigation by: The Senate Ethics Committee and the Illinois Sangamon
County State Attorney.
• Under Investigation for: The Senate Ethics Committee is investigating Sen. Burris for
repeatedly altering his testimony regarding his appointment to the Senate and his contacts
with indicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL).55 Under oath, Sen. Burris has
offered at least three different descriptions of how he was appointed to the Senate; in one
scenario, Sen. Burris admitted to trying to raise money for the former governor.56 The
Illinois State Sangamon County State Attorney is investigating Sen. Burris’ testimony to
state lawmakers about whether Sen. Burris offered to fundraise for Gov. Blagojevich
before he was appointed to the Senate.57
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Sen. Burris did not report paying
legal fees.58 On April 9, 2009, Sen. Burris revealed that he has “rung up” $500,000 in
legal expenses resulting from an investigation into his ties with the indicted governor.59
The investigation is ongoing.
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND):
• Under Investigation by: The Senate Ethics Committee.
• Under Investigation for: Sen. Conrad is under investigation by the Senate Ethics
Committee for possibly receiving a preferential mortgage rate from Countrywide
Financial.61 Sen. Conrad admitted to talking to Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo when
he was looking for a mortgage, but denied that he knowingly received special treatment
from the company.62
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Sen. Conrad did not report paying legal fees.63 The
status of the investigation is unknown.
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT):
• Under Investigation by: The Senate Ethics Committee.
• Under Investigation for: Sen. Dodd is under investigation by the Senate Ethics
Committee for receiving two preferential mortgages from Countrywide Financial while
serving as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Sen. Dodd admitted that he and his wife have known since 2003 that they were receiving “V.I.P.” mortgages.
• Status: In the first quarter of 2009, Sen. Dodd spent $31,316.60 in legal fees.66 The
status of the investigation is unknown.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ):
• Under Investigation by: The Department of Justice.
• Under Investigation for: Sen. Menendez is under investigation by the Newark, NJ U.S.
Attorney’s Office for collecting rent from an anti-poverty group for which he helped win
federal funds, the North Hudson Community Action Corporation.67 The group was run
by a donor to Sen. Menendez’s campaign.68 More recently, in 2007, federal investigators
began looking into Sen. Menendez’s relationship with his former chief of staff, lobbyist
Kay LiCausi, to determine whether the senator improperly helped her or her clients win
contracts and federal funding.69
• Status of Investigation: In the first quarter of 2009, Sen. Menendez did not report
paying legal fees.70 The status of the investigation is unknown.

For those of us who have watched the Pirate bay trial followed by the stunning verdicts, some breaking news has come out of Swedish National Radio. According to the Wired article:

One of the four men convicted in The Pirate Bay trial is seeking to have his guilty verdict thrown out after learning that the judge in the trial is a member of two pro-copyright groups, including one whose membership includes entertainment industry representatives who argued in the case.

Stockholm district court judge, Tomas Norström told a Swedish newspaper that his previously-undisclosed entanglements with the copyright groups did not constitute a conflict of interest.

The groups include the Swedish Association of Copyright, a discussion forum. Henrik Pontén of the Swedish Anti-Piracy Bureau, Monique Wadsted, a motion picture industry lawyer, and Peter Danowsky from the recording industry’s IFPI are members of the organizations, and were largely responsible for pressing the case against The Pirate Bay before the judge.

Looks like justice is not blind in Sweden either. Lets hope the Pirate bay guys escape the noose and sail off into the sunset. Go pirates, go!

Stay connected to whats going on around your world. Knowledge, power and understanding.

Here are some more videos from Immortal Technique. Great beats and lyrics with substance (warning: some graphic images).

In an article from commondreams.org- In an inevitable and unfortunate new decree by the Maryland Police department, they are now classifying non violent anti war protestors as “terrorists”. Evidentaly, if one opposes the death penalty or is against the war in Iraq in Maryland, you are now a threat to the state.

One of the most stunning draconian statements came from the former state police superintendent who authorized the operation, Thomas E. Hutchins:

“I don’t believe the First Amendment is any guarantee to those who wish to disrupt the government,”

First amendment? Wow, down the chute we go! weeeee!

Much like the Patriot act, one of the most unjust and and insidious pieces of legislation is about to get railroaded through congress right under the noses of the American people. The proposed Wall Street bailout tailored by Treasury secretary Henry Paulson and the Bush administration is good for “Wall Street” but devastating for “Main Street”.

In the latest Rasmussen poll, only 7% of the America supports a bailout of Wall Street, and when there are already financial experts and professors stating that this bailout is unnecessary, this attempted robbery of the American people cannot go unchecked. Please sign the petition over at Public Citizen. Take 3 minutes out of your day to have your voice heard.

If this bailout act passes it is tantamount to making almost every American citizen a slave. Here’s an idea… Why don’t we try what Sweden did in the early 1990s to save their insolvent banking system?

Sign here

Why did I request that you sit through that deplorable clip? For good reason my friends… because this is an amazing and cautionary tale about young republican asshat attorneys with too much money and the troubles they find themselves in.

According to the Pioneer press, the St. Paul paper, our good friend Gabriel was drugged and robbed by a beautiful lady thief. Sounds like this lucky lady hit the jackpot on this guy. Lets hope she’s out on the beach in the carribean sipping mai tias laughing about the heist. According to the article:

The theft occurred early on Sept. 4, hours after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave her speech accepting her party’s vice presidential nomination. A police report said Schwartz told officers he met a woman at the bar and took her to his $319-a-night room.

“Victim reported suspect made victim drinks, told him to get undressed, which is the last thing he remembers,” a police narrative said. “Upon waking, victim discovered money, jewelry gone; total loss over $120K.”

A police report notes the crime occurred between 4:22 and 5:46 a.m., and Palmer said investigators believe Schwartz was drugged, although he declined to discuss details.

Aside from the watch, ring, necklace, earrings and belt, Schwartz also reported a $1,000 purse or wallet, a $1,500 cell phone, $500 in cash and a couple of rings worth $50 had been taken.

When “Gabe” was reached by phone he said he “couldn’t comment on it now”. The moral of this story kids? Asshat warmongers end up being the biggest losers of all.

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In a bizarre case out of Fresno, CA. A burglar woke 2 victims of a burglary up by rubbing spices on one man and slapping another man with a sausage? From the AP article:

The farmworkers told deputies the suspect woke them Saturday morning by rubbing spices on one of them and smacking the other with an 8-inch sausage.

Lets all be thankful that this “Spice rub bandit” has been apprehended by the authorities. There’s no telling what this meat wielding miscreant would have escalated to if he was still on the loose. A double T-Bone clap to the sides of the head?