Jeremy Hinzman

Between phone calls Tuesday afternoon, Chuck Fager was at his computer creating a couple of signs for a rally in support of Fort Bragg deserter Jeremy Hinzman.
Fager, who is director of the Quaker House in Fayetteville, plans to be ready no matter which decision is announced today on Hinzman's request for permission to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds. One unfinished version of the sign read, "Shame, Canada, shame!" Another one proclaimed, "Thanks Canada! Jeremy Hinzman: Soldier of Conscience."
More than four years ago, Hinzman -- a specialist in the 82nd Airborne Division -- refused orders for Iraq and sought asylum in Canada. A decision on his future, including the possibility of deportation back to the United States where he would likely face charges of desertion in a military court, is expected this morning.

The above is from Michael Futch's "Deserter to learn his fate" (Fayetteville Observer). Jeremy Hinzman, his wife Nga Nguyen and their son Liam went to Canada in January 2004. He became the first Iraq War resister to publicly go to Canada. He and Brandon Hughey were the first war resisters to attempt to be granted safe harbor in Canada. The Immigration and Refugee 'board' (it's one person deciding) declined to grant status. Both then began appealing to the courts. In May of 2007, the Federal Court of Appeals sided with the board and the Federal court.
In November 2007, Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal. Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Canada in Distress" is in response to that development (Hughey's on the left and Hinzman on the right.




So today Jeremy may hear some news. June 3rd Canada's House of Commons voted (non-binding motion) in favor of Canada being a safe harbor for war resisters. Despite that vote, Judge Anne Mactavish saw fit to extradite Robin Long in July and to call it 'deportation.'

Turning to the US presidential race, below is independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader:

This is Ralph Nader. The only time when tens of millions of Americans tune in for a couple of hours and pay attention to politics is during the prime time presidential debates. For our democracy to survive, prevail and thrive, we must have an open debate about the challenges we face and the solutions that we must apply. We really don't need two-candidate debates that sound like canned interviews. We don't need debaters prepped to look like a couple of game show contestants. We don't need show business, we need serious debate.
A 2000 Zogby poll showed that nearly 52% of the people wanted other candidates in the debates. In 2004, another Zogby poll showed 57% of likely voters wanted the debates opened up. A July 2008 poll by Zogby found that 44% of the public agreed that the American system is broken and cannot be repaired by the traditional two party politics and election. Another poll had 61% of the people saying both parties are failing.
It's time to open up the debates to third party candidates. I'm running for president because our democracy has been the target of an accelerating hostile corporate takeover. Control of our government by large corporations results in huge corporate welfare payouts, mega-fraud by military contractors, a pay or die system of health insurance, continued man-made global climate change and a collapsing financial system being propped up by the day on the backs of the American taxpayer with no restrictions, guarantees or return on investment. This and much more has happened with the craven complicity of both major political parties and politicians in Washington.
Friends, as things stand, the three debates run by the two parties through the private Commission on Presidential Debates, a corporation, will exclude critical discussion of the control of our democracy by large corporations We need honest talk in this campaign. It's time to respect the will of the American people, to expand their access to arguments and facts that address issues central to their daily lives. It's time for the American people to take control of the political system. We can begin by opening up the presidential debates. I'm Ralph Nader.

Team Nader announced yesterday that Ralph would be making audio messages regularly. The above is yesterday's and can be heard here. When possible, we'll note the text of the audio messages in full here. Should we get backed up on other topics, it'll be carried over to Third. Hilda will include the text of all recorded messages the previous week in Tuesday's Hilda's Mix each week. Billie is very excited about the super rallies and notes the following from Team Nader on them. First, Denver:

Nader Super Rally Set for Denver

News Advisory, Event Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (Washington) Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org; (Denver) Jenny Przekwas, 303-718-4477, jenny@votenader.org


NADER SUPER RALLY SET FOR DENVER

WHAT: "Open the Debates" Nader/Gonzalez Super Rally

WHEN: 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 27

WHERE: Magness Arena, University of Denver
2199 South University Blvd. Denver, CO 80208
(202) 471-5833 or events@votenader.org
Donation: $10 in advance; $12 at the door

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, during the Democratic National Convention, the Nader/Gonzalez Campaign will be holding a Super Rally for 5,000-7,000 people at the University of Denver Magness Arena. (Check out our new Nader/Gonzalez video promoting our rallies here.)

A second super rally is planned for Minneapolis on September 4th at the Orchestra Hall during the week of the Republican National Convention.

The rallies will be a call to action for opening the presidential debates.

During his 2000 campaign, Ralph Nader drew sellout crowds to super rallies in arenas from Portland's Memorial Coliseum to Madison Square Garden.

After the election, the PBS NewsHour's Mark Shields called the Nader Super Rallies "the most exciting political development of the campaign year."

"My apology to Ralph Nader for not demanding that he be included in the debates," Shields said.

In 2004, the Democratic Party - along with its Republican allies - smothered the Nader campaign with phony lawsuits in a coordinated campaign of petition sabotage.

The campaign had a tough time keeping its head above water.

Just last month, legislative leaders responsible for illegal use of tax money to keep Nader off of the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2004 were indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg.

Now, in 2008, Nader is back, and on track to be on the ballot in 45 states -- the campaign was on only 34 in 2004 -- and the Nader/Gonzalez ticket is at 6 percent in the latest CNN poll.

These rallies will be part of a massive outpouring of protest in Denver and Minneapolis against the two corporate controlled parties and their policies of perpetual militarism and war.

Nader/Gonzalez is aiming to bust open the presidential debates.

As Mr. Nader says, if tens of millions of Americans can hear the Nader/Gonzalez message through the Presidential debates, it will be a three way race.

For more information on the Nader/Gonzalez campaign, visit: votenader.org.

-End-

ShareThisShareThis

Now Minneapolis:

Nader Super Rally Set for Minneapolis

News Advisory, Event Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (Washington) Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org; (Minneapolis) Danene Provencher, 952-994-3085, danene@votenader.org


NADER SUPER RALLY SET FOR MINNEAPOLIS

WHAT: "Open the Debates" Nader/Gonzalez Super Rally

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4

WHERE: Orchestra Hall
1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(202) 471-5833 or events@votenader.org
Donation: $10 in advance; $12 at the door


At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, during the Republican National Convention, the Nader/Gonzalez Campaign will be holding a Super Rally in Minneapolis at the Orchestra Hall. (Check out our new Nader/Gonzalez video promoting our rallies here.)

The rally will be a call to action for opening the presidential debates.

During his 2000 campaign, Ralph Nader drew sellout crowds to super rallies in arenas from Portland's Memorial Coliseum to Madison Square Garden.

After the election, the PBS NewsHour's Mark Shields called the Nader Super Rallies "the most exciting political development of the campaign year."

"My apology to Ralph Nader for not demanding that he be included in the debates," Shields said.

In 2004, the Democratic Party - along with its Republican allies - smothered the Nader campaign with phony lawsuits in a coordinated campaign of petition sabotage.

The campaign had a tough time keeping its head above water.

Just last month, legislative leaders responsible for illegal use of tax money to keep Nader off of the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2004 were indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg.

Now, in 2008, Nader is back, and on track to be on the ballot in 45 states -- the campaign was on only 34 in 2004 -- and the Nader/Gonzalez ticket is at 6 percent in the latest CNN poll.

This rally will be part of a massive outpouring of protest in Denver and Minneapolis against the two corporate controlled parties and their policies of perpetual militarism and war.

Nader/Gonzalez is aiming to bust open the presidential debates.

As Mr. Nader says, if tens of millions of Americans can hear the Nader/Gonzalez message through the Presidential debates, it will be a three way race.

For more information on the Nader/Gonzalez campaign, visit: votenader.org.

-End-

ShareThisShareThis

Semi-related points. Yesterday's snapshot notes an NPR link and a drive-by loathes the audio and writes to tell me off. Did I quote from the audio? No. Did I even hear the report? No. And it's not all about your pampered little ass. In fact, you're not a community member so your nonsense doesn't mean a thing to me. This community is diverse. That includes physically challenged persons. I have stated over and over that we offer audio and video links to things whenever possible. We have a number of couples (and not just older ones) where one partner is blind or has sight issues. An audio (or video) link can be enjoyed by both of them at the same time. That's the sole reason they are included. Drive-by: While it's great that your life has worked out so wonderfully that you have no issues, it's rather sad that you're luck hasn't made you more aware that not everyone has everything you so quickly take for granted. That is why we will offer text of Nader's audio messages when possible as well. Not everyone can enjoy streaming (due to computer and/or hearing issues). Ralph Nader is supposed to be on Talk on the Nation today. That's from a friend at NPR but I see nothing at the website on that. Hopefully, he will be on.

The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.

iraq
jeremy hinzman
michael futch
brandon hughey
the world today just nuts
talk of the nation
npr