description: Gore Vidal, Ray McGovern, Lawrence Wilkerson and Antonia Juhasz. The legendary author discusses his thesis on the construction of the national security state and a retired CIA officer responds. 2 additional interviews provide in-depth analysis from inside the halls of power.

description:

Filmed in Salt Lake City, UT, by Doug Monroe and Rhea Gavry

2008 Presidential candidate Ralph Nader took some time out of his travel schedule this summer to have a conversation Cardozo the Parrot, who lives with Rocky Anderson, former Mayor of Salt Lake City. In this video, you can see Ralph and Cardozo discussing the media blackout and uphill battle faced by third party candidates and independents running for President of the Unites States.

Contribute now to help us try to get Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez in the presidential debates:
www.votenader.org

We did it in 2006 and 2007 - so we are due now for a 2008 political compass test.

My results - still in the economic left/ social libertarian quadrant

2006 Economic Left/Right: -7.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.05

2008 Economic Left/Right: -7.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.10

Edit: I fixed the 2006 link, thanks Bert and FRESH for prompting me

This is an Isthmus open thread. Feel free to (respectfully) sound off, and/or discuss the issue!

I previously posted this slideshow, but here it is again, in case some of you haven't seen it yet:

Isthmus 2008, Olympia, Washington, a photoset on Flickr

Maybe you haven't heard it. If you live or work in Olympia and you haven't heard it, then you need to get your hearing checked. Because it's loud. I went by today. I saw it in action. More so, I heard it - felt it actually, as it vibrated the ground. I got right up close and personal. It was painfully loud. I wonder how it felt to the workers who were standing there, watching the machine hammer away... I wonder how long their shifts are. They did not look happy. In fact they seemed quite close to the point source, and not too enthused about the whole situation.

The deep piles are necessary for tall structures in this area because the land is composed of fill, which is mostly mud dredged up from the bay. The land is prone to liquefaction (where it turns into a soupy mess and becomes unable to support heavy structures) in an earthquake situation.

Is this the face of progress? Or is this an attempt to create an illusion of security and permanence? These are heavy questions. But it's time to be asking them, considering the amount of piles that we might, as residents of Olympia, be looking forward to - given the impetus for development, "revitalization" and investment in the vision of a "vibrant" downtown core.

story moved: Isthmus Photos II

I just read on The Olympian's Breaking News there was a violent attack downtown at 3:40 this morning that involved 5 African American men assaulting a Caucasian man. 

Any thoughts on this situation?  Is downtown safe?  Is downtown getting more & more unsafe?  Do you feel safe downtown?  If not, why?

from the description: 2008 Presidential Candidate, Ralph Nader receives a resounding endorsement by legendary social activist Peter Camejo at the Peace and Freedom Delegate Convention in Sacramento, CA on Aug 2nd, 2008

For more info:

www.votenader.org

Major financial institutions declaring bankruptcy, or getting gobbled up by even larger institutions... It's ominous. Got this from Nader this morning:

Bleak Sunday, Momentous Monday, and Nader/Gonzalez

Posted by The Nader Team on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 08:37:00 AM

On this momentous Monday, September 15, 2008, we make a simple request.

Donate $15 to Nader/Gonzalez.

The prudential choice for 2008.

We woke up this morning early.

Turned on C-Span radio.

And heard Brian Lamb quoting Ralph Nader.

From years ago.

With Ralph warning about extravagance, recklessness, and excessive compensation on Wall Street.

Warning years ago about the undue influence of Fannie and Freddie on Democrats and Republicans alike.

Warning about the failure of our government to protect small investors.

Throughout his career, Nader has strong been a strong advocate for due diligence.

For protecting shareholder rights.

For prudential regulation.

And strict oversight of the markets.

While the Democrats and Republicans have bent to the whims of their corporate masters and Wall Street's bottom line imperatives.

Nader has been steadfast in his advocacy for safety, regulation, and protecting the little guy.

Unfortunately for the nation and for investors, his warnings have gone largely unheeded.

It's going to start getting weird, isn't it?