I agree with many of the posts above, but my question is: how do we quit preaching to the choir and reach the people that think Dennis ( the menace to the Democratic machine ) is a long shot? I see Mike Gravel has been taken off of the Demorat debates; is Dennis next?

Extraordinary comments on this article. I'm really impressed.

John F. Butterfield; very funny! The only MSM show I watch is the local news.

Paul Bramscher; I have encorouged people to get the 'DISH NETWORK' satelite tv, as it carries channel 9415, FREESPEECHTV, 24 hours a day of commercial free documentaries and shows that progressive people cherish. Also, channel 9410, LINKTV, which is also an excellent commercial free progressive station. And,channel 9412, UCTV (University of California) lectures from the various campuses.) Also, The Documentary Channel,187, which has informative shows.

On radio, unless you live within range of a 'PACIFICA' station, (I get their flagship station, KPFA,94.1 fm, from Berkely, California) or the 'AIR AMERICA' stations around the country, then one can listen online.
In the Monterey, Ca. area where I live, we have KRXA,540 am, a progressive station in its third year.

Also, right here on Common Dreams, scroll all the way down on the left side and a host of liberal/progressive radio programs can be heard online.

Curmudggeon99; I felt bad not attending the Presidio camp-out this past weekend but visited them Saturday evening and spoke with the gentleman you mentioned.

Kucinich is not a longshot. He represents mainstream America. Period!

Paul Bramscher and Claudius,

We already have our own media, and all are invited to join in. There are Indymedia outlets all over the world. The United States link is here:

http://indymedia.us/en/index.shtml

Most major cities have their own local indymedia outlet. Anybody is welcome to post news. Sometimes this means the quality isn't as great, but at least the people are posting what is important to them and what the major media is not reporting.

Please check it out, and feel free to post!

The day after Thanksgiving is a great time to flyer for Kucinich at shopping centers etc. Many Kucinich supporters are giving their usual holiday shopping $$ to the Kucinich campaign.
dennis4president.com

Ah yes, "long shot" Dennis Kucinich.
What makes him a long shot is the media calling him a long shot. What makes the playing field uneven is money.
Where were the other candidates?

"Kucinich is great BUT..."

I for one am tired of hearing the "buts." They come from those who buy into the hype.

As for SOA, the fight continues.

Well said, southern.

I have only to add that the chance of our Democracy and Constitution being returned to "We The People" if Dennis is not supported and elected is TRULY a long shot.

I was there. Awesome. Thrilling. Twenty-five thousand people, and at times you could hear a pin drop. There was power, folks. Power.

Dennis Kucinich is the only reason I remain a registered democrat. The majority of candidates from both parties are backing the New World Order. It is obvious main stream media is controlled and the electoral system is broken. The United States is not a democracy. I think people are waking up to this fact.

As for the School of Assassins, it needs to be closed. Our government does torture, assassinate and overthrow. The lying and secrecy needs to come to an end.

I would like to thank all the protesters for speaking out.

Kucinich took time out, and had the courage, to actually demonstrate in an anti-war protest at the Army's terror school for dictators SOA.

While Obama didn't even have the guts or time to leave the campaign of lies to vote against the Kyl-Lieberman resolution for starting the next war in Iran.

Of course, to be fair to Obama, it shoudl be noted that at least he wasn't as bad as uber-war-hawk Hillary, who left the campaign to actually vote for the Lieberman IRAN WAR PLAN!!

In our country where the vast majority of average people want the war ended NOW, this clearly explains why the MSM applauds Hillary as the front-runner, Obama as the most serious contender, and Kucinich as not even worth covering.

Does this clearly show and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the friggin MSM is totally against the democratic will of the people --- and totally in the hands of the ruling-elite corporatist war-Empire.

There are two ways to take out the MSM. One is the way of revolutionaries. The other is by means of making our own media, and by guiding the flock to it -- one by one.

I agree with the commentaries above regarding Kucinich. What exactly does the MSM mean "longshot"? He's closer to the interests of the majority of Americans than probably any other candidate in the Republicratic Party.

Paul I second that idea viva la internet revolucion!

He's a long shot because the MSM says so.

"Who needs censorship when we have self-censorship. When news is being withheld, or neutralized, at best, how can we expect anything but cynicism from those who read our daily papers? Maybe the reason many aren't buying newspapers isn't that they can get information for free on the Internet, but because they don't believe what they read, and how can they?"
Jane Lyn Stahl

I did a search on Yahoo for "Fort Benning Army Base" and came up with a couple of articles. Reuters was the closest thing to MSM.
The Army Times, Straits Times and AlterNet are the only other news medias with articles-at least they confirimed "thousands" instead "a few hundred", thats progress.

check out C-SPAN'S Capital News website - daily poll (over 5000 votes) has Kucinich winning with 43% of votes - next highest was Clinton with 17%, Biden and Obama tied for 3rd with 15%. I have emailed every major network - made phone calls and raised hell about lack of coverage for Kucinich.
Paul is right about informing others of alternative sources of info - I have a list of about 50 websites that I share with teachers and some upper level students - most are amazed when they truly begin to understand who they don't know through the MSM.
Now is the time to fight like hell. Talk to new people every day; confront the naysayers - guide those willing to listen to reason.

It is quite "heart warming" to see a presidential candidate involving in a protest against "the war machinery" of the US, which has been used to promote "democracy and freedom" in other countries. In a way, this PROTEST against the US Defence Department school that gives "effective training in democracy, ethics and human rights" EXPOSES the US myth of "democracy, ethics and human rights". I think that the Americans should EXPOSE some of the US imperial myths, and liberate not only the Amerian society but also the world that is being affected by the US myths.

In the history empires have always concealed their greed, exploitation, colonisation, and genocidal activities by the "beneficial ideology". In this particular case, the "beneficial ideology" of the US empire is PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY, ETHICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES, BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES LACK THESE VIRTUES????????????

You, Americans, who are involved in the protest are doing a very great service not only to your own beloved country, but also to the entire world. Because the US imperial "beneficial ideology" is the main cause for the instability, violence, and loss of innocent human life and property around the world.

Thank goodness for the internet. It's the only place to get different views on the news. I take everything I read with a grain of salt, because, let's face it, people all have an axe to grind in one way or another. But as far as the MSM goes, I believe little beyond the local news. Listening to the TV from the other room, I heard a news program hyping the Democratic debates. On the intro, when Hillary was mentioned, there was a rising crescendo of music in the background, subtle manipulation at the emotional level. We need to pay attention to this stuff! Kucinich doesn't have a chance because the MSM is being used to dismiss and erase him from the pack. That idiotic question about UFO's a couple of weeks ago, which he answered with a reasoned and rational response, has provided the talk shows with great fodder for ridicule.
We need to look beyond our differences and unite behind a true patriot. Internet revolution, Si!!!

Many demonstrators showed up at the Presidio in Monterey, California over the weekend as well.

We conducted an impromptu tour of visting Turkish Mevlevi dervishes of Monterey and drove by the vigil site yesterday. The small group included a 22nd generation descendent of Rumi, the great Islamic Saint and Poet of the 13th century. They have been touring the U.S. and Canada in celebration of the 800th birthday of Rumi, giving concerts of dance and recitation of Rumi's spiritual works. Many people have been attending their performances. Most are drawn by Rumi's poetry as sales of translations of his works make him the largest selling poet in the U.S.

According to the leaders of the group, they are bombarded with questions about basic spirituality and relations with god. They were also amazed at how little people knew of the real actions of our military in other countries and the suffering and misery caused in our exercise of 'Democracy' building. Their general mood was that if our citizens were more aware of these two seemingly disparate areas, vigils like this may not be needed or if needed be much larger. The pictures displayed of torturees was very sobering to them and us as well.

Just some sobering views from other eyes !

You also need to see this incisive article on torture.
What Real DOJ Trial Attorneys Say About Torture
By Elizabeth de la Vega
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111807Y.shtml

I am so happy to have read this piece as to read all of the contributors who posted. I am beginng to feel a wild hope stirring in my heart that "the silent beast" is stirring in this land.
doughyden----
I love that you were there and can give us eyewitness report. I wish I could have gone. I have friends here in the Midwest who have been doing this year after year---one very close friend, a Buddhist,consciouly decided to get arrested last year and spent 6 months in jail. He is the gentlest most peaceful guy you could ever meet. The judge who sentenced him seemed very sad, but apparently there's something about minimum sentencing.... ah well.... perhaps he will never be the same because of what his heart told him. One can hope.

As doughyden said---that is power---REAL POWER!

Naturally the spokesperson for Fort Benning would half the size of the crowd, but the give away was the precision, don't you think? Hmmmmmm 11,200? They must have one helluva counting system.

And hoorah for DK---he's a real beacon.

If DK is so popular as polls and word of mouth amongst progressives (who actually may make up a majority of our nation) then what will it take to get him taken seriously by the MSM...I mean this article's introduction is a joke..calling him "a long shot" w/o any justification other than the writers own whim...I think this next election will be a true test of democracy versus oligarchy..can the corporate oligarchs steal/rig another election? I would like to say the choice is up to us as voters..but if history is any good indication I might be too optimistic to make such a claim...

There are many Brits who hate the School of the Americas for the fact that Leopoldo Galtieri was one of its graduates.

It's a real long shot that I'll pay any attention to the M$M.

several questions come to mind on this issue: is it ONLY latin america that is getting this kind of training at this center and is there several other training centers similar in/around the usa that accommodate countries example upstate new york may have several zion training camps around monticello where i drove past miles of these kind of zionist camps who train in warfare tactics in the usa and then use them in israel to torture and destroy all that is palestinian.

Re:Southern

I too am so tired of the media minimalizing Dennis. My dad asked me yesterday who I was going to vote for and I said that the only person who will get my vote in this election is Dennis, he asked me... WHO? I said Dennis Kucinich....he said, I just saw John Edwards on CNN and I like what he said......WTF HAS HE DONE???? I look at Dennis' history and I KNOW he is OUR only hope. If he is not elected, we will for sure fall further into Third World status.....We are already marginalized on the world stage.

If I have to see Billary get on TV and dance one more time I am going to lose it!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THE STUPIDITY IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!!! How did we ever get here? At 26, this is not the Amercia that I learned about and love.....LOL AND WE ARE TO BELIEVE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM IN IRAQ....WE HAVE NO F*&KING FREEDOM HERE.....AND WE ARE KILLING POLICE AT RECORD RATES!!! THE BUSH ADMIN HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THEY SET OUT TO AND DESTROYED AMERICA FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND NOW PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ASK QUESTIONS.....ITS TOO GD LATE!!!!!

WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD AND IF I MIGHT MAKE ONE SUGGESTION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, LEARN TO HAVE PATIENCE BECAUSE WE HAVE YEARS, EVEN DECADES AHEAD OF US...NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS AS SO MANY BELIEVE IS ALL THAT LIES BETWEEN US AND FREEDOM FROM THIS NAZI GOVERNMENT.....

LOL....IF THEY ONLY KNEW..........

OK...I HAVE TO GO TO WORK NOW SO THAT OUR CONGRESS, PRES, VICE PRES AND THE REST OF THE MILLION AND BILLIONAIRES DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!

"NO CHAINS AROUND MY FEET, BUT I'M NOT FREE
I KNOW I AM BOUND HERE IN CAPTIVITY,
AND I'VE NEVER KNOWN HAPPINESS, AND I'VE NEVER KNOWN SWEET CARESSES
STILL I'LL BE ALWAYS LAUGHING LIKE A CLOWN
WON'T SOMEONE HELP ME?
IN THIS CONCRETE JUNGLE
I SAY WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR ME NOW?
CONCRETE JUNGLE OH WON'T YOU LET ME BE NOW?"
- BOB MARLEY "CONCRETE JUNGLE"

VIVA LA REVOLUTION.....PEACE AND LOVE

MM

"There are two ways to take out the MSM. One is the way of revolutionaries. The other is by means of making our own media, and by guiding the flock to it — one by one."

And two-ways to elect someone like Kucinich...
One being a Revolution he won't lead.
The other is by means of a massively-organized/popularized Write-In Campaign.
[Also 'one-by-one']

[You know -- when I was a young-man, I believed in foolish-things. During the worst of the 'ColdWar', I lamented the fact that the US (for whatever-reason) did not take advantage of its military-strength, industrialization at-home, and 'corner' on Nukes, to sweep-on and unify/'conquer' the entire-World. I fancied that 'people DID get the sort of governance they deserved' -- as long as they could not be manipulated by 'Interests' requiring an 'Enemy/competitor' for their machinations. And, who-better/less-selfish to lead/initiate a united-Mankind than the good/old USA...in this, the first-Age such a unified-Rule would be possible/'practical' (mass/instant-communications having arrived, and the dawn of computerization)?
With 'maturity', however, I came to appreciate multiple-Systems/Cultures/Traditions/Peoples for their inherent-diversities and balanced strengths/choices. And, realized that National/Regional/Local-Rule, and better, Self-Rule, "brought much to the table", as well. Moreover, I appreciated/realized that Power (given the 'nature of Man') could-and-would Corrupt, to the extent that an Orwellian-nightmare in such a Unified/World-government would soon need to 'invent' an Enemy, and cyclically falsely-identify its own citizenry-of-choice/convenience into that Role (setting-them-up, and then mislabeling-them as 'Terrorists' -- an 'enemy within').
Those who actually came-into and tasted-of 'Power' during the ColdWar, by contrast and in their-Hubris, also had 'such immature-dreams'. The primary difference is that it wasn't thereafter in their self-Interest to actually 'grow-up'...

For a partial-listing of these-people, see the Signers of the PNAC (I 'know' one of them -- a relative, sad-to-say). They-and-theirs are NOT 'our friends' -- or the World's.
Sadder-still...this-'Internal-Revolution' has already been initiated, and is 'succeeding'. What most-here need to wish-for is 'Counter-Revolution'...]

A few notes:

I met Dennis at this demonstration. The man is a saint and definitely has my vote.

"Monica Manganaro, a spokeswoman for Fort Benning where the institute is located, said there were 11,200 demonstrators and 11 people were arrested and charged with criminal trespass."

Ok, 11,200? What, did she actually count? I went to this protest last year with over 20,000+ strong and this was bigger.

Why does the fourth estate suck so much?

The "long-shot" description of Kucinich also makes me so angry. All these great comments now help me feel more encouraged. DK is head and shoulders above any other candidate. He is the ONLY honest and DECENT person who can and will turn our beloved USA around to represent the majority of us. I'll work hard to support him here in Michigan too.
Sure would like to see much more discussion of The Department of Peace. We're all so tired of war, killing and destruction. The wasted resources are inexcusable, especially since there is so much need worldwide.
mm

Denny has asked whether there are any US training schools similar to the one in Georgia.

Here is the news according to an Indian newspaper, The Hindu.

"US to build armed tribal force in Pak: Report"

"New York (PTI): Shifting its strategy, the US has drafted a proposal to build an armed tribal paramilitary force in Pakistan's frontier areas by enlisting local leaders to counter the expanding base of al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the region.

If adopted, the proposal is likely to expand the presence of the US military trainers in Pakistan, directly finance a separate tribal paramilitary force, that until now has proved largely ineffective, and pay militias, who agreed to fight al-Qaeda and foreign extremists, the New York Times said quoting officials.

Altogether, the broader strategic move toward more local support is being accelerated because of concern about instability in Pakistan and the weakness of the Pakistani government, as well as fears that extremists with havens in the tribal areas could escalate their attacks on allied troops in Afghanistan, the report said.

The US currently has only about 50 troops in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman was quoted but this force could grow by dozens under the new strategy, prepared by staff members of the United States Special Operations Command.

The proposal is in part modeled on a similar effort by American forces in Anbar Province in Iraq that has been hailed as a great success in fighting foreign insurgents there, the paper said.

It also raises question of whether such partnerships can be forged without a significant American military presence in Pakistan. And it is unclear whether enough support can be found among the tribes.

Just in recent weeks, Islamic militants sympathetic to al-Qaeda and the Taliban have already extended their reach beyond the frontier areas into more settled areas, most notably the mountainous region of Swat."

www.hindu.com, 19th November, 2007.

Paul Bramscher,

I am with you. Obviously we have Democracy Now as a major news source. And we have CD and others. But what if we created our own news agency? Fuck CNN, Fux, Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, and other MSM nutjob newspeople and agencies. What if we created our own 24 hour news program, including newspaper? I would be willing to help write TRUTHFUL stories (from historical and political perspectives). What does everyone else here think??

Kucinich was the only democrat candidate there? And he is unelectable? What does that say about democrats?

Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate worth voting for. The only reason I am still a democrat is because of Dennis Kucinich!

The big question I have is: Will DK abandon the democratic party,if he does not win in the primaries, and form a powerful indepemndent coalition with other able,trustworthy,honest leaders such as Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader? What will be the consequences if he does not abandon the democratic party, and choses to play the "party unity" game and supports the party's nominee,or,stays neutral? Does not he have the obligation to clarify his intentions to those who are commiting effort and money for his campaign?

See also the Bill Quigley article on this action. Quigley defended two friars who are serving time for trying to deliver a letter to Fort Huachaca base commandant. The friars run a website, tortureontrial.org

I blogged on the issue of Latin American resistance to Yankee imperialism.

I quote Naomi Klein, who said "...the governments of Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia have all announced that they will no longer send students to the School of the Americas..."

The tide is most definitely turning. The popular mandate is clear: Latin America for Latinos, Yanquitos go home (well at least those who want to lend Latin nations huge amounts of money, build bases, or exploit natural resources)!

If there's no demand for abusive Right wing government in Latin America then our government will most certainly try to create it. A historical pattern backs this.

The earlier threat of communism buoyed dictatorships throughout Latin America with American money and "expertise". The more recent boogeyman of drugs has also encouraged Right wing militancy, with US as both the source of demand and chief financier.

As the failures of the War on Drugs come to light, people have educated themselves on political issues and rights. Consequently they have sought political empowerment and that brought them into contention with Right wing juntas that had oppressed them for so long. When they showed up in full strength--like the Ft. Benning protesters--the governments were rightfully disempowered.

Latin America is no longer content to subsist in the shadows of more developed nations. This is the yin and yang, just like the inevitable correction after the excess--of militarization, war, violence, whatever.

Now if all 11,000 protesters were are willing to go to jail , I wonder just how long the SOA could last. The next year there'd be even more no doubt...

vangelaras----Apparently when asked in LasVegas if he would support the Democratic nominee ( naturally Blitzer presumed it wouldn't be DK), he said something like, " Not unless they remove war as a policy option." Not a definitive answer yet, but.....one can hope.

I like the idea proposed above of a massive write in campaign---but doesn't that presume paper ballots? I always get to vote on them ( lucky me) but how do machine voters do it? I plan to write DK in for sure come November 2008.
Even if there isn't an organized effort, my days of voting "lesser of two evils" are done. Isn't it a good thing really, that the distinguishing characteristics between the two parties are all but erased? Makes it so much easier to vote my conscience. Peace!

OldBadger
Cut this crap. Dennis Kucinich and Cindy Sheehan are unelectable and to see them as the panacea for the ills of the country is an emotional masturbatory fantasy of the far left. STOP IT! Work to elect candidates who if nothing else will make progressive incremental changes, rather than threaten to sit out the 2008 election or move to Canada. God save us from purest.

temp

You are stuck in the mud of the "two" party logic
and cannot get out of it. You are doomed to support action which will perpetuate the oppressive status quo. You cannot breath the air from outside the box. Maybe it is a matter of addiction.

vangelaras
I do not see the status quo as oppressive or open. What I do see the Hegelian dialectic at work and the "two party system" as part of it. My old French speaking Cajun Grandfather used to tell me that in life and catching crawfish, "You use what you got and you take what you can." Some times, my friend, the breath of air from outside the box is coming from the land fill.

Temp November 19: That's purist, not purest,

Vote for somebody who can get elected and make at least some incremental change, huh? Let's see, didn't we do that in 1976, 1980, and 1984? and 1988? and 1992? and 1996? and 2000? and 2004? Exactly how much positive incremental change have we gotten? I must have missed it.

You forgot 2006. The Dimms made a promiss that they would be an opposition party. Stop the war? End NAFTA like trade deals? And so where did that get us? The Dimms don't do "incremental". The party itself is part of the problem. There are only individuals that are worth supporting - or not - to vote for - or not. I will NEVER again vote for anyone because of the letter behind their name. I will only vote for individuals with integrity that will stand with the people and the Constitution.

Incremental...incrashmental. We don't have any more time to mess with this defunct political system. If we don't pull this mess out of the mud soon, democracy is dead. Get it? DEAD!!!!

doughyden and Rebel Farmer

And your solution is? Don't vote, vote for unelectable by "proper" candidates, move to Canada, organize demonstrations and do street theater, write comments on CD? I am a Clinton supporter and I'm I am willing to take the good with the bad. Or do I have you both wrong? Are you supporters of Mao Zedong, "Power comes out the muzzle of a gun."

Rebel Farmer,good for you!
I started voting like you in the 2000 election and not the "lesser of two evils" anymore. If Kucinich is not on the official ballot, I'll write him in. If we don't start standing up and backing people with integrity, then democracy is dead. The message is clear!

Temp; After the 2000 presidential caper pulled by the ethically bankrupt Republicans in Florida and the Dems handling of it, and the blatant crimes by Republicans against certain Ohio precincts in the 2004 election, and the 'instant' capitulation of Kerry/Edwards, you must be a 'glutton for punishment'.

Kucinich and Mike Gravel are honest, and Edwards would be my third choice, but remember one thing. Kucinich is the ONLY Democratic candidate running, who has voted against the Bush/Cheney Republican Crime Family agenda, starting with the anti-American Patriot Act. The others said 'Sig Heil' to Bush. Gravel was not in Congress in 2001, so it doesn't apply to him.

JB Peebles; Quigly is a real American hero...in fact a real world hero. Boy do we need more people like Bill.

vangelaras and starofthesea; Dennis has said many times over the years that he woul not change parties. I remember Amy Goodman asking him that very question in 2004, when she interviewed him. Many of us hoped he would have become a Green Party member and candidate, but he has his reasons.

truthtopower; I certainly agree with you. Living near two military bases, I try talking to as many uniformed people as I can or who want to listen, about things like the 'School of the Americas' and it is starting to sink in.

southern; As the first poster to this article, you hit a home run with bases loaded. I agree completely with your statement. Well said.

Kucinich is a sureshot! DK in 08!