George Cadman of Free Radio Santa Cruz (101.1 fm / www.freakradio.org) interviews Chris Toensing of The Middle East Research and Information Project (www.merip.org) about the Iraq elections on January 30th. Chris Toensing is the Executive Director of MERIP and the editor of The Middle East Report.

Audio: Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3 (38 minutes / 15.3 MB)

Ralph Nader was in Santa Cruz Monday night on his Anti-War Tour speaking about government corruption and the Iraq War. He gave the crowd numerous reasons to be outraged by the current political situation in the U.S. and urged them to take action.

His presentation was a variation on his lifelong message: outrage against a system completely corrupted by corporate influence. Citing everything from the grossly inflated military budget that charges tax payers $220 million for a single F-22 plane to the systematic conditioning of children for commercial gain by corporations, he implored the crowd to become active in politics, especially at the grass roots level.

“The forces of injustice never take a day off. We cannot afford to.�

Audio: Ralph Nader Rocks the Rio
Photos: Dance Brigade at the Rio Theater
Photos: Nader, Gonzalez, and more...

Another Reportback: Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez speak at the Rio

More than 400 protestors turned out in Santa Cruz for a march and rally to coincide with the 2nd inauguration of George W. Bush as President of the United States. People gathered on the steps of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse and heard musicians and speakers, before collectively taking an oath of office as President Pro-Tem of the United States. Since no bible's were on hand, a copy of Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" was used.

Soon after, the crowd made its way to the Town Clock, site of the Collateral Damage statue, where a number of drummers and other musicians performed. Speakers there cited a need for better health care, slammed Bush's environmental record, and called for an end to the US military occupation of Iraq. George McGovern, former South Dakota Senator and the Democrat Party's presidential candidate in 1972, addressed the crowd, and said members of the Bush Administration are masters of fear and deception.

Audio: FRSC: Inaugration Demonstration call-ins
Photos: Counter-Inauguration pix, part 1 I part 2
Video: Freedom, January 20, Santa Cruz
Audio: Counter-inauguration protest wrap
Photo: Lady Liberty at the Town Clock

Join us on Thursday, January 20th, at the County Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz for a good old fashioned rally, from 4:30 PM to 5:45 PM, and culminating with a mass swearing in of all those present as Collective President Pro-Tem of the USA.

then, at 5:45, we will march to the Collateral Damage Sculpture/Town Clock Park, corner of Water and River Streets, to mourn and honor the victims of war, call for an end to the Iraq Occupation, and lay flowers of remembrance in silence and reflection

at 6:30, we will proceed across Water Street, to the Sister Cities Circle next to the Post Office - together we will rekindle the torch of our giant Statue of Liberty Puppet, bringing her spirit and her purpose back to life!!

Update: George McGovern will speak at about 6:45pm

See Also: Mass Demonstrations in DC, LA, and San Francisco on Inauguration Day

California Senator Barbara Boxer was the sole U.S. Senator to join with other U.S. Representatives in contesting Ohio's electoral ballots.

As a result of the objection, both Senate and Congress were dismissed to their respective houses and started a mandated two hour debate on the subject. After the debate, they will resume the joint session; despite the objection, the election is expected to be certified today.

[ Black Box Voting I pdx-imc's election fraud page I us-imc's election 2004 page ]

' I said that simply so that if someone does find a body or a bag of heroin in my car, or some variant thereon, I will have been on record that it was going to happen.' - Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, Senator Bennett's favorite constituent who funded the Swift Boat Captains Against Kerry and,along with his insurance billionaire daddy Jack, donated $1,000,000 !! in a smear campaign against Democratic VP candidate John Edwards.

author: a patriot

Lawsuits arising out of Dean’s unconstitutional appointment policies in Vermont still costing Vermonters.

Why, the question is being asked, does a high profile American defend people and causes that are not only anti-Establishment, but anti-American as well?