Liberal Repercussion

President Bush Served Friday With Personal 9-11 RICO Complaint

PHILADELPHIA -- January 6, 2003 (TomFlocco.com) -- On Friday, Philip J. Berg, attorney for 9-11 widow Ellen Mariani in her Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) suit seeking to hold President Bush and various government officials accountable for the September 11 attacks, served Bush and top officials in his Administration with a personal summons, the original complaint and the first amended complaint via a federal process server, as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Among those served besides the President, were Vice-President Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet, National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, 9-11 Congressional Victim Compensation Fund Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, former Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein, Zacarias Moussaoui, and former President George H. W. Bush.

The legal documents were also filed at the Philadelphia office of United States Attorney Patrick Meehan, former Republican District Attorney from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Berg told TomFlocco.com "the multiple summonses and complaints were filed last week in Philadelphia; and they require an answer within 60 days," adding "we feel confident that we'll be successful, and that the evidence in this case is so strong, it will lead to the end of the Bush presidency."

Berg also told us "we're currently preparing written interrogatories and subpoenas so that we'll be able to keep the discovery of evidence and multiple investigations moving forward at a reasonable pace."

For her part, plaintiff Ellen Mariani told us last night that "There was ample warning of these attacks; and now I hear from news reports that Condoleezza Rice doesn't want to testify publicly under oath about all the intelligence briefings which warned about planes flying into buildings. What does she have to hide?"

The widow continued, "Our Congress created new laws to protect themselves, the White House and the insurance corporations. Insurance lobbyists even talked to representatives and senators on the afternoon of the attacks."

"And then Mr. Ashcroft's lawyers stalled the New York City airline and airport security lawsuits and investigations to force destitute victim families into the Federal Compensation Fund. But they had to sign an agreement promising never to sue the government about 9-11 evidence," she said. "So I decided to file another suit; but this one includes everyone."

Copyright: Tom Flacco.com

posted by Rei Toei @ 5:24 p.m.

It seems to me that you really need the charismatic guy up front, the communicator. The Vice Presidency is a waste of Dean's leadership and communication skills, but is a perfect fit for Clark's military background.

While Clark has command experience, it is in the command of a hierarchical organization where obedience is required, not necessarily wooed and won. I think the politician Dean's experience makes him better suited to romance and win the vote of the people.

Bear in mind that Bill and Al and Hillary and Tipper defined a presidency where everyone worked and worked hard and smart. The Vice Presidency commands plenty of respect and is freer in some respects to move about the world than the President.

The important thing is for Dems to put out the irresistable bait that will win the votes of the people; I am not remotely interested in the egos of the candidates. Personally, I think Dean/Clark works better.

posted by Rei Toei @ 5:24 p.m.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/010504A.shtml

Two Loud Words
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Monday 05 January 2004

There have always been 'third-rail' issues in American politics, subjects that, if touched upon, will lead to certain political death. For a long while, and until very recently, Social Security was one of these issues.

A new one, surrounding the attacks of September 11, has been born in this political season. If September 11 is discussed, the only allowable sub-topic to be broached is whether or not the Bush administration is capable of keeping us safe from another onslaught.

Friday's edition of the Boston Globe had a case in point on the front page. An article titled 'For Bush, Readiness is Key Issue' stated that, "In speech after speech, President Bush has emphasized his administration's pledge never to forget the lessons of Sept. 11. He says the top goal of his administration is to prevent another attack." The Globe article contained, in the next paragraph, the standardized rejoinder: "And while Democratic opponents of the administration are unanimous in their hope that that vulnerability is not exposed with deadly results, they have also argued that Bush has done far too little to protect the country from another attack. He has refused to adequately reimburse state and local officials for homeland security costs, they argue, and has ignored dangerous gaps in air cargo and port security."

Thus, the 'preparedness-gap' becomes the whittled-down talking point du jour. This is a whiff of colossal proportions, the implications of which will echo down the halls of history unless someone develops enough spine to speak the truth into a large microphone. The talking point is not difficult to manage. It was splashed in gaudy multi-point font across the front page of the New York Post in May of 2002.

Two words: 'Bush Knew.'

posted by Rei Toei @ 5:20 p.m.

Crossfire - Novak links GOP/White/Patriotism"


Begala/Novak today.

Novak was braying on about Howard Dean and Democrats in general being subhuman creatures. Then he made an incredibly boorish remark.

Marginally appropo to the current discussion, Novak opined to the effect that Dems were in trouble in the "White South", because Republicans were the party of patriotism.

(Novak is SUCH a dickweed.)

Begala shot back that Dems were the party of civil rights and SOME people didn't like that. heh.

It was a tense exchange... Begala's hackles had gone up at Novak's statement, as did mine.

Novak needs his nose pushed into his own poodoo when he spreads it that thick.


I love our boy Begala (who did some time in Austin, Texas.)

and found later

Found the excerpt on Eschaton. xox Atrios. patriotic WHITE South. GRRRR

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_01_04_atrios_archive.html#107334701008731236




NOVAK: You know, you can give that old -- that old -- those talking points any time you want, Paul. But the fact is, your party is in bad shape in the white South. And

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Why is that?

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Why is that?

NOVAK: It's because it's a conservative, patriotic area.




http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0401/05/cf.00.html

posted by Rei Toei @ 12:10 a.m.