The Chris Hedges Report with Code Pink activist Medea Benjamin on the stranglehold the Israel lobby has over our political system and how it blocks a ceasefire resolution in Congress.
The Chris Hedges Report with Code Pink activist Medea Benjamin on the stranglehold the Israel lobby has over our political system and how it blocks a ceasefire resolution in Congress.
Democratic Reps. Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, André Carson, Summer Lee, and Delia Ramirez introduced a “Ceasefire Now” resolution on October 16th to halt the siege on Gaza. The resolution calls on the Biden administration to demand an end to the Israeli attacks and send humanitarian aid to Gaza. Eight other Democrats signed on as original co-sponsors, and an additional five have since sponsored the resolution, bringing the
The Isreal government is very good at playing us for suckers.
Why the hell we're giving them aid is beyong my comprehension. We give them our tax dollars they buy our weapons and put money into the pockets of our non-representative Congress persons. What fools we be to let them. We know our politicians are stupid morons but we be too for allowing it to happen.
I do not know why these lobbies don't have to register as foreign agents when they fund people to go to Israel and steal the homes and land of Palestinians. George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and JFK were not wrong about needing to shut down the Federal Reserve and create our own central banking system. Nathan Rothschild really fucked up our country.
Thank you both for an accurate, if painful, iteration of the current state of the nation viz., the rest of the world. In the short term, I imagine the next presidential election will witness the lowest percentage of voter participation in our history. Biden will be allowed to avoid all debates, for obvious reasons, and the Republicans will nominate Trump or a Trump wanta-be, and the choice, on most state ballots, for the credulous crowd who will vote, will be between two cretins, united by their fealty to their capitalist "friends," and their devotion to creating a new cold war. I intend to vote for a Jewish woman, but I doubt whether Jill Stein will appear on many ballots. Quo Vadis?
I don't know exactly when Israel's dominance of U.S. political discourse began, but the final nail in the coffin was the 2010 SCOTUS ruling in CITIZENS UNITED vs THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ...
The gross exaggeration of the numbers killed by Hamas on Oct 7th continues to be whitewashed even with the testimony of those that survived the onslaught from IDF forces and visual images that show IDF helicopters and soldiers shooting at Israelis. The continued attribution to the Hamas fighters, who were targeting military installations, keeps citizens in the west deluded because if they knew the Israeli response would show itself to be even more disproportionate.
So very grateful to Medea and Chris for their courage in truth telling. As unsettling their knowledge and understanding are, I feel more grounded and determined because of it. AIPAC like Netanyahu is cancerous and dangerous to the civic health of our democracy. Somehow we must make a moat of teflon prohibiting entirely any monies from donors to reach Congress people. I was very surprised to learn about Pocan's initial refusal to call for a cease fire. And, Ro Khanna's! That really amazed me because of his progressiveness on so many issues. These spineless, compassion-less Congress people remind of a period of time - probably decades ago by now - when a woman was beaten to death? in front of a bunch of people who didn't move a muscle to help her though she cried out. Such a phenomenon. Those watchers/witnesses are these silent chickens we've invested our faith in doing what is right not just legislatively but by acts of personal integrity and compassion. These representatives for the "public good" stand by, watching benumbed? a scale of brutality- wrenched on children and innocents - and remain unmoved. What is going on? Does a life directed strategically for wealth accumulation dull/inhibit spontaneous, instinctual acts of compassion? Other- directed as distinct from inner directed.Other-directed meaning - a lifetime of acts strategically geared to win friends and influence people, or making the right people happy with you so you are favored and popular. Is that how they, the spineless lot of cold hearted government sorts garnered such wealth? Does much wealth inhibit basic acts of compassion? "As of 2020, over half of the members of Congress were millionaires and the median net worth of members was approximately $1 million." (googled)."The median net worth of a senator was $3.2 million, versus $900,000 for members of the House of Representatives. These are conservative estimates.
Congress members are not required to report on the value of their residence, though many do. "(qz.com) If you weren't a constituent of theirs, would they still retain the innate capacity to feel your pain? And reach out to help? No matter where you lived or what color your skin packaging or your God?
Forgive if you’ve seen this before, but I had a crazy idea a couple of nights ago that the one thing that could stop the bombing immediately, would be for Pope Francis to go to Gaza, to the Rafah Crossing and enter into Gaza with the Gazans. I believe this would change the dynamics as soon as such a visit was announced. I made a petition on change.org
If anyone thinks this might work, and would like to support it , please sign:
This is in addition to any and everything else we can do, but given the craven behavior of the western governments, it’s’ st least something different. It might not work, there are plenty of obstacles, but maybe it's worth trying. Please sign and share if you can.
For a clear explanation of the geopolitical aspects of the US relationship with Isreal, see Ben Norton's recent interview with Michael Hudson. Starting a war with Iran is Washington's ultimate goal, and Isreal is our proxy in helping make that happen https://youtu.be/9AeAfFfTqMk?si=HCUz_RW5PdprbI3C
I sometimes wear my Code Pink “I 💗 Palestinian Rights” T-shirt outside my jacket around town here & at protests. My intent is for folks to know they’re not alone when they see my shirt or buttons.
Medea and Chris as well as the many of you here that are writing comments give me courage when I’m feeling like a voice in the wilderness.
Today is Armistice Day which has been hijacked, both nomenclature & meaning, by Veterans Day.
Biden could end this with a single phone call.
Biden is a enunch.
In the end, isn't it always about the $$$?...and AIPAC = $$$(lots of it) = power. Follow the money.
The Isreal government is very good at playing us for suckers.
Why the hell we're giving them aid is beyong my comprehension. We give them our tax dollars they buy our weapons and put money into the pockets of our non-representative Congress persons. What fools we be to let them. We know our politicians are stupid morons but we be too for allowing it to happen.
Great interview
Great courageous guest
Peace to us all
I do not know why these lobbies don't have to register as foreign agents when they fund people to go to Israel and steal the homes and land of Palestinians. George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and JFK were not wrong about needing to shut down the Federal Reserve and create our own central banking system. Nathan Rothschild really fucked up our country.
Thank you both for an accurate, if painful, iteration of the current state of the nation viz., the rest of the world. In the short term, I imagine the next presidential election will witness the lowest percentage of voter participation in our history. Biden will be allowed to avoid all debates, for obvious reasons, and the Republicans will nominate Trump or a Trump wanta-be, and the choice, on most state ballots, for the credulous crowd who will vote, will be between two cretins, united by their fealty to their capitalist "friends," and their devotion to creating a new cold war. I intend to vote for a Jewish woman, but I doubt whether Jill Stein will appear on many ballots. Quo Vadis?
I don't know exactly when Israel's dominance of U.S. political discourse began, but the final nail in the coffin was the 2010 SCOTUS ruling in CITIZENS UNITED vs THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ...
The gross exaggeration of the numbers killed by Hamas on Oct 7th continues to be whitewashed even with the testimony of those that survived the onslaught from IDF forces and visual images that show IDF helicopters and soldiers shooting at Israelis. The continued attribution to the Hamas fighters, who were targeting military installations, keeps citizens in the west deluded because if they knew the Israeli response would show itself to be even more disproportionate.
Thank you. This country has been bombing somewhere in the world for my entire life. The United States of Self Righteous Murder.
Is it possible to get a transcript of this dialogue? I really want to read it and am hearing impaired.
So very grateful to Medea and Chris for their courage in truth telling. As unsettling their knowledge and understanding are, I feel more grounded and determined because of it. AIPAC like Netanyahu is cancerous and dangerous to the civic health of our democracy. Somehow we must make a moat of teflon prohibiting entirely any monies from donors to reach Congress people. I was very surprised to learn about Pocan's initial refusal to call for a cease fire. And, Ro Khanna's! That really amazed me because of his progressiveness on so many issues. These spineless, compassion-less Congress people remind of a period of time - probably decades ago by now - when a woman was beaten to death? in front of a bunch of people who didn't move a muscle to help her though she cried out. Such a phenomenon. Those watchers/witnesses are these silent chickens we've invested our faith in doing what is right not just legislatively but by acts of personal integrity and compassion. These representatives for the "public good" stand by, watching benumbed? a scale of brutality- wrenched on children and innocents - and remain unmoved. What is going on? Does a life directed strategically for wealth accumulation dull/inhibit spontaneous, instinctual acts of compassion? Other- directed as distinct from inner directed.Other-directed meaning - a lifetime of acts strategically geared to win friends and influence people, or making the right people happy with you so you are favored and popular. Is that how they, the spineless lot of cold hearted government sorts garnered such wealth? Does much wealth inhibit basic acts of compassion? "As of 2020, over half of the members of Congress were millionaires and the median net worth of members was approximately $1 million." (googled)."The median net worth of a senator was $3.2 million, versus $900,000 for members of the House of Representatives. These are conservative estimates.
Congress members are not required to report on the value of their residence, though many do. "(qz.com) If you weren't a constituent of theirs, would they still retain the innate capacity to feel your pain? And reach out to help? No matter where you lived or what color your skin packaging or your God?
Forgive if you’ve seen this before, but I had a crazy idea a couple of nights ago that the one thing that could stop the bombing immediately, would be for Pope Francis to go to Gaza, to the Rafah Crossing and enter into Gaza with the Gazans. I believe this would change the dynamics as soon as such a visit was announced. I made a petition on change.org
If anyone thinks this might work, and would like to support it , please sign:
https://chng.it/tfYb2DjFDy
This is in addition to any and everything else we can do, but given the craven behavior of the western governments, it’s’ st least something different. It might not work, there are plenty of obstacles, but maybe it's worth trying. Please sign and share if you can.
And isn’t it Armistice Day?
Why is AIPAC allowed to fund elections?
For a clear explanation of the geopolitical aspects of the US relationship with Isreal, see Ben Norton's recent interview with Michael Hudson. Starting a war with Iran is Washington's ultimate goal, and Isreal is our proxy in helping make that happen https://youtu.be/9AeAfFfTqMk?si=HCUz_RW5PdprbI3C
Jeff Halper wrote about how Israel uses Palestinians for weapons testing. Listen here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S_UdmHA7E
I sometimes wear my Code Pink “I 💗 Palestinian Rights” T-shirt outside my jacket around town here & at protests. My intent is for folks to know they’re not alone when they see my shirt or buttons.
Medea and Chris as well as the many of you here that are writing comments give me courage when I’m feeling like a voice in the wilderness.
Today is Armistice Day which has been hijacked, both nomenclature & meaning, by Veterans Day.
Here’s an illuminating article:
https://today.usc.edu/the-true-meaning-of-armistice-day-a-commitment-to-peace/