oh, here we go...

I was originally going to write about the tremendously scary NSA having trillions of our phone calls logged so that they can keep track of who we are talking to. The whole thing is terrifying. Not surprising, but terrifying. Instead, I am going to share a story I received from one of my compatriots in the peace movement. I also heard about it on the Mike Malloy show on Air America. We must start to put the pieces together, and object to the kinds of things that are being done in the name of national security, before it is too late for all of us to say anything. It may already well be. good night and good luck...stimp

Judge Orders World Can't Wait Activist to Jail Psych Unit
CAROL FISHER REMAINS STRONG AND UNAPOLOGETIC

May 9: Judge Timothy McGinty forcibly incarcerated Carol Fisher in the psych unit of the Cuyahoga County Jail in downtown Cleveland, where she now sits for an indefinite period of time.

In a hastily called hearing yesterday, Judge McGinty made a highly unusual and outrageous decision to force Carol to undergo a state psychological exam as part of her pre-sentencing investigation. From the very start of Carol's case, the judge has openly said that she must have mental problems for resisting an unlawful and brutal encounter with Cleveland Heights police. He went even further in yesterday's hearing, saying that her opposition to the Bush regime makes her "delusional."


The small courtroom on the 21st floor of the Justice Center was ringed with 5 armed court bailiffs. McGinty started off the hearing by making Carol stand up and had one of her attorneys read her t-shirt, which said:

"Wanted for Illegally Crossing Borders: The Bush Regime

"If you are going to insist that crossing borders illegally is a crime which cannot be tolerated, how about George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice (and yes, Colin Powell) and the rest of that gang, with their highly illegal, and violent, 'crossing of the border'-into Iraq, among other places?!"

McGinty then said this was proof of her delusion! He also kept saying Carol "wants" to go to jail, and that she has a "martyr complex." When Carol tried to explain why she wouldn't take this test, the judge's only response was, "I do not negotiate with felons."

Does Carol really want to go to jail? No! But she is not willing to comply with a vindictive court ordered test to "prove" her sanity. And more than that, she is taking a stand for everyone who is angry and fearful of a government that, under the rubric of "national security and the war on terror," willfully and unapologetically tramples on the most basic rights of privacy. Think about this in light of the NSA spying scandal, and now Bush wants to install the head of the notorious NSA to be CIA chief! As Carol said before she went to jail, "I'd be crazy to go along with this shit! That which you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn--or be forced--to accept."

Just look at this whole case: a woman posts a "Bush Step Down" poster on a telephone pole, being brutalized by the police in the process, and now not only faces 3 years in prison but also a mandatory psych exam. As Terry Gilbert, one of Carol's attorneys said, "This is Gulag stuff--saying that people who are dissidents are crazy." He further added that in his 33 years of practicing law, he has never seen anything like this.

Is this the kind of country you want to live in?

On the phone this morning, Carol Fisher stated that, in addition to sending her to the psych unit, McGinty has also put her on "suicide watch"! They have taken away her eyeglasses. And if she refuses the psych exam, she will be forcibly sent to North Coast Mental Institute for a 20 day evaluation.

Legal challenges are continuing, including seeking a writ of habeas corpus.

When the transcripts are available to the public, they will show how outrageous this hearing was.

(Click here for previous news and more information about Carol Fishers arrest and trial)

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Donate to Carol's legal defense. It costs a lot of money to get transcripts, file appeals, etc. Make checks payable to “Carol Fisher Defense Fund” and mail to “NION/WCW PO Box 609034 Cleveland, OH 44109.
Call Judge Timothy McGinty and express your outrage: 216-443-8758
Join us at a "Speak Out!" for Carol Fisher - Saturday, May 13 at 7pm at the corner of Coventry and Euclid Heights Blvd in Cleveland Heights.
Get your legal organization to be part of Carol's defense: make statements, file friend of the court briefs, etc.
Have your church group, school group, organization or club join this battle by sending statements of support, donating funds, etc.
Request radio stations play any of the following songs, dedicate it to Carol Fisher and explain what is going on with her case:
Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down”
Pearl Jam’s “World Wide Suicide”
Pink’s “Dear Mr President”
Neil Young’s “Let’s Impeach the President”
Write letters to the editor of:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Go to website: www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/lettertoeditor
The Cleveland Free Times. Email: editor@freetimes.com
The Sun Press. Email: sun@sunnews.com
Send this article to your list serves and post to blogs.
Join the World Can't Wait- Drive Out the Bush Regime!Contact: World Cant Wait, Cleveland 216-633-6200PO Box 609034 Cleveland OH 44109cleveland@worldcantwait.orgwww.worldcantwait.org

Pay attention

Thus far, I haven't said much about the whole brouhaha about "illegal aliens", and the giant immigration ruckus. I admit, it is a problem, having folks sneak into the country undocumented. But this whole thing is an unwinnable argument. I was on my sister's blog Reality for Dummies, and there is quite the discussion going on. I haven't commented on this issue for two reasons. First, I think it is a smokescreen, a distraction from all the other things going to hell. It is a button push. If we are all freaking out about immigration, we aren't talking about, say, the sabre rattling with Iran. Or the multitude of lies and corrupt activities going on, both at the federal and the state level. We won't be discussing warrantless wiretaps, or the new CIA guy, or the 750 signing statements attached to various new laws. We'll forget about the slow erosion of our civil liberties, thanks to our war on "terror". And don't even get me started on gas prices. Then, there is a little place called Iraq, and all the lies, torture, and death going on there. Second, part of the "blame" for the immigration "problem" belongs not to the poor people sneaking in here, but the rich folks taking advantage of them. We are screaming about the illegals, taking jobs from us, using up our resources, and so on. But we never talk about the businesses, both large and small, who go out of their way to hire people they can pay less, tax free, and without benefits. As usual, it is all the little guy's fault. "They come here illegally and take our jobs...." blah, blah, blah. How about "they are poor and need work and come here illegally and the employers take advantage of their need, just enough, so the folks back home hear about it and are drawn here looking for the same". The immigration argument is the same as the gay marriage argument. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit. good night and good luck...stimp