My First Thread - Research Request

[JailBush]

I joined just a few days ago and have posted several times, but this is my first thread. Rather than simply start a thread to let the world know I figured out how to start a thread, I thought I'd say something useful.

I'm working on some very ambitious websites. The most provocative is Jail4Bush - http://www.jail4bush.org. One ISP actually pulled the plug on it, claiming it violates the Patriot Act! Another targets Bill Gates and Microshaft, at http://www.freedomware.us/ I'm working on several more political sites and some children's/general audience sites, including Kids' Politix, at http://www.politix.us/ I was motivated, n part, by Lynne Cheney's assault on academia and the nationalistic swill she's been writing for children.

Collectively, these sites will feature 50-states lists that will expand on my current 50-states site, which focuses largely on state symbols, brief facts, etc. These are some of the items I will be researching for my websites:


1. HOW HAS 9/11 and the aftermath affected each state? For example, I'll note that Washington State public officials and corporations followed George W. Bush's lead in exploiting terrorism and that Washington boasts the nation's second highest unemployment rate. I'll note that Washington is one of the most anti-Republican states, though the corrupt Seattle Times endorsed Bush. I'll also note the striking links between the Seattle School District and the White House. (I read just recently that Seattle Schools was the first to receive some sort of honor from Bush in connection with his Leave No Child Alive Act.)

Obviously, it could take me a helluva long time to research this stuff for all 50 states. So I wanted to ask if any of you might have links to some good summaries. If, by chance, you're interested in writing something yourself, I'd consider posting it on my site with permission, or linking to it on your site. I'm going to try to get the first state done in a few days, so you can see an example of what I'm shooting for.


2. HEROES & ZEROES - Many state sites include lists of famous or important people, focusing largely on governors and presidents, celebrities, inventors, etc. I want to focus on both good and bad people, with an emphasis on contemporary figures associated with corporate corruption and/or George Bush, Inc. Here's a partial list for Washington State:

HEROES

Chief Sealth (Seattle)
Jimi Hendrix
Bruce Lee
Sally Pangborn (a teacher who took on the Seattle establishment during the turbulent Vietnam war years)
Pastor Roby (of Wenatchee Witch-Hunt fame)
James Garrett (a controversial activist who gave Mayor Paul Schell a black eye)

VILLAINS

Bill Gates
Paul Allen
Judge Gary Little (A frighteningly evil and powerful man who may have taught Bill Gates and Paul Allen!)
Dixie Lee Ray (An eccentric former governor who helped Rush Limbaugh found "junk science")
Frank Blethen (The apparently mentally unstable owner of the Seattle Times, accused of shooting a neighbor's dog before he endorsed George W. Bush)
Geov Parrish (One of America's greatest left-wing media whores)

I'm especially interested in people who are prominently fighting or supporting George W. Bush. They can include students who were expelled from school for wearing clothing with anti-Bush slogans, people who have taken a stand against the Patriot Act or created notable anti-Bush websites, etc. It would be an immense help if a few people from various states tried to brainstorm a list of 10-20 local Heroes and Zeroes, especially if you can also give me a few links to help me research them.


3. FREEDOMWARE - I'd also like to create a reference section that documents how each state has been impacted by Microsoft and how it's fighting back. For example, I'll note states that participated in the big class-action lawsuit against Microsoft as well as states that are home to some of Microsoft's biggest competitors. I'm going to include lists of Linux groups for each state, with an emphasis on those that are politically active (very rare).

* * * * * * * * * *

Feel free to send me information or queries at GeoBearFREEDOMgeobop.com (Replace FREEDOM with @). Caution: My site will not be too strongly partisan; I'll feature some corrupt Democrats and Greens as "villains," and I may list a few Republicans as heroes, if I can think of any (Dwight D. Eisenhower, possibly John McCain, the Vermont legislator who defected from the Republicans, etc.). Also, it's hard to guess when this project might be finished, though I'm hoping to get some features online before December 1.

Actually, I think this might make a fun discussion topic on a regular basis. Unless the moderators object, I may start another thread in a few days focusing on a specific state and inviting other members to give their impressions, submit a few heroes or villains, etc.

Thanks!

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Why are you here?

This is DEMOCRATIC Underground. Take your right-wing spew elsewhere.

[Exultant Democracy]

3. that was a joke right?

Sometimes when people with low post counts say extremely stupid things it is hard to tell if they are making fun or idiots or if they are one.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JailBush]

6. Did I lose my way?

Apparently so. I thought this was DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, where people might appreciate attacks on George W. Bush (e.g. Jail4Bush) and might be open-minded enough to admit there are also a few corrupt Democrats.

Looking at the responses to this thread, I suspect I may have inadvertently posted on the Twilight Zone thread. Sheez!

[JailBush]

5. Hmmmmm...

An apparent right-winger wrote, "So why do you want to poison little kids with you socialist bilge?"

Actually, I did some research on the socialist movement in America and published it on a children's site. I have to admit, I was very ignorant to have been so uninformed about this fascinating topic. It really puts the Pledge of Allegiance and Labor Day in perspective.


After someone calls me a "socialist," someone else says, "This is DEMOCRATIC Underground. Take your right-wing spew elsewhere."

Huh? What part of my post qualifies as "right-wing spew"??? I did say I might include some corrupt Democrats as villains - or do you think I should lie to children and tell them there are none? I also suggested I might list some good Repubicans. Would not agree that Dwight D. Eisenhower was probably the last decent Republican president we had?

Please tell me what part of my post is "right-wing," so I'll know what you're talking about. Ironically, the first poster actually made more sense than you do.

[Exultant Democracy]

7. "the right-wing spew" was directed at

the first posters "So why do you want to poison little kids with you socialist bilge?", not towards you. I think we all supportive of the work you are trying to do, and I am sure you will be able to find a lot of help here, they are an impressive group of people.

[JailBush]

8. Oh, sorry.

I should have picked up on that.

Actually, that's exactly the type of comment that prompted me to research socialism. I couldn't understand why conservatives 1) displayed such intense hatred of socialism and 2) call me a socialist whenever I suggest that corrupt corporations ought to be held accountable.

I'm probably preaching to the church choir, but if any of you have NOT read about the socialist movement, from the birth of the Pledge of Allegiance through world War I and into the 1960s, it's an awesome story!