Scott Ritter - heard him speak last night - WOW

[proud2BlibKansan]

Heard him speak last night.

First Lizzie West played. She lives in Columbia, MO and is awesome!!



She sings '19 Miles to Baghdad' which you may have heard on Democracy Now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c14cwVVZyxw

Ritter. Wow. I had no idea who he really was and learned so much. He is a right wing republican. He calls himself "the establishment". He grew up a military brat and was told to kill a commie for mommie. He joined the army right out of high school and then the marines where he became a weapons expert.

He started out by saying "progressives are more right than the right". He said the truth is not a friend of the USA, that our govt did not want to know the truth. We the people are in charge and our problems are a result of our collective failures to behave as citizens.

Ritter said going to war is about condemning Americans to die - physically and emotionally. Then he got into supporting the troops. He hates those yellow ribbons. We should support the troops by upholding the constitution. The yellow ribbons represent how shallow we are collectively.

Then he talked about some baby birds he watches outside his window. Every spring they hatch and their mom goes out and finds food and comes back to the nest where they open their mouths and she pukes down their throats, which is just what they want. He said when we turn on our TVs and listen to the "news" we are letting our media puke down our throats, because that is exactly what we want.

The most dangerous thing in a representative democracy is citizens with a well informed point of view. We matter if we allow ourselves to matter.



Ritter said the peace movement needs to redefine itself as an American movement, not peace and not anti-war. Our constitution should define us.

About going to war with Iran - we go to war when it suits the powers that be. The bombs are there, aimed and ready to fire, pointing at Iran. The attack will be by the air force and the navy; the marines and army are used up in Iraq. He said the neo cons are determined, honestly believe they are right and they are desperate; they know their time is running out. They are dedicated to world domination and globalization, beginning in the middle east. And there is no convincing them they are wrong. And Ritter said there is NO evidence of any nuclear weapons in Iran EVER. The nuclear program they have is legal under UN regs.

About Sadaam - he was only in violation of UN resolutions for three months. He did not violate 17 resolutions, as the neo cons claim. He blocked weapons inspectors because we were spying on his bodyguards (similar to our secret service) looking for a chance to kill Sadaam. Sadaam did not kick out inspectors in 98; Clinton ordered them out so he could bomb Iraq. Then Iraq "agreed" to let the inspectors back in.

The inspectors proved the CIA wrong and the CIA lied. He talked about the director of the CIA lying to him over and over about WMDs in Iraq, in several face to face meetings.

On impeachment, he said we are going about it all wrong. If Bush was a private citizen, he would have been charged with fraud a couple years ago.

One of the questions was what he says when he speaks to conservative audiences. He said they never ask him to speak. :-)

But he said he joined the local American Legion and he went on a cruise for conservatives and once he starts talking to them, he wins them over in a couple days. They are angrier at Bush than we are and they also want him impeached. They get it, they just aren't as rowdy as we are.

[Crazy Dave]

1. I think there's better and more worthy anti-war heroes to choose from

Than an internet predator

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/22/ritter.arrest/

[Warpy]

2. Charged with a class B misdemeanor

Total entrapment, charges dropped, case closed, records sealed.

They were trying to shut him up when he came out and said there were no WMDs in Iraq.

I'm surprised you fell for it. Don't you understand timing?

[Crazy Dave]

7. I'm even more surprised that you think what he did was excusable

Just because of the "timing"

What typically happens in these cases is guys like him get a high priced lawyer to beat the charges by saying that there was never an actual victim involved, just a police decoy therefore no actual crime against a minor was committed. And so what if it was a purposeful set-up. It was his own intentions to knowingly meet with a minor.

[Warpy]

17. Rubbish, I remember the whole thing at the time

and that it involved an online setup and nothing else. It was pure entrapment, which is why the charges were light, the case thrown out of court, and the whole thing hushed up fast.

However, while fools still point to a wrongful arrest as proof of guilt, this country will remain in serious trouble.

[Crazy Dave]

27. Entrapment or an actual minor

The man is a piece of shit. He actually thought at the time he was going to meet with a minor. But in your opinion since it was a just sting then he did nothing wrong. With fools believing shit like that, I worry for all the young kids online right now.

[Warpy]

33. There is a world of difference between entrapment and a sting.

Please learn it.

There is a world of difference between an accusation and a conviction. Our legal system is based on that distinction.

Please learn it.

[Crazy Dave]

34. I did use the word entrapment and that was wrong

Entrapment is getting someone to do something they would normally not do themselves or have done on their own. A sting is to catch someone in a crime that they normally commit which was more applicable to Ritter. Nobody forced or persuaded him to go meet a 16 year old, he chose to do it on his own free will and being that it happened in April of 2001, while Bush was still unpacking and months before 9/11 and before the drumbeat for the war in Iraq and before anybody knew who he was, I'd say he got caught doing what he intended and wanted to do and seriously doubt it was a setup to keep the support for the war (that no one heard of yet) going strong.

There's very strict protocols for these type of online stings. The decoys never start the conversation first.

[riverwalker]

38. "nobody knew who he was"?

I beg your pardon, but long before the Iraq war, years before 9/11, Scott Ritter was speaking out about what the sanctions we doing to the people of Iraq. Light years before it was "SAFE" to be against the war, Ritter put himself out there. At great risk, as we have seen. Years before 9/11 I went to hear him speak in a church having a candlelight vigil for Iraqi children.
It WAS entrapment, they HAD to shut him up. The question should be, WHY didn't you know who he was? We blame the media, but Ritter was all over screaming his head off, but no one would listen. Why not?
Besides, I was 16 when I was married, my husband was 21. I suppose he was a pervert too.

[Crazy Dave]

39. Did he stalk and entrap you?

You really made a stupid assumption and comparison

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

32. It might also be added...

That these charges were brought by a well-known Repuke rat-fucker, who had gotten himself a prosecutorial job as a reward.

But perhaps Will Pitt will saunter past, pick up on this stuff and set your mind at ease. He is the man who knows all about this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

You do realize the CIA and other groups operate in this fashion

to silence opponents?

I recommend you do some readying on dark ops operations and how to silence opponents

What has been going on in this country over the last seven years is text book for the USSR

Siegelman is another example...

But he also got a powerful lawyer, didn't he? And politically motivated prosecutions never happen in the land of the free ...

:puke:

[hlthe2b]

43. Your accounting of the "Facts" is simply bogus and your desire

to propagate, merely RW swift-boating. Ritter is a rare Republican who had the integrity to speak out against the war, the administation, the bogus charges of WMD. He had the knowledge, having been among the last weapons inspectors in Iraq. Thus, he had to be "neutralized" by smearing him--what we all know to be standard RW operating procedures.

Shame on you for propagating such. Shame. Take that crap to the far Right websites that will eat it up. Few DUers are so ill informed to buy your line.

[cascadiance]

46. Ritter went to a high school that turned out graduates with independent thought!

I should know since I went to the same high school overseas as a brat then. I missed knowing him when I left a couple of years before he arrived, but there were a lot of bright folk that went to that small school, and many of us weren't just mindless drones that spout what our party tells us to.

Mitch Pileggi, who played Skinner in the X Files also went to that school as well. The woman who wrote the original book that the movie "A Beautiful Mind" was based upon, went there many years earlier.

[Tutonic]

15. Come on Now!

If you took the time to post that the guy was an Internet predator take thirty minutes to do the research. Then you would know for certainty that those charges were "trumped up." I'm certainly the last person to make excuses for any child predator but in this instance the government wanted to shut this man up and succeeded with this scurrilous allegation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. I guess he didn't ride in small planes at the time

so they settled for the next best thing - a sexual scandal.

[Crazy Dave]

23. If you want to give the guy a free pass that's your right and opinion

I just feel there's people more worthy and credible and that's right and opinion too.

You people sound just like my mom. If a republican gets caught taking a bribe it's a crime. If a democrat gets caught it's a right-wing setup :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Ritter is a Republican

I take it you didn't read my OP.

[hlthe2b]

3. Feel better now that you've propagated RW Freeper claims

against Ritter-- that were certainly never proven in any manner. He is among many the RW have gone after with smears, inuendo, and trumped up charges... But, sadly DTW feels it appropriate to help them do so....:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. They really do go after their own when they speak out

I hope Scott McClellan stays out of small planes.

[Crazy Dave]

10. Sorry for you

I'm more for the Jim McDermott's of the world who put their careers and their personal lives on the line to stop the war by going to Iraq within days of the invasion

[gateley]

14. Did I hear somebody say Jim McDermott?

Just using this opportunity to post a link to his legal fund -- he can use our help if we can spend a few dollars.

http://www.mcdermottlegaltrust.com/

:hi:

[Crazy Dave]

18. What works for the Clinton's

Now go worship your Scotty and stay away from the chat rooms too

[gateley]

I have no idea what your response to me means --

I disagreed with you about Scott, but where do the Clintons come in? And I obviously think highly of McDermott which is why I put out a call for donations to his legal fund.

Really, please explain.

[Crazy Dave]

24. The Clinton's have always solicited legal funding n/t

[gateley]

26. But their legal woes were different from the problem

McDemott is facing, don't you think?

[defendandprotect]

35. Whadt was the whole of the "plot" on that Newt tape . ... ?

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. That doesn't change his message

or diminish his expertise.

[Crazy Dave]

11. I'll stick with people Madonna, Sean Penn and Tim Roberts instead n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Whatever

I like hearing all of them too. But Ritter has value and credibility because he is from the dark side. And he spoke out, just like McClellan. (We will probably be hearing about Scotty soon - either a gay scandal or a preference for young girls.)

[Tutonic]

29. Good Lord Dave. Madonna, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins?

Can't keep up with the thought pattern.

[doublethink]

36. Madonna the chic who masturbates on stage ????

Sean Penn who was seen with a 'really really young attractive brunette' just before last christmas ..... and divorce papers were filed like 4 days later ???? And who is this 'Tim Roberts' dude you speak of ??? If it's Tim Robbins .... check out what this hero of your had to say ....

"…let’s stay focused on Sex Scandals. Stop with the in-depth reporting that gets outside of the sound bite. More sex scandals! Surely with a little more prying, a little more effort we can find more sexual deviants. And trust me, sexual deviancy is something we can all agree on. It’s deliciously intoxicating to watch unfold. It’s titillating. The absolute zenith of news, the perfect storm of reporting, the shining city on the hill in news coverage was Lewinsky vs. Clinton. Now that was fun. We couldn't’t get enough of that. There were salacious details, semen stains, oral sex. And the president lied."

here's the rest of that article http://byjoeybaker.com/blog/?p=260

maybe you should take a hint from one of your hero's who was quoted above ??? Just a thought. And oh yeah one more thing about your comment in post 23 above .... Scott Ritter is a REPUBLICAN !!! Dammit man if your going to make an argument and then laugh about it .... at least get the facts right. Geesh.

[Crazy Dave]

37. At least now that you've shown me some facts I will change my opinion...

Of at least the last one and they were mostly used as sarcasm. But for those who are blindly in love with Ritter I cannot change theirs. They're like the moms who actually see their own sons commit a crime then lie and protect them from police.

[doublethink]

40. Sadly I think you miss the whole point of me even responding to you DaveTheWave .....

Scott Ritter was factually correct about Iraq. Here's a song for ya ...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAoC90iMhMg (no it's not a stupid Rick-Roll, promise) Peace.

[Crazy Dave]

41. Peace

2 many arguments going at one time :hi:

[gateley]

12. Regardless, he has made many good points and observations

and has spoken out about the lies this administration told.

And I'm always suspicious when such a large, detailed smear story appears about someone who's calling out this administration. Not saying he didn't do the things he was accused of, but that doesn't negate the good information he can provide.

Baby - bathwater -- you know.

[Faygo Kid]

6. He was right about Iraq. He is tragically also right about Iran.

If anybody here on DU thinks the neocons aren't going to attack Iran this year, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Can I add the bridge to nowhere to your bid?

:evilgrin:

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I believe they WANT TO attack Iran

but I am not sure they are going to get away with it. Ritter agreed. He said we need to speak out and not stop until Bush is gone and the neocons have lost their power.

[dkf]

9. Scott Ritter was the man who convinced me early on that the Iraq War was bogus.

If the MSM had given him a fair hearing, it would have done a huge service to this country.

He was right. What the right wing has done to him is criminal. They tried to smear him with some bogus charges that are completely transparent, but we know better.

[Crazy Dave]

13. Jim McDermott n/t

[dkf]

31. Yup. They turned anybody with half a brain who spoke out against this war into

a pariah. It was criminal.

[Echo In Light]

19. Thanks for posting! K&R for Ritter

[MadMaddie]

21. Thanks for sharing. We know for a fact that the * admin seeks

to destroy anyone who turns against them, in this regard we have to look at the timing of the charges against him. Not to mention the method, Internet Predator, so the Admin is monitoring all of their friends and foes alike.

Like him or hate him, he is coming out with the truth, many here complain that no one is doing it. Yes we have folks on the Democratic side and that is important but not devastating enough.

When it comes from the Scott Ritters from the right it is a catastrophic blow to the * admin. You don't have to like the messanger and his timing but we should appreciate that he is speaking out.

[peacetalksforall]

25. Here's the ending paragraph. I now hear the word 'table' and I freeze up -

from Pelosi - off the table re impeachment - to -
this Pentagon official - not off the table

The right wing references to table is becoming a dreaded word.

Our last supper.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. He says we need to charge * with FRAUD

And he mentioned Elizabeth De La Vega; he said she has the best plan for impeachment.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051114/delavega

[BeHereNow]

42. I saw him speak here a few years ago...he is brilliant!

Lord, I wish there were some one like him
among our reps.

BHN

[GrannyK]

44. Great reporting

Thanks for such exacting detail of his speech. He's a brave man for going up against the war machine. Especially for someone in his position, he knew what he was up against. And being smeared by the right wing is a grueling experience.
Great photos!

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. Thanks so much

[BREMPRO]

47. thanks for the first hand report! Ritter is a class act- a REAL patriot...

who understands what that means. not yellow ribbons and blind following, but actively questioning of authority and defending the constitution.

[npincus]

48. *sigh* I remember how the MSM mocked him in the lead-up to the war

allowing every pundit who called Ritter a nutcase, etc. to denigrate him on-air.

[truth2power]

49. 50 responses, so far... 34 of them

spent arguing about an OT ad hominenum against Ritter, right out of the gate.

See how that works?

[pberq]

50. Scott Ritter is a true patriot

Thanks for posting this - we need to keep this information in front of everybody's eyes

[deaniac21]

51. Did he address the joys of public masterbation?

[Raster]

52. not only is your commented not apprecitated. It's unwarranted.

Go shit in someone else's thread. Or perhaps on another website.

[deaniac21]

53. There is an International Criminal Court located in The Hague but

The Hague is the name of the city not the court.

[Raster]

54. And what does that bring to this discussion? Are you now going to attack anything you can grasp?

My sig line? Seriously. Your point?

[deaniac21]

55. I believe in education. Not an attack. You seem to be a very

angry person. Try relaxing sometimes, it can be pleasant!

[Raster]

56. Very angry person? No. Definitely angry at times. For example, here we have a thread about

Scott Ritter commenting about Iraq. And then you throw in your "public masturbation" comment. To what purpose? Educational? I think not. "You seem to be a very angry person." Patronize much?

[deaniac21]

57. Scott Ritter is a loon. He is not credible because he is a

laughingstock. When he shows up at an event it is very hard to take it seriously. Know what I'm sayin'?

[Binka]

58. You Are A Loon & A Laughingstock

It is very hard to take you seriously. Know what I'm sayin'?

[deaniac21]

59. That's what I'm talkin' bout!

[Raster]

60. No I don't know what you're saying, and quite frankly, don't care to.

Obviously you are not familiar with Mr. Ritter's career nor his service.

And quite frankly, it's jerks like you we need less of around here. Perhaps you can find another home.

[boomerbust]

61. Mr. Ritter

Name me one con who wants to impeach Bush?