Oscar Peterson passes away at 82.

Peace out ya’ll.

TTP hasn’t been what you’d call a fan of the holidays for a while now, but we’re getting better now that the lovely and talented LH is here to share them with. Chinese food ala A Christmas Story, enlightenment via the Vape, and its a winter wonderland, to be sure. Tunes will be provided by John Fahey, BB King- featuring the great “Back Door Santa”, and Phil Spector.

TTP may, or may not, be back prior to the big day, but you’ve got better things to do than read a blog anyway. Hug a loved one, help somebody in need, or just sit and relax. See ya soon…

Some people just don’t trust democracy:

Evidence Mounts Of White House Ties To New Hampshire Phone Jamming Scheme

On the morning of election day 2002, repeated hang-up calls assaulted six phone lines tied to the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Three Republican operatives, including consultant Allen Raymond, eventually ended up in jail for their involvement in the phone jamming scheme. A fourth, former RNC offical James Tobin, will begin a second trial in February.

“The Bush White House had complete control of the RNC, and there was no way someone like Tobin was going to try what he was proposing without first getting it vetted by his high-ups,” Raymond wrote in How To Rig an Election, a book set for publication next month. “That’s if Tobin, rather than one of his bosses, had even thought of the ploy himself – which seemed unlikely.”

They had themselves installed by a compliant Supreme Court in 2000, monkeyed with the numbers in 2004 to the extent that once reliable exit polls meant nothing, and now we see more evidence that King George has no use for the cornerstone of our nation, the act of voting. You really couldn’t create a more anti-American group of people if you tried. Disgusting.

Freedom! Lakota Sioux Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status

Threaten Land Liens, Contested Real Estate Over Five State Area in U.S.West Dakota Territory Reverts back to Lakota Control According to U.S., International Law

WASHINGTON, DC – December 20 - Lakota Sioux Indian representatives declared sovereign nation status today in Washington D.C. following Monday’s withdrawal from all previously signed treaties with the United States Government. The withdrawal, hand delivered to Daniel Turner, Deputy Director of Public Liaison at the State Department, immediately and irrevocably ends all agreements between the Lakota Sioux Nation of Indians and the United States Government outlined in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties at Fort Laramie Wyoming.

“Today is a historic day and our forefathers speak through us. Our Forefathers made the treaties in good faith with the sacred Canupa and with the knowledge of the Great Spirit,” shared Garry Rowland from Wounded Knee. “They never honored the treaties, that’s the reason we are here today.”

I wish them all the luck in this endeavor. Although I’m sure the citizens of Iraq can brief you on how the US government treats sovereign nations…

Protesters clash with police over New Orleans demolitions

Violence broke out in New Orleans on Thursday after police shut the gates of City Hall against protesters who were attempting to enter a City Council meeting that was expected to approve the demolition of 4500 units of public housing. When about 100 protesters broke through, police began using pepper spray and tasers and even engaging in fistfights with the demonstrators.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development says it wants to demolish the housing projects so that developers can create mixed-income neighborhoods. However, opponents of the plan charge that it represents a deliberate attempt to rid the city of its poorest and blackest residents, whose housing options were already greatly reduced by Hurricane Kantrina.

Got to make room for Disney New Orleans, dontcha know?

Reality check: Americans are living under the biggest, most powerful government in history. It is the biggest-spending government in history. Its currency is crashing because of its out-of-control spending. Its military power extends over the entire globe. It is an empire that polices the world, sometimes with brutal and deadly force. It kidnaps, tortures, sexually abuses, incarcerates, and murders people with impunity and without even the semblance of due process or trial by jury. It engages in coups, assassinations, invasions, and occupations of countries that have recalcitrant regimes. Its jails are overrun with people who have committed no act of violence against others. It ignores constitutional restraints on its powers. Its ever-increasing welfare-state programs keep the citizenry drugged, calm, and dependent on the state.

Yet they stand there in front of an Iowa audience and look into the faces of the people and into the television camera and with straight faces repeat the old mantras that conservatives were mouthing in the 1950s: “I’m committed to free enterprise, private property, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the Constitution.” And then they dutifully bash those “big-government, big-spending liberals.”

Indeed. Continue with Are Conservatives (Undocumented) Aliens?

DOJ Shuns Hearing on Halliburton/KBR Rape Cases

The Department of Justice refused to send a representative to answer questions from Congress today on the investigations into allegations of rape and sexual assault on female American contractors.

“I’m embarrassed that the Department of Justice can’t even come forward,” said the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers, D-Mich.

I’m embarrassed by the entire Department of Justice, frankly.

MPAA rejects Gibney’s ‘Dark’ poster

Org objects to hood on torture docu’s one-sheet

According to ThinkFilm distribution prexy Mark Urman, the reason given by the Motion Picture Assn. of America for rejecting the poster is the image of the hood, which the MPAA deemed unacceptable in the context of such horror films as “Saw” and “Hostel.”

Just so we’re all clear, this poster is acceptable:

But this one isn’t:

How completely repellent is that?

Because it sure ain’t been anything like, you know, helping the country or any such foolish notions:

U.S. still unprepared for disaster

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States remains unprepared for disasters ranging from biological attacks to a flu pandemic, and funding for preparedness is falling, according to a report released on Tuesday.

“Overall, federal funding for state and local preparedness will have declined by 25 percent in 3 years if the president’s FY (fiscal year) 2008 request is approved,” the report reads.

Oh, but his scheme to turn us in a version of the Soviet police state, that’s rolling along according to plan.