Rather than repeat the boring chronicle of my activities--I didn't do a whole hell of a lot yesterday--I'm going to devote this entry to some notable quotes. First, here's a snippet from Voters For Peace regarding the outrageous actions by the FBI in raiding the homes of peace activists:

"The escalation of wars abroad by the Obama administration is moving forward alongside an escalation against antiwar activists at home. The groups targeted in these raids, while Marxist in ideology, endorsed and supported the election of President Obama. Their Political Report noted 'Obama's election represents a rejection of the Bush administration policies and a desire amongst the people for a progressive agenda from the government.' Now we know that the Obama administration is moving forward with Bush-era policies that target anti-war political dissent at the same time that more Americans oppose Obama's wars."
(But who gives a rat's rear about the electorate?)

And here's a comment by Justin Raimondo re Bob Woodward's new book:
"...the President is portrayed as an empty shell, a political creature who cares not one whit about the moral and ideological aspects of the momentous decision he is about to make, but only about what kind of electoral advantage (or disadvantage) a given policy option promises. Here is a hollow man, without a moral or ideational core, an empty vessel waiting to be filled by others – who are more than ready to oblige."
(In other words, O. is just like any other politician who ever lived--but how we cling to our illusions.)

From Counterpunch, an article entitled "Why Doesn't The U.S. Talk to Iran?"
"The answer, in a nutshell, is that U.S. foreign policy, especially in the Middle East, is driven not so much by broad national interests as they are by narrow but powerful special interests—interests that seem to prefer war and militarism to peace and international understanding. These are the nefarious interests that are vested in military industries and related “security” businesses, notoriously known as the military-industrial complex. These beneficiaries of war dividends would not be able to justify their lion’s share of our tax dollars without 'external enemies' or 'threats to our national interests.'"
(And, of course, dutiful citizens swallow the lies, digest, then vomit them out.)

Finally, a few words from The Reclusive Leftist:
"Why do we still go through this pretense of voting? We should just hold auditions. The government is the same; the foreign policy is the same. The military-industrial complex trundles along as ever, forging the path of Empire. The only difference is who’s on TV."
(This gal sees the presidency as theatre--what a novel idea. And so true.)