Facebook Discussions

We are now using Facebook more and more to discuss news and issues. We will start to gather these here. Later, we will establish a means to connect these to projects.

Facebook Groups

• GMO Open Forum -- Discussion to promote open dialog between farmers and consumers.
• No Nuke Dump on the Beach -- Discussion about the nuclear waste facility at San Onofre and other related topics
• Election Scam Clearinghouse -- Discussion about election scams.
• Open Ballot Initiative -- Approach to providing transparency in election processing utilizing ballot images and competitive redundant 100% audits.
• COPS Election Team -- Coordination of volunteers who are providing oversight of election officials.

Facebook Pages

• Citizens Oversight FB Page -- Our organizations page where we post news releases, event information, and live videos.

Some Collected Posts

Facebook is a very easy place to post, but it does not provide a way to organize material. Here are some links but this is not very current.

• School nutrition regulations come under fire -- I am amazed that these cafeterias don't already pride themselves on the quality of their meals. Instead, they are complaining about needing to add more fruit and vegetables and less fat and salt. Good eating habits is an important part of education. Hunter Jr. of course is on the wrong side of the issue. Hey, let's just figure this out in some practical dialog.
• White House Objects to DADT Amendment: House language seeks more impediments to DADT repeal; other a -- No, Hunter Jr., no extra steps into the process that should be under the control of the Executive branch. Also, why so many amendments to the defense bill that have nothing to do with defense? Hunter proposed cutting 43 Education programs. Where are his proposed cuts to the sacred defense bill? All the talk on DADT and DOMA are a smokescreen.
• Blackwater Founder Forms Secret Army for Arab State -- This seems harmless to many people, an ex-SEAL setting up a private mercenary army in a "friendly" authoritarian state. Mark my words, we will eventually find ourselves on opposite sides of the battle field, with our "brother" Erik Prince, in charge of the opposing army, probably putting down pesky "Arab Spring" uprisings. Sad story.
• Bin Laden Raid Was Captured On SEAL Team Helmet Cameras -- Another reversal. Earlier, we were told there was a blackout of the cameras. Now, they admit it is recorded on 25 mini helmet cams. No actual videos release yet, though. Maybe Wikileaks can help us here...
• California Rep. Duncan Hunter's Education Bill Would Cut 43 Programs -- Just what we need right now, more cuts to education. No Child Left Behind was designed to turn public schools over to charter and private schools that have no better record than public schools if they have the same student population. And NCLB was never really funded to get those "Schools in Need of Improvement" turned around. Now, Mr. Conservative Dictator wants to cut more.
• AC360 Preview: Getting bin Laden was costly, says Ron Paul -- Ron Paul is willing to buck the party line, and here he speaks the truth: 1) killing bin Laden does not automatically make us safer 2) ten years and thousands of lives to find this guy is a very high price to pay 3) It is time to pull out of these wars. Finally, someone on the right saying what I've been saying for 10 years.
• Kill/Capture -- After reviewing this FRONTLINE documentary, I am more convinced than ever that we are not just wasting our time and $$ in Afghanistan, what we are doing there is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. Using force will never work to gain friends. GET OUT NOW.
• Japan sets up compensation plan for nuclear plant -- How quickly we forget that we have a MAJOR NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE on our hands here. With bin Laden masking everything, this story has all but disappeared from our local paper, which is more concerned about the new Will Ferrell movie. See also: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/asia/13japan.html "Japanese Reactor Damage Is Worse Than Expected"
• 10 Facts That Prove The Bin Laden Fable Is a Contrived Hoax : Indybay -- Christine Mann: this story breaks it down beautifully....
• Al Gore and Keith Olbermann: A Moment of Truth for Cable News -- "Cable news in general has turned American democracy into a freak show, where bigots and nuts receive a free megaphone, where shills and hacks parade to the cameras to treat the audience like idiots, dishing out spin that many of them don't even believe..." True of all corporate-media news.
• Interview with Polish Migration Expert: 'Germany Needs Immigrants' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - Interna -- Here is an example showing the fact that Germany is embracing more immigration
• Made in America: What's In Your Home? -- BUY AMERICAN! Yes, we already know this, but I am happy to see this being covered on ABC News. The family had virtually nothing left in their house after non-American made products were removed. See also the recovery: http://youtu.be/OttqMTDIUFw (First step -- avoid Wal Mart!)
• Hunter again pushes for extra checks on DADT -- Here is an example of the reason we have far too many laws. Duncan D. Hunter, son of 28-yr ex-Congressman Duncan L. Hunter, wants to pass a bill that would direct the executive branch how to handle their business. Micromanagement for political gain, and a law that we don't need to process. Homophobic = Hunter.
• San Diego company simulates battle, bullets, blood -- Why does not our military handle training like this? Did we "forget" how to train ourselves? OR, is this a great way for a private firm with insider ties to get juicy contracts from the pentagon? No wonder our defense budget is out of control.
• Former SEDC officials charged with embezzling -- Christine Mann: this has been my big issue. This is precisely why we need to get rid of these agencies all-together. They are all frauds unfortunately and although "affordable housing" sounds like a nobel cause, it is really just a really easy way to steal tax $ that should go to schools and libraries and parks.
• Meshaal told to choose between committing to Quartet's conditions and Bin Laden's fate -- Is assassination becoming a popular way to deal with political problems? Israel thinks it is appropriate to assassinate a Hamas figurehead "the same way bin Laden was dealt with." No wonder we took such actions off limits. Hamas was democratically elected, but if you don't like the result of the ballot box, bullets rule. I think this is a slippery slope, folks.
• Bin Laden Killing in Legal Gray Zone -- Killing Illegal? 1) In 1976, then-President Gerald Ford issued Executive Order 11905 that “no employee of the United States government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, political assassination.” 2) There is also the issue of Pakistan’s sovereignty: It’s against international law to carry out operations like this in another country, without their apriori consent.
• Obama: 'Getting our man' outweighed raid's risks
• Osama Bin Laden Home Video (Pentagon Release) -- Okay, here are the "home videos" of bin laden, released but without any audio. See also http://youtu.be/v9OUCxso05A. The figure watching TV could be just about anyone. Why not release the audio? What are they trying to hide?? I still assert this killing was an example of excessive executive power. He should have been captured and tried.
• RAPTURE COMING May 21 Allison Warden WeCanKnow.com Interview -- Are you ready for the end of the world on May 21, 2011? Apparently, everyone who is a believer will disappear from the earth in a worldwide earthquake while nonbelievers will be left here on May 22, to enter a five month period of judgment, and then the end of the earth will occur in Oct. Check out this interview. Who's buying into this?
• Movie Review - 'The Tillman Story' - One Family's Quest For The Truth : NPR -- Apparently, the public has not only forgotten the staged Jessica Lynch rescue, but also the whole Tillman Affair, a story which was eventually blown apart, but which all top brass went along with for a long time. Is a cover-up a conspiracy?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fwo_TLz3cg -- Christine Mann: people have such a short memory. We established that the Jessica Lynch story was a complete and total fabrication....again a big macho Navy Seal Op....a total LIE. Watch this video on BBC on the Story...see any similarities?:
• Questioning Events is not 'Conspiracy Theories' -- Here is my response to all the uproar over this potentially sham event, as indicated by the video blackout, no photos, quick body dumping, etc. Enjoy.
• Blackwater’s New Ethics Chief: John Ashcroft -- The revolving door continues...John Ashcroft, famous for his support of the PATRIOT act and domestic wiretapping, now works for the Company Formerly Known as Blackwater -- Xe, in charge of "restructuring" the firm so it can win lucrative Govt contracts. I say no more contracts for Xe, not matter who they hire.
• Medicare isn't the problem, it's the solution -- Robert Reich nails it in this piece regarding Medicare. Obamacare has some good points, but did not go far enough and was gutted by a congress that bent over backwards to solicit the cooperation of Republicans instead of passing a good bill. Whatever Republicans want (gut Medicare) we need to do the opposite -- fix it and expand it. Why is this not covered here?
• Obama won't release bin Laden death photo - World news - Death of bin Laden - msnbc.com -- Big mistake. First, Obama encourages birthers by not releasing his birth certificate, and now this will encourage conspiracy theorists by not producing proof that the man they killed was indeed bin Laden. My guess is it was not bin Laden, who likely died from renal failure years ago, but it still may bring closure to the war on terror. (LINK BAD)
• Mike Lumpkin Named to Special Ops Post in Pentagon; Ran for Congress -- Good news, bad news. Mike Lumpkin will be serving us in the Pentagon, and I am happy to have a level-headed thinker like Mike in that position. On the other hand, it implies he will not be running in 2012 against Duncan D. Hunter, and I was hoping he would do so because he is a stellar candidate!
• CNN.com - Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Bin Laden would need help if on dialysis - January 21, 2002 -- News reports from 2002 figured bin Laden was already dead because he needed dialysis for renal disease. Critics have reviewed tapes and other proof that he was alive after that point and all were easily refuted. Q:would locals know if someone had to have dialysis treatment at the compound in Abbottabad?
• Review of helicopter at bin Laden - Aviation experts are reviewing the story that a "Blackhawk helicopter" had mechanical difficulty and went down, and they blew it up. My guess is this was a drone copter for bleeding off RPGs and other fire. When it was not blown up by "bin Laden", they had to scuttle it.
• See picture of bin laden dead! -- This is a bogus picture, but is being circulated anyway.
• A witness to Bin Laden's 'death' says it's bullsh*t -- Listen to this interview of a local who lives in the neighborhood near the "bin Laden" compound. He says he walks there every night and can't believe bin Laden was living there. You won't see this interview on U.S. Corporate news programs.
• Bin Laden was unarmed when SEALs stormed room -- Okay, they're already changing the story. We first heard it was a firefight and they wanted to take him alive. Now, they admit they shot an unarmed man and after quickly dumping the body in the ocean, they are worried that releasing photos will irritate everyone too much. Apparently, they are trying to buy time to put together a picture that will pass world scrutiny.
• Official: Bin Laden buried at sea -- This is the most troubling events in the "killing of bin Laden" is the hasty scuttling of the body, so that no third parties could confirm his identity. The idea that they wanted to respect Muslim sensibilities after killing one of their leaders is laughable. "We had to dispose of it within 24 hours or they would be upset." Nonsense.
• Democracy Now! Jeremy Scahill on the OBL Mission and Aftermath -- This must be our opportunity to "redo" our foreign policy. We have some 800 bases throughout the world, and spend about $1 trillion per year on our military operations around the world. We must dismantle the killing machine that Obama has inherited. The only way this will happen is through pressure from us -- the public.
• Osama bin Laden -- Dead Body Picture HOAX Christine Mann -- when i saw this picture yesterday it immediately struck me as a fraud but why did so many respectable media publications publish it as evidence? Is this how poorly sourced their work in general is? How can we believe anything the media says when they got something this significant wrong?
• Ray Lutz: Bin Laden Dead - Ray Lutz makes the case that we don't know if bin Laden had anything to do with 9/11
• US kills Osama bin Laden decade after 9/11 attacks -- Has there been any independent corroboration that 1) this is really bin Laden and 2) he was a "Mastermind of 9/11"? Where is the real reporting on this? Where are pics of the actual safehouse, bin Laden, and DNA evidence, etc.?? Are reporters just going to accept what they are told?

• Redistricting Meeting Draws Sparse Crowd, Some Heat -- This county redistricting exercise is completely under the control of the current board of supervisors and the single party that dominates the county government. This county has about the same number of people as the state of Iowa, but Iowa has 99 counties. we have 99x more chance for corruption, and 1/99 the representation.
• Stop The Powerlink Stop Illegal Lobbying Petition
• 9/11: The Myth and Reality -- Theologian David Ray Griffin carefully reviews the official myth of events of 9/11
• Blackwatering the classroom: Voucher bills now before state legislatures part of Koch-style far right
• Golden eagle nest in path of new Sunrise Powerlink - (video) -- This ridiculous profiteering project hopefully has hit a snag. Check it out, and let's hope it can halt this when all our protests, lawsuits, and other tactics have not. Check out the video.
• Ray Lutz Calls for Resignation of Ernie Ewin from Council Over Conflict-of-Interest Issue -- Thank you Ken Stone for a good job covering this issue. It will be interesting to see if Ewin loses his city council seat over this. But as far as I'm concerned, that would be great. We need some new faces on these city councils.
• End Game for the Birthers - The Pragmatic Progressive Forum --
• Rep. Hunter will not lead fight to keep Marine Corps vehicle -- This article is exactly why we spend too much money: "Hunter, a former Marine, was considered by many industry and congressional sources as the most likely lawmaker to mount an effort to keep alive the initiative to complete the amphibious combat craft, which Pentagon and Marine brass have concluded is too pricey." Why work to keep a project that no one wants? Next, I hope the border wall can be scrapped.
• C00037 Request to resolve conflict of interest of Ernest Ewin -- I just submitted this COPS submission to both Grossmont Healthcare District and the City of La Mesa regarding the conflict of interest exhibited by Ernest Ewin by occupying two seats which conflict: La Mesa City Council member and chair of the Independent Citizens Bond oversight Cte (ICBOC). Simply stated, you can't be an independent citizens and also a stakeholder.

• Ex-Blackwater Guards Face Renewed Charges - Case was in arbitration but recently abandoned due to lack of funds. BW mercs were given immunity by govt (state dept) akin to episode on "24" before they could testify. BW now is operating in East County, near Los Coyotes under a new name "Eagle Rock Training Center" by BW VP Brian Bonfiglio while Erik Prince operates out of Abu Dhabi. My question is: how long before they take over?
• 9/11: The Myth and Reality -- Theologian David Ray Griffin carefully reviews the official myth of events of 9/11 - Tuesday, Apr 26, 10 p: - presents 9/11: The Myth and Reality -- Theologian David Ray Griffin carefully reviews the official myth of events of 9/11. 90 min., Cox Public Access TV at Cox Cable Channel 23 (or Channel 18 in North County) (, Free)
• Southern border wall is a joke -- A good summary of the border wall issue, and the new legislation introduced by Duncan Hunter Jr. to extend the wall, regardless of cost or effectiveness. This is a fear card, played by his father and now by the son. Fences are necessary in urban areas, but across 100s of miles of desert, it is simply a waste of money, there is no budget to maintain it, and there is a thing called a "ladder."
• I really like this post by Eric Bauman: -- http://www.facebook.com/ericbauman1/posts/10150226910342107 ... Thanks Eric, that is golden. -- The next time one of the so-called 'Conservatives of Faith' demeans the immigrants among us, ask them to square their bigotry with G-d's words from the Torah (Old Testament): Leviticus 19:33 When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
• Report: Bill Nye “The Science Guy” Exposed as Godless, Soulless Blasphemer in Texas « JONATHAN TURLE - There is an interesting account out of Waco, Texas where Bill Nye “The Science Guy” was booed for saying that the Moon does not generate it own light — in contradiction to the Bible.
• Marines, SEALs confirm training on Indian reservation -
• Does A Tea Party Rally Attracting “Dozens” Qualify As News? | Media Matters for America - It appears that the wheels are coming off the concocted tea party movement, which we know was backed by the Koch brothers, with most of the attendees bussed in and paid to be there. We hear about the "liberal media bias" -- here is proof that the media continues to cater to the tea party, despite the fact that it fell on its face last August with a 3000-4000 convention drawing only 300.
• Rep. Hunter: 'I Would Love A Conservative Dictatorship'
• Wealthy Americans not paying fair share of taxes - They don't pay their fair share, because they control the "trained monkeys" we call our elected officials through legalized bribery. If you are a hedge fund manager who makes $1 billion per year, you're very interested in electing reps who will add loopholes and keep capital gains taxes low -- generally, the Republicans cater them, but almost no one will go against the big banks.
• Solar Power without Solar Cells: A Hidden Magnetic Effect of Light Could Make It Possible
• President Addresses Differences in Deficit Plans | C-SPAN
• Easter Eggs Dubbed 'Spring Spheres' by Seattle School
• MSNBC covers Courage Campaign and Louis Marinelli's conversion - Full Marriage Equality -- The constitution calls for nothing less. This is a must-see video that will bring tears to your eyes as right-wing activist Marinelli "changed his mind" and now regrets the time he spent working against marriage equality. Thank you Louis, for being able to think for yourself. I call on all other marriage inequality supporters to do the same.
• Military training facility on Indian reservation is revealed
• A Dangerous Business | FRONTLINE | PBS
• The Employment Situation in March | The White House
• Press Release | State of California - Department of Justice - Kamala D. Harris Attorney General
• Pakistan Tells U.S. It Must Sharply Cut C.I.A. Activities
• David Christian: Big history
• A Bottom Up Virtual Choir to Delight Your Heart and Milk Your Tears
• "Don't Punish the Poor" Economist Jeffrey Sachs Slams Obama-GOP Budget Deal
• Target sues solicitors, triggers free speech debate
• Army beats protesters as it breaks up Egypt rally
• Friendly fire? 5 die as airstrike hits Libyan rebels
• Tensions still rise over seals at Children's Pool
• The State Worker: Committee OKs freeze on state pay over $150,000 per year
• Why is the Fed bailing out Gaddafi?? (Matt Taibbi) :: News From Underground
• March Madness: U.S. Gov't Spent More Than Eight Times Its Monthly Revenue | CNSnews.com
• US unfreezes assets of Libya 'mass murder suspect'
• The next housing shock - 60 Minutes - CBS News
• Pastor burns Koran, sparks outrage
• Foreign Banks Tapped Fed’s Secret Lifeline Most at Crisis Peak
• One Nation Under Law -- Take the Pledge.
• Ed Schultz Gets Pounded Into The Ground On Libya By Jeremy Scahill
• Calif. legislator wants to bill banks $20K per foreclosure
• Libya’s Rebels and the War on Qaddafi
• "Prescription for Survival": A Debate on the Future of Nuclear Energy Between Anti-Coal Advocate Geo
• Schumer Caught Telling Senators to Smear GOP, Boehner
• Billionaires' Tea Party
• Outsourcing does not save money -- Backgrounder Brief
• President Addresses Nation on Libya | C-SPAN
• Tax the Churches.org
• The Secret State's Quest for 'Persona Management Software' -- Ever wonder if all your "Friends" on Facebook are real people, or just bogus government infiltrators trying to manipulate your opinion? Well, wonder no longer. It turns out this is a key component to the strategy of the corporatocracy to manipulate the social-networked opinion, and insure continued flow of funds into their collective pockets. Oh, and I notice Duncan D. Hunter is one of those participating in this fra
• Security Council Approves ‘No-Fly Zone’ over Libya, Authorizing ‘All Necessary Measures’ to Protect
• A new energy – Exp.results « Journal of Nuclear Physics (type of cold fusion)
• Germany set to abandon nuclear power for good
• Libyan Invasion as Further Expansion of Obama's Executive Power
• Kucinich Talks Impeachment, Threatens Military Funding for Libya
• Obama's Lobbyist Ban Meets a Loophole: William Lynn
• Not Worth It: First Day of Libya Strikes Cost More Than $100 Million
• Republicans vote to nominate candidates by mail to sidestep 'top-two primary' system
• Pacific Hemisphere Plate
• Earthquake Prediction 2011 Jim Berkland - A Major Earthquake in North America Imminent
• West Coast USA Danger IF Japan Nuclear Reactor Meltdown
• Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states | McClatchy
• Stephen King - Awake the State Sarasota, Florida
• Proposed GOP budget cuts target tsunami warning centers - Political Hotsheet - CBS News
• Press Releases « Chertoff Group -- Remember Michael Chertoff, sunken cheeked Secy of Dept. of Homeland Security under GW Bush?? Now, he leads the Chertoff Group, private sector profiteers who now are growing, even providing strategic planning for Blackwater/Xe. This revolving door probably is the same one used by Cheney / Halliburton, and smells pretty bad.
• Red Alert: Nuclear Meltdown at Quake-Damaged Japanese Plant
• Get Ready for the Nuclear Energy Spin Assault
• Collateral Murder -- Take a look at this video released by Wikileaks... It's quite disurbing.
• Almost half of city work force gets pink slips
• SunrisePowerlink Protest -- March from Sempra Building to Federal Courthouse
• Coils of the Serpent -- A Novel (Book Review)
• Harold Lutz Memorial Site
• A PIECE OF RESISTANCE: RATEPAYERS PROTEST POWERLINK IN ALPINE | East County Magazine
• Democrats Rank Strategies and Rap the Republicans—as Well as Own Party
• Groups plan to picket Sunrise Powerlink site
• SunrisePowerlink Protest -- Picket Line in Alpine
• San Diego Region's $100K Club
• The State Worker: Commission's plan rolls back pensions for current workers -- from blogs.sacbee.com
• Money As Debt
• Obama Budget Cuts Visualization
• Grossmont Healthcare CEO Gets Salary Boost, Will Top $200,000 in Late 2012
• DID SCHOOL DISTRICT VIOLATE CONSTITUTION BY HOLDING EVENT AT CHURCH? | East County Magazine
• Wisconsin Senate set to OK anti-union bill
• Grossmont School District Should Cancel Event at Sonrise Church
• C00035: Complaint of School Event Held at Church
• After Record-Level Turnout in Tahrir, Egyptian Protests Spread to Parliament, Cabinet Buildings; Lab
• Asmaa Mahfouz & the YouTube Video that Helped Spark the Egyptian Uprising
• San Diego Reader | Suit Filed to Halt Wind Zero's Proposed Military Training Facility Near Ocotillo
• WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ALPINE CA. January 27, 2011 -- Sunrise Powerlink construction starts
• Study: No higher mental health risk after abortion
• Blackwater suit tossed 7 years after grisly deaths
• Under the U.S. Supreme Court: The 'anguish' of defending the cross - UPI.com
• Hunter Wants Military Chiefs To Control Repeal Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell | KPBS.org
• Blackwater Founder Is Said to Back African Mercenaries
• Rewriting gun control
• GHD Special Meeting -- Stieringer Replacement Appt.
• Security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater, bought by investment group from founder
• Money issues holding up big Imperial Valley solar project
• Proposal to Name Stieringer 'Director Emeritus' Challenged by District Gadfly
• C00030 - COPS contribution to GHD 2010-12-06 meeting
• GHD Agenda - Grossmont Healthcare district continues to fly off-course, for insiders rather than for the public. Now, after witnessing a disgusting display of self-interest by former director Stieringer, the board wants to bestow the title of "Director-Emeritus" and name the conference center building after him. Needless to say, I'm going to be speaking out to block this insanity, and I hope you will join me.
• Kamala Harris wins attorney general's race as Steve Cooley concedes | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times
• Chalmers Johnson - Speaking Freely -- Chalmers Johnson died today.
• Pension gaming at health care district?
• Watchdog Group Wins Open-Meeting Fight with Grossmont Healthcare Board
• Letter from GHD Attorney Scott on 2010-11-15 Brown Act Violation
• Grossmont Healthcare Board to Stieringer: You Can't Have Seat Back
• The secret sauce behind bloated state pensions - The Red Tape Chronicles - msnbc.com - (Gabriel Slatton)
• Grossmont board says Stieringer quit
• Grossmont board calls meeting on Stieringer issue
• GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD SEEKS TO HEAL RIFT | East County Magazine
• Board member steps down, tries to take it back
• GHD Emergency Meeting on Stieringer's employment scam
• Grossmont Healthcare Board Member Quits, Then Asks for Seat Back
• Letter to GHD regarding Stieringer employment scam
• C00027 - COPS request to Registrar of Voters on Manual Tally Procedures
• Inside Job
• Health Law Hardly At Fault For Rising Premiums -- (2010-10-31) People have been blaming increases in their premiums on the healthcare reform, but the facts do not support that assertion. However, it appears that the healthcare reform bill SHOULD have had the public option to provide competition to the private insurance companies who now control the market, to help keep premiums down. The reform bill is hardly any sort of "takeover" but instead impose rational changes to help improve competition, but apparently did not go far enough.
• The billionaire Koch brothers’ war against Obama : The New Yorker -- This article came out in August, but we must refresh our collective memories that the tea party movement is absolutely not a grassroots movement but one orchestrated by the billionaires at the top, such as the Koch brothers to provide a means to manipulate the system for their benefit. This extensive article is what blew the top off their fake tea party.