By Larry Johnson
closeAuthor: Larry Johnson
Name: Larry Johnson
Email: larry_johnson@earthlink.net
Site: http://NoQuarterUSA.net
About: Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering. Mr. Johnson works with US military commands in scripting terrorism exercises, briefs on terrorist trends, and conducts undercover investigations on counterfeiting, smuggling and money laundering.
Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism, is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management.
Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world, including the Center for Research and Strategic Studies at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France. He represented the U.S. Government at the July 1996 OSCE Terrorism Conference in Vienna, Austria.
From 1989 until October 1993, Larry Johnson served as a Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism. He managed crisis response operations for terrorist incidents throughout the world and he helped organize and direct the US Government’s debriefing of US citizens held in Kuwait and Iraq, which provided vital intelligence on Iraqi operations following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Mr. Johnson also participated in the investigation of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership the U.S. airlines and pilots agreed to match the US Government’s two million-dollar reward.
From 1985 through September 1989 Mr. Johnson worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. During his distinguished career, he received training in paramilitary operations, worked in the Directorate of Operations, served in the CIA’s Operation’s Center, and established himself as a prolific analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence. In his final year with the CIA he received two Exceptional Performance Awards.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He taught at The American University’s School of International Service (1979-1983) while working on a Ph.D. in political science. He has a M.S. degree in Community Development from the University of Missouri (1978), where he also received his B.S. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1976.See Authors Posts (752) on June 24, 2008 at 10:45 AM in Barack Obama, DNC, Democracy, Democratic National Convention, Democratic party, Disenfranchisement, Florida, Michigan, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Women's Suffrage
Preamble
When you read the I Own My Vote Pledge, keep in mind that the demands it contains are not admissions of defeat, nor are they conditions precedent to your vote. Hillary’s campaign is only suspended, not ended. And only you can decide when your vote has been earned. Whether you are a PUMA activist, a WomenCountPAC donor, a Just Say No Deal blogger, a Clinton Democrat for McCain, a yellow dog Democrat for VoteBoth, or simply a Hillary Clinton supporter who feels like the Party leaders and their presumptive nominee are ignoring everything that you value, the most powerful statement you can make right now is that YOU OWN YOUR VOTE. Only in finding that common ground will we be counted, for only in that common ground will we be able to count ourselves.
* * * * *
On Saturday, June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton suspended her historic campaign for President. To her 18 million voters, it may have seemed like an end, but
I pledge to make it a beginning … a beginning of a movement to achieve the democratic and just country that Hillary has envisioned for America.
I stand together with Hillary Clinton’s 18 million voters to demand that Senator Obama and the Democratic Party:
- Bring us together by seating 100% of the Florida and Michigan delegations in Denver with 100% of their votes, allocated in accordance with the popular vote of each state.
- Bring us together by adopting policies on the Platform Committee that Hillary Clinton has championed.
- Bring us together through reform of the primary and caucus system to reflect the basic principle of one person/one vote.
- Bring us together through outspoken denunciation of all gender bias, racism and other forms of discrimination.
- Bring us together by fairly and respectfully including Hillary and her supporters at the Democratic National Convention in Denver by, among other things, placing her name in nomination for President, conducting a roll call vote, and providing her a prominent speaking role during prime time on August 26th, the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
I own my vote. It does not belong to any party. It does not belong to any candidate. It does not belong to any mob that would impose its will on me. Only I can decide how to use my vote, and I can decide based on any criteria I choose. Therefore I pledge not to give my vote to anyone who does not earn it.
Click here to sign the pledge: http://iownmyvote.com/
SEAT MI!!!!!!
http://www.obama-wire.com
18 Million Strong! Go Larry!!!!!
http://www.obama-wire.com
I’m sorry Larry…but I cannot sign that pledge.
It implies I can be brought back into the fold, if only Obama would meet certain demands.
NOPE!!!!!
My sentiments exactly…I can not sign it either.
WE WILL REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER
McCain ‘08 (no matter who the dem VP is)
I agree with both of you and all the others who are saying they can’t sign the pledge.
There is nothing, not anything, Barack can do to win my support now. He had innumerable opportunities to do so and failed every single test. His preemptive race card play with the GOP is the latest failure.
The man is damaging the country for his own ambitions. I cannot and will not support him.
I do, however, pledge to do everything in my power to defeat BaDork in November if the coup is completed in August. On that you have my full allegiance.
Paul F. Villarreal
VillarrealSports.com
No pledge for me.This does nothing to purge the DNC of the rif raf.
I agree, it is to late for that..
http://nocache.homestead.com/nativeamericansagainstobama/index.html
I signed this pledge because Hillary and the 18 million people who voted for her at the least deserve those things. I don’t think it’s saying they have my vote if they do those things, but that it’s more like a road map to unifying.
Call me crazy, but I’m still hopeful Hillary can be the nominee in August. Like Barbara Layton said on FOX News anything is possible.
Watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hCwYLTd_vE
Thanks Larry … and please post your Radio spot from 2 days ago as I missed it.
I agree. For me it’s about Denver. I want FL & MI seated 100% and I want Hillary on that roll call. The other items on the list of demands will follow when Hillary is the nominee. This is our last opportunity to get Hillary the nomination. The Obots say “dead ender” I say “optimist”.
I agree. I won’t go back to the dnc, but yes, 18 mill deserve better respect.
PS … please make no mistake with my post above; I will never, ever, vote for BHO. That would just be wrong on so many levels (for me). But I will do whatever I can to see that Hillary and her 18 million voters get the respect they deserve.
NOBAMA - NOKERRY 08
I agree. Please forgive me, but I can see Obama and the DNC agreeing with this while knowing full well they had no intention of doing any of it.
Don’t misinterpret or read too much into it.
As someone else posted just above, this is a DARE to Obama, Dean and crew.
Sign it. There is POWER in numbers.
Keep the faith. Nobody is giving them an inch. You have my word on it.
OK, I’ll take your word for it that this is the right strategy. I’ll sign!
Ah…I see.
I’ll sign it.
For what is worth I did do.
I have few questions as to weather this a PUMA related site or ??
Thanks SusuanUnPC
So you are saying it is a false pledge. A conceit. A bald-faced lie. How proud you must be.
And you are in a position to speak for everyone? And you give your word on it? And the sheeple buy it? Wow.
I read it …no I won’t sign it…
I did not see the pledge saying this (could-would-should support Obama) at all. This pledge says that I will not be intimidated by anyone or any organization into supporting any particular candidate or Party’s nominee. I signed the pledge to say whoever gets my vote 1.) has to be qualified and expereinced, and 2.) has to earn that vote.
I feel the same…can’t sign it. will NEVER support bo.
Yup. With you. No can sign pledge. I don’t ask Obama for anything but to get lost. I’m holding out for Hillary at the convention. No Hillary, I vote McCain.
I’m with you 100% Destardi.
And for some excellent videos that highlight the differences between McCain and Obama, go to savagepolitics.com When you get there type It’s All in the Contrast into the search area located on the upper right of the page. You will see why Obama is afraid to do townhalls with McCain. You will also feel better about your decision to vote McCain in a McCain /Obama election. Enjoy!
Signed, sealed, deliveed — Hillary, I’m yours!!!!!
The Obama supporters don’t understand this inconvenient truth.
Done! I own my vote!
I, too, Larry, cannot sign the pledge. The nomination belongs to Hillary. NObama was SELECTED, not elected. I will not come “home.” There is nothing NObama or the DNC can do to make me vote for him!
PUMA
I understand. I felt like that too when I first saw this pledge. But I signed because if we can get FL & MI seated 100% and can ensure Hillary is on the roll call, she has an opportunity to win the nomination! It’s not about Obama, this is about Hillary, Denver, and flexing our muscle.
Its not asking you to vote for him! See SusanUNPC post up thread!
I fart in Obama’s general direction.
roflol!
Larry, you have hit the right tone. Thank you.
I don’t think there’s a chance in heck. This is politics, after all.
But I love the direction.
I agree. Larry this is a great idea.
Done.
PUMA
Sorry, Larry, no can do. It implies Ill go along to get along. Im OUT of the Dem Party for GOOD. I dont care what he/they do now. Even take Hillary as VP. Too much damage, too much hurt.
Did you see this post on Savage Politics today from a NObama supporter??
Comment by blackandproud 2008-06-24 12:01 PM
“Obama will treat Hillary just how she deserves to
be threated he will use her for her supporters votes trounce her around the stage like a $2.00 whore. Thats victory to all black and payback to all you Hillary supporters. I will celebrate on Friday and
laugh my ass off losers.”
Sorry, these are not people I EVER want to be associated with.
http://www.democrats-against-obama.org/
I said this earlier, that I couldn’t believe she was literally going to “pimp” her self out to obama after all the crap she just put up with. It is my belief too that he is just putting her up there as a trophy.
Trophy is the appropriate word for what he will be doing to her. I am so ill that this is going to happen. I am done with the party as it stands, when we get these people out of office I will come back until then…I will work, support and do whatever I can for the party that opposes them.
A MUST READ…GO TO THIS SITE AND HALWAY DOWN IN THE COMMENTS..YOU WILL READ ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT A MALL WITH A MOTHER AND HER 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER JUST BECAUSE SHE HA NO-OBAMA STICKER ON HER CAR
http://paganpower.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/not-far-from-the-tree/#comment-815
Thats nuts, and I just finished taking history in college and I’m sorry to let you in on this, but this is EXACTLY how despots take over a country. They have group of followers that threat through violence and people remain silent. I hope obama doesn’t get elected because its over for us if he decides to embrace this type of militancy. He could use them to silence any voice of opposition. “WHAT you want to hold an election, I don’t think so.” Then his thugs shut you up.
That is about as sick as you can get. What courage it took to threaten a 9 year old kid; Obama would be so proud! We need this guy in the White House like Zimbabwe need Mugabe.
I am not interested in this pledge. It’s tantamount to a concession.
Thank you for signing the Pledge!
Invite your friends to sign the Pledge and help grow the movement.
Hillary is not pimping herself at all. She knows that it’s not over until the fat lady sings. Everyday
Obama is showing up a little more of who he is. By August at the convention it will be very clear that this empty suit will not win the GE. Hillary knows
exactly what she is doing, and is playing the game
just as she wants to. She is calling the shots, trust
me.
I hope so, I will hold out till then.
Hillary is welcome to come ANYWHERE in NH.
However, I am going to do my very best to make sure Obama and his gang of THUGS spend the weekend in BURLINGTON, VT - across the river from NH, and camp out at Howard Dean’s place.
Accomplisheses two Things:
1. Keeps NH quiet and smooth the way we like it.
2. Shows people in Houward Dena’s home town what those horrible Bots are like and, the people in Burlington will see to it that Howard will not live much longer in VT.
That is going to be interesting Nellie.
NOBAMA - NOKERRY
I signed it.
Yeah, I was struck by the near-conciliatory tone in your post here, Larry. Fortunately, the comments section has shored up NoQuarter’s well-earned reputation as the home of unhinged dilettantes who think politics is all about your favorite person winning, issues and policy priorities be damned.
Ok, so…are you going to tell me, with a straight face, that you weren’t one of the first adopters of “automatic delegates” over superdelegates? One of the first to adopt the Hillary line that a candidate who received a majority of all delegate votes even while losing the pledged delegate count was just as legitimate, and was entitled to the nomination? Does it not hurt your head, even slightly, that the split second this argument no longer benefited Hillary, it was jettisoned, and traded in for this “selected, not elected” garbage that somehow seeks to cast doubt on the victory of the candidate who, let’s remember, achieved a majority of pledged delegates, a majority of actual delegates (the criterion for choosing a nominee, you’ll remember), and, not that it matters, but a majority of the popular vote? This cognitive dissonance, this change of “principles” with electoral fortunes, doesn’t shame you even slightly?
If my memory serves me correctly, the Obama camp then picked up the old Hillary stance and decided superdelegates were not that bad. So look who is calling the kettle black-no pun intended.
Well, that would be a really good point if they had questioned the legitimacy of a victory obtained with superdelegate support in the first case. They didn’t. They were confident they’d win under the actual rules, superdelegates and all, and they did. Clinton supporters (not even so much the campaign advisers, they knew defeat when they saw it) were the ones who picked up this inane “selected not elected” meme, as if Clinton had some path to the nomination that didn’t involve a whole hell of a lot of superdelegate support. I have never once seen anyone offer any kind of explanation of what “selected not elected” actually means. How did the manner of Obama’s eventual victory differ from what Clinton was arguing back in February that she could/would do?
They did question and dispute the legitimacy of the tactic, floated by a couple senior Clinton advisers, of poaching pledged delegates. I think they were right to do so. So far as I know, the Clinton campaign never actually attempted it, so the question was academic.
Who’s unhinged? I’ll tell you who–people supporting a nominee who cheated to get the nomination, people who condone the blatant themes of racism and sexism, people who hate the Clintons for reasons unknown, people who don’t demand more from their candidate than meaningless catch phrases, people who allow their candidate to change his positions at the drop of a hat because the big, bad Republicans made him do it. I’ll be damned if I’ll be conciliatory to those who have destroyed the Democratic Party for no reason other than greed and jealousy. I don’t intend to be the meek little woman, who will let the big strong man tell me what I should do or think. Those days are long gone!
A) He didn’t cheat. He won. There’s a difference. I know you think that beating your candidate is cheating by definition, but if you go look that up in the rules you might be surprised to find that it isn’t so.
B) Clinton’s campaign, mostly by surrogates (authorized or not) did inject race into the campaign during February. Exhibit A: Shuck and jive. Exhibit B: Doing stuff in the neighborhood. Exhibit C: Jesse Jackson won South Carolina too. Note: I’m not counting MLK/LBJ Civil Rights Act. She probably could have thought the comment through more carefully, but I didn’t interpret it as racial. Like it or not, though, Clinton’s campaign and people associated with it did inject race into the campaign, and Obama’s campaign pushed back, which was completely appropriate.
C) The sexism mostly came from the mainstream media, and was very virulent for a while but had tapered off in a huge way by the end of February. Obama may have benefited, through no fault of his own, but I rather think the backlash that allowed Clinton to consolidate support among white women in some key contests helped her mroe than it hurt her. The evidence for the Obama campaign actually pushing sexism is pathetically thin; Obama said something about “claws,” Obama said she was “likable enough” (I don’t even understand how the latter could be interpreted as sexist, to be honest).
D) There are people who hate the Clintons, but at least prior to this primary season there were not many of them in the Democratic Party. (The ones who have picked up that hatred during the course of the primary have some legitimate gripes, but I don’t count myself among them.) Clinton benefited from immense good will and name recognition for the Clinton brand, but in the end, she ran a mediocre campaign and her vote in favor of the Iraq War left her vulnerable to a challenge from the left, and Obama obliged. There’s no conspiracy here, it’s all explicable in fairly obvious political terms.
E) Obama does have more than catch phrases, he has a record of public service, detailed progressive policy proposals, and he’s more electable than Clinton. Those are all important, legitimate reasons to support him.
F) If you’re referring to FISA, I think it’s pathetic, and I reconsidered making my first donation to his campaign this week because of it. (I’ll probably donate at some point anyway, but just not right after he signed on with this cave-in.) Clinton isn’t going to be any better on this. I do kind of wish Russ Feingold or Dennis Kucinich were our nominee if I thought they could get elected, but that’s not the way it happened.
If you’re referring to public financing, sorry, but I don’t really care that he changed his position. He’s reigning in the 527s on our side and setting clear boundaries, so that the Democratic message will be fairly attributable to him. McCain has declined to do the same on the Republican side, meaning soft money central is de facto working for his campaign. Obama is also financing his campaign in large part through small-dollar donors. Under the circumstances, I can’t see any reason to opt into public financing just for the sake of it, and I see a lot of reasons not to do so, tactically speaking.
Of befriending slum lords while his constituents live without heat?
Kool-aid poison alert!
You’re right to think it’s pathetic. Your decision to continue supporting Obama and justifying his action is also pathetic. The Kool-Aid has gone too far into your brain cells. There is no going back. Obama is just testing the water now, but now that he knows he’ll have your undying support no matter what odious actions he take, nothing will stop him.
EXCELLENT analysis!!!
Bravo!! Totally agree!!
1)F*ck you.
2)obama’s willingness to use race to divide, and attract votes…tells me he will stoop to ANYTHING to win, and has no conscience.
3)f*ck you.
See above. I know you really, really don’t want to admit it, but it was Hillary’s campaign that brought race into the elections. Obama and his team pushed back, and they dealt with Wright by talking about race in an honest, unfiltered way that was really refreshing to see from a politician.
And you can say that with a straight face? No wonder this country is in so much trouble, with gullible people like you who will believe whatever Obama feeds them.
Well said Destardi! I second your motions.
All this back and forth bullshit is exactly why I’ve left the Democratic Party and will never look back. I simply don’t give a shit about them anymore. I’ll vote McCain because in my research of him I’ve found that I agree with enough of his positions, that I can feel not only good…but great about doing so. I really am a Done Dem. Am just wondering now what took me so long.
This plede simply invites us to vote our conscience.
If that’s not OK, I don’t get it.
None of you….even if you were Hillary supporters…have the right to tell ME how to vote.
What could possibly give you the idea that you have that perogative?
That’s arrogant. Totally arrogant.
Ann - You vote for who you want to; I’ll do the same. That’s what democracy is all about. And I don’t mean the version of democracy that Obama and the DNC are offering to us right now.
I don’t really see a point of Democrats trying to earn the vote of those continually touting Larry Sinclair and a collection of other issues that even Republican pundits won’t touch because they’re so ridiculous. You’ve made it clear you hate Obama and aren’t going to vote for him and are willing to believe anything and everything that gets forwarded your way about him. Would continued glad-handing at the DNC really change that? If not, why should you spend one ounce of energy complaining to his campaign, and why should his campaign spend any resources trying to convince you?
Rationally or irrationally, you hate him. They have the same policies, so it’s not like adopting those will change anything. And as is clearly evident, no amount of speeches by Obama or Clinton praising each other will convince you to change your mind.
There are votes Obama is still looking to earn. They definitely aren’t on this blog though.
We don’t hate him per se, we hate you. Go away you troll Nazi!
I don’t see me voting for Obama because he’s a corporate logo.
It certainly has nothing to do with con-artist Sinclair, the great birth certificate CSI mystery, or even the whitey tape. I don’t care.
I don’t vote for logos.
Period.
They are dangerous. I personally worked in corporate America for years, actually, in PR. So I absolutely know how it works.
No will do on my vote.
No will get sucked in by blue clouds.
No will go for the flip-flopper.
Better to vote for the guy where you know where you disagree than with the one whom lies every 2 minutes.
I will own MY vote.
And I have no interest in race-baiters, conspiracy theorists, or those who believe in cons, either.
Oh….and the Hitler people? *blech*
Moderate here.
Not going to vote for Obama.
And nobody will be in my booth with me. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
Obama has given me all the info I need to be sure.
McCain has a shot.
We’ll see.
I’m quite at ease with just not voting on that position at all and focusing on the down ticket items.
We’ll see.
He didn’t earn the delegates in michigan, but he still claimed them.
“I attended my church for 20 years…but I never inhaled!”
typical white person
There are votes Obama is still looking to earn
Hannable;How does he do that Clarice?
You can’t win over people who are the fringe and have their minds made up. My belief, sadly, is that the people who post on this site are actually extremely racist and won’t admit it outright, but instead, trump up ridiculous arguments against Obama to somehow justify their vitriol. And this includes Larry Johnson.
A very sad commentary on the mentality of this very small group of people. And thank god they are in the minority.
Woo-hoo…Signed it!
How many petitions and pledges are you going to put up? It really seems like working on making one effective one would be your best bet. Go ahead, though, if you want to throw a completely new tantrum every two weeks, you’re free to do so.
NAZI TROLL ALERT!
SOUND THE ALARMS!
Seriously, though, one great petition is better than 6 mediocre ones.
Hey Larry……..you hit the big-time.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Great article in American Prospector about MO’s racist rants that the GOP are sitting on until it really counts.
Although it seems to be taking an anti-LJ/NQ stance, it isn’t really because t it ends with Larry’s butt kicking comments.
Larry’s comments in the end are right on. “I am amused that my ‘credibility’ is now in question,” Johnson wrote. “The Democrats did not have such a problem when I was asked to deliver the response to President Bush’s Saturday radio address in July of 2005. I have not changed. Some just don’t like the message.”
I trust my gut feelings, which tells me that Larry’s one of the good guy’s who loves this country as Hillary does. Fighting for Truth, Justice, and the American way! But without the blue suit and red cape… lol …
My problem with the pledge is it doesn’t have a provision for: ** magically make Oblahma more experienced, qualified and with better judgement. Oh and lose the arrogant attitude too.
Sorry Larry no can do…
Fight the Smears is using the forged birth certificate on their site. WOW
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert
Save the page before they erase it.
WHERE WAS HE BORN??????????????
If he was born anywhere but Honolulu, the eligibility issue is moot because he would have committed fraud with the fake birth certificate.
Don’t worry. He’ll blame it on some low level staff. He never saw that birth certificate.
“That’s not the birth certificate I knew…”
This morning I made a post at Dailykooks and joked about Hussein Obama’s presidential seal getting thrown under the bus and then quoting, “That’s not the faux-Presidential Seal that I knew…”
Only to have it pulled literally within 2 minutes. LOL. No fucking sense of humor for the Obamislamists.
More evidence that Obama’s birth certificate is a fake. I had not seen this before about the border not lining up properly in the corners or the seal being black & white…interesting.
http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/12932.htm
Don’t worry Adam, I don’t need to sign pledges etc - I just need to vote for John McCain in November (if Hillary is not the nominee by then). Then I will vote for Hillary in 2012.
Whatever. Do what you like. I’m just saying that making so many of them is kind of dumb.
Sorry, but this is really futile. The DNC have made the decision on Hussein Obama. That the Clintons continue hitching their wagon to this idiot shows to me they are perfectly fine with the coup and essentially in on the cover up. For even the Clintons it’s about party first and America second.
We are here, this is it and we’re on our own to stop Obama.
Bang on. I have seen combat and believe me you think of country before party. It`s a shame some of these elitists haven`t gotten some dirt under their fingernails.
Ditto NoObamislamists.
I signed it. I don’t think it’s conciliatory. I think it makes demands that are necessary and appropriate.
Do I think it will make a difference? Yes…to me. It makes a difference to me.
What ever might be the case, I will not vote for Obama. DNC will not nominate Hillary and they lost my vote.