http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/279-82/11697-focus-qthe-banker-man-grows-fat-working-man-grows-thinq

Bruce Springsteen:"The Banker Man Grows Fat, Working Man Grows Thin"
By Erik Kirschbaum, Reuters
31 May 12

Rocker Bruce Springsteen touched on a nerve of widespread discontent with the financiers and bankers at a Berlin concert on Wednesday, railing against them as "greedy thieves" and "robber barons."

Springsteen, a singer-songwriter dubbed "The Boss" who has long championed populist causes, played to a sold-out crowd at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, singing from his album "Wrecking Ball" and speaking about tough economic times that have put people out of work worldwide and led to debt crises in Greece and other countries.

"In America, a lot of people have lost their jobs," said Springsteen, 62, who performed for three hours to some 58,000 fans in the packed stadium that hosted the 1936 Olympics and the 2006 World Cup final.

"But also in Europe and in Berlin, times are tough," he added, speaking in fluent German. "This song is for all those who are struggling." He then introduced "Jack of All Trades", a withering attack on bankers that includes the lyrics: "The banker man grows fat, working man grows thin."

MORE

Source: Reuters / TPM

TPMMuckraker

John Edwards Not Guilty On One Count, Mistrial On 5 Counts

Ryan J. Reilly May 31, 2012, 4:29 PM

Former Democratic presidential candidiate John Edwards was found not guilty on one count in his campaign finance trial on Thursday, while a mistrial was declared on five other counts against the former Democratic presidential candidate.

The Edwards trial, which spanned over a month, centered on the question of when Edwards knew about payments that wealthy donors gave to his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and whether those payments could be considered campaign donations that should have been reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Edwards was charged in June 2011 on six counts — one count of conspiracy to violate federal campaign finance laws, four counts of accepting illegal campaign contributions and one count of concealing those illegal donations from the FEC.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE84T1KA20120531?irpc=932

Edwards jury reaches verdict on only 1 of 6 counts

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA | Thu May 31, 2012 3:04pm EDT

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - The jury deliberating in the criminal trial of former U.S. Senator John Edwards has reached a unanimous verdict on only one of the six counts against the North Carolina politician, the jury foreman said on Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles said she would decide within minutes whether to order the jury to continue deliberating on the remaining counts. The two-time Democratic presidential candidate faces federal campaign finance charges stemming from his 2008 presidential bid.

(Reporting Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Daniel Trotta)


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE84T1KA20120531?irpc=932

---

@DavidShuster: Regardless of Edwards outcome (or Clemens) -- DOJ has yet to charge a single wall street banker for fraud over econ collapse. #DOJpriorities

Source: NBC Bay Area

Occupy Cal Protesters Sue for $15 Million

Protesters say they were beaten and suffered emotional stress.

By Sajid Farooq | Wednesday, May 30, 2012 | Updated 11:57 AM

Occupy Cal protesters who filed a federal lawsuit last November against UC Berkeley amended that suit to demand $15 million following a protest last year.

- snip -

Wednesday protesters announced that they would amend their lawsuit to demand $7.5 million in compensatory damages for physical and emotional harm and denial of Constitutional rights, and $7.5 million in punitive damages.

The amended suit will also demand the school redress the protesters for "false arrests and UCB’s political witch hunt" against them.

"We want this to set the precedent for every university administration, that they will not attack our right to protest for public education. Through the course of this lawsuit, we will use every means at our disposal, including legal and direct action, to expose UC-Berkeley’s policy of political suppression and win justice," said Yvette Felarca, a lead plaintiff and a BAMN national organizer.


Read more: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Occupy-Cal-Protesters-Sue-for-15-Million-155755415.html

Source: Associated Press

ACLU lawsuit challenges Ill. gay marriage ban

SOPHIA TAREEN
From Associated Press
May 30, 2012 11:22 AM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) — More than two dozen gay and lesbian couples filed lawsuits Wednesday arguing that it's unconstitutional for Illinois to deny them the right to marry, a move advocates hope will lead to legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

The two lawsuits — backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the New York-based gay advocacy group Lambda Legal — include couples from the Chicago area, Bloomington and Marion. Both challenge a state law that defines marriage as between a man and woman, arguing that the Illinois Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry under due process and equality clauses.

Legislation to eliminate the law's language that prohibits gay marriage is pending, but a vote isn't expected before the legislative session is scheduled to end this week. And although Illinois enacted same-sex civil unions last year, couples in the lawsuits said the limited rights and protections make them feel like second-class citizens.

- snip -

"It's not the same thing as a marriage. We want our relationship, our love and our commitment we've shown for 15 years to be recognized like everybody else's," Lazaro said. "When you're growing up, you don't dream of civil unions."


Read more: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/us?guid=20120530/5a12d04f-b14c-4c56-86f2-415403339acd

Source: Village Voice

More Occupy Wall Street Cases Dismissed

By Nick Pinto Wed., May 30 2012 at 5:00 AM

- snip -

The next day, another criminal case in which video evidence on YouTube appears to contradict the police version of events was set for trial, but the case was continued because the police witness failed to show.

- snip -

A second case scheduled for trial yesterday was continued. Emmet Kavanaugh and his legal team were ready, and were under the impression that the prosecutor was too. But the police witness didn't come to court, so Kavanaugh, who lives in Philadelphia, will have to come back to court in late October.

While many Occupy protesters feel vindicated by the string of victories, others see the rulings as evidence that the NYPD never made the arrests with any intention of securing convictions.

This morning marks the largest group of Occupy Wall Street cases to come to trial. Twenty-two cases, consolidated into four trials, will be heard in Jury Part 7, the special section of New York City Criminal Court created just to handle the glut of Occupy-related cases. All the charges in today's cases stem from the first instance of mass arrests used against the movement on September 24th of last year -- the same day Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna sprayed pepper-spray in the faces of peaceful demonstrators kettled by police nets.

Read more: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/05/more_occupy_wal.php

Source: AFP

Report: Obama personally oversees Al-Qaeda ‘kill list’

By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:20 EDT

US President Barack Obama has personally overseen a top-secret process for determining which Al-Qaeda suspects should be placed on a “kill list,” the New York Times reported Tuesday.

The Times, citing dozens of top officials and former advisers, said the administration had developed what it termed the “kill list” as part of a stepped-up drone war against Al-Qaeda and its affiliates inPakistan and Yemen.

“He is determined that he will make these decisions about how far and wide these operations will go,” it quoted National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon as saying.

“His view is that he’s responsible for the position of the United States in the world… He’s determined to keep the tether pretty short.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/29/report-obama-personally-oversees-al-qaeda-kill-list/

Published on May 29, 2012 by AssangeWorldTomorrow

The Occupy movement has united hundreds of thousands across the world in protest against economic and social injustice. In this episode, key Occupy activists talk global finance, politics, and direct action.

The former Deutsche Bank building in London plays host to this weeks discussion, which sees Julian discuss the origins, targets, and future of the Occupy movement with five high profile activists. The roots of the movement lie in the growing outrage many felt in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. However, according to Alexa O'Brien from Occupy New York and US Day of Rage, they are also responding to a "Global Political Crisis, because our institutions no longer function." Aaron Peters from Occupy London agrees that political failure is a "global phenomenon", with power shifting to unaccountable non-democratic institutions. However, the last word goes to David Graeber from Occupy New York, who jokes "there's nothing that terrifies the American government so much as the threat of democracy breaking out in America."

Additional Short Version - Assange & Occupiers Discuss Violence:

Source: Reuters

http://twitter.com/Reuters/status/207475862638043136

‏
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/uk-syria-crisis-britain-idUKBRE84S0LO20120529

State Department expelling Syrian charge d'affaires: official

WASHINGTON | Tue May 29, 2012 10:25am EDT
(Reuters) - The State Department is expelling Syria's charge d'affaires in Washington following a wave of deadly attacks on civilians in Syria over the weekend, an official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Syrian diplomat would be given 72 hours to depart the country. Syria's longtime ambassador to Washington, Imad Moustapha, was recalled to Damascus late last year and a formal replacement had not been named.

Britain to expel Syrian charge d'affaires

LONDON | Tue May 29, 2012 1:21pm BST

(Reuters) - Britain is expelling the Syrian charge d'affaires and two other senior Syrian diplomats, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday.

The move was part of a co-ordinated expulsion of Syrian diplomats from other major capitals.

Hague said the diplomats had been given seven days to leave the country.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/uk-syria-crisis-germany-idUKBRE84S0K120120529

Germany expels Syrian ambassador - source

BERLIN | Tue May 29, 2012 7:35am EDT
(Reuters) - Germany is expelling Syria's ambassador following a massacre in the town of Houla last week in which more than 100 people died, a government source said on Tuesday.

The move was agreed in coordination with the United States, France, Britain and other partners," said the source, requesting anonymity.

An official announcement is expected later on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/207440292956225538

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/us-syria-crisis-usa-idUSBRE84S0TQ20120529

---

Daily Kos Link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/28/1094024/-Droney

Source: Reuters

U.N. Security Council condemns Syria over massacre
UNITED NATIONS | Sun May 27, 2012 5:55pm EDT

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Sunday unanimously condemned the Syrian government for heavy-weapons attacks on the town of Houla, the site of a massacre of at least 108 people, including many children, the council president said.

"The Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings, confirmed by United Nations observers, of dozens of men, women and children and the wounding of hundreds more in the village of (Houla), near Homs, in attacks that involved a series of government artillery and tank shellings on a residential neighborhood," the non-binding statement said.

"The Security Council also condemned the killing of civilians by shooting at close range and by severe physical abuse," said the statement, which was read out after the council's three-hour emergency meeting by Azerbaijan's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Tofig Musayev.

(Reporting By Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Eric Beech)


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE84Q0G420120527?irpc=932