Archive for the Cameo In Courage Award Category

Eighth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2023 (May 22, 2023)

Posted in Cameo In Courage Award on May 22, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “The envelope please.  . . .  This year, the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is awarded to . . . Barbara Lee, the only Congressperson who voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in 2001.  Not one other person in the House or in the Senate had the courage, the dignity and the integrity to do what she did.  She has continued to challenge the powerful on behalf of the powerless.  She continues to carry the torch carried by Ron Dellums before her.  A civil society must provide some public nod to honor secular saints.  To acknowledge the poppy that forces its way through the crack in the asphalt to reach for the light.”

J          “One person demurred.  Only one person demurred when Congress capitulated completely.  And she is still serving.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary Cameo In Courage Award Nominee: Julian Assange (January 31, 2022), Sixth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2021 (April 5, 2021), Fifth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2020 (July 6, 2020), Seeing 2020:  Profiles In Cowardice; Profiles In Courage.  Oh, And Happy Valentine’s Day! (February 10, 2020), Alex J. / J. Assange And The First Amendment (August 13, 2018), Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013), Fourth Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2019 (April 8, 2019), Third Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2018 (April 9, 2018), Second Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017), First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016), Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016), Profile In Cowardice Award (May 12, 2014), Profile In Courage Award, 2015 (May 11, 2015), Chelsea And Ed:  Time For ‘Con’ ‘dign’ Treatment (November 30, 2015) and On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Dissent remains patriotic, but perilous

“People run in packs because they don’t feel safe alone.  I run alone because I don’t feel safe in packs.”  Muhammad Ali

Cameo In Courage Award Nominee: Julian Assange (January 31, 2022)

Posted in Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, Hypocrisy, Journalism on January 31, 2022 by e-commentary.org

. . .

PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD® – SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Award nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis. Nominations received after February 15th of each year will be rolled over for consideration the following year. Ordinarily, the award will be made to living Americans who are or were elected officials.  Individuals at all levels of government—federal, state and local—are eligible for the award.  An emphasis will be placed on contemporary acts of political courage. Please consider the Award Criteria to determine whether the person you wish to nominate would be an appropriate recipient of the Profile in Courage Award®.

Tell Us About Your Nominee for the Profile in Courage Award

Nominee First Name: Julian

Nominee Last Name: Assange

Act(s) of political courage for which your nominee is to be considered: Courageously standing up for free speech and courageously challenging illegal and immoral government action.

Enter other…

Tell Us About Yourself

First Name: e-

Last Name: commentator

Email Address:  e-ssay@gci.net

Zip / Postal Code:

All information submitted will be kept confidential by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and will be used only to communicate with you about your nomination and the Foundation’s activities.  No information on this form will be disclosed to any other person or entity.

. . .

[See the Cameo In Courage Award for Julian Assange in 2019 at Fourth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2019 (April 8, 2019) and the most recent award at Sixth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2021 (April 5, 2021).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Make courage courageous again

___________________________________________________

A Petition to President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.:  Pardon Julian Assange

Whereas Journalist Julian Paul Assange and his media organization, Wikileaks, has in the respected tradition of American journalism obtained and published information that is classified and newsworthy, a practice shared with the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others and

Whereas in the fifteen years of its existence the authenticity and accuracy of materials published by Wikileaks has never been questioned or disputed and

Whereas assertion by the American Intelligence Services that Julian Assange is the agent of a “Hostile Foreign State” or the Russian government are politically suspect and completely unproven and denied by Assange and

Whereas Julian Assange has consistently denied that material obtained from the Democratic National Committee and published by Wikileaks came from the Russian State and has provided unimpeachable proof to U.S. authorities and

Whereas Julian Assange, now in failing health, is being held in solitary confinement and is being extradited by British authorities to the United States for trial and

Whereas Julian Assange is an impeccably-honest, incredibly-brave, humanitarian journalist, who provides an invaluable platform for whistleblowers and concerned citizens exposing corruption and criminality infesting governments, nullifying democracy and obliterating human rights, around the world and

Whereas there are absolutely no legitimate legal grounds to prosecute Assange and, as the U.S. Department of Justice admitted in 2013, doing so would expose all U.S. journalistic and news outlets to similar criminal jeopardy.

Therefore I urge President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. to issue a full and unconditional pardon to the journalist Julian Paul Assange in the interests of justice, mercy, truth and unity.  This humanitarian act could be the most consequential and far-reaching action in your first term.

Sixth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2021 (April 5, 2021)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage on April 5, 2021 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “The envelope please.  . . .  This year, the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is awarded to . . . Daniel Hale, the whistleblower who exposed the government’s drone assassination program at considerable cost to himself.”

J          “Will there come a time when such individuals are hailed as Great Americans and courageous patriots.”

. . .

[See “As Drone Whistleblower Daniel Hale Pleads Guilty, Advocates Warn of ‘Profound Threat’ to Free Press” in “Common Dreams” dated April 2, 2021 by Brett Wilkins.]

[See the e-commentary at “Fifth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2020 (July 6, 2020)”, “Seeing 2020:  Profiles In Cowardice; Profiles In Courage.  Oh, And Happy Valentine’s Day! (February 10, 2020)”, “Alex J. / J. Assange And The First Amendment (August 13, 2018)”, “Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013)”, “Fourth Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2019 (April 8, 2019)”, “Third Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2018 (April 9, 2018)”, “Second Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017)”, “First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016)”, “Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016)”, “Profile In Cowardice Award (May 12, 2014)”, “Profile In Courage Award, 2015 (May 11, 2015)”, “Chelsea And Ed:  Time For ‘Con’ ‘dign’ Treatment (November 30, 2015)” and “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Dissent remains patriotic but perilous

“Sheep spend their whole lives living in fear of the wolf only to be eaten by the shepherd.”  Proverb

The Persecution Of Assange And The Feckless MSM (September 21, 2020)

Posted in Cameo In Courage Award, First Amendment, Journalism, Newspapers, Press/Media on September 21, 2020 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “Most media outlets are not concerned about press freedom because they are completely free to say precisely what they are directed to say.”

J          “The only journalists commenting on the most critical freedom of the press case of our time are commentators such as award-winning Caitlin Johnstone and historian and human rights advocate Craig Murray, those at Consortium News, and a few other heroes, stragglers and renegades.”

. . .

K          “What would RBG say?”

J          “I respectfully dissent.”

. . .

[See “Empire’s mask slips at Julian Assange trial” in “The Asia Times” dated September 18, 2020 by Pepe Escobar.]

[See some of the e-commentary by typing “Assange” in the search box.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Have a peaceful International Day of Peace

“First they came for the journalists.  We don’t know what happened after that.”

Have a peaceful Equinox

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Fifth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2020 (July 6, 2020)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, On [Traits/Characteristics] on July 6, 2020 by e-commentary.org

[Google continues to block access (except on July 2 and 3!?) to https://e-commentary.org/ with no justification or recourse.]

. . .

K          “The envelope please.  . . .  This year, the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is awarded to . . . Doctor Chris Martenson at Peak Prosperity who has presented and continues to present a regular detailed presentation and discussion of issues and challenges related to the Coronavirus / Covid-19 Plague.  With quiet conviction and factual facts, he has challenged the lies and propaganda of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the American Medical Association (AMA), President Trumpi, the Surgeon General, the Main Stream Media (MSM), Corporate News Network (CNN), Faux News (Fox), Big Pharma (BG) and so many other institutions and individuals.  One benchmark of his veracity is the unrelenting criminal efforts by the Internet gate keepers such as Google/YouTube and Facebook and Twitter to block his presentations.”

. . .

[See “Malaria drug and zinc, the missing link” in “The Conservative Woman” dated May 26, 2020 by Joseph Berry.]

[See the e-commentary noting Doctor Chris Martenson’s contributions at “Covid-19:  BAU v. BAU (February 24, 2020)” and “Covid-19 PanICdemic/Plague:  The (Partial) Solution:  Mom’s Chicken Noodle Soup Savored Alone (And Wash ‘N’ Wear ‘N’ Hide!) (March 30, 2020)”.]

[See the e-commentary at “Seeing 2020:  Profiles In Cowardice; Profiles In Courage.  Oh, And Happy Valentine’s Day! (February 10, 2020)”, “Alex J. / J. Assange And The First Amendment (August 13, 2018)”, “Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013)”, “Fourth Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2019 (April 8, 2019)”, “Third Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2018 (April 9, 2018)”, “Second Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017)”, “First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016)”, “Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016)”, “Profile In Cowardice Award (May 12, 2014)”, “Profile In Courage Award, 2015 (May 11, 2015)”, “Chelsea And Ed:  Time For ‘Con’ ‘dign’ Treatment (November 30, 2015)” and “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Dissent remains patriotic

The more flak you get the closer you are to the target.”  World War Two bomber’s observation

“Science is but an image of the truth.”  Francis Bacon

Julian Assange:  b. July 3, 1971 – d. slowly for the last few years

Seeing 2020:  Profiles In Cowardice; Profiles In Courage.  Oh, And Happy Valentine’s Day! (February 10, 2020)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, Covid / Coronavirus, Ebola, Profile In Courage Award on February 10, 2020 by e-commentary.org

. . .

Hi _________!

John Lewis. Gerald Ford. Gabrielle Giffords. John McCain. Mitch Landrieu. Barack Obama. George H. W. Bush. Nancy Pelosi.

What do these inspiring elected officials (and others!) have in common? They all served or continue to serve the public courageously, fighting for justice and putting the greater good ahead of their own careers. That’s why we honored them with the Profile in Courage Award.

Can you nominate a leader who inspires you for this year’s Profile in Courage Award? The deadline is soon — February 15 — and it just takes a few minutes! 

It’s critically important that we have leaders who follow their consciences and a public that demands the leadership we all deserve. As President Kennedy so eloquently put it in Profiles in Courage, “We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.”

Thanks in advance for using your voice to call for courageous leadership. We’ll keep you updated on who wins this year’s Profile in Courage Award.

Thank you,

The JFK Library Foundation Team

. . .

Dear Kennedy folks:

You don’t know courage.  This year, break with your tradition and settled practice and nominate someone who has shown real courage not someone you want to play squash with.  Consider: 

Julian Paul Assange

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning

Edward Joseph Snowden

Jeffrey Alexander Sterling

William Edward Binney

Thomas Andrews Drake

John Chris Kiriakou

Daniel Ellsberg

Maurice Robert “Mike” Gravel

Other names upon request.

Thank you for your attention to these deserving individuals.  Best wishes.

Sincerely,

K

. . .

[See “Julian Assange Wins 2020 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award” in “Consortium News” by Joe Lauria dated February 10, 2020.]

[See the e-commentary on “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)” and the “Cameo In Courage Award” that challenges the dubious and discredited award given by the establishment to other members of the establishment.  Society needs an award that rewards those who are truly courageous.  The annual “Cameo in Courage Awards” were made in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.]  

Bumper stickers of the week:

Courage.  Why not?

Coronavirus:  Coming to a town near you

Fourth Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2019 (April 8, 2019)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, On [Traits/Characteristics], Trumpi, Truth on April 8, 2019 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “The envelope please.  . . .  This year, the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is awarded to . . . Chelsea Elizabeth Manning and Julian Paul Assange.  Again.  Since the award last year, both of them have continued to display courage in the face of cowardice and criminality from those in power in the United States who are threatened by the Truth and who threaten the courageous with confinement in the American Prison Gulag.”

. . .

And a tip of the hat to the great nation and good people of Ecuador that have provided a home and a haven for Mr. Assange so far.  Rumblings abound that the United States is pressuring the government of Ecuador to release Assange to the wolves.  His country and his countrymen should demand his freedom and his return to Australia.  Trumpi should and could redeem himself in part by pardoning both of them.

[Please send nominations for the “Cameo In Courage” Award for 2020 and a supporting letter by January 24, 2020 to e-ssay@gci.net and send the entry fee to your favorite charity.]

[See the article titled “Chelsea Manning’s ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ Moment” in “The American Conservative” by John Kiriakou dated April 8, 2019 and the presentation titled “Whistle-blowing, Wikileaks & The Future of Democracy” available at “caitlinjohnstone.com” presented by Caitlin Johnstone on February 18, 2019.]   

[See the e-commentary at “Alex J. / J. Assange And The First Amendment (August 13, 2018)”, “Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013)”, “Third Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2018 (April 9, 2018)”, “Second Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017)”, “First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016)”, “Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016)”, “Profile In Cowardice Award (May 12, 2014)”, “Profile In Courage Award, 2015 (May 11, 2015)”, “Chelsea And Ed:  Time For ‘Con’ ‘dign’ Treatment (November 30, 2015)” and “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)”.]

Bumper sticker of the week:

Dissent remains patriotic

Third Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2018 (April 9, 2018)

Posted in Amazon, Awards / Incentives, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, Facebook, Google, O'Bama, On [Traits/Characteristics], Privacy, Profile In Courage Award, Technology on April 9, 2018 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “The envelope please.  . . .  This year, the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is awarded to . . . Chelsea Elizabeth Manning and Julian Paul Assange.  Courage is rare.  It must be celebrated.  It is one of the “rare-earths” within the human heart and is very rare on this Earth.”

. . .

And a tip of the hat to the great nation and good people of Ecuador that provide a home and a haven for Mr. Assange.

And a partial tip of the lid to former President O’Bama for commuting all but four months of Ms. Manning’s sentence.  A presidential commutation reduces the sentence being served but does not change the fact of conviction.  A presidential pardon would have forgiven the criminal offenses.  But at core O’Bama lacked the fortitude and courage to pardon Ms. Manning and Mr. Snowden and Mr. Assange.  He could have just done it.  

[Please send nominations for the “Cameo In Courage” Award for 2019 and a supporting letter by January 25, 2019 to e-ssay@gci.net and send the entry fee to your favorite charity.]

[See the e-commentary at “Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013)”, “Second Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017)”, “First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016)”, “Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016)”, “Profile In Cowardice Award (May 12, 2014)”, “Profile In Courage Award, 2015 (May 11, 2015)”, “Chelsea And Ed:  Time For “Con” “dign” Treatment (November 30, 2015)” and “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

“In a dozen plus years and without a debate or a vote, technology has deprived us of privacy.  With little debate and many hasty votes, Congress has deprived us of privacy at every opportunity.  We as a society should create a rebuttable presumption in favor of privacy even if it appears to sacrifice security.  Our personal insecurities are actually creating greater national insecurity.”  See “Hero or Traitor? (June 10, 2013)”.

Boycott Facebook.  See “Boycott Facebook (August 2, 2010)”.  And Google.  And Amazon.

Love is elusive and transitory; the Internet is forever.

The Internet never forgets.

What’s said on the Internet stays on the Internet.

Second Annual “Cameo In Courage” Award For 2017 (March 6, 2017)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Bush, Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, Fukushima Daiichi, Health Care, Kennedy, O'Bama, Profile In Courage Award, Romney, Trumpi on March 6, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “This year, the Awards Committee for the ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award is bestowing a special lifetime achievement award to . . . Mr. William E. Binney, Mr. Thomas A. Drake and Mr. John Kiriakou, all of the United States, for dedicating their professional lives to the good of their country at considerable cost to themselves.”

J          “Great choices.  Long overdue.”

. . .

K          “Mr. Drake is also the 2011 recipient of the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling and co-recipient of the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award.”

. . .

J          “Kennedy, Inc. gave their award to O’Bama, Inc.  I wouldn’t call it a courageous decision, but I would call it a predictable and strategic move.”

K          “Cross-breeding within the ruling class.  JFK instead of the AKC.  ‘Credential cross-collateralization’ is the way I describe it when each side benefits from bestowing awards on each other.  The award is an effort by the Kennedys to keep the Kennedy brand visible and relevant.”

J          “If O’Bama had proposed, pursued and passed a single payer health care system as propounded by the enlightened members of the medical profession rather than selling out and selling the nation a bill of goods described as the ‘Romney – O’Bama Unaffordable Health Careless Act’, he would be both a man of his word and a courageous man of his word.  But he is not.”

K          “He also spent considerable public resources prosecuting truly courageous individuals and public servants acting courageously such as the Binneys, Drakes and Kiriakous.”

J          “The grand and perverse irony is that O’Bama went to great lengths to punish the courageous.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “First Annual ‘Cameo In Courage’ Award For 2016 (May 9, 2016)”, “Award Deadlines (Livelines?) (July 25, 2016)”, “On Courage and Truth (March 17, 2008)” and “Clinton, Inc., Trump, Inc., Bush, Inc., Kennedy, Inc., O’Bama, Inc. (October 24, 2016)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Fukushima Daiichi – 3/11/11

From the Kennedy Clan:

Thank you for taking the time to submit a nomination for the 2017 Profile in Courage Award. 

This year we received a record number of nominations – nearly 30,000 – from people wishing to recognize courageous leaders for standing up for the greater good. 

We are heartened by the unprecedented interest in heralding acts of political courage by our elected officials, and thrilled to have so many qualified nominees.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to be the first to hear about this year’s winner.

[But we do not care what you say because we do whatever advances our interests.]

Clinton, Inc., Trump, Inc., Bush, Inc., Kennedy, Inc., O’Bama, Inc. (October 24, 2016)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Bush, Cameo In Courage Award, Citizens United Decision, Clinton, Collapse, Kleptocracy, O'Bama, Politics, Profile In Courage Award, Schooling, Supreme Court on October 24, 2016 by e-commentary.org

. . .

J          “The Kennedy Corporation is in remission.”

K          “Earnings are down, but the brand is still in play.  They are keeping a spot at the round table with their ‘Profile In Courage Award’ that is bestowed on other members of the Ruling Class.”

J          “That’s it.  I need to give an award to get a reward.”

. . .

J          “After the proclamation by the Republican wing of the Supreme Court in Corporations United that two step corruption is legal and encouraged, the ‘Clinton Global Initiative’ provided the template.  The rich and powerful now can formally invest in and own those in public office.” 

K          “The Owners now can formally own the owned.  ‘Bush, Inc.’ should get more credit because it was one of the first corporations to offer ‘preferred shares’ dubbed ‘Rangers’ and ‘Pioneers’ and the like.  The investment opportunity was first profiled in the e-commentary titled ‘The “Ownership State” and “Bush, Inc.” (April 11, 2005)’ years before Citizens United was foisted on us.”

J          “Trading interests in Senators is also discussed in the e-commentary titled ‘Commodities Futures / Future Commodities (March 8, 2010).’  Add a few shares of a United States Senator to your 401(k) portfolio.”

. . .

K          “Yet the ordinary citizen cannot be a large shareholder.”

J          “The ordinary citizen still can toil as a sharecropper for the shareholders.  The citizen cannot own anyone or anything of substance.  And only the Owners can own the apparatchiks.  It is very subtle.”

K          “There is no ‘Nader, Inc.’  I looked it up.”

. . .

K          “‘Kennedy, Inc.’ has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with ‘Harvard, Inc.’, ‘Bush, Inc.’ with ‘Yale, Inc.’, ‘Trump, Inc.’ with ‘Penn, Inc.’, ‘Clinton, Inc.’ with ‘Stanford, Inc.’ and now ‘O’Bama, Inc.’ with ‘Harvard, Inc.’ and ‘Chicago, Inc.’.”

J          “They sure have inked a lot of inside deals.  Yet ‘Clinton, Inc.’ plays the field and also owns and is owned by ‘Yale, Inc.’.”

K          “Clinton clearly plays the field, yet so do some of the others.  If there is a formal MoU, the kids just show up in the Fall; if there is not a formal MoU, the kids are encouraged to call ahead and let the administrators know they are matriculating.  Unless something more sexy comes up in the interim.”

J          “That’s what I heard.  Seems to work.  Well.”

. . .

K          “The kids who should not make it, do.  The kids who should make it, don’t.”

. . .

K          “There is so much inbreeding and cross breeding.”

J          “With predictable consequences.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “The ‘Ownership State’ and ‘Bush, Inc.’ (April 11, 2005)”, “Corporations United (February 15, 2010)”, “Commodities Futures / Future Commodities (March 8, 2010)”, “Schooling The Apparatchiks For the Kleptocrats (December 7, 2015)” and “On Merit and the Meritocracy (January 11, 2010).”]

[See the incisive commentary of America’s greatest political, economic and social commentator of the last century, George Carlin.  Professor G. William Domhoff’s classic examination of power in America, Who Rules America?, could serve as the written text and footnotes to accompany Professor Carlin’s public presentations.  Both develop observations developed earlier by Professor C. Wright Mills in The Power Elite.]

Bumper stickers (or window stickers) of the week:

Harvard, Inc. College            Yale, Inc. Law School

The Elite ain’t.

If Hamilton returned today to survey the outcome of his financial innovations, he would be appalled, outraged and disgusted by the degeneration of the American economy into a Kleptocracy.