In November of 2004 America will witness its most important election ever. George Bush Jr. is arguably the most hated American President ever in the United States History. Leaders of other countries have openly disrespected his name and questioned his intellect. Despite how the international community feels it is ultimately how the voting citizens of America feel will prove most important. Amongst Americans the feelings on Bush are very polarized, it seems that people either like him or despise him. Unfortunately dislike for a candidate has not proved to be enough to bring out the African-American or Latino vote in the past.

The polarizing effect of the Bush administration has caused many people who are usually apathetic on election issues to become visible and outspoken. In 2003 and 2004 we witnessed celebrities attempting to galvanize fans to get registered to vote. These efforts can be the difference in the upcoming election Let’s hope fans do as Rap Artist and R&B singers say and not actually do. As a recent report found that many of the artists that tell us to vote and how important it is, don't find the time to do it themselves. Lets take a look at some of the voting histories of some of the most popular celebrities based on the Presidential and local elections took that place in 2000 and 2002, the last 2 times they were eligible to vote.

A recent report that Russell Simmons is registered but has not been voting is a surprise since he has been so vocal but not as surprising on other artist ex. Jay-Z (age 35) has been registered since 2/17/98 but has never voted. Queen Latifah (34) has been registered since 7/2/2001 but has never voted. 50 Cent (26) is not registered and has never voted and the same goes for Busta Rhymes(32), DMX(34), Jaule(28), Jermaine Dupri (31) and Master P(35). Some celebrities are just getting registered like Jennifer Lopez (33) late last year and Eminem (31) in November of 2003. It’s really a shame that many artist don’t get involved at the legal voter registration age of 18 and opt to wait until they are 30 plus. On the positive side if even half of the fans that celebrity movements encourage to vote or get registered to vote come out for John Kerry. Bush will be ousted after one term just like his dad. Celebrities don’t even have to say vote Kerry if celebs' like P-Diddy continues to speak against Bush openly the message will be implied. If that does not happen chances are most new young voters will still vote against Bush but anything could happen in the next few months before the election. Adisa Banjoko host of the Political Hip Hop show “One Mic said “If we can’t get Bush out of office, we should admit that Hip Hop, IS just music". That very well may be true but as President of NBC News Andrew Lack remarked at a Congressional hearing on the networks' 2000 election night miscalls, when he said “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”

These same apathetic citizens are later victimized by their decision and do not even realize it. Including celebrities who often embody the sentiment that voting is not necessary for them. Take for example the most recent uproar in hip-hop concerning the Hip hop task force that The Miami Herald reports is going to be conducting surveillance on rappers in Miami and those that visit the city. This effort is bordering on harassment but it is a decision made by a police commissioner who is given a job by the Mayor, an elected official. That means the Mayor was- you guessed it - VOTED in. I wonder how many Miami rappers voted? Luke Campbell is quoted as being against this task force but did he, Trina, Trick Daddy and Miami rappers vote in the mayoral race ? I am pretty sure that the majority did not. However they will complain now.

I cannot understand why anybody especially African-Americans would not vote in local elections. It’s a hard fought right to choose who will be making the decisions in their community. Local elections reflect a truly democratic process unlike the Presidency. They are also very important because these minor office elected people (Congressmen, Senators etc) are key people who serve as checks and balances to the top office of President. Ever hear of a veto. That’s what the Senate and Congress do.

The process is simple and straight forward and should be an incentive to vote in local elections and counters the asinine argument that it does not mater who you vote for. Unfortunately the process leading up to selecting a President is unfair and quite confusing for many. We witness the Iowa Caucus (super white, sparsely populated state) whereby there is no actual voting taking place. Just a few guys congregating saying ok we like this guy using a really unscientific and unrepresentative process to start things off and weed out legitimate candidates. Caucuses should be eliminated. By the time that you get to Primaries where people actually vote there is so much discussion of candidates needing a certain amount of delegates to win the party nomination that people are confused as to what their vote means. All the while you have the corporate media determining what candidates people should focus on and essentially killing other candidates chances. Of course we still have the “democracy neutralizer called the Electoral College system” in place. These things can be quite a deterrent for some but despite all of this, all you really need to know is who you like best and vote for them. Anything else is just a bad excuse.

1. Al Sharpton (D) - An investigation by AmNewYork shows over 40% (173,000 of the 428,000) of his campaign $ goes in his pocket. His campaign is nearly broke and 2 months ago owed him 82,000 according to his own Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. Way too many questionable reimbursements back to him and when the expenditures are clear we see an extravagant lifestyle. Maybe it’s the preacher in him but compare that to Carol Mosley Braun campaign who raised 493,000 and only asked for a mere 2.6% back in reimbursements of the contributions. So while most of the campaign goes unpaid. Al is the major beneficiary and his Republican ties make him somebody that people are not rushing to vote for.

2. Ralph Nader (Independent)- His running as an independent has angered many, even other candidates like Sharpton who said “The only reason he’s running is either he’s an egomaniac or as a Bush contract”. Al shouldn’t talk. Nader’s late entry into the fray has raised some eyebrows about motive and that’s understandable. Nader says he plans to push the Democrats to the left and make them more accountable to ordinary people. Nader has declared several times that his campaign would be directed against Bush and that he expected to receive only a small number of votes from those who would otherwise cast their ballot for the Democratic contender. In a swing state (contested states) we need every vote, but I can’t diss' him since I condemn the 2 party system also. Truly it’s still a 1 party system and a 2 party camouflage. Of the 17-20 swing states I am lucky that where I am registered to vote is not one of them. Nader cant win but he’s here to stay and will be bringing up the immoral war on Iraq in his campaign. CNN can’t embarrass Nader and they can’t force him out of the race by playing a scream 633 times in approximately 96 hours not including local news or talk shows, like they did Howard Dean. He knows his role is not to win let’s hope other left leaning folks understand that also.

3. Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D) - In my opinion he’s the best of the candidates listed but he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the Democratic nomination. He’s ahead of his time. His presence may be a little passive but he is on the issues. However America is not ready for him he wants free healthcare for all, Decriminalization of Marijuana and to do away with the Prison Industrial complex just to name a few .He even has the audacity to pay attention to the hip-hop electorate.

Is going to come down to a Skull & Bones man for the oval office. In case you haven’t heard, Skull and Bones (S&B) is a secret society at Yale University that both Kerry &Bush belong to. Stories about the organization have reached conspiracy status by people just parroting what they heard. Those few people that have actually read books on the society can’t dismiss the nefarious history of the small elite 800 member society with a base of 30 families. It’s intentionally kept small and only 15 people a year can enter. Only fairly recent have us, outsiders gotten some reliable information on S&B thanks to books like Rule By Secrecy by Jim Marris, Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones the Ivy League and Hidden Paths of Power by Alexander Robbins (she is the one who first revealed that Bush was a C student at Yale), American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and The Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush by Republican strategist Kevin Phillips. There are still some things that can’t be confirmed which adds to the allure and mystery of the group. They have opened up a little bit more recently allowing “hand picked women” to join and even African-Americans, like Earl G Graves Jr. (the son of Earl G Graves Sr. CEO/Founder of Black Enterprise). Although it’s no longer all white men, the key is power positioning. Bones men have gone on to positions of great power, which Republican strategist Robbins says is the main purpose of this secret society: to get as many members as possible into positions of power. Key areas being influence and control in areas of foreign policy, finance, education, religion. The foreign policy area is directly related to the CIA.

Yale has influenced the CIA more than any other university in the world. Giving the CIA the atmosphere of class reunion. Even the Yale slang for a secret society member is spook, which is the same term used in the CIA for Undercover Operative. It’s so secret that neither man will discuss it. According to members if the subject of “S&B” ever comes up with a member present he is supposed to automatically get up and leave the room. Luckily Bush/Kerry are not that anal about it. Ironically both men were asked about Skull and Bones on NBC. Kerry was asked about it on Meet The Press he laughed nervously and said, "I can’t tell you much cause it's a secret. I wish there was something secret I could manifest.” George Bush responded in almost identical fashion when asked about the fact that both he and John Kerry are S&B only separated by 2 years. Bush said "It's so secret, we can't talk about it." But Bush curtly denied knowing Kerry during their time at Yale it seems unlikely but since the record shows Bush only attended classes for 2.5 years it may be true. People have often whispered about the alumni listing of covert groups like S&B, Illuminati and Trilateral Commission boasting powerful men, some so powerful that the Presidency of the United States is a step down for them.

I don’t want to overdue S&B because the average person has no idea of this sort of thing and what it means. I think too many people make a big deal over the pledging ritual that they heard about involving ribbons placed on chanting naked men’s penises. But all fraternal orders and lodges do similar things that people think are crazy. To them it’s part of that ritual and they don’t catch the same flack. The idea that S&B wants to take over the world like a Pinky and the Brain cartoon has a lot to do with their name and legacy. 

S&B is the American version of an earlier German secret society known as Brotherhood of Death and that ties back to Britain. Also the S&B headquarters on Yale’s urban campus looks like a mausoleum from a horror film. However the scary part is the diabolic and sneaky ways of its known membership. Bush's father, former president George Bush, and his grandfather, Prescott Bush, were members, Financier and diplomat W. Averell Harriman all sworn to secrecy. The very few S&B members who have talked on the record have gone on to admit they study Machiavellian philosophy as a method to trick and deceive people. The Machiavelli best seller “The Prince” which focuses on deception is a regular read at the CIA. Yale has other secret societies like Wolf head and scroll, Book and Snake that don’t receive any attention. But they have not penetrated just about every significant research ,policy and opinion making organization in the United States. Through financial records we know S&B have a lot to do with the emergence of the current Military Industrial/Intelligence Complex in America. S&B members also behind the news magazines Time and Newsweek.

Kerry has voted with Bush about 70% of the time but on the surface they appear to be seriously splintering Kerry is running around saying he wants to be the second Black president and meeting with African-American leaders and organizations while Bush is still in ignore mode with us and continues to undermine civil rights gains. Kerry did an interview in Rolling Stone in December that showed us a different side of him. In it he said I voted for what I thought was best for the country, "Did I expect Howard Dean to go off to the left and say, 'I'm against everything?' Sure. Did I expect George Bush to f--k it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did." Maybe Kerry is serious after all he didn’t really have the pedigree for S&B at the time. In fact Kerry was initially turned down for Skull and Bones. Apparently he wasn't the type they "we're looking for".

 Kerry’s family began marrying into power back with his grandfather. And although Kerry’s a playboy who dated Morgan Fairchild and other Hollywood types when it comes to marriage it’s about old money and networking At Yale he dated Jacqueline Kennedy's half-sister, Janet Auchincloss. His second and current wife is a Heinz, yep the ketchup lady brought 500 Million in inheritance to the marriage. What we do know is that both men are part of a ruling class and despite party affiliations have similar interest on many levels and their S&B network is too close for comfort. In fact closer than most realize. Many have forgotten Kerry saved Bush Sr. back in the 80’s according to author Jim Marris (pg 93 of his book ) “the S&B members fierce loyalty was shown in the 1980’s scandal of President Bush’s connection with the criminal activity in the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) As the banks illegal activities came to light- involving many prominent names- attempts were made by the Bush administration to block or blunt any meaningful investigation. Finally a formal investigation of the BCCI was launched by the Senate foreign relations Subcommittee on terrorism, narcotics and international operations headed by Massachusetts, Senator John Kerry. Kerry was chairman of the democratic Senate campaign committee, which had received significant BCCI contributions and he was also Skull and Bones. The Kerry led investigation floundered. Jack Blum a special counsel to Kerrys subcommittee, stated ”I proposed a serious investigation of BCCI and was brushed aside” a higher level cover up of everything concerning BCCI was set into place after customs stumbled across their money laundering operation in Miami and its still in place.”

Despite S&B relationships between the two for now, we must still conduct business as usual and vote for the lesser of two evils and obviously that means WE MUST vote for Kerry that is the only sensible strategy! Early Polls say Kerry should win and I think he will especially if Bush accepts a series of debates against Kerry he’s doomed, the only thing that will help Bush win is if we don’t come out and vote or if Bush unleashes his October surprise in the form of Osama Bin Laden. Don’t sleep it could happen, the secret may be that they already know where he really is. It’s no secret the Carlisle Group has hosted both the Bush and Bin Laden family and their relationship is scarier than any S&B pairing. - Nuff Said

Also Check Out:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3995.htm http://www.bilderberg.org/skulbone.htm#proof

The Iron Triangle: Inside the Secret World of the Carlisle Group by Dan Briody

Released: March 15th, 2004

The views and opinions expressed herein by the author do not necessarily represent the opinions or position of Playahata.com.