I diaried and commented in several places yesterday about a group called the International Republican Institute (IRI) and McCain's involvement as chairman of their board.  A days worth of research has provided me with further compelling clarity that contrary to his public image as an outsider, McCain has for years been the ultimate Washington insider, directly linked through his involvement in the IRI with possible election fraud and several possible coups including the most recent installation of President Shaakasvili in Georgia.  If you were wondering where his claim of foreign policy experience comes from besides his stint as a prisoner of war, look no further.  Unfortunately for him (and for us), he can't claim this experience without igniting a huge controversy.  The man's hands are dirty and this latest situation with Georgia raises many questions.

Has anyone else heard of this group called the International Republican Institute?  They promote themselves as the "safekeepers of democracy", with organized efforts in developing countries worldwide.  McCain sits on their board as Chairman, along with such luminaries as Alison B. Fortier, Vice President of the Lockheed Martin Missile Defense Programs.

Congress responded to President Reagan’s call in 1983 when it created the National Endowment for Democracy to support aspiring democrats worldwide. Four nonprofit, nonpartisan democracy institutes were formed to carry out this work – IRI, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS).

In its infancy, IRI focused on planting the seeds of democracy in Latin America. Since the end of the Cold War, IRI has broadened its reach to support democracy and freedom around the globe. IRI has conducted programs in more than 100 countries and is currently active in 70 countries.

Today on this date in 1789, the people of Paris symbolically kick started the French Revolution by storming the gates of the Bastille.  From wikipedia:

The Storming of the Bastille in Paris occurred on 14 July 1789. While the medieval fortress and prison in Paris known as the Bastille contained only seven prisoners, its fall was the flashpoint of the French Revolution, and it subsequently became an icon of the French Republic. In France, Le quatorze juillet (14 July) is a public holiday, formally known as the Fête de la Fédération (Federation Holiday). It is usually called Bastille Day in English.

Yesterday's roll call made me realize just how many of us have roots in the Bay Area.  I thought it would be fun to do a roll call just for us.  Please add a comment below with your age, gender, what part of the bay you live in and of course, anything else you'd like to add.

I'll go first:
30, female, East Bay (Oakland).  I have a cat, would love to someday have a dog, and am an aspiring home owner.  I walk or take BART most places and don't drive at all.

Apologies if this is a duplicate for any recent diary. I did a search and could not find anything within the last six months.

Late last month I received a receipt in the mail for my monthly donations to the Rockridge Institute. I was a bit puzzled about why they had sent it to me at that time, but I was distracted and put aside it to work on something else.  I wish I had immediately gone to the website.  Last night an article that I was reading reminded me of their work so I went to log on and discovered this:

While the Rockridge Institute closed in April 2008, the Institute's staff remain committed to fulfilling the progressive vision it advocated and are available for consultations, trainings, and speaking engagements.