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Putting the Con in Neocons
How many times does Condoleeza Rice need to lie with a perfectly straight face to the press and then be publicly exposed as a liar by the facts, until the press comes out and calls her a liar? Once again, we are provided with rock solid evidence, this time in the form of the 9-11 Commission Report, containing the memo which proves that Richard Clarke was telling the truth and Condleeza was lying. Yet, nothing from the press?
How about Rumsfeld? Last weekend, we read of this disturbing story from the Washington Post:
The Bush administration has been flying surveillance drones over Iran for nearly a year to seek evidence of nuclear weapons programs and detect weaknesses in air defenses, according to three U.S. officials with detailed knowledge of the secret effort.
The small, pilotless planes, penetrating Iranian airspace from U.S. military facilities in Iraq, use radar, video, still photography and air filters designed to pick up traces of nuclear activity to gather information that is not accessible by satellites, the officials said. The aerial espionage is standard in military preparations for an eventual air attack and is also employed as a tool for intimidation.
Rumsfeld, on the previous Sunday's ABC's "This Week":
With speculation heating up about a possible U.S. attack against Iran to derail its nuclear capability, Rumsfeld was asked if there were U.S. military operations going on in the country now. "Not to my knowledge," he replied.
So we are supposed to believe that the US has been sending spyplanes into Iran for over a year and Rumsfeld has "no knowedge" of it.
Who in the mainstream media is going to step up to the plate and start saying what the rest of us believe to be true? Namely, Condoleeza Rice is a liar. Donald Rumsfeld is a liar. Who will say it first, and more important, when will someone have the courage to say it?
Where is our media? Their job is to serve as check on the powers of people such as Rice and Rumsfeld. If they don't question the statements our leadership makes, and then hold them accountable for demonstable falsehoods, we lose a valuable part of our democracy.
We cannot be satisfied with a Fourth Estate that is third-rate.
--Casey Morris
You can BE THE MEDIA. Please click here to visit our section on how to BE THE MEDIA, as part of our Toolkit on the Democracy Cell Project Forum.
Casey,
The real question is why aren't the leaders in investigative reporting breaking this kind of news? What's happened to the mainstream press?
This should have come out much earlier. The report was declassified earlier last year and we're just learning about it now? What's that about?
I just posted this on the last thread........
Found this VERY interesting info/discussion on Kos........
CIA reclassifies Scoop Jackson's records
Last week the federal document security team spent three days in the special collections division of the UW Suzzallo-Allen library. The officials, which also included people from the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, combed through 1,200 boxes of material using a five-binder index to find the targeted papers.
Carla Rickerson, head of special collections, said the team removed up to 10 documents.
She would not disclose the exact number or subject matter of the documents because of the university's privacy policies.
Rickerson said the papers, now considered classified, are being held in a secure location on campus until federal authorities declassify them.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/15/201851/101
Posted by: nancyjane at February 16, 2005 10:19 AM
Much speculation of motives and intrigue surrounding Iran. Unknown blast today, with denials from everyone. Iran and Syria bonding to better deal with our DC evil ones, and easier for neo-cons to do as intended. Another nod to the great creds built by Rove as always purposeful, even in apparent mistakes, speculation that installing or allowing Shiite government in Iraq, to better claim cahoots with Iran missile-building, allowing for attack. So easy to be sinister with this bunch.
DiAnne:
You wrote:
"Any bets out on Rick Santorum, Ralph Reed or Karl Rove? My gaydar says there are alot of closet case hypocrites who doth protest too loudly."
Oh, for sure. Wasn't the word last year that the reason the anti-gay legislation got no real traction in Congress last year after all of the hoopla was that a gay rights group threatened to out some Repubs? I also read recently that Faux News anchor Brit Hume's son, who committed suicide a few years ago (I thought I read something about him suffering from depression at the time), was possibly gay and that some high level Repubs (male of course) were quietly ushered out of Washington because of it. And then there is another story about Bush I or someone in his admin at the time being somehow connected to a child prostitution ring specializing in young boys. It's funny how all of this stuff is popping up now. This along with the new info on GOP media and sex whore Gannon, and Scotty McClellan being spotted in gay bars in Austin, this is shaping up to be very, very interesting.
Very interesting info on Jackson at Kos, nancyjane
Recommended
I usually just post a link, but as this thread has to do with lies and who tells them, I thought the full text of this article speaks a bit of sad truth about just where diplomacy is headed.
Saturday Diary: Why I am not going to Khartoum -- that was then, this is now
Saturday, February 12, 2005
By Dan Simpson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This will be hard to write, because it hurts a lot.
Some readers will be aware of my background as a career State Department officer of 35 years, serving inter alia as U.S. ambassador to the Central African Republic, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Last week I received a call from the State Department asking if I would be willing to go to Khartoum, Sudan, for four months or so to stand in as acting ambassador. Departure would be in two weeks. The reason for the need for someone with my experience, including wartime assignments to Beirut and Mogadishu, was the combination of the signature at the turn of the year of a peace agreement, ending decades of civil war between the north and south of Sudan, the trouble -- some would say genocide -- in Darfur in the west of Sudan, and most recently new fighting with separatists in the east of Sudan.
The United States has had no ambassador in Khartoum for years; naming one formally could take as much as six months. Could I stand in to head the embassy in the meantime? Lots of nice things were said about my reputation and what I would bring to the job. I was the State Department' s first choice, I was told.
After talking with my wife and family, I asked the Post-Gazette's publisher and editor-in-chief, John Robinson Block, if he would agree to release me temporarily to fill the need. He responded that he saw it like someone being called up to the National Guard. He said the Post-Gazette was proud that I was being asked and would welcome me back when I finished the assignment.
I told the State Department that and was told that they would proceed with seeking urgent clearance for the appointment.
I was called the next day and told, after I did some digging, that the assignment had been rejected at the political level. The initial reason given was that my medical and security clearances were out of date. I knew that wasn't it. Those can easily be updated; I had retired only in 2001.
I asked for the truth. What it turned out to be was writing that I had done for the Post-Gazette that had offended the Bush administration. Particularly cited was a column I did ("Her Leader's Voice," Jan. 26) on Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearings.
So, I am not going to Khartoum. I am sorry because I saw it as a challenge and a situation in which I could do some effective work. There is a peace agreement to be implemented. The United States has a big stake in its success. Darfur, with an estimated 70,000 dead and perhaps more than a million displaced persons, needs a lot of attention. I am used to working in difficult situations like that, given previous experience.
It was obviously the Bush administration's call, whether to send me or not. I don't like ever to admit that someone got to me, but this hurt. On the other hand, I wouldn't take back one single word I have written about this administration's foreign policy, or the cast of characters who populate it.
The trick then, after a few days of thinking I was still a diplomat, was how to get over it.
I went to England for a week. My daughter-in-law, Ana-Maria Vera, a world-known concert pianist, played Ravel's G-major Piano Concerto to five curtain calls in the Royal Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. (She had played a benefit in Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony in December.) Her success in London helped me a lot.
So did walks by the sea in Brighton, an English seaside resort. There were the seagulls, squawking early in the morning. There was Sippi, my stepson and daughter-in-law's overweight dog, grateful -- unlike the State Department -- for my time. (Her full name is Mississippi.)
The British press was at its habitual scurrilous best, rooting around cheerfully in the trashy subject, for example, of how much Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles's paramour and now fiancee, costs the British taxpayer.
I was encouraged to find that United Kingdom commentators follow American politics closely. Their reaction to President Bush's State of the Union speech threats against Syria and Iran was that he must be "barking mad," like a dog with rabies, to feel the need to be so bellicose in his formulation of America's foreign affairs posture toward the rest of the world.
Retuning my ear to the various English accents and ways of thought served as positive encouragement to me to recalibrate once again my mind set: I had left the U.S. diplomatic service in 2001 to come to Pittsburgh as a journalist, to my pleasure. More than three years later I had then unexpectedly believed for a few days that I was returning to the front lines of American foreign policy in Khartoum. Then back to earth again sharply.
Which is fine. England, where I have spent a not bad part of my life off and on, where part of my family originated, helped enormously. It was flattering that at least the professional side of the State Department not only remembered me, but believed that I was still capable of difficult, sustained work in challenging, to a degree dangerous, circumstances.
That the Bush administration could not see that making a Sudan peace agreement work is a project largely apart from general love of or distaste for its global foreign policy, or to imagine that as a columnist analyzing and commenting on foreign policy I would resemble Sippi the dog, wagging my tail and looking to have my ears scratched, is still a little difficult for me to accept.
I am, however, now back in Pittsburgh and in the journalist mode. Khartoum gets most of its 16 days of rain a year when I would have been there and the Sudanese tend to do nasty things to each other in any case.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dan Simpson, a retired U.S. ambassador, is a Post-Gazette associate editor (dsimpson@post-gazette.com).)
Hannity claimed "absence of evidence" that Kerry "was in combat in Vietnam"
FOX News and radio host Sean Hannity made the obviously false claim on his February 11 radio program that "there is an absence of evidence" that Senator John Kerry "was in combat in Vietnam." Echoing a syndicated column by right-wing pundit Ann Coulter, Hannity compared Kerry's record in Vietnam to that of Ward Churchill, the University of Colorado professor who compared some victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks to Nazis: "[T]here is an absence of evidence, just like John Kerry, that he [Churchill] ever was in combat in Vietnam."
In fact, as Media Matters for America has documented, Kerry's Silver Star citation noted that he was awarded the medal for "extraordinary daring and personal courage ... in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire." And according to Kerry's Bronze Star citation: "Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Not even the discredited Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (now Swift Vets and POWs for Truth), which made numerous baseless allegations in an effort to discredit Kerry's military record, went so far as to question whether Kerry "ever was in combat in Vietnam." Despite right-wing efforts -- promoted in part by Hannity -- to smear Kerry's record of service, the Navy investigator general confirmed that all of "Senator Kerry's awards were properly approved."
On the February 11 edition of ABC Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show, Hannity referenced Coulter's February 11 syndicated column, in which she claimed: "Churchill already has a phony lineage and phony war record -- just like John Kerry! ... In addition to an absence of evidence about [Churchill's] Indian heritage, there is an absence of evidence that he was in combat in Vietnam." From Hannity's radio show:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200502150010
Is this man a moron or what
Kangaroo
Shelters, soup kitchens turning people away
Study Finds
WASHINGTON -- Many homeless shelters and soup kitchens faced with more requests for emergency services are turning people away because they lack the beds, food and money to meet the demand, says a survey from an advocacy group for low-income Americans.
The report being released today by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness found a 28 percent rise last year in emergency food assistance requests, and a 27 percent increase in requests for emergency shelter.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5241589.html
Kangaroo
PICTURES: Victims of the Anglo-American Aggression
"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"
Pictures of Destruction and Civilian Victims of the Anglo- American Aggression in Iraq
Please note that some of these pictures are not suitable for small children and those who have weak hearts. These photos are only of a very tiny fraction of the thousands of Iraqi Civilian Victims who have been terrorised, humiliated, injured, maimed and killed through British and American bombing of civilian areas in various cities of Iraq. Due to insecurity, independent reporters could not and still can not reach many areas to photograph and report the atrocities. Several independent reporters and journalists were deliberately bombed to prevent them reporting the atrocities.
http://www.robert-fisk.com/iraqwarvictims_mar2003.htm
Kangaroo
Online Nude Photos Are Latest Chapter In Jeff Gannon Saga
The Jeff Gannon story is still bouncing around the Internet, and now there are pictures. The kind you shouldn't open up in the office.
The X-rated twist has made for a lot of clandestine clicking in a town where Deep Throat conjures images not of a porn star but of a man in a parking garage. But it has also deepened the debate over blogging and the tactics used to drive a conservative reporter from his job as White House correspondent for two Web sites owned by a Republican activist.
In most Beltway melodramas, the resignation ends the story. The problem for Gannon, whose real name is James Dale Guckert, is that he told The Washington Post and CNN's Wolf Blitzer last week that he never launched the Web sites whose provocative names he had registered, such as hotmilitarystud.com. But a Web designer in California said yesterday that he had designed a gay escort site for Gannon and had posted naked pictures of Gannon at the client's request.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27730-2005Feb15.html?referrer=email
Kangaroo
Amazing about that Vietnam claim.
Constantly trying to destroy anyone who might be seen as better than Bush, develop an alternative to Bush, the pundits continue trying to destroy Kerry-just in case it's ever proven he really won, or he wants to get some well-deserved and earned respect.
They are not doing their jobs if not stirring hate.
Posted by: rossiann at February 16, 2005 11:19 AM
Howie Kurtz is just one more cog in the evildoer's propogana machine-what an a*&%$#e!!!!
Grab a cup or two of coffee... a couple of these are long pieces, but well worth the read....
A GAME AS OLD AS EMPIRE
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
The author of the gripping new book, 'Confessions of an Economic Hit Man,' reveals how the U.S. became the world's
largest superpower: by forcing developing countries into debt.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21245/
[Excellent interview!!! If you don't know how a corporatocracy starts, this explains it.]
Opposite of 'Clear Skies'
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-skies16feb16.story
WHY WOMEN WILL LOSE
Heather Boushey, Women's eNews
Women live longer, earn less and fill more caretaking roles than men. For all these reasons, they stand to lose the
most if Social Security is changed.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/21271/
CULTURE OF SECRECY
Charles Lewis, The Center for Public Integrity
What happened to the principle that American democracy should be accessible and transparent? And what became of
the investigative journalism that aided that process?
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21273/
Bush Renominates 'Extremist Judges'
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021605Z.shtml
[There's another article below this one on the same page where Robertson 'warns' that Democrats could pay heavily at the polls if they don't approve the extremist judges Bu$hCo wants in office. Isn't it about time the Democrats stood their ground on these serious issues that will affect us for years to come?!?!? To Robertson: Bite Me!!!]
F.D.A. to Create Advisory Board on Drug Safety
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/politics/16fda.html?th
[The LA Times had an article about this today, too. Anyone else think this is as dumb an idea as an 'intelligence director' and the whole department of fatherland, er, homeland security that was a duplication of effort and could have been solved with open lines of communication??? It's allowing the fox to watch the hen house, fer cryin' out loud, and all it does is put more money into the pockets of Bu$hCo cronies.... If the FDA had been doing its job in the first place, those drugs that are now in question would never have made it to the pharmacy shelves. Why is it no one thinks of the bottom line or the simplest solutions first??? Why do our legislators consistenly screw up things with yet more and more red tape and unnecessary duplication of effort?!? These are all pork barrel economics that add to our already staggering debt....]
For Democrats, Rethinking Abortion Runs Risks
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/politics/16abortion.html?th
Bush's Sex Scandal
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/16/opinion/16kristof.html?th
Excerpted quotes: "But abstinence-only education isn't primarily about promoting abstinence - it's about blindly refusing to teach contraception." "Other developed countries focus much more on contraception. The upshot is that while teenagers in the U.S. have about as much sexual activity as teenagers in Canada or Europe, Americans girls are four times as likely as German girls to become pregnant, almost five times as likely as French girls to have a baby, and more than seven times as likely as Dutch girls to have an abortion. Young Americans are five times as likely to have H.I.V. as young Germans, and teenagers' gonorrhea rate is 70 times higher in the U.S. than in the Netherlands or France." "Worse, there's some evidence that abstinence-only programs lead to increases in unprotected sex." "In contrast, there's plenty of evidence that abstinence-plus programs - which encourage abstinence but also teach contraception - delay sex and increase the use of contraception. So, at a time when we're cutting school and health programs, why should we pour additional tax money into abstinence-only initiatives, which are likely to lead to more pregnancies, more abortions and more kids with AIDS? Now, that's a scandal."
I wondered why Kerry's military service was coming up again as a diversionary "issue" since the stolen election is all over now. (Thanks, DiAnne for the link on the previous thread about the exit poll numbers and how they were "adjusted.")
However, Kerry is sponsoring a bill having to do with Veteran's benefits, so somehow the neoCONS are going to make up another false "issue" about his military service again, I'm sure, which will divert media attention away from whatever Bu$hCo is doing behind closed doors that could be yet another neoCON scandal... IF the media was doing its job right and not just being the propaganda vehicle for Bu$hCo.....
American Mainstream Media: Shame on you!!!
~~more on those swifties4bush
On Feb 17-19 the entire "who's who" of Republican-land will be getting together for an annual ritual sponsored by the "Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)....
main guest speaker: VP Cheney, along with every & I do mean every Rep. name we have come to loathe...look who will be giving out a major award, for a job "well done, mission accomplished":
Presentation of Courage Under Fire Award
Presenter:The Honorable Zell Miller, Former Senator and Governor of Georgia
Recipient: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
http://63.220.14.104/AGENDA.ASP
Thanks, nonny, of course, divert from smart and helpful content of miltary policy improvements and aid, by discrediting the proponent. Kill the message, by killing the messenger. Keep undeserved dependence on the GOP for the military vote.
Posted by: Marjorie G at February 16, 2005 11:51 AM
Well, I admit it took me a while to figure out the strategy....
Diversionary tactics are at the top of the list.
Whatever they make front page news is not the real news about what they're doing to promote their own agendas. The mainstream media people must have gotten the same marks as the PresiDunce cheerleader in college. They are so easily led by the nose to nonsense non-issues that have nothing to do with the awful realities right under their own noses.....
I seriously question the ability of the majority mainstream media "journalists" to even know what a real story is nowadays. They certainly don't recognize scandal by the Bu$hCo administration, no matter how many times it's slapped them in the face over the years. They just keep letting 'em get by with idiotic answers to softball questions, allow themselves to be led by the nose or blindsided by any old thing the White House propaganda machine puts out there....
That kind of willful ignorance is sheer stupidity and hurts the citizens of this nation, not to mention other parts of the world.
Sure am glad this guy didn't become DNC chair...
Ex-Congressman Frost signs on with Fox News Channel
DALLAS Former Congressman Martin Frost of Dallas has signed a deal to be a political commentator for the Fox News Channel.
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?s=2953317
Nonny--
The sad thing is that there seems to be some idea that you can prevent a teen from even knowing that sex exists. The abstinence only programs are another of those wonderful ways to judge morals. It escapes me, how the generation now wanting to keep their children pure, are the same ones who grew up in the 'if it feels good, do it' era. Trading one extreme for the other won't work.
I have yet to figure out how human sexuality is a government issue. I am ashamed that the parents of today, at least those of them devoted to the current administration who are abdicating their duty to their children. They will have no one to blame but themselves for turning a blind eye to the truth, in favor of rigid policies and outright lies. They will ruin their children with a smile on their faces, and blame everyone but themselves for the outcome.
Nonny, so how much do Soros and Buffett have to buy to change things? Buffett in Comcast, largest cable operator (although says research), and Soros in Echostar, Time Warner and some CNN?
Frost on Fox? yikes.
Its early on, but Otter knows of my deep interest in this race and the apparent weakness of Hoeffel as our candidate. Perhaps Casey is our answer to unseat the scumbag Santorum.
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
BUSH GETS NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATING
Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum trails State Treasurer Robert Casey, Jr., a possible Democratic challenger, 46 – 41 percent, in an early look at the 2006 Senate race, according to a Quinnipiac poll released today. Another 11 percent are undecided.
Sen. Santorum has a 52 – 31 percent approval rating and voters say by almost the same margin that he “deserves to be reelected,” the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Santorum would top other possible Democratic challengers:
· 47 – 39 percent over former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer;
· 50 – 34 percent over former U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel;
· 51 – 30 percent over former State Rep. T.J. Rooney.
“This could shape up as the best Senate race in the country in 2006. Count on Democrats to pour in millions of dollars to try to oust a key conservative member of the Republican leadership, and the big GOP money-givers won't be shy in donating to keep Sen. Santorum in office,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“At this early stage, State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., clearly threatens Sen. Santorum's re-election bid.
“Casey edges Santorum in a head-to-head matchup, and both candidates have nearly equal favorable ratings, while Santorum has a much higher unfavorable rating. As an outspoken conservative, Santorum has placed himself at the right end of the political spectrum, with even 12 percent of Republicans saying he is too conservative,” Richards added.
“As a conservative Democrat, like his much respected father, Casey takes up the rest of the political spectrum, as independent voters favor Casey 49 – 32 percent. Casey's big problem at this point is to convince possible Democratic rivals to avoid a potentially party-splitting primary.”
Greenspan just cut the legs out from under Bush's approach to Social Security privatization:
Greenspan Urges Caution on Social Security Overhaul
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 16, 2005
Filed at 12:09 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on Wednesday urged a go-slow approach on personal Social Security accounts, saying that while he embraces the idea central to President Bush's proposed overhaul, he is concerned about stability in financial markets.
``If you are going to move to private accounts, which I approve of, you have to do it in a cautious, gradual way,'' Greenspan said in response to intense questioning from both Republicans and Democrats in an appearance before the Senate Banking Committee.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Greenspan.html?hp&ex=1108616400&en=8129c00f7fddcdc9&ei=5094&partner=homepage
resolute:
I don't see Greenspan as an ally. He stood in silence during the debates over the tax cuts which have exploded our deficit. If anything his just telling Bush to go slow on privatization gives Bush cover on SS.
Is Greenspan a fall-back because of the reluctance out there, thereby saying okay to privatization concept, but gradually. We don't want to do it at all. No crisis, and we want the security.
~he's still at it, buzzing around at taxpayer's expense
Bush Barnstorms for Social Security Fix
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - President Bush is barnstorming the country, trying to convince the public that Social Security needs an urgent overhaul and offering a solution even the White House acknowledges won't fix the retirement system's future financial problems.
On Wednesday, Bush is taking his drive to remake Social Security, including the addition of private investment accounts, to his eighth state since his Jan. 20 State of the Union address.
Visiting New Hampshire in yet another campaign-style event, Bush is dropping into the district of Rep. Jeb Bradley, a Republican who said during a 2002 campaign he was against Social Security privatization.
On the eve of his trip, the Democratic National Committee called on the president to release the details of his Social Security proposal.
But the White House has said the aim now is to sell Americans on the idea there is a problem, in hopes that they will, in turn, put pressure on their representatives in Washington to enact the president's plan. Bush aides say the time for the legislative nitty-gritty of writing bills and negotiating with lawmakers will come after this intense public relations phase.
continue~
http://tinyurl.com/55dx6
Ira---
Going to the issue of the Pa. senate race in 2006, Yes, right now, young bob casey is the best looking thing we have going. If you are not from Pa. you will have to take it on faith that this state loves to KNOW the name, if not the positions a politician takes when running for office. Hoeffel was just not known statewide, and was surely not backed with enough big money to unseat Specter. Should he go after the nod again, I doubt he would fare any better against Santorum. T.J. Rooney, hopefully could be talked out of his ambitions for the good of the party.
The thing about Casey Jr. is that he has not yet agreed to run. He does have good name recognition, and his politics would be well met in the middle of the state. He would carry Philly, I feel sure, and Pittsburgh with a strong showing, if the party here could quit fighting amongst itself. you are no doubt aware that a state rep. by the name of Michael Diven has jumped ship and gone over to the dark side. This is all the talk around Pittsburgh and it creates a nice diversion, seeking to prove to Pittsburgh Democrats that they are behind a bunch of losers. We will be having a speical election to fill the seat of a state seantor who was elected to another position, and Diven will be running for the seat as a Republican.
As the state goes in its local elections, so it might go in the 2006 mid-terms. This bears watching. I have already spoken with a few people who are enraged that a Democrat they voted for a few short months ago, has jumped ship.
As far as Santorum goes, his negative numbers in the western part of the state are due to a number of factors, including his shabby treatment of property owners after the hurricane Ivan flooding in September, and the stories relating to how he was educating his kids, out of state, on a local school districts money. much has been made of the fact that he does not LIVE in the state at all, but only owns a small two bedroom house that he rents out. His kids have never lived here.
But, Santorum is also already campaigning, and he is hitting those faith based organizations hard, promising them all they desire. They feel they are owed, since he backed Specter in the last primary, agaisnt Pat Toomey, who is as far right as Santorum himself. Santorum has claimed that he expects heavy backing from the national party.
If young Bob Casey is going to take Santorum on, many of Santorums messages about the immoral liberals will be taken away, as Casey is indeed a conservative Democrat. The speculation is, that Santorum will simply play up the similaries between himself and Casey and that there is no need to change representation. Santorum will play on his seniority, and scare Pa. voters into thinking something bad will happen to them if they lose it.
If we can't unseat Santorum in 2006, and yes, I think it will be the race to watch, I fear for our chances in 2008. Santorum knows he is going to be heavily targeted, a win for him in 2006 will only catapualt him into the national spotlight further. And, of course, Frist is going to be retiring, you know Santorum is eyeing the leadership, too. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN.
My thought is still we get behind Casey, get him to announce early, get the others out of the way, and start raising money. We are going to need party unity here, like never before, to set a good example for the rest of the country. So, when are you getting here?
tutterfly:
Where do we sign on to the Casey campaign? It is impt to get him to commit, and unify your party asap behind one candidate. If he doesn't want to run its impt that we know that as well.My law practice is winding down in the next 15 months and would be happy to help Casey in your Dem primary during the interim. Defeating Santorum would send a strong message across the country that the pendulum has started to swing back to the center. Pa. and the unions abandoned ship and consistantly has supported Specter. Casey should be framed as part of the New Democratic Party and as the moderate voice for Pa. Hopefully I will be part of that wave. I think SS is Santorum's achilles heal.
GOP senators say go slow on Social Security
Wed Feb 16, 9:40 AM ET - Chicago Tribune
By Jill Zuckman Washington Bureau
Following House Speaker Dennis Hastert's lead, key Republican senators said Tuesday that significantly more work is needed to persuade the public before Congress can pass sweeping changes to the Social Security program.
"It's going to require just a tremendous education effort," said Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), part of a group of senators meeting to discuss possible approaches to shoring up the long-term fiscal health of the retirement program. "I don't think a lot of senators really understand the program yet."
http://tinyurl.com/4maru
--------
The war of words over Social Security
Choices like 'personal account' or 'risk' can be crucial as both sides try to lock in support.
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON - Does Social Security face a crisis or just "problems"? Should the accounts the Bush administration wants to add to the system be called "personal" or "private"?
And should Social Security itself be viewed as an investment program - one that could be earning a higher rate of return than it is now - or is it really meant to serve as a guaranteed base of income for retirees?
In the early battle over Social Security's future, almost nothing matters more than word choices. Public opinion on solutions is fluid, infusing the debate with a sense of urgency as the administration and its opponents try to lock in support. For President Bush, getting enough of the public behind him could spell the difference between success and defeat on his No. 1 domestic priority.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/csm/20050215/ts_csm/awordsx_1
Casey, thanks for bringing this topic to the forefront. Media bias is something that we in red regions of America have had to put up with for awhile and, to an extent, learned to accept.
It may take a little longer to reverse the conservative mentality so ingrained in the minds of people living in red areas. Here in western Iowa talking politics or religion, especially in mixed company or in public, are taboo. This is really where our culture is at a disadvantage because change won't be made unless we give each other permission to express our viewpoints.
The good news is that people here are starting to express themselves via thoughtful discussion. During the elections, believe it or not, Democrats here spoke in hushed voices when in public. I haven't been on this earth long enough to know if this shyness has always been a problem. The good news is that this is changing. People know we cannot just let our country be taken over, and they are increasingly willing to break conformity, to speak out, in an area where we HAVE to be our own media.
Thanks to the DCP and other channels like Air America for helping us along the way.
Ira--
T.J. Rooney is the party chair, I suggest you get on the mailing list. the site is:
www.padems.com
maybe let T.J. know how you feel about his running
Posted by: tutterfly at February 16, 2005 12:19 PM
You raise the absolute truth to the matter, tutterfly... Sex is NOT a government "issue" - which is why abortion should NOT be a government "issue." (And neither one should be a political "issue" in any way, shape, or form, IMHO.)
Americans just do not grasp that essential fact, and people in other parts of the world have a far more realistic approach to human sexuality. In this country sex is a prurient interest just because of the repressive nature with which we treat the subject. Sex is shoved in people's faces nearly 24/7/365 on every possible way advertisers can think of for imagery or words. Sex sells, as advertisers know perfectly well. How on earth can they expect young people with raging hormones to abstain if they're shown nothing but sexual images (subliminally, if not overtly) via TV ads & shows, the Internet ads, song lyrics, etc. There's just no common sense factors going on here. Humans have sex at some point in their lives; some start earlier than others. With sex being so prevalent in our lives, why doesn't it make more sense to educate them (for health reasons to try to avoid STDs and AIDS, as well as birth control) instead of preaching a doctrine of abstinence.
As for the mythology that children will learn their sexual values from their parents... NOT. At least, not necessarily, unless they have parents who talk frankly about the subject. The sad fact is, many (not all) parents do not even want to acknowledge that their kids are, or will be, sexual beings. It's like they expect their children are mythological beings who will somehow "magically" give them beautiful grandchildren without benefit of sex. Totally unrealistic.
Ergo, it's pretty much necessary that kids learn the facts of life from educators, sad to say. However, adopting the neocon christian right's dogma of abstinence only to teach in our public schools is the dumbest possible way of teaching young people about sex. I wish it wasn't so, but as long as we have adults who refuse to accept the reality of human sexuality, it's going to be necessary.
Heaven help the poor slobs who have to mentally grasp the facts of life in benobo chimpanzee society. If you've not seen the Nature show about them, it's remarkably interesting. They settle everything with sex, and they have sex with each other many, many times per hour/day; and unlike their other chimp cousins they don't have the fights among the various groups or problems with male aggression.... They're too busy having sex.... :-)
and Ira---
our county dem chair has resigned thinking to run for judge, so we are without a leader in my home county right now too. like i said, my area needs to STOP fighting with each other and damn soon, too.
like yesterday
Posted by: Marjorie G at February 16, 2005 12:20 PM
I'm still mulling that one over in my mind since I first read about Soros buying so much of mainstream media stock....
I can't see how he will change anything unless he has total control of his own network and hires progressive pundits and journalists who will do some actual in-depth investigative reporting for a change. He'd likely suffer severe financial losses and be scathingly criticized by current mainstream media if he let journalists speak the truth, so the venture wouldn't necessarily be economically viable.
Until I have more details about any of it, I'm afraid I'll just have to keep thinking about that part of media reform. Soros hasn't yet had any influence over those networks, so no change in the wind yet.....
If/When Soros has any say in news programming, or making the news shows honestly fair and balanced, I'll then be guardedly optimistic about it - maybe - if and if and if..... I'd need to see real changes first....
Nonny--
My ANGER at parents who have teens or tweens right now is that these are the people who were not going to shudder every time S-E-X was mentioned. this was the enlightened generation, who found communication to be the key, and was going to know how to talk to their kids. the sex-ed i had was utterly ridiculous, and i made darn sure that my kids had the dialogue open and available as soon as it became apparent they had an interest or questions. what happened to talking about sex as a normal, natural process? did these people go brain dead in the delivery room? what have we learned if they are happy to turn over their children to a propaganda machine that doesn't care a bit for their kids?
i am mad. i am good and mad at parents who are supposed to be my contemporaries, because their kids are going to have to depend on the openness and kindness of parents like me, who give credit to the young for their developing minds and their curiosty. when some young girl gets pregnant and is afraid of her faith based parents, i will be the one comforting a sobbing kid in my arms. and it will happen, i'll make sure you are the first to know when it does.
I'm mad, too, tutterfly, at the willful ignorance of so many parents who just refuse to deal with reality.
Many years ago I was the one who cut the umbilical cord of the baby born to a young teen mother who got pregnant at 15, gave birth at 16 (she was a friend of my daughter's; I somehow got invited into the delivery room, altho I hadn't asked to be there). Yet another friend of hers got pregnant at 14, gave birth at 15 and gave the baby up for adoption. I had an open dialogue with my daughter, dealt with the subject realistically, birth control chat, all that - in direct revolt over the fact that I'd not had the same frankness with the sex talk with my mother and the tiny bit of 'human sexuality' taught in high school was practically useless - a bit of biology, no talk about contraception, etc. I just wish the parents of her friends had done the same. It would have saved a great deal of heartache. Odd to think that the children of those young teen mothers are old enough to make those young women grandmothers....
Yes, you will likely be the shoulder a young teen who is pregnant will cry on at some point in the future because her parents haven't been forthright and direct about the topic of human sexuality, contraception, etc.... Unfortunately....
Will Pitt FYI: A Phone Call with Joseph Wilson
http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/2/16/104121/594
[Will Pitt seems to be staying on top of this story.... Wilson, remember, is Plame's husband. Interesting and informative piece to read.]
Funding The Culture Wars
by Jeff Krehely, TomPaine.com Exclusive
Under George W. Bush, evangelical groups are tapping public coffers and influencing policy decisions like never before.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/funding_the_culture_wars.php
[Frist is mentioned in this article, along with a whole lot of other familiar neoCON names....]
Target: Syria
by The Dreyfuss Report
The Bush administration's crosshairs shifted east decisively Monday -- from Iran to Syria, and that country is now the chief target for the neocons and their friends.
http://tompaine.com/archives/the_dreyfuss_report.php
[Oh, yikes... Combine the info in this with the previous link I posted http://www.alternet.org/story/21245/ and start connecting dots....]
Human Fossils Dated to 195,000 Years
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=8&u=/ap/20050216/ap_on_sc/oldest_humans
[Now this is a story that won't make infotainment news this evening.... Tsk, tsk, tsk, it would bring up the topic of human evolution and piss off the right wingnuts on kool-aid who can't deal with anything remotely scientific....]
There's a new rumor on the internet that Sean Hannity isn't actually human, but rather a plant by an alien race looking to take over earth.
And Ann Coulter is Hannity's alien mate.
Since Ira mentioned DCP member Otter upthread, here's an AP item that gave me a laugh:
Otterhound Loses Bid for Best of Show
February 15, 2005 10:32 PM EST
NEW YORK - Asleep in her crate, Morgan hardly had a care in the world. Let the other dogs get cramped by the backstage crowds, this otterhound was taking a nap.
[SNIP]
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050216/ap_on_sp_ot/dog_show_15
The Otterhound is one great looking dog, and seemingly spunky and playful, just like our Otter.
This little message is for Ira.
stranglely enough, after my post upthread about the state rep. who changed parties, I got a form letter from him in today's mail. he was explaining why he switched parties, and how it shouldn't come between us.I am posting my reply, that I faxed off to him, simply for your enjoyment. 2-16-2005
Dear Mr. Diven,
I am in receipt of your letter dated 2-11-2005. I am writing to tell you that I find your actions reprehensible, and that under no circumstances do I feel that you will work in a manner that represents me and my family, simply by changing your party affiliation. I have seldom been so disgusted with a political panderer, such as you have proven yourself to be.
How you can opine that the Republican agenda is working for the good of this region is beyond me. You took a lot of votes under false pretenses, as I am convinced that you knew you would be changing parties soon after the election. You would not have won the seat you now hold had you done just that. While you may have done nothing illegal, you are certainly immoral, and not to be trusted.
That is the stand that I and many others like me are taking on your future candidacy to the state senate. Will you be faithful to your Republican friends if you lose, I wonder? I will be working against you winning the special election. I will be one of the volunteers knocking on every door in the 19th Ward.
I am, and continue to be proud of my Democratic Party affiliation. That you would dare to belittle those of us who have worked hard for democratic causes, in the effort to further your own career is disgusting. You are not a leader. No one is going to follow you blindly, based solely on your name recognition and your, at best, spotty record. Changing parties might suit you, but it does not suit those of us who have worked hard for fairness, transparency in government, and equality.
I am directing you and your staff to take me, IMMEDIATELY off of your mailing list. I do not wish to receive any further communication from you, nor will I be receptive to your false sense of reaching out for the good of the community. Progress is not in your mind, sir. Whatever possessed you to do what you have done, it was not while thinking about this region that moved you. I’m sure you will make a fine Republican. All I can say is good riddance to bad rubbish.
Also sincerely,
‘Liberal’ Media Silent About Guckert Saga
by Joe Conason
snip........
Imagine the media explosion if a male escort had been discovered operating as a correspondent in the Clinton White House. Imagine that he was paid by an outfit owned by Arkansas Democrats and had been trained in journalism by James Carville. Imagine that this gentleman had been cultivated and called upon by Mike McCurry or Joe Lockhart—or by President Clinton himself. Imagine that this "journalist" had smeared a Republican Presidential candidate and had previously claimed access to classified documents in a national-security scandal.
http://www.observer.com/pages/conason.asp
and this is for my dear Nonny-o
i weep for the children,
oh the children,
for them i have rivers of tears.
i weep for their searching minds.
i weep for their wide open smiles.
i weep for their youthful exuberance.
i weep for their coming broken hearts.
i weep for their shattered dreams
i weep for the flawed world that will be theirs.
i have loved a child and i know,
that i will not have wept in vain.
tutterfly:
Let us know if you get a response. Let him also know that you would like your campaign contributions refunded.
Since Republicans seem to frame their positions in terms of values and morals I would ad that your state Senator lacks both and apparently his only value is his own hide . A state representative here in Texas turned on the state Democratic party, and was easily trounced in his primary after serving for 20 years. You should copy your letter to every Pa editorial bd.newspaper that accepts letters to the editors. Good luck.
i'm dancing as fast as i can Ira.
in pittsburgh we polka!!!
A few Pa newsppapers you might want to dance with.Our politicians do the Texas 2 step.
[Harrisburg]
Allentown Times [Allentown]
Beaver County Times [Beaver]
The Bradford Era [Bradford]
Bridgeville Star [Bridgeville]
Bucks County Courier Times [Levittown]
Butler Eagle [Butler]
Centre Daily Times [State College]
Chester County Press [Oxford]
Citizen Standard [Valley View]
The Citizens Voice [Wilkes Barre]
City Paper [Philadelphia]
Clarion News [Clarion]
Coraopolis Record [Coropolis]
The Courier-Express [Du Bois]
Cranberry Journal [Cranberry]
The Daily American [Somerset]
Daily Courier [Connellsville]
The Daily Item [Sunbury]
Daily Local News [West Chester]
Daily News [McKeesport]
Daily Review [Towanda]
The Danville News [Danville]
Delaware County Daily Times [Primos]
The Derrick [Oil City]
Ellwood City Ledger [Ellwood City]
Erie Daily Times/Morning News [Erie]
The Evening Sun [Hanover]
The Evening Times [Sayre]
The Express [Lock Haven]
The Express-Times [Easton]
Forest City News [Forest City]
The Fulton County News [McConnellsburg]
The Gettysburg Times [Gettysburg]
Greene County Messenger [Waynesburg]
The Herald [Sharon]
Herald-Standard [Uniontown]
The Indiana Gazette [Indiana]
Intelligencer/The Record [Doylestown]
Leader Times [Kittanning]
The Main Line Times [Ardmore]
The Mercury [Pottstown]
Moon Record [Moon Township]
The Morning Call [Allentown]
Mountaintop Eagle [Mountaintop]
Murrysville Star [Murrysville]
New Castle News [New Castle]
News-Item [Shamokin]
North Hills News Record [Warrendale]
North Journal [Wexford]
Northeast News Gleaner [Philadelphia]
Norwin Star [Irwin]
Oakmont Advance Leader [Oakmont]
Observer-Reporter [Washington]
Patriot News [Harrisburg]
Penn Hills Progress [Penn Hills]
Perry County Times [New Bloomfield]
Philadelphia Business Journal [Philadelphia]
Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia]
Philadelphia Daily News [Philadelphia]
Philadelphia Weekly [Philadelphia]
Pittsburgh Business Times [Pittsburgh]
Pittsburgh City Paper [Pittsburgh]
The Phoenix [Phoenixville]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [Pittsburgh]
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [Pittsburgh]
Plum Advance Leader [Plum]
Pocono Record [Stroudsburg]
Pottsville Republican [Pottsville]
Press-Enterprise [Bloomsburg]
The Progress News [Emlenton]
Reading Times/Reading Eagle [Reading]
The Record Herald [Waynesboro]
Rocket-Courier [Wyalusing]
Scranton Times/The Tribune [Scranton]
The Sentinel [Carlisle]
The Sentinel [Lewistown]
Sewickly Herald [Sewickly]
Signal Item - Star [Carnegie]
South Hills Record [Monroeville]
Standard Observer [Irwin]
Standard-Speaker [Hazleton]
Times Express [Monroeville]
The Times Herald [Norristown]
The Times Leader [Wilkes-Barre]
The Times News [Lehighton]
Titusville Herald [Titusville]
The Tribune-Democrat [Johnstown]
Tribune-Review [Greensburg]
Upper Dauphin Sentinel [Millersburg]
The Valley Herald [Aspinwall]
Valley Independent [Monessen]
Valley News Dispatch [Tarentum]
Voices of Central PA [State College]
The Wayne Independent [Honesdale]
Wayne Suburban [Wayne]
The Weekender [Wilkes-Barre]
The Weekly Journal [Moscow]
Williamsport Sun-Gazette [Williamsport]
Woodland Progress [Forest Hills]
York Daily Record [York]
York Dispatch [York]
The drone story is just the natural outcome of the fact that the Pentagon is building an intelligence unit that is not subject to Congressional oversight. How much more Orwellian can we get?
We are getting closer and closer to Soviet-style government, where the intelligence service and the military are combined under one scary Big Brother umbrella.
Posted by: tutterfly at February 16, 2005 03:47 PM
Thank you, tutterfly!!! :-)
OK, that's it... Are you related to Baba Wawa? The poem made me cry.....
Author's name please?
It's a beautiful poem....!!!
oh Ira,
you crack me up. i'll spend my time on wiping up the floor with michael diven as soon as we get the special election dates. we are talking about a regional vote here, so statewide coverage won't be necessary. but i have my newspaper links all fired up and ready to go on santorum. no one want's him gone as much as i do.
i promise to pencil you in for the beer barrel polka on my dance card!!!
MEDIA FOR A POST-TRUTH SOCIETY
Eric Alterman, The Nation.
To Russert and much of the permanent Washington establishment, the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat - or at least one who's willing to act that way.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21240/
Administration Prepares to Resume Nuclear Testing
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021605Y.shtml
[Well, hell... I feel safer now.... Don't you?!?]
CIA, FBI Warn Panel on Top Threats to U.S.
Iraqi Insurgents an Emerging Threat, Goss Says
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28876-2005Feb16.html?nav%3Drss_politics&sub=AR
[Anyone else smell the lies in the air as a reason to go attack another country based on false premises?!?!?]
Goss Plan to Strengthen CIA Is Ready
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27348-2005Feb15.html?nav=rss_nation
nonny-honey, i kinda just whipped that up outta my own little head for you. children are my passion in life, does it show?
new thread!!!
There was a very interesting article in New Yorker magazine this week about the MSM (Mainstream Media).
Here's the link.
FEAR AND FAVOR
by NICHOLAS LEMANN
Why is everyone mad at the mainstream media?
http://newyorker.com/fact/content/?050214fa_fact1
I believe everything you tell me, tut, but where is the new thread?
This site may not have a formal position regarding Walmart, Suz, but the DNC stands with Mom and Pop Businesses. This is a Values War and we stand with American Values and the small business owner.This is our way to connect with small town and rural America, as Protectors of the American Way.
Is Greenspan a fall-back because of the reluctance out there, thereby saying okay to privatization concept, but gradually. We don't want to do it at all. No crisis, and we want the security.
Posted by: Marjorie G at February 16, 2005 12:48 PM
I think Kerry and others have been talking about some sort of Soc Sec reform - just not the radical approach to a phony crisis that Bush is touting.
I certainly don't think Greenspan is giving Bush his stamp of approval.