VA Holiday

...Or 'How the VA got a new boss and the truth came out.' While not A Dr. Phil fan, he did a show that was worth watching. According to the VA Watchdog website, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, say that the VA lies to Congress. Col. David Hunt, Fox News analyst, talks of "criminal" activity and says someone should be doing a "perp walk." Tammy Duckworth, head of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, tells of her terrible experiences with the VA. and veterans tell heart-wrenching stories of trying to get the care they need and have earned.Also... you'll want to hear Dr. Phil explain why the VA canceled their appearance on the show.


Parts two through six can be viewed here at VA Watchdog's website. Hopefully the present of presence will come to the VA in the New Year.

Incurious George and His Imperial Presidency

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia hosted political writer and former Clinton administration senior advisor, Sidney Blumenthal just before the last midterm election. His talk recounts the content of his book, How Bush Rules, and is both prescient and insightful, speaking to the radical departure from constitutional protections and and precedent as exercised by the Bush administration. This 50 minute presentation is extraordinary documentation of the unprecedented attempt of the Bush administration to undermine our democracy and recent-history revisited that should be required listening for any American who cares about our country. Listen. Please. This segment appears about a quarter of the way down the page.