Vote Vets

This is a commercial for Charlie Brown running in CA-04 to replace the disgusting, disgraceful John Dolittle. It's moving and sadly, the truth. A must-see.

From Where I'm Sitting


If you're intereted in seeing the Doolitle and Charlie Brown debate here's the link.(Link courtesy of Nate)

Scorecard

A tidbit for those of you keeping score on FBI investigations into the 109th Congress-critters. Justin Rood tells us all about it. TPM also has the latest poll numbers on the mid-term elections here.

Tidbit number 2: Emptywheel over at The Next Hurrah has a great pic and piece about Dick Cheney's shred-o-matic parked in front of his house. Classic.

Last but not least a little something for my California homies about the proposed change to the California Constitution, "No on Prop. 85":

The Worst Congress Ever!

I often wonder as I read around the internet at various conservative sites how the denial and delusion that runs so deep, survives. As if anymore proof were needed, Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone Magazine has written the definitive article on the 109th do-nothing-but-fuck-up-the-country-congress. Ths 109th has managed to work less than any congress in American history, topping the old Truman congress of the 40's by more than a month. Then of course is the corrution that runs deeper than the Mariana Trench abyss. Read the terrific story, The Worst Congress Ever by Matt Taibbi


Take a listen to interview of Matt by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!

We The People

I have been away from the keyboard for a number of days because of commitments here at home. Some political work, some social obligations and family matters. Today in order to break the monotony I am featuring a short but potent post from a guest and my friend, Anne. I give you,

We The People

Seems to me the response to all the fear-mongering by Republicans is:

We are Democrats

We are the people who have been trying to raise the minimum wage, so people have more money to spend.

We are the people who are trying to protect your Social Security benefits from the false promises of private accounts.

We are the people who are trying to ease the tax burden on working families by asking the wealthiest to shoulder a more proportionate share.

We are the people who have been working for veterans’ funding, and health care.

We are the people who tried to give Medicare the authority to negotiate with the drug companies to make prescription drugs more affordable to our seniors.

We are the people who tried to structure prescription drug coverage for the elderly as part of Medicare, to keep it out of the hands of private insurers who were more concerned with the bottom line than looking out for seniors.

We are the people who have tried to bring new thinking and new ideas to the table for months and months and months, as Iraq descended further and further into chaos.

We are the people who have consistently sided with consumers against the interests of big business and the energy companies and banks.

The Republicans trying to scare you are the same people who have abandoned your interests time and time again, who have failed to listen to your concerns and address your needs. They are the people who think changing the rhetoric will fool you into thinking they are changing their policies.

The choice is yours: you can either fall victim to the scare tactics, or you can stand up for what you know is the truth, and vote Democratic on November 7th.

Graphic courtesy of Matt Wuerker

A last minute addendum to Anne's brilliant observations. A one minute video to remind you of the lies of George W. Bush. Read the accompanying LA Times story.

In case you need more proof that the chimp-master is lying check here.

KO'ed : A Mainstream Media Manifesto

I complain constantly about the mainstream media's indolent stenography of rovian talking points they call 'the news'.The only true exception that I'm aware of is Keith Olbermann.
Keith Olbermann of MSNBC has once again proven he is the Edward R. Murrow of our time. In the brilliant new feature, "Special Comment" on his show "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", he displays courage of conviction as well as concise, literate critiques of BushCo's criminal behavior. I'm featuring today Keith Olbermann's commentary on "The Death of Habeas Corpus". For an in-depth article on this latest attack on the Constitution, please read Glen Greenwalds piece at Unclaimed Territory. Olbermann knocks out the chimp-in-charge, hammering away at the president-criminal with head-blow after bodyshot. I think the former sports reporter would appreciate the 'sports analogy'. Two videos, an 'uppercut' explainer of habeas corpus followed by the 'killshot'. You've been KO'ed Mr. President.
,




Technorati Profile

Bill Moyers Tonight on PBS

An update on the Bill Moyers program on Net Neutrality which is tonight at 9PM. Please watch and email others to bring attention to this critically important special report. "The Net at Risk" Tune in to PBS tonight to see the SavetheInternet.com Coalition featured in "The Net at Risk," a documentary produced by award-winning journalist Bill Moyers. Then join Save The Internet members in an online Web discussion at PBS.org. Watch the preview of "The Net At Risk" here.

Bill Moyers' show airs at 9 p.m. in most cities (check local listings). Immediately following the East Coast broadcast, PBS.org will host a live Internet debate between Free Press Policy Director Ben Scott and phone industry flack and former clinton spokesman, Mike McCurry.

You can be a part of this online debate. Here's how to join in:

When: Oct. 18, 10:30 pm Eastern / 7:30 pm Pacific
Where: http://www.pbs.org/moyers

You'll be asked to log in to participate in the online discussion. With your help, we hope to light up the PBS Web site with our campaign to save Net Neutrality. It's important to have you there. In the six months since the SavetheInternet.com Coalition was launched, millions of Americans have joined the campaign, spoken out for Internet freedom, and put Congress and the phone companies on notice.

Tonight's program could make millions more aware of this issue.

They need to hear the real voices of people like us instead of industry mouthpieces. Help us use the Internet to save it from corporate efforts to stifle online innovation, free speech and competition. Please join us tonight!

For the latest information on the campaign visit Save The Internet Don't miss Bill Moyers' new essay on Net Neutrality: "Against an Imperial Internet" available for reading at the Bill Moyer's website
Remember the 1996 Telecommunications Bill? Remember how they told us, "This bill will make cable tv more accessible, cheaper, and more reliable..." What's your cable like now? Cheaper? No. Cable tv rates have tripled in the past 10 years. The service is tiered and options are limited unless you pay much higher rates. This is what is instore for the internet if the corporate interests win. Please tune in, turn on and join the Net Neutrality fight.

Update: I recieved an interesting comment after this post went up, check my comments section to see the coalition that wants you to know "the other side" of the net neutrality debate. When I checked their website, I found a few of the 'members' of the coalition: AT&T, Bell South and Cingular. I could be wrong but it appears to me from the content of the comment and the 'sponsors' of the website that they are pushing an pro-government intervention agenda written purposely to decieve.

Ever seen a state intiative written in "positive" language but read further into the 'fine print' and the true intention of the proposed legislation is negative? A forest intiative in California several years ago comes to mind. Its sponsors were several large timber companies. The intiative was for "Tree Planting in California". Sounds good right? Read further and after they tell you how many trees they'll plant, find out their actual goal was to clear-cut large swaths of forestland, and then plant 1/10th of the trees they had cleared. I think the coalition Hands Off is trying to pull the same trick.

Below is text from the Save The Internet website, the pioneers that truly are fighting government intervention. Take a look here and tell me what you think about my analysis of "the other side". Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

"Right now Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the First Amendment of the Internet -- a principle called "network neutrality" that preserves the free and open Internet. Congress needs to hear from you today or they will hand over control of what you do online to companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast.

Politicians are trading favors for campaign donations from these companies. They're being wooed by people like AT&T's CEO, who says "the Internet can't be free." Sign this petition to tell your elected representatives to protect Internet freedom now."

-from SaveTheInternet.com

Stick Your Ribbon Up Your SUV

A video by the Asylum Street Spankers

Campaign to Whom?

Now I give you a quickie from Slate.com's Jon Dickerson. He has taken 3 campaign ads and 'disected' then for us. I think he's done a good job. Critical thinking is so absent from the public sphere these days and if nothing else you may be encouraged to do some critical thinking of your own in regards to politicals ads for your local candidates. Give it a shot. Check the link.

Slate's Political Commentary

Net Neutrality and Bill Moyers UPDATED

Update: The Net Neutrality live chat with Bill Moyeys was quite good and informative. The conference had much information to desseminate so I will save a comprehensive update for a later post. The main thing is that this threat to the internet-as-we-know-it is real. We know that BushCo gives away the store to corporate interests virtually always with fredom and access to the regular Joe absent from any deals. Please call and write your Senators or go to Save the Internet's site and sign their petition. Unless you have unlimited money to spend on what is currently free and available access to the information you seek, that is.

Links to Senate offices and phone numbers just below. Scroll down.

Now is the time. We have momentum. And the GOP is dying to kill it. If you've noticed the banner over there----->
Its about Net Neurality and how we can help save the internet as we've known it. Here's a primer and a little info about it. If you prefer your information video style check out the videos below. If free, unencumbered internet access as it is today, without government or corporate interference and much higher fees, is what you want, please look into the Net Neutrality debate and contact your Senator 202-224-3121, or click on the the net neutrality banner.





Video courtesty of "Unclassified Producer":



Now that you know what net neutrality is, I would also like to invite all readers to the event "A Conversation with Bill Moyers"
SavetheInternet.com has invited me and I extend an open invitation to all those who care about future access to the internet to an exclusive online discussion with award-winning journalist Bill Moyers about his upcoming PBS special, "The Net at Risk," on the fight over Net Neutrality and the future of the Internet.

Bloggers and online activists have transformed the issue of Net Neutrality from a closed-door discussion with lobbyists into a public debate involving millions of Americans. This online forum will give bloggers and writers covering the issue a chance to offer feedback before this new documentary airs nationwide.

I hope you'll join me for this special event. Here are the details:

What: Live Web Discussion with Bill Moyers of "Moyers on America"
Who: Bill Moyers & Rick Karr (PBS), Josh Silver (SavetheInternet.com)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Where: Login online at http://67.19.231.218/v4/login.asp?r=1b261dc2&p=0

The forum will include sneak peek at "The Net at Risk," followed by a question-and-answer session. To learn more about "Moyers on America," visit http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/index.html
To learn more about Net Neutrality, visit www.SavetheInternet.com
The forum will include sneak peek at "The Net at Risk," followed by a question-and-answer session. In order to attend this online chat with Bill Moyers please register and see the details below.

Please RSVP to press@freepress.net

I hope you'll join us on Tuesday.

How to attend: To attend this event, go to the OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries) Web site (http://www.opal-online.org/) and enter the Texas Forums Meeting Room, or log on directly at http://67.19.231.218/v4/login.asp?r=1b261dc2&p=0. You will need a computer with speakers and will need to download some software so plan ahead. If you have a microphone attached to your computer, you will be able to pose questions to the panelist verbally. Otherwise, you can interact via text messaging in the virtual auditorium.

If you have never attended an OPAL event, check out the video introduction at: <http://www.opal-online.org/OPALpromo200603b.wmv>

A Post Protest Post

Or anxious allitertion from an apprentice anchor with an affinity for afflatus affectation albeit absolute amenability to adventurous adversaries. On a lighter note after today's so-so turnout (60-70) in San Antonio for the World Can't Wait nationwide protest, I diverge from the usual for a musical interlude, a triptych of sorts. I was tipped off to the first video from a participant at today's festivities titled, "Asshole" and the second is just good, ole, righteous Eminem, and finally yet another Keith Olbermann manifesto.

Eminem "Mosh"



Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment"

Protest! Demonstration! Free Speech! Velour!

Thursday, October 5th is the day to protest, to use your constitutionally protected (at least for now) to peacably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. The World Can't Wait has created and is hosting protests all over the country. 117 cities all over the country. Find your location and show up!

Here is the text from their site about the protest:

On October 5, people everywhere will walk out of school, take off work, and come to the downtowns & townsquares and set out from there, going through the streets and calling on many more to join us - making a powerful statement: "NO! THIS REGIME DOES NOT REPRESENT US! AND WE WILL DRIVE IT OUT!"

Please don't wait for the criminal bush regime to suspend our right to protest before you participate in what may be your only public protest, it is the protest of a lifetime. I will be there, will you?
Don't forget to bring your velour.

In Case I Disappear

Again today, I find myself overwhelmed by the news. I almost don't know where to begin. The past few days have been absorbed by a visit from my in-laws, which most people know can take the life out of one. It did. My in-laws are not progressive thinkers. They represent to a tee what I fight against on my blog. Suffice to say, this was not my best weekend ever.

I spent much of this past Thursday preparing for the arrival of my conservative in-laws, and crying over the loss of my country to our version of Hitler , George W. Bush. His 'torture bill' sailed through with 'nary a bit of opposition. There is debate over the current use in the blogesphere of the terms "Nazi", and "Fascist". The debate being whether it is 'useful' to use such strong terms with loaded histories in regard to the current administration regardless of the similarities in style and content. I have no such debate raging in my head. I call 'em as I see 'em. BushCo is no better than the Nazi regime and more dangerous (if you can fathom that) and I will do a post on it soon to prove what I see as the obvious, dangerous similarities.

What I found today as I opened my mailbox was this email from my friend Bob over at JABob. He included in his email a link to an essay by William Rivers Pitt from TruthOut.org about the 'torture bill'. The first bit is the email from Bob and the link is to the essay. read his essay and Bob's response to it. I give you these valuable documents and attachments to further fill your arsenal and fuel your rage. I believe that unless people are angry they will not feel empowered enough to act, and Action is our last, best hope to restore our Democracy.

In Case I Disappear…By William Rivers Pitt

Bob writes:

Because we lost our freedom this week…

Because the senate & house voted to passed bills that promotes Bush to king...

These bills allow the president of the U.S. to now declare anyone (outside or inside our country) an “enemy combatant” and to have them arrested and held without habeas corpus. Disappeared! In other words you’re imprisoned without the ability to ask why, without the ability to say you’re innocent (because you don’t know why you’ve been arrested) or to even contact anyone. They can now torture you because the president can now (in this bill) define what torture is, otherwise called “aggressive interrogation methods.”

“Well,” you say, “that will never happen to me ‘cuz I follow the law. And, besides, someone will miss me and call the police!”

I’m sorry to say they didn’t tell you what law you broke and the police will know nothing because you’ve been arrested by the C.I.A. The C.I.A. won’t tell anyone and you can be damned well sure the President won’t either. You, or your daughter, or son, or nephew, or even your Mom or Dad will have vanished off the face of the earth with no recourse. No recourse from you, or anyone you know.

Scared yet?

WAKE UP! We have lost our freedom! Corporationism (Nazism) is here! If you don’t believe me go to the Library of Congress website and read senate bill S3039 passed by the house and the senate and see what our politicians have done to us. This bill has been changed so that it does not exclude U.S. citizens and does include anyone who “supports” an enemy combatant. I know, I know, the president hasn’t signed it yet. Who do you think asked for this in the first place? They (he and his cronies) WANT to be the unitary power. That means a sovereign entity. King.

So, if I disappear, just know it wasn’t me taking off. It means I got too “political” and verbal about it. Or, I have the wrong sexual orientation or the wrong religion or even worse, no religion at all. At least I’m not a Muslim. This would apply to me especially if I organized an anti-war anything or even wore an anti-war T-shirt. If I disappear, or someone you know mysteriously disappears, just know that if that happens it’s probably too late to do anything about it.

I’m not scared for myself, just for the future of this world as I now know it.

Write this off as the ranting of a delusional man if you will, but this is what I feel and I had to say it. Please, let me know that I’m wrong about all this. I just hope I can one day look back and say, “Boy was I wrong!” But right now I think THAT’s being delusional!

Now I will sleep on this and either delete it or send it tomorrow. Bob

I slept on it. I re-read it. I still feel strongly about this. I have reached my "tipping point". I'm sending it. If you agree with this in any degree, please forward this on to everyone you know. Thanks, Bob

Please take Bob's advice to heart, I have and Am doing this post. What will you do? And if I disappear, it wasn't because I was going on a trip...