The Descent

While politicians do nothing but play politics (see here for an example of what I'm talking about), the country descends into a further mess. A "No Compromise" strategy from the Republicans (as dictated by their leader, Rush Limbaugh) ought to tell the American people that the GOP has no interest in doing anything to help the country. They simply want to be in power to serve the super-wealthy and their corporate masters. And as we dither around, the world passes us by. How does it feel to be a citizen in a country on the way down?

Keith Olbermann on the Tea Party and Election Day

Keith Olbermann had an informative Special Comment on MSNBC last night detailing the strange and sometimes dangerous views of Tea Party candidates. Not only do we have to vote next Tuesday to try to prevent this disaster from happening, but we also need to convince other sane individuals to not vote for these Tea Party candidates. Ignorance is not a virtue.

Take 20 minutes and listen to what Keith has to say:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39875964/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/

Health Care Reform and the Big Picture

While it looks like Health Care Reform may be passed today, it’s important to understand that this bill is only the first step in improving this situation in the United States. The bill is by no means perfect, and the politics around it have been absolutely vicious, but it is an important event in our history because it bucks the trend of privatization and corporatism that conservatives have been pushing since Ronald Reagan. Doing something for the common good is not evil, regardless of what the lunatic fringe at Fox Propaganda may be broadcasting 24/7.

So the real work is now just beginning. Democrats and Progressives must remain strong as opponents of HCR will become more and more vicious in their attacks, saying anything to derail this initiative. This is a fight for the hearts and minds of Americans as privatization and corporatism have been disastrous for this country. This is an opportunity to prove that a government can be beneficial in the lives of its citizens. This is an opportunity to reverse the brainwashing that has many Americans thinking it’s acceptable to spit on members of Congress and verbally attack 11 year old children. This is an opportunity to stand up and say that unfettered greed is not good.

If we are to compete with the likes of China in the 21st century, we must come together as a team, as a society. Today, we are too fractured and we can’t get anything done because we aren’t focused on the work we need to do to make our lives better. Our government is distracted by unproductive wars. Our people are apathetic and ignorant of our dire circumstances. America is on the decline, yet we don’t know it. Perhaps I’m attaching a bit more importance to this Health Care bill than most, but I think it’s the first rung on a ladder out of a huge hole that’s been dug in the last 30 years. Let’s see how far up the ladder we can get in the next 5 years.

Glenn Beck attacks the Commie Pinko Liberal Atheist!

Media 101 - Stenography?

Here is a copy of an email I sent to CNN this morning regarding the "Exclusive" they had with John McCain and Joe Lieberman this morning on State of the Union with John King.

Advertising an "exclusive" with John McCain and Joe Lieberman is like hyping a sale at WalMart. Both happen every week. Those 2 are on all the time pushing one side of the aisle's point of view - bottomless pit of money for war, nothing available for health care, don't reform Wall St. How about asking Alan Grayson to appear on your show to provide counterpoint rather than simply playing stenographer to their dangerous narrative?

It's no wonder that there are so many Americans out there who think the Republicans actually represent a viable solution to governing the country. They're allowed to push their bullshit rhetoric on us continually without fact checking through programming on the major networks like State of the Union on CNN. Is stenography now a substitute for journalism? It's become dangerous to the future of this country because people hear these views so often, they start to believe them even when facts (pesky little things) disprove them. I wonder if these television media members feel any responsibility to truth or are they simply caught up in being faux celebrities who get to mingle with the powerful of this country. Of course, there's no money in speaking truth to power.

Related Example: George Stephanopoulos allows Rudy Giuliani to say "no domestic attacks under Bush" without comment on Good Morning America. Giuliani tries to clarify later in the day on CNN, but still gets it wrong.