Our President seems to believe not in oversight but in "accountability moments" every four years when the population gives a strict up-or-down judgment on his performance. A thumbs up means a mandate for the entire platform. In some cases like Social Security and immigration the changes are shot down by a growing popular revolt, but essentially the whole package is considered affirmed. At that point Congress passes laws as directed by the President to properly implement the platform, and each policy is a black box to be blessed in the broadest possible terms with no debate or review involved. If Congress doesn't like that setup it is free to use the power of the purse to shut off funding and force voters to pick sides; the loser gets run into a ditch.

Unfortunately, due to the complicity of the Mainstream News Media, America is at a crossroads – one that most citizens aren’t even aware of; our MSM is run by corporate interests, and even though some reporters would give anything to tell us the truth, they are stifled from reporting the real news by their corporate masters. We have one or two reporters that deserve the Medal of Freedom for their honesty and tenacity, like Keith Olbermann for instance – but his audience is too small to make a real difference, and the news I’m speaking of should dominate the media, in print , on the radio and on all of the nightly news reports, but instead, what we hear are bits and pieces of so-called news that fail to sound the alarm that America is dying, not a slow death, but our economy is close to a complete collapse, and if Bush and Cheney have their way, World War III could begin at any moment. Yes, it’s that serious, yet the MSM refuses to tell Americans the truth, traitors and cowards for refusing to honor their own beliefs in journalism and protecting the freedom and democracy that a “free press” traditionally provided to its subscribers. The framers of our constitution understood that a free press was essential to the survival of our democracy, and even on our own government’s website, these words are immortal and as true today as when our constitution was first written:

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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My wife and I saw "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song" last night. Part of PBS's superb American Masters series, "The Power of Song" may well win an Emmy this year, and it would be eminently deserved. One of the best portraits of a singer - someone far more than a singer - I've ever seen.

What do you do when there are no more surprises? When you look forward to going to a concert or a game to add excitement to your life? What happens when you achieved the dreams that you had as a child? Why does it feel as if life has passed me by that the daily grind of being a parent and worker has left me seeking something else?

Cross posted on Guaranteed healthcare.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion" (the Establishment Clause) or that prohibit free exercise of religion (the Free Exercise Clause), laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Before I tell you about the crushing healthcare burdens destroying Americans of every socioeconomic level, I hope those of you too young to remember, will take a look at this video about how my generation changed the course of a nation.

The first episode of the groundbreaking new live webcast "In Their Boots" aired on Wednesday, 2 July 2008, with host Jan Bender as he explored the lives of the Babin family as they care for their wounded veteran son Alan. That first show "Beating the Odds" was part 1, the second part to be aired next Wednesday, 9 July 2008.

It is to air, online, every Wednesday at 4pm Pacific/5 Mountain/6 Central/7 Eastern at In Their Boots, also can be viewed at UStream TV, at least it was this past Wednesday.

I bring to you today a story that is eight years old and as recent as today’s headlines.

A foolish tale of mirth and merriment it is indeed--and for those who want a real all-American Fourth of July story, well...this one fits better than a glass slipper on Cinderella’s foot.

The story, as you might have guessed from the headline, starts with a simple premise and ends by paraphrasing Ronald Reagan’s famous question:

Had we elected Jerry Springer in 2000 instead of George Bush the Younger, would we be better off today than we were eight years ago?

Come along for the ride, Esteemed Reader, and we shall see...

Yesterday I got an e-newsletter about the same time I caught this post. The e covered what prompted the post by ScottyUrb.

Today, the 4th of July, we here in the States celebrate our "Independence", no need to go into an explanation, or give a link to read about, we're all supposed to know and understand what that means, and so are others who think they've achieved that.

This year there'll be alot less traveling to a further destination for relaxation or whatever, more home bodies, we all know the reasons, or we should.

There will be plenty of "Rockets Red Glare" and "Bombs Bursting In Air" with probably more attending the local festivities, along with the many neighborhood unsupervised inexperianced piro-techs.

Barack Obama has received considerable criticism for changing his positions on public financing (will now not use it in his campaign), and on FISA (supports the bill passed by the House). A few disappointed supporters have said he's therefore no different from John McCain, who changed his position on Bush's tax cuts (McCain now supports them), etc.

I think this misses the point, which is: what counts most is not whether a candidate changes positions, but whether the change is for the better or the worse. Let's look at the candidates and the issues:

A Nation that sends its Sons and Daughters into Occupations?

A C-17 Airforce Transport plane arrives in Kandahar, Afghanistan to receive the bodies of five U.S. service members killed. Though more than 1,000 US and coalition forces were on hand to participate in the "ramp ceremony," a Los Angeles Times reporter and photographer were asked to leave the area by a military public affairs officer. A Pentagon policy banning coverage of this particular event was cited as the reason. [Photo: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times]

Iraq

I suppose a number of otherwise "liberal people" will find a number of excuses for this outrage just because "mar-ju-wanna" is involved.

Video shows cop choking marijuana suspect

The incident began with a traffic stop.

Officer Cosby said he smelled burning marijuana, ordered Anders out of the car and told him to spit out something he had in his mouth.

Cosby then put one, then both hands around Anders' neck and squeezed in attempt to keep he from swallowing drugs in a technique called "vascular restraint."

So he choked him JUST for having cannabis nearby.

Video on the flip.

When we look at political compromise (a dirty word in today’s politics), the democratic primary was a wonderful case in point. So, instead of honorably conceding defeat earlier and getting on with helping a Democrat win the presidency, Senator Clinton pretended that she could still be victorious to the bitter end, and in the process, amplified racism through innuendo as well as providing Republicans talking points to be used in the Presidential race such as he is not ready to be President, he is too inexperienced, when that midnight call comes through, who do you want on the other end of the line? Or, Senator McCain and I have the experience… It did not stop there. This was a time for hardball politics. The fall campaign season will go even further will hatred and lies. They are the best of friends today especially after Senator Obama agreed to pay 10 million of her campaign debt. Where is the greater good?