Global
As the spokesperson for a group that had organized
several peace rallies on and after last February 15, I
was a guest on a local talk radio show a couple of
days after the Iraq war began. Before the show started
the two hosts were extremely friendly, then, once on
the air they went into attack mode. One of the first
questions was roughly, "How can we not invade Iraq
after they killed 3,000 people by blowing up the World
Trade Center?"
The very stupidity of that question and the abrupt change in tempo caught me off guard. During the first commercial break the hosts apologized to me. One of them said he even had an anti-war sticker on his bumper. They explained they were just expected to do right-wing talk radio shtick.
The very stupidity of that question and the abrupt change in tempo caught me off guard. During the first commercial break the hosts apologized to me. One of them said he even had an anti-war sticker on his bumper. They explained they were just expected to do right-wing talk radio shtick.
I'm two states removed from California, and I don't know who I'd have supported in San Francisco's recent runoff election for mayor. But I know this: democracy lost.
Gavin Newsom won by a 53% to 47% margin, while his $3.8 million budget dwarfed that of his opponent, Matt Gonzalez, by a 10 to 1 margin. Gonzalez won about nine times as many votes per dollar spent and even Newsom's supporters would be hard-pressed to deny that money made the difference.
Though the race officially was non-partisan, Newsom is a Democrat and Gonzalez is Green. Democratic celebrities Bill Clinton and Al Gore stumped for Newsom, and the party brought in resources that overwhelmed Gonzalez' volunteer-driven campaign. Ironically, Gonzalez won support from the majority of Democratic voters, while Newsom was the clear favorite of Republicans (and was endorsed by the Republican party previously).
Gavin Newsom won by a 53% to 47% margin, while his $3.8 million budget dwarfed that of his opponent, Matt Gonzalez, by a 10 to 1 margin. Gonzalez won about nine times as many votes per dollar spent and even Newsom's supporters would be hard-pressed to deny that money made the difference.
Though the race officially was non-partisan, Newsom is a Democrat and Gonzalez is Green. Democratic celebrities Bill Clinton and Al Gore stumped for Newsom, and the party brought in resources that overwhelmed Gonzalez' volunteer-driven campaign. Ironically, Gonzalez won support from the majority of Democratic voters, while Newsom was the clear favorite of Republicans (and was endorsed by the Republican party previously).
Please note I avoid the phrase "Happy Holidays." Can we please deep-six this trite "non-denominational" greeting, designed to alert the world that those uttering the salutation are sensitive people aware that the recipients of the greeting might not be Christians but Jews or Muslims who have a low opinion of J. Christ and no desire to celebrate his birthday? The Muslims think Christ was not divine, and the Jewish sacred writings say likewise, and that for the sin of getting ideas above his station J.C. is being pickled in excrement for all eternity.
But my Jewish friends say "Happy Hannukah," with no nonsense about saying "Happy holidays" out of sensitivity to the fact that the festival of Hanukah is derived from the Maccabees' triumph over the bestial forces of Hellenism in 165 B.C., said Hellenism being in its neo-Platonic guise, one of the central components of the Christian religion. An irony is that there's no mention of Hanukah in the Torah but only in the Books of the Maccabees, an annex to the Bible.
But my Jewish friends say "Happy Hannukah," with no nonsense about saying "Happy holidays" out of sensitivity to the fact that the festival of Hanukah is derived from the Maccabees' triumph over the bestial forces of Hellenism in 165 B.C., said Hellenism being in its neo-Platonic guise, one of the central components of the Christian religion. An irony is that there's no mention of Hanukah in the Torah but only in the Books of the Maccabees, an annex to the Bible.
Few Americans now remember that George W. Bush's father was elected president
in 1988 in one of the most racist campaigns ever staged in the United States.
Now W. seems poised to follow in those tainted footsteps.
But the "issue" this time won't be race, it'll be gay marriage.
Early in the 1988 campaign, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush trailed then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis by as much as 15 points in the mainstream polls. Bush was sunk in a scandal-ridden Reagan Administration whose trademark was Iran Contra, the bizarre scam in which the Reaganites had illegally sold arms to Iranian fanatics and slipped the profits to right-wing contra rebels trying to overthrow the duly elected Sandinista government of Nicaragua. Reagan also sold chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction to Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Reagan's envoy to Saddam was now-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
But the "issue" this time won't be race, it'll be gay marriage.
Early in the 1988 campaign, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush trailed then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis by as much as 15 points in the mainstream polls. Bush was sunk in a scandal-ridden Reagan Administration whose trademark was Iran Contra, the bizarre scam in which the Reaganites had illegally sold arms to Iranian fanatics and slipped the profits to right-wing contra rebels trying to overthrow the duly elected Sandinista government of Nicaragua. Reagan also sold chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction to Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Reagan's envoy to Saddam was now-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
The P.U.-litzer Prizes were established more than a decade ago to
give recognition to the stinkiest media performances of the year.
As usual, I have conferred with Jeff Cohen, founder of the media watch group FAIR, to sift through the large volume of entries. In view of the many deserving competitors, we regret that only a few can win a P.U.-litzer.
And now, the twelfth annual P.U.-litzer Prizes, for the foulest media performances of 2003:
MEDIA MOGUL OF THE YEAR -- Lowry Mays, CEO of Clear Channel
While some broadcasters care about their programming, the CEO of America’s biggest radio company (with more than 1,200 stations) admits he cares only about the ads. The Clear Channel boss told Fortune magazine in March: “If anyone said we were in the radio business, it wouldn’t be someone from our company. We’re not in the business of providing news and information. We’re not in the business of providing well-researched music. We’re simply in the business of selling our customers products.”
LIBERATING IRAQ PRIZE -- Tom Brokaw
As usual, I have conferred with Jeff Cohen, founder of the media watch group FAIR, to sift through the large volume of entries. In view of the many deserving competitors, we regret that only a few can win a P.U.-litzer.
And now, the twelfth annual P.U.-litzer Prizes, for the foulest media performances of 2003:
MEDIA MOGUL OF THE YEAR -- Lowry Mays, CEO of Clear Channel
While some broadcasters care about their programming, the CEO of America’s biggest radio company (with more than 1,200 stations) admits he cares only about the ads. The Clear Channel boss told Fortune magazine in March: “If anyone said we were in the radio business, it wouldn’t be someone from our company. We’re not in the business of providing news and information. We’re not in the business of providing well-researched music. We’re simply in the business of selling our customers products.”
LIBERATING IRAQ PRIZE -- Tom Brokaw
At a time of public concern about shootings on I-270 south of Columbus, it is ironic that the Ohio General Assembly may override Governor Taft's promised veto of legislation legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons.
Please contact your state representatives and senators as soon as you can to voice your oppsoition to any legislation that increases the proliferation of weapons in Ohio. The Brady Campaign provides credible and current information on handgun control, including current national and state legislation, and links to legislators. See: www.bradycampaign.org.
Please contact your state representatives and senators as soon as you can to voice your oppsoition to any legislation that increases the proliferation of weapons in Ohio. The Brady Campaign provides credible and current information on handgun control, including current national and state legislation, and links to legislators. See: www.bradycampaign.org.
House bill 272 has passed in the house and the Senate will be taking action on the companion bill, SB62 in the near future. Passage of this bill by the Ohio house brought Ohio one-step closer to being the most intolerant state in the union. This is the "Denial of Benefits Act" that some call the "Defense of Marriage act". There is some info below and a letter that can be copied and sent to State Senators.
The claim by the sponsor and supporters of HB 272 that this bill defends marriage is as ludicrous as it is insulting to all Ohioans. The real goals behind this legislation are to deny benefits to Ohio citizens who the supporters find amoral and to add another weapon to the arsenal of groups who have a long history of using the courts to harass gay and lesbian families.
Here's the real story on the effects of this draconian bill:
1.. Upon its passage this bill will immediately adversely affect 231,000 Ohioans according to the US Census Bureau.
Here's the real story on the effects of this draconian bill:
1.. Upon its passage this bill will immediately adversely affect 231,000 Ohioans according to the US Census Bureau.
Hello!
I can't help but to notice that you have a picture of Bush & Hitler on your
front page of your website.
I am definitely not a proponent of George Bush, or the republican platform,
however I believe you are mis-
guiding your supporters.
Thru research you will find that George Bush is actually an executive tool
used by special interest.
Ergo, Bush will say & do whatever he is told to. I believe you would agree.
Therefore understanding the above truth, then you have to represent Bush as
a reflection of the special interests.
If you honestly believe Bush is babbling words of the Nazi leader then you
are misguided. This executive is strongly guided by Isreali special
interests such as Jensa, and other Zionist factions.
Strong arming in the shadows is Isreals methods of gaining every ounce of
government power, ours that is.
I would say that Bush is a tool of Isreal, which is a secular community
somewhat like that of the Nazi purists.
Keep up the truth!!
Well... Until a few minutes ago, I was feeling exhausted. But with the
Associated Press article out, and the very friendly Florida Public Radio
interview I just did, my energy is ramped up pretty high!
Yesterday at about 4pm, from the motel room in Mayo, FL, I sent the press release you can see at http://www.fadp.org/pressrel.html before heading to the Courthouse.
Our headline was "Activists to Thank Governor for Not Killing During the Holiday Season." Unfortunately, that idea was quashed when I called the Associated Press to follow up on the press release, and the reporter asked me, "Did you know that Governor Bush signed a death warrant today?" Grrrrr.... Johnny Robinson, 51, is scheduled to be exterminated by the people of Florida at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4 in revenge for his murder of Beverly St. George in August 1985.
Yesterday at about 4pm, from the motel room in Mayo, FL, I sent the press release you can see at http://www.fadp.org/pressrel.html before heading to the Courthouse.
Our headline was "Activists to Thank Governor for Not Killing During the Holiday Season." Unfortunately, that idea was quashed when I called the Associated Press to follow up on the press release, and the reporter asked me, "Did you know that Governor Bush signed a death warrant today?" Grrrrr.... Johnny Robinson, 51, is scheduled to be exterminated by the people of Florida at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4 in revenge for his murder of Beverly St. George in August 1985.