Moyers: Media Is Responsible For Our Demise

Who better to critique the traditional media than one of it's preeminent icons, Bill Moyers? He penned an excellent article this week describing how our fourth estate is turning into a fifth column for those that wish to subvert democracy. While journalists can do good work from time to time, he lays the blame on the corporate media giants that willfully turn what is supposed to be an investigative arm of democracy into profitable ventures and nothing more. The article nails the problem of media in our society squarely on its head, especially by using examples like this.

From In These Times:

The new owner of the Tribune Company, real estate mogul Sam Zell, recently toured his new property Los Angeles Times, telling employees in the newsroom that the challenge is this: How do we get somebody 126 years old to get it up? “Well,” said Zell, “I’m your Viagra.”

He told his journalists that he didn’t have an editorial agenda or a perspective about newspapers’ roles as civic institutions. “I’m a businessman,” he said. “All what matters in the end is the bottom line.”

Zell then told Wall Street analysts that to save money he intends to eliminate 500 pages of news a week across all of the Tribune Company’s 12 papers. That can mean eliminating some 82 editorial pages every week just from the Los Angeles Times. What will he use to replace reporters and editors? He says to the Wall Street analysts, “I’ll use maps, graphics, lists, rankings and stats.” Sounds as if Zell has confused Viagra with Lunesta.

Moyers can tell the tragic story with wit and charm, though the problem is if enough people read this article to see the nightmare in the media that surrounds them. We are sinking fast thanks to these greedy multi-national corporations and the only way to stop them is if we scream loud enough and take back our fourth estate from their clutches.

Could We Prosecute Bushies For War Crimes

Rachel Maddow asks the question and backs it up with news from the Red Cross who wants Bush officials to be tried for their crimes in the war against Iraq. And now we see there is some small movement on the Hill from Pelosi that Kucinich may get some time to discuss impeachment.

RIP Tony Snow

As many have known, Tony Snow had been fighting an epic battle against colon cancer for a few years and tragically the cancer won this morning. Mr. Snow was only 53 years old and leaves behind three young children. His career in politics was something I vehemently disagreed with, but nevertheless, I'll say a prayer for him and his family today.

From ABC News:

Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," President Bush said in a statement from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend. "It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work."

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003, would later say that while the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have."

Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.

ZipCar Goes On A Low-Car Diet

With skyrocketing fuel costs and a decrease in the total miles Americans drive, ZipCar has decided to join the party of the newly energy-efficient. Gas is over four dollars a gallon and with $147 dollars for a barrel of oil (during the day today) that sweet unleaded 87, 89 or whatever octane you use will continue to climb. So to combat our addiction, ZipCar is challenging it's members to jump on the wagon for thirty days.

From Cool Hunting:

With gas prices at a record high and public transit a cost-effective and greener option, now's a good a time to ditch your car. Zipcar is trying to ease the transition with the "Low-Car Diet." Beginning 21 July 2008, they're challenging North Americans to go car-free for a full 30 days. They will replace participants' car keys with a complimentary transit pass, a free one-year Zipcar membership, drive time credit and a number of other perks from local partners. In the New York City area, Zoo York will aid the car-less participants by donating skateboards.

The events kicks of on the 21st with a ceremonial key-drop event at a currently undisclosed location. On 15 August 2008, they'll hold a completion event where people can compare their car-free experiences. Zipcar is offering the "Low-Car Diet" in ten of its American cities, plus Vancouver and Toronto. Current Zipcar members can also participate by sending an email. Get more info and apply by emailing rharmon [at] zipcar [dot] com.

Damn, that doesn't sound too bad. It doesn't make me want to sign up,I really don't drive very often unless I'm out of New York, but if I was, I'd definitely try it.

Luke Henry At Stonewall Dem Meeting

Luke Henry, as you can see made a valiant effort at the Stonewall Democrats meeting last night but the group decided to endorse the incumbent, Shelly Silver.

Discrimination Alleged At DoJ Civil Rights Dept.

In a perfect world (or even less than perfect) the civil rights division of the Department of Justice is supposed to fight racial strife where it shows its ugly head wherever and whenever within our country. Unfortunately under the Bush Administration, the trouble of race and discrimination is under it's very own roof.

From The Tri-State Defender:

Joi Hyatte, who works in the voting rights section, states in the lawsuit that her boss subjected her and other African American employees to “numerous forms of discrimination and harassment.”

The suit, filed May 29 in U.S. District Court in Washington, alleges that supervisors used special hiring programs to circumvent regular procedures and avoid giving African Americans on staff an opportunity to apply for analyst jobs.

Hyatte, a 13-year veteran of the department who received outstanding evaluations, says in the suit that she was “repeatedly denied the opportunity to apply and compete” for promotions because she is African American.

A few weeks after her suit was filed, the Justice Department’s inspector general issued its own report stating that applicant screeners for the department had illegally used political or ideological factors in a recruitment program, preferring law school graduates with conservative credentials to those with more liberal political ties.

Race may very well be a part of this but it seems to me that the corrupt and crony ways of the Administration trump everything that the Executive Branch stands for these days. Making sure the "right people" get well-paid means more than upholding the law when it comes to minority treatment, respecting the Hatch Act and anything else that may be written in the legal code to protect the government from itself. Ms. Hyatte deserves everything she wants and then some....as the rest of us deserve a Justice Department that serves the country and not the cronies within it.

$147 For A Barrel Of Oil, Would That Be Imaginary Bad News Mr. Gramm?

John McCain can say that Gramm's callous comments do not reflect his feelings, but we know that isn't true because they both say pretty much the same thing when it comes to our nation's economic crisis. Well today oil prices touched $147 for a barrel and that is much more than just "psychological," its means a harder hit for American consumers and Phil Gramm can go Dick Cheney-himself if he thinks differently.

From Yahoo News:

NEW YORK - Oil prices briefly spiked to a new record above $147 a barrel Friday, as rising hostilities between the West and Iran and unrest in Nigeria sent investors rushing back to energy markets.

A decline in the U.S. dollar and concerns about an oil worker strike in Brazil contributed to the higher price.

The resurgence in crude prices stokes concern that $4-a-gallon gasoline is here to stay for U.S. drivers and means home heating could get much more expensive this winter.

Heating oil futures surged on the New York Mercantile Exchange to a record of more than $4.15 a gallon. Natural gas futures turned lower, but are still about twice as high as a year ago.

"If you think your gasoline bills are expensive now, wait till you get your home heating bill this winter," said Stephen Schork, an analyst and trader in Villanova, Pa.

That may not mean much to wealthy people like McCain and Gramm, but it does matter to millions who make far less than those that have beer baron heiresses to rely on.

Al Franken Goes After Lobbyists In New Ad

Now this is what I want to hear more of from our members of Congress and Senators, both those serving and those running for office:

We're Regressing To Wood Burning Stoves

On a cold winter's night, what is more romantic than a crackling fire burning underneath a decorative mantle, reading stories and what not as the snow blows outside? Well I'll tell you what is not right about burning wood, to keep people warm across the colder regions of our country because heating oil is too expensive. Heating oil companies are going out of business because people can't afford the high prices and would rather chop down some more trees to keep the cold out this coming winter.

From RawStory:

Record prices for home heating oil are rippling across America's northern regions, stoking demand for wood stoves and other alternatives, and forcing some heating oil companies out of business.[...]

The Massachusetts Oilheat Council estimates that heating oil prices in New England are now around $4.65 a gallon, up 116 percent since 2005. It expects prices to keep rising as the market tracks record-high crude oil prices.

Many homeowners are searching for alternatives to oil. Sales of wood-burning stoves -- in use since before American independence from Britain -- are brisk, even as customers don shorts and bask in summer weather outside.

"Demand for wood pellet stoves has tripled. We're pre-sold out until probably the New Year," said Tim Bushey, manager at Frost & Flame in Gorham, Maine, which sells wood stoves and stoves that burn wood pellets.

Is this really where American consumers need to be looking? Unfortunately it is the only economically viable option, thanks to the non-existent planning by the Bush Administration. He doesn't mind paying higher prices to keep the White House warm (because the taxpayers foot the bill) this winter but as for the rest of us, especially those up north, he doesn't really care. If he did, something would be done to help people, and he would have implemented policies several years ago to find alternate energy sources to wean us off of oil. Of course, he's an failed oilman, so why would he?

McCain Tries To Erase His Infidelity From History

First of all, I do not believe one's personal life is subject to how they perform in office. Yet if a candidate tries to use or misrepresent their personal life to show character to the public, then that is a different story. John McCain has tried to paint a picture that he separated from his first wife before involving himself with current-wife Cindy, but the truth is far from what comes out of McCain's mouth.

From The LA Times:

In his 2002 memoir, "Worth the Fighting For," McCain wrote that he had separated from Carol before he began dating Hensley.

"I spent as much time with Cindy in Washington and Arizona as our jobs would allow," McCain wrote. "I was separated from Carol, but our divorce would not become final until February of 1980."

An examination of court documents tells a different story. McCain did not sue his wife for divorce until Feb. 19, 1980, and he wrote in his court petition that he and his wife had "cohabited" until Jan. 7 of that year -- or for the first nine months of his relationship with Hensley.

Although McCain suggested in his autobiography that months passed between his divorce and remarriage, the divorce was granted April 2, 1980, and he wed Hensley in a private ceremony five weeks later. McCain obtained an Arizona marriage license on March 6, 1980, while still legally married to his first wife.

The Times delves into the relationships McCain has had, with his first wife and what seems to be the impetus of the article, Nancy Reagan. Nancy scorned McCain when she learned the details of how he abandoned her friend Carol for Cindy. Even now, nearly thirty years later, her late and tepid endorsement of John shows the bad feelings that are still there.

Now I could personally care less about Nancy Reagan's endorsement, that is for Republicans to decipher. What concerns me most is that McCain smudged the facts (a.k.a. lied) in his memoir to give himself a somewhat better face in all of this. What he should do is admit his infidelity of the past and own up to it. Of course if he hadn't tried to base his candidacy on his imagined "character," he could have focused more on his legislative accomplishments....oh wait, there really aren't any to speak of (and don't get me started on campaign finance reform).

Congressman Rangel, Can I Get An Apartment?

Yet another scandal surfaced late yesterday when the Times reported that our dear Congressman Rangel has four rent-stabilized apartments. There are more than a few people that rent or own several homes, but it is generally financed with their own money. Charlie is paying less than four grand for all four apartments a month, and that isn't the end of it.

From The NY Times:

Mr. Rangel, the powerful Democrat who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, uses his fourth apartment, six floors below, as a campaign office, despite state and city regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence.

Mr. Rangel, who has a net worth of $566,000 to $1.2 million, according to Congressional disclosure records, paid a total rent of $3,894 monthly in 2007 for the four apartments at Lenox Terrace, a 1,700-unit luxury development of six towers, with doormen, that is described in real estate publications as Harlem’s most prestigious address.

The current market-rate rent for similar apartments in Mr. Rangel’s building would total $7,465 to $8,125 a month, according to the Web site of the owner, the Olnick Organization.

The Olnick Organization and other real estate firms have been accused of overzealous tactics as they move to evict tenants from their rent-stabilized apartments and convert the units into market-rate housing.

Now Olnick would never try and forcibly kick Charlie out of his rent-controlled buildings, especially considering he is one of the most powerful members of the House. Now that the cat is out of the bag, the Congressman needs to kick himself out, preferably from at least three residences including the campaign office.

Rangel replied to an interview request with his regular style, “Why should I help you embarrass me?” and then hung up. This is already embarassing, ethics may be a scarce commodity in Washington, especially for the 12 years Republicans held power, but that does not give him the right to skim off the top to his own advantage, even if it is in Harlem....and for all the good he has done for Harlem. The simple fact is that Mr. Rangel is a servant of the people and earns a decent (almost $170K) living for it.....that should be it.

Broadway Cares...About Civil Liberties

Not only do they work to fight HIV and AIDS, now the creative class that makes Broadway what it's known for is teaming up with the NYCLU to speak out for our civil liberties: