This election is not helping my chronic anxiety. I'm sure I'm not the only one on pins and needles awaiting the results on November 4th. Although I decisively chose my candidate months ago, I spend far too much time glued to the online media:
Huffington Post
MSNBC
Air America
Rachel Maddow
Brave New World TV
The Daily Kos
Real Clear Politics
For comic relief, I enjoy:
Saturday Night Live
Dave Letterman
Jon Stewart
...but that of course does not divert my focus away from the election.
Greg Palast has me petrified about the GOP stealing the election, and Naomi Wolf has me frightened of impending fascism. Even Rolling Stone is sounding the alert about voter purging. Yikes! That "Help America Vote Act" needs to be repealed ASAP!I recently joined Common Cause to promote a fair and just electoral process. Thank Goddess for my anxiety-relieving remedies (see posted list).
Our individual health depends on our environment being conducive to health. That means we need a healthy economy, an adequate health care system, and leaders who care about all of our well-being, including the poor, the middle class, women, and minorities.
Health also depends on stress reduction, since 85% of all illness is caused by stress. Societal stress is sky-high in the U.S. right now, and many people I know are battling stress-related illnesses.
Let's all vote in a new government that will improve our quality of life, so we can all get well.
Barack Obama
Support Democratic Candidates
Somehow we’ll all make it through the next two weeks, and with Grace, hard work, and vigilance, we will have a positive electoral outcome. Together we can transform the health of the United States of America.
Please vote, volunteer, donate, whatever you can.
Peace!
On another note, he decided to chum it up with Bush. Surely they are out there, but I haven't met many republicans that feel too confident voting for someone that's a buddy with the guy. In my opinion, I don't think this was such a smart move. When going against someone as articulate as Obama, you've got to be ready for everything.
Palin's answers were fluff and down right stupid but the media is making her sound as if she was some later day Cicero. She kept bringing up her experience in energy but nobody ever challenged her and asked her a follow-up question there. Just because somebody can say forcefully that they know something doesn't mean that they do. Unless one is challenged and they respond to the challenge with answers that display real knowledge of issues it is a mistake to take them up on their rhetoric that they have knowledge, so why is the media giving her any credit for this?
I think she was absolutely horrible and showed that the ticket is pathetic. I don't believe that any thinking American went away from the debate yesterday feeling that she was qualified to be a VP. But tell that to the media that is called liberal by the republicans. After today I beg to differ.
I am sure that the republican media will say that she won the debate because she could "chew gum." The question that needs to be asked is how does a person with as little knowledge as she displays even get a nod to be on the presidential tick of the U.S.? It is scary to think that this lady has the possibility of becoming the leader of the free world.
All her answers were pieced together sentences with subject, verb, and an object but if she were taking an essay exam she would have gotten an F for not answering the question! None of her answers addressed the questions posed to her. It sounded more like a person with some command of english trying to repeat something that was written for her. I will give her credit for remembering the words even if she wasn't able to put them together coherently.
It seems that the republicans don't care about facts and just keep delving into lies and rhetoric. I just hope that Joe "six pack" was not drunk and therefore paying attention to the lies that Palin was spewing. Can we trust the republicans and Mcain/Palin ticket? My answer is a big NO!
I have to document this because it's a pattern that I have been seeing and it's driving me crazy. The Associated Press has already written the narrative on Palins speech before she even gives it. They do this all the time. They have already told us how the speech is received and have set the meme and talking points before anyone has even had a chance to hear the speech.
What the hell kind of country are we living in when the Associated Press and by extension , the Main Stream Media dictates what is on the minds of the American people before we even have the opportunity to even form an opinion?
Here is the proof.
I want you all to see this because I promise you, it will be changed more than five or six times before the night is through. I don't know about you, but I think this is not only alarming, but disgusting. This is not Journalism. This is pure propaganda.
(Click On Extended)
Read More »As you all know the Convention has kickstarted the Campaign season and we all know that it is getting down and dirty already.Yesterday Senator Obama called on all supporters to actually boycott - yes - boycott the media channels that are willing to run a set of swiftboating ads that are willing to portray him as a threat to National Security. These ads are being financed by a 501(c)4 group called the American Issues Project and is being financed by the same Republican billionaire and accomplice of the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth in the 2004 election cycle.
To read the specifics please see the attached links excerpted from the Political Carnival website:
http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/08/time-to-go-viral-obama-calls-for-media.html
The US main stream cable channels are no longer an independent entity giving the public fair and unbiased reporting. After the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act in 1998 and the permission given to corporations to buy different kinds of outlets in the same media market - our country has not been the same. We lost the Gore and Kerry election due to continuous spin and distortion provided by talking heads on all these channels. Should media outlets be independent of Political Parties? Should they be allowed to donate and influence election cycles?
For the benefit of readers we extracted the following data:
In the Year 2000 election cycle:
Time Warner AOL - owner of CNN - donated $1.6 million to GW Bush's Year 2000 election campaign.
GE -owner of NBC, CNBC and MSNBC - along with Microsoft - gave $1.1 million to GW Bush's Year 2000 campaign.
Microsoft gave another $2.4 million to elect George W Bush versus Gore in the Year 2000.
Westinghouse owns CBS Inc - it is part of the Nuclear Utilities Business Group of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) - who's behind this company - none other than Frank Carlucci - of the CARLYLE Group - Has anyone noticed how nuclear energy is suddenly so big on McCain's agenda this year - well - guess who is going to benefit if he wins.
Disney owns ABC - donated $640,000 to George W Bush's campaign in Year 2000
and of course most important:
Rupert Murdoch - owns NEWS CORPORATION and FOX NEWS CHANNEL - donated $2.9 million through Philip Morris to GW Bush's Year 2000 campaign.
Why is this important? We are fighting an uphill battle when large corporations use their large profits to create monopolies or oligopolies that work against the interests of the American People. We have been asking for better energy policies, environmental standards, healthcare for all, good quality high paying jobs - but do not see adequate action on any of these issues.
Please start spreading the plan of action:
We need to boycott CNN and their sponsors! Tell them to stop the Swiftboating of Obama!
Please log on to www.barackobama.com and sign up at the Action Wire.
TAKE ACTION NOW. TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY!
Have we become so petty as a nation that when we do not have valid real issues of substance against a candidate we turn to being petty and verbally assaulting candidates and people with spit balls? Perfect example is the negative frictional statements that Obama is so dumb he is scripted on cue of his every word by his handlers. A lot of people should be so lucky to be numbered among these gifted few dumb souls. The President who succeeded in tearing down a wall in Russia by his careful ingenious scripting not only with words but also by timing and date. This president was President Ronald Reagan. Really tired of the spit balls stating the concerns of Americans, usually conservative right wingers who say Democrats are immoral, crooks etc. They are ready to beat the drum on the events of a few while getting upset when you mention the crimal acts of a President name Nixon, resulting in resignation of born again Col. Oliver North and many of the Nixon administration. The ancient script states he that is not guilty of sin throw the first stone. Get real!!! There are great souls on both sides of the aisle of the political floor. John F. Kennedy didn’t have a lot of experience regarding foreign affairs, but he handled the Cuban Missile Crises quite well. Morality is not the gauntlet of government. Obama is honest enough to tell you his plans and possibilities for change in taxes and attempts to improve our economic futures to the more former prosperous days. Senior former President Bush said, read my lips no new taxes. What happened? More taxes, so wake up and be willing to trust again. Light, Life, Love. Ruth http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9124198051110115917 turn the page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mMdnxVUnc8
Or, Do You See This As Well ?
These are the Press Photos that go with a News Report titled:
New Census Data Reveals The Changing Face Of America
Notice Anything ?
How About Clicking On This Link ?
Am I the only person who notices the not at all subliminal message in those Press Photos ? The story is about the decrease in the population among Whites already coming into play with this generation and they have the White girl pouting , almost wanting to cry with a look on her face like,"No. I don't like that !"
Then, you have two Black girls behind her looking at her like "too bad". And another little white girl can barely been see because she's being blocked by the two large Black girls ? Is this me ? Or is this done on purpose to piss certain Whites off and cause Racial strife again?
And if I'm way off , please click on the link and explain that photo. The White girl from before is clearly now in full blown tears whipping her face while another little Black girl , looking as though she "cut in line" is standing there with her little braids and a look on her face like "That's right. What cha gone do?"
I don't know. I don't think these Press Photos were chosen for this story for no reason. I think there was a not at all subtle message being sent with those Press photos and I don't like that. Please , do way in and tell me what you think and if you think I'm wrong, explain.
Also, the largest boom in "Minority" Population is Hispanic. So, why are they only showing three Black girls and no Latinas ? What's that all about ? Is there something in that ? I find it odd that such a large boom in the Latino Population, but they could not find one Latina? Are they saying that they are all hiding like the one Latino in the back there ? Is that some hint at "Undocumented Immigration" ? What are they saying ?
Hmmm.
McCain, who at one time referred to the media as a part of his constituency, has even vigorously voiced his complaints of the media's coverage of both his primary and general election run. Most recently, McCain has protested what he deemed as uneven coverage of the Obama European tour. Are we suppose to have sympathy for a male that never had the deck stacked against him or societal limits on his opportunities, because he's not as interesting as his opponent?
McCain's recent negative "celebrity ad" that attempts to minimize some of Obama's "star power", diminishes his history of integrity, doesn't speak to why he's the better choice, insults Obama's supporters and reneges on his promise of a positive campaign. When there are such vast policy differences to debate, McCain just appears petty and personal. To equate Obama to the unearned celebrity contributed to the likes of Paris Hilton is to minimize the testimony of Obama's childhood, discount his professional and educational achievements, overlook his public works, disregard the power of his message of change, dismiss his leadership of an effective organization and campaign, and to ignore his miraculous rise despite historical obstacles. Read More »
During the third week in March of this year (2008), in the center ring of the media circus we had an endless loop of snippets of Reverand Wright’s sermon. That is how the neocon media promote their propaganda. They present snippets of the truth (not just those of Wright, but of any event or person) that they want us to see instead of a more balanced picture. We see these images again and again throughout the week until they are pounded into our brains as “the whole truth”. They brand our brains with their claptrap and we go like willing lemmings to drown in it.
Americans, instead of focusing on what is happening in the center ring of the media circus, should focus on what is happening in the two secondary rings. This is where the real show is being reported. Forget their center ring and its headlines, in fact, you can sometimes even skip the side rings too and go outside the main tent and stroll along the boardwalk with its freak shows.
Read More »MEET RUPERT MURDOCH--ANOTHER NEOCON WHO OWNS A HUGE BLOCK OF OUR MEDIA
Rupert Murdoch is the Chairman and CEO of "News Corporation", the owner of Fox News Channel. he is also the publisher of the New York Post and The Weekly Standard--both right-wing publications. Rupert was born March 11, 1931. Murdoch is the 109th richest person in the world.. $8.3 billion.
[He is probably jealous of Sumner Redstone who owns CBS. Sumner is #86 with an estimated worth of US $9 Billion].
Murdoch's publications worldwide adopt conservative views. He also served on the board of the libertarian CATO Institute.
Murdoch owns all the major newspapers in Australia.
In the UK he owns The sun, News of the World, The Times and Sunday Times
In the US he owns the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal
on the Internet he owns: MySpace, Photobucket, AmericanIdol, IGN, and Rotten Tomatoes to name a few.
in Film: Twentieth Century Fox etc. and all Fox related outlets for television and cable.
(John Prescott Ellis was Fox News' political projection team manager during the general election in 2000. After speaking numerous times on election night with his cousins George and Jeb, Ellis at 2:16 AM reversed Fox News call for Florida as a state won by Al Gore.) WIKI
Progressive media watch groups such as Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and Media Matters for America have said that Fox News reporting contains conservative editorializing within news stories. Others have referred to it as Faux News GOP TV, Fox Noise Channel and Fixed News. WIKI
Instead, the CNN's new topic this evening is "Is the Media Biased towards Obama?" After months and months of questioning every little thing he does, from how he bowls to his supposed "Terrorist Fist Bump" with his wife, they are now trying to make us believe they are biased towards him!
THis makes me sick, and so angry.
I think Obama and the Campaign Veep Committee has a Vice President contender right on the Committee. Her name is Caroline Kennedy the daugther of John F Kennedy. She is bright no baggage and would be a great Women to have on his ticket. It would to me make for a strong ticket. I am going to contact the Obama campaign and suggest they consider Caroline Kennedy for the 2nd spot on the ticket. How many Democrats on here like Caroline Kennedy and would support an Obama/Kennedy ticket?
Obama/Kennedy 08
Jun 3, 9:15 PM EDT
Obama clinches nomination; Clinton seeks VP spot
By TOM RAUM and NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writers
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois sealed the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, a historic step toward his once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first black president. A vanquished Hillary Rodham Clinton maneuvered for the vice presidential spot on his fall ticket.
Obama's victory set up a five-month campaign with Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a race between a 46-year-old opponent of the Iraq War and a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war and staunch supporter of the current U.S. military mission.
Both men promptly exchanged criticism over the war in Iraq and sought to claim the mantle of change in a country plainly tired of the status quo.
"It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery in St. Paul, Minn.
"It's not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs. ... And it's not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave young men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians." In a symbolic move, he spoke in the same hall where McCain will accept the Republican nomination at his party's convention in September.
McCain spoke first, in New Orleans, and he accused his younger rival of voting "to deny funds to the soldiers who have done a brilliant and brave job" in Iraq. It was a reference to 2007 legislation to pay for the Iraq war, a measure Obama opposed citing the lack of a timetable for withdrawing troops.
McCain agreed with Obama that the presidential race would focus on change. "But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward," he added.
Obama sealed his nomination, according to The Associated Press tally, based on primary elections, state Democratic caucuses and delegates' public declarations as well as support from 19 delegates and "superdelegates" who privately confirmed their intentions t/o the AP. It takes 2,118 delegates to clinch the nomination at the convention in Denver this summer, and Obama had 2,129 by the AP count.
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