Women in Political Blogging (update)

"Male bloggers predominate, as do male TV shouters. Men I know and men who read The Times write me constantly, asking me to read the opinion pieces they've written. Sometimes they'll e-mail or fax me their thoughts to read right before I have lunch with them. Women hardly ever send their own rants.

There's been a dearth of women writing serious opinion pieces for top news organizations, even as there's been growth in female sex columnists for college newspapers. Going from Tess Harding to Carrie Bradshaw, Dorothy Thompson to Candace Bushnell, is not progress.

This job has not come easily to me. But I have no doubt there are plenty of brilliant women who would bring grace and guts to our nation's op-ed pages, just as, Lawrence Summers notwithstanding, there are plenty of brilliant women out there who are great at math and science. We just need to find and nurture them."

- Maureen Dowd

Women in Political Blogging
Compiled by Jude Nagurney Camwell

I am compiling a list of women who blog about political issues. I'm amazed at how many there are.


al-Muhajabah-Laura Poyneer
Alarming News-Karol
Karen Alston
Ann Althouse
An Old Soul-Shari
The Anchoress
Annika's Journal
Apophenia-Danah Boyd
Athena at Terrorism Unveiled
Sapere Aude-I Am the Hermit
Available Light-Lynda B
Ayn Clouter

Backup Brain-Dori's half
Baghdad Burning-Riverbend
Baldilocks-Juliette Ochieng
Banana Republican-Rachel Jurado
LaShawn Barber
Betsy's Page-Betsy Newmark
Bitch. Ph.D.
Bittershack-Brooke Biggs
Black Feminism-Tiffany
Blaugustine
Blog Amy
Blog or Not
Blog Sisters
Blogslut
BlondeSense
Body and Soul- Jeanne
Book of Days-Chris
Bouillabaisse-Dianne Maire
Danah Boyd-Lakoff-Language of Politics
Martha Bridegam-Demisemiblog
Breaching the Web
Summer Brooks
Burningbird

Marla Caldwell
Elisa Camahort-WorkerBeesBlog
Barbara Camwell-Abuse Sanctuary
Jude Nagurney Camwell
Avedon Carol
Cathie From Canada
Chandrasutra
Natasha Chart-Pacific Views
Citizen's Rent
Collective Sigh
Code Pink
The Corner-Kathryn Lopez, Barbara Comstock
Crescat Sententia

Gail Davis
Natalie Davis
Democracy for California-Diana
Democracy for Virginia-Maura
Jory Des Jardins
Different Strings-Kryselda Jarnsaxa
Dissent Channel-AE
Diva Geek
Divinest Sense
The Duchess-Charlene Barker
Dummocrats-Kris

e-Robin
Echidne
Dawn Eden
Enlightenment Project-HE Baber
Eve Tushnet

Fact-esque
Fantasy Life
Fatshadow
Feministe-Lauren
Feisty Repartee-Christine
Fishbucket
Flamingo Jones
For The Record-Jessica Wilson
FrizzyLogic
Fusion Reaction

Amy Gahran
Jane Galt-Assymetrical Information
Girlhacker
Laura Gjovaag
Sally Greene
Jenny Greenleaf

Half-Changed World
Halley's Comment
Heretik
Mary Hodder

Inkwell

Jane-LipSticking
Janet For Fairfax
Jessica's Well
Joanne Jacobs

Kalilily Time-Elaine
Veronica Khokhlova-Neeka's Backlog
Amy Khoudari-Blog,blog,blog

Ladida
Laila Lalami
Late Night Thoughts-Emma
Left Coaster-Mary Ratcliff
Left2Right-Elizabeth Anderson
Liberty Street-Kathy
Lifting the Fog-Barbara Sehr
Little Miss Attila

Rebecca MacKinnon
Madeleine Begun Kane
Madison Women for Peace
Mahablog-Barbara O'Brien
Majikthise
Marine Corps Moms
"Michele"
Michelle Malkin
Making Light-Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Irshad Manji
Jen Martinez
Maru Soze
Melanie Mattson-Just a Bump in the Beltway
Megnut
Mind of Mog
Misbehaving
Mixter
Diana Moon
Mousemusings-Cyndy Roy
Moxie
Ms. Musings

Netwoman

Maud Newton
Nitpicker-CJ Finis
Chris Nolan
NYCO
Ambra Nykol

Obsidian Wings-Hilzoy
Rosie O'Donnell
One Woman Wrecking Crew-Mary

PG
PalmTree Pundit
Pam's House Blend-Pam Spaulding
Parenthetically Speaking
Patriette-Kelly
Jaqueline Passey
Pen Elayne-Elayne Riggs
Philobiblon
Melanie Phillips
Pinko Feminist Hellcat
Plunky Punk-Vanessa
Podunt Post-Wanda
Polipundit-Lorie Byrd
Political Monitor-Lindy Baumann
Virginia Postrel
Pourquoi pas?-Dianne Maire
Pratie Place-Jane
Preemptive Karma-Carla
Professor Kim's Notes-Kim Pearson
Pseudo-Adrienne

Random Thoughts-Susan
Rebecca's Pocket
Reportette-Yvette Stafford
Respectful of Otters-Rivka
Rhetoric 101
Lis Riba
Emmanuelle Richard
Amy Ridenour
Riggsveda-It's My Country Too
Lindsay Robertson
Evelyn Rodriguez
Rox Populi
Ruminate This-Lisa English

Saheli:Musings and Observations-Saheli Datta
Julie Saltman
Santa Clara CtyDemPty-Elisa Camahort
Scribblingwoman
Cathy Seipp
Jeneane Sessum
Sgt. Lizzie
Shameless Agitator-Andrea
Shakespeare's Sister
Julien Sharp
Ruby Sinreich
Sisyphus Shrugged-Julia
Lizzie Skurnick-Old Hag
Patty Ann Smith
So What Can I Do?
Natalie Solent
Lizzy Spiers
Strangechord-Emily
Suburban Guerrilla-Susan Madrak
Suddenly Routine-Rebecca
Amy Sullivan
Dawn Summers
Surfette

Talk Left-Jerralyn Merritt
Tara Sue
Think Pink
Thoughts of an Average Woman-CE Petro
Tild
Kelly Jane Torrance
Trailer Park Girl
Tsuredzuregusa-Shaula Evans
Tulip Girl
Turnpike Feminist
12 Frogs

Uncommon Thought
Under The Same Sun
Urban Grind
Utopian Hell

ValueJudgment-J's half
Villanous Company-Cassandra

Vivid Pieces- Erin Notebloom

VDARE-Bryanna Bevens,Brenda Walker
Veracity or Mendacity-Melanie
Veralynne-ACT
View From The Left-Chris D'Arcy

Waiting For Nat-LilySea
Wampum-Mary Beth Williams
War And Piece-Laura Rozen
Belle Waring
Diane Warth-Karmalised
Watermark-SB Poet
We Are Not Sheep
What Do I Know
WhatIsPastIsPrologue-Sarah
What She Said
Who Is Sylvia
Wicked Muse
Sissy Willis
Willow Tree-Rachel Ann
Winds of Change-Robin Burk
Rebecca Winters
Amy Wohl
Wonkette-Ana Marie
World O'Crap
World Turning-Jennifer
Worshipping/Altar of Mediocrity

Xeney
XX

You Will Anyway
Yourish

Anne Zook

Democracy Now: Juan Cole & Juan Cole & Osama Siblani

Democracy Now: Juan Cole & Juan Cole & Osama Siblani

Earlier today, Amy Goodmantalked with Professor Juan Cole and Osama Siblani, editor of The Arab-American News, about issues surrounding the Middle East, both in terms of U.S. foreign policy as well as here at home and how Arab Americans and Arab immigrants have been affected by the Bush administration's so-called war on terror.

Juan Cole:

"The Lebanese have been having parliamentary elections for decades and were among the few to have fairly upright such elections at some points in the 20th century in the Arab world. So, they haven't learned anything from the Iraqi elections. In fact, . the elections in Iraq were a mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous.. I mean, it was a wonderful thing, people came out and risked their lives to vote, but they didn't know the names of the candidates that they were voting for because of the poor security conditions, and the country had to be locked down for three days. No vehicular traffic at all in the entire country in order to prevent car bombings, so that the elections could be held.

So I think most urbane, sophisticated Beirutis would have looked upon this process in Iraq with a little bit of pity, and . there's nothing inspiring there for them.. They already had the elections in their country scheduled for May. What happened in Lebanon was local.

I think we're going to see a lot of this -- everything that happens in the Middle East from now on is going to be pegged to the Bush administration regardless of whether the Bush administration had anything to do with it, but there's now, I think, a political struggle inside Lebanon, between those groups, especially the Christian Maronites, the Druze, and a section of the Sunnis who want an early end to the Syrian military occupation and an end to over-weaning Syrian influence in Lebanese politics on the one hand, and then Hezbollah and the generality of the Shiite community, I think, as well as another section of the Sunni community that actually wants the Syrians to continue to play a role."

Osama Siblani:

"He [ George W. Bush ] told me just straight to my face, among 12 or maybe 13 republicans at that time here in Michigan at the hotel. I think it was on May 17, 2000, even before he became the nominee for the Republicans. He told me that he was going to take him out, when we talked about Saddam Hussein in Iraq. And I said, ‘Well, you know, I totally disagree with you. You just can’t go around taking leaders out of their countries, you know. Let the Iraqi people do it. They can't do it on empty stomachs. Lift sanctions. Keep the pressure on Saddam Hussein, but lift the sanctions on the Iraqi people. People can't make moves on an empty stomach. Once they start establishing, you know, a connection with the United States and helping democracy inside, they will overthrow him.’ And then he said, ‘We have to talk about it later.’ But at that time he was not privy to any intelligence, and the democrats had occupied the White House for the previous eight years. So, . he was not privy to any intelligence whatsoever. He was not the official nominee of the Republican Party, so he didn't know what kind of situation the weapons of mass destruction was at that time.. But what I am saying now is the President is trying to claim credit for something that really had nothing to do with him."

U.S. Ex-Im Supporting Nuclear Advances in China

U.S. Ex-Im Supporting Nuclear Advances in China
Chinese Corporation Has Dubious Business Ties to 'Rogue Nations'

The Ex-Im [U.S. Export-Import Bank] is overseen by the House Financial Services Committee, and they are failing to respond to public concern about the U.S. government's commitment of $5 billion in financing for the China National Nuclear Corporation. A spokesman for Chairman Michael Oxley (R.-Ohio) said Oxley would not comment on the deal.

U.S. intelligence has found China National Nuclear Corporation, on four occasions, providing technology to Iran and Pakistan that would help those countries weaponize uranium and plutonium.

The Westinghouse Corporation stands to economically gain, but what do Americans citizens stand to gain, in National Security, from such hypocritical policy?

It's just another dreadful case of the government supporting corporate profit over National Security interests.

Senate Whitewash on Pre-War Intelligence on Iraq

Senate Whitewash on Pre-War Intelligence on Iraq

Senator Pat Roberts has shut down the Intelligence Committee's probe into the pre-war intelligence on Iraq.

Roberts has said:

"The bottom line was they believed the intelligence, and intelligence was wrong."

Bush administration officials distorted the available intelligence to win public support for the war, and the majority of Americans are not fooled by Pat Roberts' whitewashing statement.


It looks like they're already planning to put the blame on outgoing OSP defense undersecretary Douglas Feith.

"..the committee agreed to examine whether public statements by US officials were substantiated by intelligence information, and whether the Pentagon Office of Special Plans (OSP), which reported to Douglas Feith, the defence undersecretary, had played a significant role in pushing the intelligence community to take a harder line on Iraq."

This, of course, is a joke. The White House is still taking plenty of Neocon advice. Nothing has changed. Feith is just one of their fallen sons.

The shutdown of the Senate committee investigation will effectively leave all blame for the failures with the professional intelligence community, rather than with political appointees, where it actually belongs.

This whitewashing has the stench of Jeff Gannon's dubious reporting career all over it. He was used - and used advantageously - by the likes of GOP Intelligence Committee members. I suggest that, with this Committee activity, not only does the GOP faction of the Committee wish to protect their own from political damage, they want to shield someone from taking a direct hit on the Valerie Plame outing.

From my blogpost of 2-19-05:

From Gannon's Talon article July 13, 2004:

"..the Senate Intelligence Committee discovered a memo from Plame dated February 12, 2002 to the Deputy Chief of the Counterproliferation Division (CPD) that "offered up his name." It was also revealed that Wilson traveled to Niger for the CIA in 1999 on a mission whose details are redacted from the report.

In October 2003, Talon News reported on an internal government memo prepared by U.S. intelligence personnel that detailed a meeting where Plame suggested Wilson be sent to Niger. Wilson claimed to have never been in a meeting with his wife, but a State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) analyst's notes indicated that a meeting was "apparently convened" by Plame who had proposed her husband go on the mission. Plame told the committee that she only attended the meeting to introduce her husband and left after about three minutes.

A CIA source told the Washington Post in December 2003 that the INR memo was still classified and disputed its contents. As a result of asking Wilson about the memo during an October 2003 interview, FBI agents questioned Talon News under the guise of the leak probe to discover the source of the memo that refuted the assertions of the agency and Wilson about the circumstances by which he was chosen for the trip.

The Senate Intelligence Committee report may have a significant impact on the leak probe. Loss of confidence in the agency and its attempts to discredit evidence that suggests alternate motivations by sub-groups within it may serve to undermine the case. The INR memorandum may have revealed Plame's identity prior to Novak's column and therefore any statements by the administration might only qualify as simple gossip.

Even if that is not the case, the federal statute requires that the exposure of Plame would have had to be deliberate and malicious, a threshold that may not be reached by the investigation, particularly in light of new information revealed by the Committee report."

- Jeff Gannon

Pentagon Report on Abu Ghraib=Whitewash

Pentagon Report on Abu Ghraib = Whitewash

Democrats are disgusted with the Pentagon's latest report, absolving themselves for their own involvement and accountability for the Abu Ghraib torture.

They aren't alone. Sen. John McCain says this is all going to come back to haunt our troops, and I can't imagine there's many others who would know better about being tortured than Senator McCain.

It's a scapegoating of the lower ranks and an arrogant denial of responsibility. I have to say I'm not surprised.

It's also no wonder recruitment numbers for the Armed Services is below expectation. If I could predict that no one would have my back in the toughest times, I'd never sign up in the first place.

Link - Financial Times

Jimmy Massey Speaks in Syracuse

Jimmy Massey Speaks in Syracuse

I saw Jimmy Massey tell his powerful story tonight in Syracuse.
I plan to share it with you tomorrow.

UPDATE:

I'm almost finished with the story.
For those of you in Syracuse who saw Jimmy speak, this is my question:

How do I show you a man who his found his conscience while he, at the same time, is a walking casualty of the Iraq war?


I'm going to try to do just that.

I am Woman - Celebrate Me

I am Woman - Celebrate Me
By Rachel Raza

From the ashes of Afghanistan
Where you bombed my home and trapped me in a tomb of dust I am the woman who has risen up like the phoenix
Protected by my burqa - which you see as a symbol of oppression
This tattered cloak - is my only protection
from the mortar and shells
that you gift to my land – as you turn it into a living hell
I shatter the bonds, reach out my hand and
gather the wounded and weeping women of my nation,
Stepping over the blood of our children as I teach them to say “no more”
No more - will we be pawns in the games of political power
No more will we cower
We’ll find ways to alleviate our ignorance
I AM WOMAN – EDUCATE ME


I am the woman from a village in Pakistan
where they threw acid in my face because their honour was at stake
Battered, bullied and bruised – I suffered great pain
But the damage they have done has only fired my resolve
to never let them make MY honour, THEIR gain;
I forced the courts to hear my case and took others like me
Caught in the vicious circle of male violence and frenzy
in trying to dehumanize us
My disfigured face has empowered me;
the cries of my sisters have given me strength in my own strength
I won’t be cowed down by cowardly acts
I have found my path and will never return to the fetters of slavery
I ask for no accolades for my bravery
I AM WOMAN – CELEBRATE ME

I am a mother from the Middle East
Step-by-step trying to build bridges of peace
Surrounded by bloody hell
where every shell
has the name of an innocent bystander;
I am Christian, Muslim and Jew
I bleed the same as you
I am wife, sister, friend and daughter
But our lives are devoid of any laughter
When our children leave home,
we are uncertain if they will ever return
I AM WOMAN – VALIDATE ME



I am a woman of the street where I’m forced to sell my body
part by part to the highest bidder – like a commodity
to those masters of the flesh trade who don’t know
that we are women – we have a heart
and a soul that is torn apart
when we are used and abused like pieces of flotsam
set afloat on the sea of time with no end in sight
We’re just a statistic on the pages of her-story
Not for the unequal wages we were paid
Or fighting the laws that are man-made
But - for being the principal victims of AIDS
I AM WOMAN – DON’T HUMILIATE ME

I am the Muslim woman who came to this land
many moons ago
I couldn’t speak the language, I’d never seen snow
I was alone and afraid with no where to go
for help, for advice about my woes
they scoffed at my head-scarf, my faith
my accent and the colour of my skin –
I felt forsaken
Yet I weathered all this on my own
I cried but I survived – thankful to be alive
In this land of the free
But are we ever truly free?
Today I am a victim again –after the terror of 9/11
My windows shattered, my mosque desecrated
It’s ironical - but I am told this turmoil is created
by the very people who wish to liberate me
I AM WOMAN – LIBERATE ME



Most of all I am a woman like the rest of you
Privileged for the chance to share in solidarity
As I build the courage to stand up and speak out
against atrocities heaped upon us
Breaking the bonds of cultural and social fanaticism to forge
a special bond with my sisters
In breaking the silence, I reach out across barriers of
Race and religion – in the one cause that binds us together
Our feminine souls intertwined with the souls of many others
They were women - therefore they died
WE ARE WOMEN – COMMEMORATE US

Elizabeth Edwards Recovering From Surgery

Elizabeth Edwards Recovering From Surgery

This past Monday, Elizabeth Edwards had a lumpectomy to remove the cancer from her breast at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston . She is resting comfortably and her doctors believe that the surgery was a success.

This message from John Edwards came in an e-mail today:

Since the day we learned about the cancer, we have felt your prayers and good wishes. Every note, every email, every kind word we have received has held us up and given us strength. And we are blessed to be surrounded by a loving family, supportive friends, and the best health care in the world. I want to especially thank all of you who actively participate in the One America Blog. Your kind posts and concerns have truly helped us through these trying times.

Elizabeth, the kids and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your well wishes and prayers.

So many people have asked us, "What can we do to help?" And today, I am asking you to join the fight against cancer by visiting the sites listed below, getting involved, making your friends aware by forwarding this email to them and asking them to get involved , or by supporting any of the many wonderful groups dedicated to fighting this terrible disease.

American Cancer Society
Breast Cancer Action
Avon Breast Cancer Crusade

Over 1.2 million cases of cancer are diagnosed every year. These organizations need our help. Their work gives hope to the men and women and children who are battling this terrible disease. And I know that they would embrace all of your support.

For anyone who is battling cancer or has a loved one or a friend with the disease , I saw this and thought I'd share it with you:

What Cancer Can't Do
- Author unknown

Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot quench the spirit

I'm glad to hear Mrs. Edwards is on the road to recovery and wish her and the Edwards family the best.

MSM Finally Talks About Irshad Manji

MSM Finally Talks About Irshad Manji

Where have they been?
Thomas Friedman is finally talking about someone I wrote about almost a year ago. I guess he figures now is the time to spread the word. Why was no one in the MSM talking about this while we were dropping bombs over Baghdad neighborhoods? (NPR and WSJ excepted). I guess it's because we were looking so hard for those imminently-threatening mushroom-cloud-producing WMD, Nigerian-bought yellow-cake, and aluminum tubes that it took a while for us to realize we were really there to spread freedom. (After every other manufactured reason failed the test of truth).

To establish a balance to Tom Friedman's enthusiatic cheerleading ( Sorry, Tom lost me with his public display of being embarrassingly hoodwinked into supporting the Iraq war ), Z-Mag reviewed Irshad's work in 2003 and commented:

"...citing the reports of mainstream human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on Muslim countries but not on Israel or the United States, this is to be understood as the focus of a moral agent on her own community...Manji's own words suggest otherwise. Late in her book, she talks about reasoning being "entirely compatible with the ideals I hold as a Westerner." (pg. 229) Describing her visit to Israel, she describes the moment of her visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem: "As I spend time in search of an unused crack that will clasp my prayer, I realize I'm holding up the Jews behind me. Still, I don't feel like an interloper. I feel at home. More viscerally than ever, I know who my family is." (pg. 93). Reading her book, it becomes clear that it is not the work of a self-critical individual trying to hold the Muslim community accountable, but a self-congratulatory Westerner, cheering for powerful states and whitewashing the crimes of her "family".

It's unfortunate that Manji has been made the darling of the Likudnik-likes of Daniel Pipes because of her positions on Israel. While Israel is a Western-style democracy, we understand that it is their religious-based tribal nature, similar to the tribal nature of the radical segments of the Arab world, that causes division. If I were writing a book to bring my religion and my people out of their tribal mindset and to convince them of the benefits of belonging to Western society, the Wailing Wall would be the last frame of reference I would use to convince them.

Guess Where I Am

Can you guess where I am?
*If you took the photo, your guess doesn't count!*

Bolton Mania

Condi Rice introduces John R. Boltonto a dismayed planet


"There is no such thing as the United Nations..if the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

"It is a big mistake for us to grant any validity to international law even when it may seem in our short-term interest to do so ­ because, over the long term, the goal of those who think that international law really means anything are those who want to constrict the United States."

"...most skilled diplomat...."
"....I am honored...."

...honored........honored..........I am honored?..........................honored??
................................honored?????


HONORED?!?

Federal funding cuts limit options for chemo patients

Federal funding cuts limit options for chemo patients

I want to share this story with you because the subject directly affects my own family.

My mother, a senior citizen, has been having chemotherapy at a fine clinic here in Syracuse. Her doctor and the chemo nurses are wonderful, and the room where she'd been having chemotherapy is bright with plenty of sun coming through the many windows that line the room. Plush, comfortable chairs are provided for the patient's comfort and ease. It makes the necessary routine more pleasant than it might be under other circumstances.

Catherine Miller's experience sounds familiar:

It's been three years since the 69-year-old was diagnosed with abdominal cancer, a strain of the disease that can't be cured. Someday, she knows, it will take her life. For now, she's beating the odds.

Miller has had plenty of time to learn the ins-and-outs of local cancer centers. Last year, she settled on ACT Medical Group, a small east-side clinic with hardwood floors and big, sunny windows.

It's hard enough having cancer. To have your government cut away a senior citizen's opportunity to have some form of comfort while battling a terminal illness is an abandonment of respect for and responsibility to our family members in their senior years.

My mother's doctor wants to continue providing chemotherapy to my mother, but the price Medicare pays him for the drugs my mother needs has been reduced by 80% as of January 1st. (A move federal officials have deemed "appropriate.) Her doctor cannot afford to provide extended coverage on a charity basis for his Medicare patients.

What's happening is that senior citizens are being forced to go into a hospital to have chemotherapy while only those (mostly younger patients) who have private insurance are getting the compassion, ease, and personalized attention afforded by the modern clinics. The hospital takes a very lengthy amount of time and the chemotherapy patient, who is no longer immune to disease because of the effect of the drugs on the body, has to be exposed to God-knows-what diseases while at the hospital for that period of time. The patient is placed in a hospital bed and in a room with another patient with who-knows-what illness. There is the admission process, the parking garages, the walk, and all the other inconveniences that come with hospital treatment.

How could our Congress have allowed this to happen? I keep asking myself that question.

As John Edwards recently said regarding more Americans struggling financially and falling deeper into debt - and how that trend is not an accident:

"It is by design because our Republican leaders value one thing: wealth. We see it in everything they do."

This cut in Medicare coverage for chemotherapy drugs is no different.

"Prodded by her doctor, Miller sent out letters to three federal legislators -- senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, and Rep. Don Manzullo -- to share the story of her chemotherapy treatments.
ACT's Edwards, hoping to inspire change and improve Medicare payments, asked her to do it.
"I don't imagine it will do much good," Miller said. "But I did it anyway. For him."

I'm going to have my mother do the same thing. It may not make a difference in time to get her back into the clinic that was a comfort to her in these hard times, but it may help me someday. My Mom loves me enough to act. I know she respects her doctor enough to try to help him and his clinic. I love her, and it breaks my heart to see her have to go through this.

Perhaps, if you see this, you will copy my words and put them in an e-mail to your own Representatives.


Our Senior citizens deserve so much better than this.

- Jude

Exploding Dog

Exploding Dog

Check out Exploding Dog.
It's sam's great interactive creation.

I particularly like "the glass is half full".


*Tip of the hat to Nick.

Cut Lindsay Graham Some Slack

"We don't do Lincoln Day Dinners in South Carolina. It's nothing personal, but it takes awhile to get over things."

-Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC)

Cut Lindsay Graham Some Slack

That's my opinion.
I suppose I mean it in a tongue-in-cheek way.
Yet - I think Senator Graham's being truthful, albeit blunt.
Not an easy thing to be in Washington DC.

He's telling us that there is still a hell of a lot of bitterness over the outcome of the Civil War in South Carolina.

Hello?
And you are surprised?

Let him clarify his comments, but I don't think we should go crazy over what he said as if the idea has come from some alien planet.

If the people of South Carolina demand an apology from their Senator, then he should apologize - without hesitation. However, if most of them do feel that way, then Senator Graham can only be accused of "representing". (I'll bet the black population there is none too happy. There goes any scarce African American support the Republicans ever had in South Carolina! Hear the sucking sound?)

Perhaps many South Carolinians do not want to see us as ONE AMERICA?

Does their Confederate heritage mean more to them than their allegiance to a united nation? I think these are fair questions to ask, since Senator Graham decided to bring up the subject.

I think it's time for a national conversation rather than a chastisement of Lindsay Graham. There are divisions in this land that can no longer be overlooked by a sense of false/forced civility.

Frankly, I have more of a problem with Senator Graham cheering President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. President Bush permanently lost half a nation's trust over that gross political misleading, and he has shown, time and time again, that he doesn't value the voice of that particular half of the American population who saw the misleadings for exactly what they were. He's created an American democratic black-out while his administration plots more wars for their cheerleading mob who hypocritically claim to seek "democracy" for nations that they barely understand.

We are polarized. It's eerily chilly where we stand in America today.
Sounds like a civil war all over again.

Will some be terribly skeptical about throwing Bush Day dinners in another 150 years?

Where we stand, here and now, we have a choice to move forward as one nation or languish in our foolish, unfounded hatred for one another and continue on the current path to being a democracy-sick and disrespected nation who gets their way in the world only because others fear our naked wrath.

That's not the America I want to leave behind for our children.

So, let's talk. Blunt honesty is going to be necessary, even if it borders upon incivility. If we want a stronger nation, our leaders are going to need to seek out the policies that are consistent with values that are common to all Americans.

Cut Lindsay Graham some slack.
He's just exposing the cracks in the ever-weakening cultural floor beneath our American feet.

I just wish he'd decided to inspire with his words rather than to serve to divide with them.

Dance!

Dance!

Braude: Internet will change Arab politics

Climate Change: Why the Internet will change Arab politics--and how it already has
TNR / Joseph Braude

I recently thought about writing a blogpost about this topic, and I see that Joseph Braude has been thinking along similiar lines. Sometimes I don't think we realize the power we all possess..and it's right here at our fingertips. A sea change in the ability to politically organize around an ideology has been brought about by an open global exchange of ideas. However, bloggers in some Arab nations are feeling very threatened by their respective authoritarian governments. Little by little, political trends are emerging which may be positive for those who desire democracy in the Arab world, but have been stifled due to fear and/or technological limitations to enable dissidents to communicate their ideas.

Mr. Braude writes:

The Internet is now a destabilizing force to Arab governments, some of which are trying and failing to bottle it back up. Despite its relatively modest penetration in the region, the web is threatening the status quo--in societies as conservative as Saudi Arabia and police states as tightly run as Syria and Tunisia--in ways that previous technologies never could. That's in part because it is making obsolete the strategies that Arab governments had used for centuries--with almost perfect success--to quash dissent and cling to power. It may be trite to speak of the Internet's transformative power; but in the case of the Arab world in 2005, it appears increasingly to be real...

...The big question, of course, is whether any of these shifting paradigms is actually capable of changing the present distribution of power in an Arab country--and if so, how and where. Maybe all this online noise is just so much noise, and the medium is still no more than an annoyance to the status quo...On the other hand, the pressure imposed on several Arab countries today by the United States stands to exacerbate all the internal tensions these regimes already face...The fact that Internet penetration of Arab populations remains low--the regional average is below 5 percent--means that the extent of the web's influence will depend on whether it can somehow nudge forward broader political trends.....

....it seems likely that the web's most crucial impact on Arab politics won't be in alerting the west to human rights abuses or rallying support in the international community; it will be in allowing Arab dissidents to talk to one another and coordinate their activities...

Read This Story

Read this story.

Tom Fenton, I Love You

"We can no longer afford the luxury of having an ignorant electorate..of dumbing down our audience...The term MSM sounds like a new disease."

- Tom Fenton

Tom Fenton, I Love You


Latest by Tom - click photo

And I can't wait to see you on the Daily Show tomorrow night.
You go, Tom.

Hear Tom on NPR's Diane Rehm Show

Tom tells you to go to the BBC website for some real news.



UPDATE: Julian Sanchez shows that Tom Fenton is not alone.

Women in Political Blogging

Women in Political Blogging
Compiled by Jude Nagurney Camwell

I am compiling a list of women who blog about political issues. I'm amazed at how many there are.

al-Muhajabah-Laura Poyneer
Alarming News-Karol
Karen Alston
Ann Althouse
An Old Soul-Shari
The Anchoress
Annika's Journal
Apophenia-Danah Boyd
Athena at Terrorism Unveiled
Sapere Aude-I Am the Hermit
Available Light-Lynda B
Ayn Clouter

Backup Brain-Dori's half
Baghdad Burning-Riverbend
Baldilocks-Juliette Ochieng
Banana Republican-Rachel Jurado
LaShawn Barber
Betsy's Page-Betsy Newmark
Bitch. Ph.D.
Bittershack-Brooke Biggs
Black Feminism-Tiffany
Blaugustine
Blog Amy
Blog or Not
Blog Sisters
Blogslut
BlondeSense
Body and Soul- Jeanne
Book of Days-Chris
Bouillabaisse-Dianne Maire
Danah Boyd-Lakoff-Language of Politics
Martha Bridegam-Demisemiblog
Breaching the Web
Summer Brooks
Burningbird

Marla Caldwell
Elisa Camahort-WorkerBeesBlog
Barbara Camwell-Abuse Sanctuary
Jude Nagurney Camwell
Avedon Carol
Cathie From Canada
Chandrasutra
Natasha Chart-Pacific Views
Citizen's Rent
Collective Sigh
Code Pink
The Corner-Kathryn Lopez, Barbara Comstock
Crescat Sententia

Gail Davis
Natalie Davis
Democracy for California-Diana
Democracy for Virginia-Maura
Jory Des Jardins
Different Strings-Kryselda Jarnsaxa
Dissent Channel-AE
Diva Geek
Divinest Sense
The Duchess-Charlene Barker
Dummocrats-Kris

e-Robin
Echidne
Dawn Eden
Enlightenment Project-HE Baber
Eve Tushnet

Fact-esque
Fantasy Life
Fatshadow
Feministe-Lauren
Feisty Repartee-Christine
Fishbucket
Flamingo Jones
For The Record-Jessica Wilson
FrizzyLogic
Fusion Reaction

Amy Gahran
Jane Galt-Assymetrical Information
Girlhacker
Laura Gjovaag
Sally Greene
Jenny Greenleaf

Half-Changed World
Halley's Comment
Heretik
Mary Hodder

Inkwell

Jane-LipSticking
Janet For Fairfax
Jessica's Well
Joanne Jacobs

Kalilily Time-Elaine
Veronica Khokhlova-Neeka's Backlog
Amy Khoudari-Blog,blog,blog

Ladida
Laila Lalami
Late Night Thoughts-Emma
Left Coaster-Mary Ratcliff
Left2Right-Elizabeth Anderson
Liberty Street-Kathy
Lifting the Fog-Barbara Sehr
Little Miss Attila

Rebecca MacKinnon
Madeleine Begun Kane
Madison Women for Peace
Mahablog-Barbara O'Brien
Majikthise
Marine Corps Moms
"Michele"
Michelle Malkin
Making Light-Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Irshad Manji
Jen Martinez
Maru Soze
Melanie Mattson-Just a Bump in the Beltway
Megnut
Mind of Mog
Misbehaving
Mixter
Diana Moon
Mousemusings-Cyndy Roy
Moxie
Ms. Musings

Netwoman

Maud Newton
Nitpicker-CJ Finis
Chris Nolan
NYCO
Ambra Nykol

Obsidian Wings-Hilzoy
Rosie O'Donnell
One Woman Wrecking Crew-Mary

PG
PalmTree Pundit
Pam's House Blend-Pam Spaulding
Parenthetically Speaking
Patriette-Kelly
Jaqueline Passey
Pen Elayne-Elayne Riggs
Philobiblon
Melanie Phillips
Pinko Feminist Hellcat
Plunky Punk-Vanessa
Podunt Post-Wanda
Polipundit-Lorie Byrd
Political Monitor-Lindy Baumann
Virginia Postrel
Pourquoi pas?-Dianne Maire
Pratie Place-Jane
Preemptive Karma-Carla
Professor Kim's Notes-Kim Pearson
Pseudo-Adrienne

Random Thoughts-Susan
Rebecca's Pocket
Reportette-Yvette Stafford
Respectful of Otters-Rivka
Rhetoric 101
Lis Riba
Emmanuelle Richard
Amy Ridenour
Riggsveda-It's My Country Too
Lindsay Robertson
Evelyn Rodriguez
Rox Populi
Ruminate This-Lisa English

Saheli:Musings and Observations-Saheli Datta
Julie Saltman
Santa Clara CtyDemPty-Elisa Camahort
Scribblingwoman
Cathy Seipp
Jeneane Sessum
Sgt. Lizzie
Shameless Agitator-Andrea
Shakespeare's Sister
Julien Sharp
Ruby Sinreich
Sisyphus Shrugged-Julia
Lizzie Skurnick-Old Hag
Patty Ann Smith
So What Can I Do?
Natalie Solent
Lizzy Spiers
Strangechord-Emily
Suburban Guerrilla-Susan Madrak
Suddenly Routine-Rebecca
Amy Sullivan
Dawn Summers
Surfette

Talk Left-Jerralyn Merritt
Tara Sue
Think Pink
Thoughts of an Average Woman-CE Petro
Tild
Kelly Jane Torrance
Trailer Park Girl
Tsuredzuregusa-Shaula Evans
Tulip Girl
Turnpike Feminist
12 Frogs

Uncommon Thought
Under The Same Sun
Urban Grind
Utopian Hell

ValueJudgment-J's half
Villanous Company-Cassandra

Vivid Pieces- Erin Notebloom

VDARE-Bryanna Bevens,Brenda Walker
Veracity or Mendacity-Melanie
Veralynne-ACT
View From The Left-Chris D'Arcy

Waiting For Nat-LilySea
Wampum-Mary Beth Williams
War And Piece-Laura Rozen
Belle Waring
Diane Warth-Karmalised
Watermark-SB Poet
We Are Not Sheep
What Do I Know
WhatIsPastIsPrologue-Sarah
What She Said
Who Is Sylvia
Wicked Muse
Sissy Willis
Willow Tree-Rachel Ann
Winds of Change-Robin Burk
Rebecca Winters
Amy Wohl
Wonkette-Ana Marie
World O'Crap
World Turning-Jennifer
Worshipping/Altar of Mediocrity

Xeney
XX

You Will Anyway
Yourish

Anne Zook

Bono on Short List for World Bank?

Bono on Short List
for World Bank?

"He's somebody I admire. He does a lot of good in this world of economic development," Snow said.

"Most people know him as a rock star. He's in a way a rock star of the development world, too. He understands the give-and-take of development. He's a very pragmatic, effective and idealistic person," Snow said.

From: Bono May Make Short List for World Bank, WT

I agree with John Snow.

I know I'm dating myself here, but I met Bono when he was on his first U2 tour of the United States. I don't even think he'd reached the age of 20 yet. (I know that I hadn't).

The band was virtually unknown in the U.S. at that time. The single "I Will Follow" and the album "Boy" had just been released in the States. A friend of mine owned and managed the radio station which had helped to sponsor the concert. After the show, we were invited for chatter and refreshments on the band's tour bus. The Edge was especially kind to me. He gave me the grand tour of their home on wheels (which was nothing fancy). The group of us talked about the band's first impression of America and we even got around to talking about religion.

I discovered, that night, how different these fellows were from your typical 80s touring band. At the risk of sounding sappy, I found that Bono (Paul) and The Edge wore their hearts on their respective sleeves; they were passionate about life; they seemed especially compassionate toward others; I really liked them. I've remained a fan ever since that night, because when I hear the words to their songs, I feel I know a bit about the men who are delivering their message. And I can say I really like those men. I've followed Bono's work in this world, and I can't say enough about the respect I have for the true spirit I know he's possessed since I talked with him on that night so long ago. That boy followed his path to an honorable, compassionate manhood and I hope he will seriously be considered for the World Bank.

Blogger Scores White House Press Pass

Blogger Scores White House Press Pass

According to Editor and Publisher, this blogger has scored a White House Press pass. I'd never heard of or read Media Bistro/Fishbowl before today. The editor's name is Garrett Graff. He displays the blog's raison d'etre to be "a gossip blog about Washington, D.C. media". It has only been around since January, 2005. It looks like Howard Kurtz-style coverage. Gossipy, not too much heavy political substance, but fun to read. An example: The Fake Invisible Primary. Best of luck and congrats to Garrett.

Iddybud's 'Hood According to Findory

Iddybud's 'Hood According to Findory

According to Findory, this is my personalized blog neighborhood (size in order to the proximity/relation to my own blog...my own name being largest, naturally).

Note: I decided to reach out. I introduced myself to my "closest neighbor", Susan Madrak at Suburban Guerilla. We are colleagues at American Street.
Corrente is well known to me - a fellow Liberal Coalition member. David Brock is next on my list. Although I haven't had the opportunity to make his acquaintance yet, I highly respect the work he's doing out there.

iddybud

Suburban Guerrilla

corrente / Leah, Lambert, Tresy...

Media Matters

Wonkette
Dirty Tricks
Eschaton
skippy the bush kangaroo
The Media Cynic
Agonist
The American Street
Stop the Internet
Daily Kos
This Modern World
CJR Campaign Desk
The Musicians of Louis XIV -...
Antiwar.com Blog
Billmon
Troubled Texan Blog
Betsy's Page
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire...
TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime...
 

Truthout's 4-Part Series on Journalists & Military

Truthout's 4-Part Series on Journalists & Military

In case you've missed it, here are the links to the first three:

Part I | Hearing What Eason Jordan Said
Part II | Army Failed to Probe Its Attack on Palestine Hotel
Part III | Targeting the Media the American Way

Part IV is yet to come.

5000 Lebanese Students Emboldened to Demand Syrian Pullout

5000 Lebanese Students Emboldened to Demand Syrian Pullout

FIVE YEARS AGO..while Bill Clinton was still president.


2001

These kids have been tough and emboldened long before Bush and the Neocons lied their way to the war that goes on today in Iraq.

Emboldened by Bush, emschmoldened by Bush.

Some of us were born yesterday. Some of us understand that the youth of Lebanon has been fighting for independence from both Israel and Syria for years.

Why doesn't anyone in the American mainstream media report about the current situation honestly and thoroughly?

Gannon/White House: AMERICAblog Opinion in LA Times

Gannon/White House: AMERICAblog Opinion in LA Times

I am glad the LA Times decided to give John Aravosis equal time to make his case on the Jeff Gannon/White House Press Corps issue.

The story is worthy of much more serious and investigative coverage than your basic
Howard Kurtz-style "Micheal Jackson-ing" or "Kobe Bryant-ing" or "Martha Stewart-ing".

Excerpt:

I can think of three possible reasons The Times didn't cover this obviously major story with any vigor:

(1) Trepidation about gays, sex and power. In the age of wardrobe malfunctions, news organizations are extra cautious about covering anything involving s-e-x. And a gay angle only makes things more confusing. Would you be anti-gay or pro-gay if you wrote about an allegedly homophobic journalist who happened to be gay? Answer: Allegations of prostitution aren't just about someone's private life, they're about a crime that can lead to blackmail, especially if state secrets are involved. And in any case, your readers are adults — give them the facts and let them decide for themselves.

(2) Reverse liberal guilt. Too sensitive to right-wing accusations of being liberal, traditional media have overcompensated by becoming too timid in covering certain stories. They seem loath to aggressively report on scandals involving Republican politicians, in general, and this White House in particular.

(3) Blogophobia. Liberal bloggers scare the mainstream media. Media critics fret over our supposed lack of professional credentials, even though many of us are journalists. They doubt our facts but don't independently investigate the stories.

The lack of coverage plays into the hands of the White House. Mainstream media editors act as if our investigation of Guckert is about prurience and lacks merit. But there is more than enough evidence to make any reporter want to check out the possibilities of White House deception and media manipulation.

The Times' editors shouldn't allow themselves to think they are above the fray. In truth, they are failing to speak truth to power.

Good for you, John, and a sincere 'thank you' from this blogger.

Untested bloggers pick up where hardened news hounds left off

Untested bloggers pick up where hardened news hounds left off

Written by student Ian McNamara of Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA:

"Hopefully the mainstream media and the large corporations that own them will realize that mainstream media reporting must improve to keep the bloggers at bay. That likely means a bigger news department budget and less profit.

Of course, the large corporations could dump the more costly professional journalists and hire the bloggers."

LINK - (I think you'll enjoy reading the whole story)

John Edwards Visits Hannibal's Demo Days

"When a merely honest man appears he is a comet--his fame is eternal--needs no genius, no talent--mere honesty."

- Mark Twain

John Edwards Visits Hannibal's Demo Days
An honest man in politics is met with cheers

The scene:
Hannibal, Missouri, the boyhood home of Mark Twain, at a banquet held as part of an event called "Democrat Days", which isn't really about elected officials. It's a unique experience. It doesn't happen in many places. The grassroots control what happens in their own arena — as opposed to decisions made from 'the top of the ticket'.

John Edwards drew cheers from the party faithful when he said:

"This party has always fought for people who don't have a voice. This party has always believed that everybody should have an opportunity to do well. And we believe that we have a moral responsibility to help those who are struggling.

During an interview, he said:

"If you spend so much time talking about your proposals and your programs, people don't know what you're made of inside. They need to know what it is that drives us every single day, and as simple as that sounds it is at the core of what people look for when they vote for a presidential candidate."

He urged Democrats to stay true to their roots and communicate clearly about what Democrats believe.

There were 650 people in attendance, and such a large crowd in a non-election year is unusual. The Democrat Days organizer John Yancey credited much of that to John Edward's popularity with the people.

Missouri Democrats at the event were fired up over their belief that Republicans, while controlling the governor's mansion and the Legislature, are hypocritically embracing policies out of line with the religious values that their [Republican] party claims to espouse.

The confluence of former Senator Edwards with his appearance in the boyhood home of Mark Twain recalls, to my mind, a quotation from Twain's "A Tramp Abroad", where Twain visits the opera and sees a performance of "Lohengrin".

This was while a gorgeous procession of people marched around and around, in the third act, and sang the Wedding Chorus. To my untutored ear that was music--almost divine music. While my seared soul was steeped in the healing balm of those gracious sounds, it seemed to me that I could almost resuffer the torments which had gone before, in order to be so healed again. There is where the deep ingenuity of the operatic idea is betrayed. It deals so largely in pain that its scattered delights are prodigiously augmented by the contrasts. A pretty air in an opera is prettier there than it could be anywhere else, I suppose, just as an honest man in politics shines more than he would elsewhere.

I would imagine the Democrats in Hannibal got that feeling yesterday upon hearing John Edwards, a man they see as refreshingly honest, realistically optimistic, and firmly standing in the hope for the healing of our land.

Interview: Uma Thurman

Still Cool
Creative Loafing's Interview with Uma Thurman

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"The white youth of today have begun to react to the fact that the "American Way of Life" is a fossil of history. What do they care if their old baldheaded and crew-cut elders don't dig their caveman mops? They couldn't care less about the old, stiffassed honkies who don't like their new dances: Frug, Monkey, Jerk, Swim, Watusi. All they know is that it feels good to swing to way-out body-rhythms instead of dragassing across the dance floor like zombies to the dead beat of mind-smothered Mickey Mouse music."

- Eldridge Cleaver

Be Cool is getting panned all over the internet

In Syracuse

In Syracuse

The mission of the Redhouse in Syracuse is to present works of theatre, film, music and fine art in an intimate and innovative way. Currently, in cinema at the Redhouse, you can see Rivers and Tides, which is a sensual and poetic journey into the world and mind of renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. Filmmaker Thomas Riedelsheimer followed the artist for over a year intimately documenting his improvisational process and capturing the artist’s relentless obsession, observation and manipulation of the seemingly ordinary as he coaxes nature’s raw materials into striking sculptural forms.

* * * * * * * * *

Larry Hoyt presents his "Common Threads" radio show every Sunday on WAER radio (88.3) from 2-5pm.

* * * * * * * * *

This coming Saturday, March 12, The Lost Boys will play at the Westcott Community Center, in conjunction with the Folkus Project, on a double bill with Dana "Short Order" Cooke. The Lost Boys are in their sixth year as one of Central New York's premier bluegrass groups. My old friend Paul Wakker has the purest bluegrass tenor in this area, and his smooth, clear voice is often compared to the singing of Vince Gill. (I surely do wish I could attend, I have a family wedding this weekend.)

More upcoming Westcott Community Center concerts are listed HERE.

* * * * * * * * *

Blog Josh tells us about a new cybercafe which is now open at 700 South Crouse Ave. It's called Cybercuse.

* * * * * * * * *

There is a Philosopher's Carnival at Parablemania, with more at EG.

* * * * * * * * *

The faculty and staff of the Program in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE) at Syracuse University are committed to working with South Side residents to address their business needs. The goal of the South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project (now on line) is to foster the development of a sustainable entrepreneurial community within the South Side, including:

- increasing the number of new start-ups,
- facilitating the stabilization and growth of existing small businesses, and
- building a supportive infrastructure that connects entrepreneurs at different stages of development to critical resources.

* * * * * * * * *

Red Thunder shares a Mohawk Grandmother's words of wisdom to her children.

* * * * * * * * *

David Metraux has some fantastic travel photography to show you.

* * * * * * * * *


Doppler lives

NYCO reassures us that Doppler the WSTM Weather Cat is still alive, contrary to the rumor of his demise.
Mark Blum is a bit more skeptical...

* * * * * * * * *

Mick Mather recommends "Miss Bea's Diary", and I think you'll agree that it's an intriguing, unique and colorful place to visit. I especially love Bea's recipe for Spicy Peanut Sauce.

Exposing Hypocrisy

Exposing Hypocrisy

Nicola Calipari, by witness accounts, died while acting as a human shield for freed hostage/Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena.

Now, think about that while you re-read Jim Gibbons' recent statement.

Even though it's likely that the troops were just doing their job, Eason Jordan's words are ringing through my mind this morning.

Now, think about the right-wing-bloggers' witch-hunt that silenced Eason's professional concerns about journalists in Iraq.

I'll say no more.


Atrios comments here.

Joe Gandelman has collected some comments here.

Bill Maher on Jeff Gannon

Bill Maher on Jeff Gannon

Bill Maher, Robin Williams, Leslie Stahl, Joe Biden on Jeff Gannon.
Thanks to Mike for this referral.

Question: For all his tough talk, why hasn't Senator Biden been more of a force in getting the investigation going? He backed off on signing the letter to the President.

John Edwards Visits Kansas

John Edwards Visits Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. - Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards stumped here Friday, assuring fellow Democrats that they represent the working class, excoriating Republicans and President Bush's plan to revamp Social Security.

On the Democratic party and the media:

"There are people in the Democratic Party and there are people on television, you know, who yap a lot, who say that the Democrats don't know what they believe in..There are a lot of Democratic politicians, unfortunately, who are nuancing and changing their positions, trying to figure out the best way to maneuver their way through the political landscape, in order to try to be more appealing to more people. I think that's dead wrong.."



About more Americans struggling financially and falling deeper into debt - and how that trend is not an accident:

"It is by design because our Republican leaders value one thing: wealth. We see it in everything they do."

Ex-Pentagon Aide Tells Neocons to Cool It

Ex-Pentagon Aide Tells Neocons to Cool It

I was reading Laura Rozen (one of my favorites) and was led to an interesting article at The Forward about a former Pentagon aide named Dov Zakheim. Dov admonished NeoCons in a recent public speech, telling them that they cannot expect to transform the Middle East overnight and that establishing democracy in the region will never be won in any fruitful way by an endless force of arms. Mr. Zakheim agrees with something that I mentioned last Thursday while I was talking about the Neocon glee over developments in Lebanon and ex-CIA officer Michael Scheuer's solemn warning. I had said:

Somewhere between lies a caution that we must use in our approach and with which we must measure our country's options for military involvement.

Mr. Zakheim says:

"I support the idea of democracy, but we have to be cautious about it. This is not the first time Iraq has had an election. We shouldn't view the future with rose-colored glasses."

Mr. Zakheim says he doesn't believe the Bush administration is a "neocon" administration, and that Bush is simply a hard-headed guy with a vision. I don't agree there. I have witnessed Bush repeating, almost verbatim, the words and sentiments of neocons in publications like The Weekly Standard and National Review. I gave you an example the other day:

I realize that President Bush is their best representative, because every time I see an editorial by a Neocon, Bush is repeating their lines the very next day.

Bob Woodward revealed, after interviewing Bush, that Bush considers himself to be "a gut player" who relies largely on his instinctive reactions to crises." Bush has claimed to "read" only the newspaper stories which have been selected by his staff, and he also relies on just a few people for most of his ideas about the world (a world he had not traveled in the years leading up to his presidency). John Bridgeland, who was the first director of Bush's Domestic Policy Council said of Bush: "He trusts his closest advisers to synthesize the information he needs."

It's apparent, to me, which stories Bush's staff are selecting. Combining Bush's hard-headedness and his synthesized newsworld of information, along with his reliance upon his own instinct, and I think you have the near-perfect picture of a man who will likely execute a war on Syria.

I have to say, after reading Dov Zakheim's comments, that I think he's a conservative American (he won't admit to being a neoconservative) with a hope for peace and democracy in the Middle East. I do have to question his own judgement, however, when he can say this and expect us to believe it:

JULY 7, 2004: "The situation today [in Iraq] is not bad at all. In terms of the big picture, the Middle East is better off without Saddam Hussein. The majority of Iraqis support America's presence; and the world is starting to stand behind the U.S. effort."

And Mr. Zakheim tells Neocons to take off their rose-colored glasses?!

Yet, even Mr. Zakheim is telling the neocons to cool their jets.

Go figure.

Bloggers' Freedom of Speech Threatened by FEC/Congress

Bloggers' Freedom of Speech Threatened by FEC/Congress/American "Justice"
Gee, thanks, McCain/Feingold

From Seeing the Forest:

CNET: "The coming crackdown on blogging"

Declan McCullagh's latest is an interview with Bradley Smith, a Republican FEC commissioner, about the potential effects of being forced to apply McCain-Feingold campaign donation regulations to the Internet.

Here's the first paragraph:

"In just a few months, he warns, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campaign's Web site. Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines."

Apparently (perhaps because of the Talon News/GOPUSA scandal), the regulatory issue has produced a partisan split--there was a 3-3 vote to not to appeal the Internet related portion of Judge Kollar-Kotelly's latest order. I'm not sure what the Democratic Party appointees' rationale for this vote was (they're not quoted), but, at least on the surface, the postulated outcome is fairly alarming... links to candidate websites being categorized as campaign donations, along with forwarding press releases to email lists (for example).

--Thomas Leavitt

I'm including this excerpt:

Then what's the real impact of the judge's decision?
...It becomes a really complex issue that would strike deep into the heart of the Internet and the bloggers who are writing out there today. (Editor's note: federal law limits the press exemption to a "broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication." )

How do you see this playing out?
There's sensitivity in the commission on this. But remember the commission's decision to exempt the Internet only passed by a 4-2 vote.
This time, we couldn't muster enough votes to appeal the judge's decision. We appealed parts of her decision, but there were only three votes to appeal the Internet part (and we needed four). There seem to be at least three commissioners who like this.

Then this is a partisan issue?
Yes, it is at this time. But I always point out that partisan splits tend to reflect ideology rather than party. I don't think the Democratic commissioners are sitting around saying that the Internet is working to the advantage of the Republicans.
One of the reasons it's a good time to (fix this) now is you don't know who's benefiting. Both the Democrats and Republicans used the Internet very effectively in the last campaign.

What would you like to see happen?
I'd like someone to say that unpaid activity over the Internet is not an expenditure or contribution, or at least activity done by regular Internet journals, to cover sites like CNET, Slate and Salon. Otherwise, it's very likely that the Internet is going to be regulated, and the FEC and Congress will be inundated with e-mails saying, "How dare you do this!"

MARCH 6 UPDATE: Kos readers have caught wind of the story and are currently discussing it.

Artists from the 60s: Where Are they Now?

Iddy presents- Artists from the 60s: Where Are they Now

Mr. Bat, also known as Bruce A. Tweten

Discography:
"Mr. Bat Sings", 1960s LP. Mrs. L. E. Tweten, accompanist. Bruce dresses as a clown and sings.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

The artist formerly known as "Mr. Bat" is currently performing as a circus clown named "Mr. Moth", whose gimmick is to dress up to look like a classical singer.
Mrs. Tweten accompanies him
on the rubber fart horn, which is honked
flatulently whenever he amazingly hits a high "C".

Former Canadian minister's open letter to Condi

I know it seems improbable to your divinely guided master in the White House that mere mortals might disagree with participating in a missile-defence system that has failed in its last three tests, even though the tests themselves were carefully rigged to show results. But, gosh, we folks above the 49th parallel are somewhat cautious types who can't quite see laying down billions of dollars in a three-dud poker game.

Former Canadian minister's open letter to Condi

Canada's Lloyd Axworthy, a former Canadian foreign minister and president of Winnipeg University fires away in an open letter to Condoleeza Rice. He attacks the gargantuan U.S. deficits and places the U.S. "liberation war" for Iraq in quotation marks.He stabs at the U.S. for massive tax breaks given to the top one per cent of our population while cutting food programs for poor children. For critics of Canada's recent missile-defence decision, Axworthy chalks it up to a different sense of priorities about what a national government's role should be "when there isn't a prevailing mood of manifest destiny." He welcomed President Bush to come to Ottawa to see a real example of the press freely questioning their leaders and holding them accountable. He claims that, unlike the U.S., Canada's governing party's caucus members are not afraid to tell their leader that their constituents don't want to follow the ideological fantasies.

I see that Axworthy really has Bush's number when he says to Condi:

Your boss did not avail himself of a similar opportunity to visit our House of Commons during his visit, fearing, it seems, that there might be some signs of dissent. He preferred to issue his diktat on missile defence in front of a highly controlled, pre-selected audience.

Such control-freak antics may work in the virtual one-party state that now prevails in Washington. But in Canada we have a residual belief that politicians should be subject to a few checks and balances, an idea that your country once espoused before the days of empire.

Control is the only way Bush can accomplish anything. I recall the presidential campaign stumps where you needed to be screened for your ideological beliefs before you could come and listen to the President. If you were skeptical, you didn't get in. That is not in keeping with the American spirit, that is not an example of freedom or democracy.

In this letter, Bush is exposed as a controlling little dictator who is a mad-dog for his subjective form of Neocon liberty.

But we knew that already, didn't we?

Say! Is that Rob Corddry?

Say! Is that Rob Corddry?

Or is it Dino Ironbody?


* Click on photo to see video at Crooks and Liars

*see the Daily Show last night? Jay Rosen made a guest appearance and was an extremely good sport.

Speaking of Jay, he's got another good analysis on the press de-certification issue. I agree with his view that Howard Kurtz is off-base in his insistence that the problems of the press are mostly self-driven scandals. Jay says:

".. [Kurtz quote] "Nothing the White House has done has damaged the media's credibility more than what the profession has done to itself." And he lists all the recent goings-on from Jayson Blair and Eason Jordan to declining ratings, in order to ask: are any of these Bush's fault? (He left out excessive credulity on the Weapons of Mass Destruction story, which is on most people's list of recent press failures. That, of course, was Bush's fault.)

In my view Kurt'z judgment on this is wrong-- very wrong for a beat reporter with his experience. His attempt to de-excite us about de-certification deserves to fail....
....Mike Allen of the Washington Post, Kurtz's colleague, did not forget what administrations do. On October 8 he wrote: "Although all presidents are kept somewhat removed from reality because of security concerns and their staffs' impulse for burnishing their image, Bush's campaign has taken unprecedented steps to shield him from dissenters and even from curious, undecided voters."

Kurtz says people forget what presidents do. But I didn't forget (and I'm people, Howard.)....

Jay is right on. He's "people", alright. I agree that Howard Kurtz should "understand the thesis he is rejecting, and not rely on the entirely superficial approach of picking out two or three things Bush is accused of that Clinton was also accused of." Howard should read Jay carefully and try to understand the democracy-destroying ramifications of the de-certification of the fourth estate.

A Poem by Said Akl

Mother Oh My Angel, my love that will remain forever
And your hands are still my swing, and I am still a child
A month winks at me, and a spring passes by
Mother , and you remain a rose in which scent I am lost
And when I say your name , I am charmed I am Healed
And above my worries flies a nightingale
You are my heart beats , I cry your name when I am in pain
You are my Kiss , my passion , Mother when I am in love
Your eyes , they are the most beautiful stars in the skies
Mother Oh My Angel, my love that will remain forever


- Said Akl, Lebanese poet

Gannon/Propagandagate Update

Gannon/Propagandagate Update

Raw Story has released a pdf file showing a House Resolution of Inquiry which will force a vote in the House Judiciary Committee with regards to an investigation into White House Press Corps reporter Jeff Gannon (aka JD Guckert).

The inquiry is directed to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and departing Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. It requests all documents on how Gannon was allowed access to the White House. The Judiciary Committee will be forced to decide whether or not to demand the records, and if they fail to vote after 14 legislative days, it will go to the House floor for a full vote. (And I'm sure the Republicans don't want THAT to happen. After all, they've been in total denial about the story..hoping it would just go away. Ask Vianna at Arlen Specter's office.).

Read Salon's latest Eric Boehlert article, where he examines the Bush administration's determination to manage the news and influence the media.