more of this

http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2007/09/sen-webb-dema-1.html

more here

http://www.correntewire.com/webb_tries_to_win_me_back_by_holding_drug_war_prison_industrial_complex_hearings

we have met the enemy... and he is us

http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2007/09/what-a-tangled-.html

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hx3jn-1MgXROlML7o_ifsoa8E60g

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2006/09/sb-revolving-door-blackwater-1158094722

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill/2

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004232.php

all links from (or inspired by) http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/006624.html

(i don't blame america first, i blame specific americans now; the rule of law and accountability used to be a value, we, as americans, held dear)

speaking of rule of law

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20914169/

no law for thee

Countdown Special Comment: The President Of Hypocrisy



http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/20/countdown-special-comment-the-president-of-hypocrisy/

transcript and video at link

a two minute prepared speech, cut down to 90 seconds

good evening, thanks to operation/push for hosting and the FCC commissioners for holding these hearings

many people today have talked of the media consolidation and the real and perceived problems from the lack of diversity of ownership and local operation

i'm here to talk of the problem of coverage, specifically if something is covered in the first place, and if so, how it is framed

there is a debate in congress, as we speak, about the telecommunications companies and legislation being requested by the administration asking for immunity in the NSA wiretapping scandal

article 2, section 3, of the constitution states that the president must see that all laws are faithfully executed. by demanding immunity from prosecution, it begs the question: have these companies broken the law ??

you were tasked to look into this. you declined. citing, not jurisdiction, but clearance

did you ask for clearance ?? did your inspector general refer the complaint to the department of justice ?? does mr. mcconnel's long-standing ties to the telecommunications industry bring concern to you about this ??

is that debate being covered in the mainstream press ?? is the restoration of habeas corpus the talk of talk radio ?? are the troops being asked about their views of the webb amendment ?? are the people downwind asked what their thoughts are if we drop nukes on iran ??

the latest poll of congress gives them an 11% approval rating. is the coverage about republican obstruction and the unprecedented number of filibusters or is the frame of democratic weakness and capitulation ??

(the 90 seconds were up, ended here)

there are people on the right, who think that the media is liberal
there are people on the left, who know that it is not
and there are people all over the country, who unfortunately think that what they hear, see, and read is actually accurate and complete

thank you

some down-loadable mp3s of the hearing

http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=chicago

Archived Recordings of Public Forums

http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/publicforums.html

audio of the chicago hearing

http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/mt092007.ram

(my ramblings @ 6:43:15)

Glenn Greenwald
Wednesday September 19, 2007 07:26 EST
Are Democrats planning still worse FISA capitulations?

First, retroactive immunity turns the "rule of law" into an even greater mockery than it has been for the last six years. The central premise in granting immunity is that telecom companies did nothing wrong -- even if they violated the law -- because they cooperated with warrantless spying at the behest of the President.

But we don't actually live in a country where private actors are permitted to commit crimes and violate laws provided that the President tells them that they should. The President has no greater power to authorize others to break the law than he does to break the law himself. Quite the contrary, Article II of the Constitution imposes the opposite obligation: "he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." Lawbreaking is still illegal even if George Bush says it should be done. Does that principle really need to be explained?

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/09/19/democrats_fisa/index.html

do read the whole thing, then call your member of congress

(is it any wonder that the congress's approval is @ 11% ??)

((throw. the. bums. out))

2003's priorities

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030730-1.html

President Bush Discusses Top Priorities for the U.S.
Press Conference of the President

10:33 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good morning. I was hoping it would be a little hotter here to prepare the traveling team for the Crawford experience this August. But thank you for coming.

I'm looking forward to going down to Texas, and I know the members will be going back to their districts. As I travel around the country from Crawford I'm going to be focused on two vital concerns for our country -- first, the safety of the American people, and the economic security of the American people...

the first thing he talks about is his vacation. priorities.

one day, she'll write a post that isn't relevant, insightful, or funny

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/presidential-by-digby-very-savvy-friend.html

as of today, not yet

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/justice-stuff-by-digby-i-heard-senator.html

maybe tomorrow

will they just stop about iran and nukes already ??

corrected statement and link

Press Conference of the President
The East Room

8:01 P.M. EDT
April 28, 2005

...And what the Iranians have said was, don't we deserve to have a nuclear power industry just like you do? I've kind of wondered why they need one since they've got all the oil (1), but nevertheless, others in the world say (2), well, maybe that's their right to have their own civilian nuclear power industry...

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050428-9.html


(1) in 1975, president ford henry kissinger signed a national security decision memorandum

NSDM 292 - http://www.ford.utexas.edu/LIBRARY/DOCUMENT/NSDMNSSM/nsdm292a.htm

the reasoning in part was, the more domestic energy needs that iran can provide by other methods, means more oil for export

----

(2) in 1975, bush's vice president was ford's chief of staff, bush's defense secretary was ford's chief of staff then defense secretary, please, do no say that they don't know why, or imply that you are not aware of their views *

----

we gave them the nuclear technology to being with

correction:
corrected white house link as all 43 era pages moved to http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov

also, * cheney was deputy assistant to the president @ the time, not chief of staff, rumsfeld was chief of staff @ the time, not defense secretary, which means that both were in the white house @ the time

a book:
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2007/09/11/dean/

a review of said book:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-smiley/the-shock-doctrine_b_64306.html

(and a request for the senate:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070905/COMMENTARY02/109050022/1012)

also

sign language for the constituitionally impaired:
http://tableforone.tpmcafe.com/blog/tableforone/2007/sep/10/the_cheney_project

to the memory of thebus, an eight-year-old rescue from the chicago anti-cruelty society



you were the reason we moved to a house with a yard in woodstock, instead of a two bedroom condo with on street parking in the city, we'll miss you

free speech zone

Stop Big Media

http://www.chicagomediaaction.org/

The Federal Communications Commission will host its next media ownership hearing in Chicago. You are encouraged to attend, and sign up to testify.

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2007.
Time: 4pm to 11pm.
Place: The Operation Push National Headquarters, Dr. King’s Workshop, 930 East 50th Street (corner of South Drexel Blvd.), in Chicago.


Text announcements: Initial announcement | Hearing locale announcement
Audio: Download 30-second radio announcement (MP3)
Video: Video PSA on YouTube
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