Still Fighting has moved! Check us out at
www.stillfighting.com!
December 29, 2005
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Oppose Advantages for Predatory Lenders. Another day, another attempt by Congress to take from the average American and give to big businesses. This time, it's in the form of the "Responsible Lending Act", which would basically give more breaks to lenders that take advantage of homeowners and other borrows. Is anyone going to stand up for the little guy? Go to the link, write your Congressperson, and demand this bill be struck down!
News
An Energy CEO With a Conscience? The chief executive of the General Electric Company, Jeffrey R. Immelt, made sweeping comments at George Washington University yesterday, pledging to clean the company up, reduce emissions, and demanded a better energy policy from the government. But Immelt is one of the guys who is benefitting from Bush's energy plan. Could Immelt have a....dare we say it...conscience? Immelt feels that new products are the answer, and is doubling his R&D budget to get there. Good for him! Why can't more CEOs see what's going on, and think about the long-term effects of their work, and not the short term gains that come from tax cuts and lax emission standards?
Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says. You know, we think the petals have finally come off the rose. Many of us were willing to turn a blind eye to Kerry's flaws as a national candidate because we were so eager to get rid of Bush. But he clearly was far from perfect, and now it seems that he's working to undermine the Democratic Party. Is he angling for 2008? Is he against equality for all? Senator Kerry, you lost. You've served your country well, and we hope you continue to do so as a Senator. But pulling the Democratic Party to the middle, and away from their ideals, didn't work the first time. Besides, shouldn't you be standing up for your constituents, who are strongly in favor of gay rights?
Bolton Hearings: State Department Only Responding To Requests Approved By Republicans. You know, when the Democrats are winning on issues, it's a bit tempting to become complacent. But that's exactly what Republicans are counting on - that Democrats will allow civility to limit the extent of their actions, while Republicans have no such restraint. And so, to remind you of how this administration lets politics affect EVERYTHING, we present you with this little tidbit about the John Bolton nomination. It seems that despite all of the ongoing questions about Bolton's qualifications and conduct, the State Department is only responding to document requests that Senator Lugar (R-IN) approves, but not ones that Senator Biden (D-DE, not CT as the article says) is interested in, even though the documents might not be classified. Does this make you angry? It should. That's why we have to keep fighting...
Editorials
What Would Dewey Do? There are journalists we admire, journalists we disagree with but respect, journalists we dislike, and journalists we disrespect. But even lower than that, we have a small set of journalists who we are ashamed to call journalists. A small circle reserved for people like Robert Novack. Novack, who would send his mother to Guantanamo Bay if it enhanced his career. Novack, who doesn't even seem to respect his like-minded peers. Novack, who alleges that there is an overwhelming liberal bias in the media, and thus gets away from "serious trouble." And yes, Novack, who publicly outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, and refused to divulge his source (while two other reporters sit awaiting a Supreme Court hearing over it). For more comprehensive news on the Valerie Plame saga, we encourage you to read Murray Waas, who is even more outraged at this than we are. The quick background is that Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, had alleged that Bush's "reasoning" for going to war with Iraq was faulty (and he had proof). So, in an effort to discredit him, or at least shift the public's attention somewhere else, Novack outed Wilson's wife as a CIA agent, thus blowing her cover and ending her career. What a stand-up move, Mr. Novack! Truly, world class journalism. For your next trick, will you steal candy from a baby? Folks, when a journalist is allowed to get away with such a great breach of ethics, how can we not lose faith in the mainstream media?
It's Good to be Pharoah. Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt for 24 years. Most of his "elections" have been unopposed, and the U.S., in the form of Condi Rice, recently said, "Pardon us, Egypt, but if you don't bring some democracy into the fold, we won't bring out toys over to play with you." It seems that Mubarak took this threat seriously, and has opened up his elections. But has he? Apparently, it is just as difficult for a candidate to even step up to the platform than it was in the past, so nothing has really changed at all. In fact, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has said that he doesn't expect serious democratic elections until 2011. Hey, Condi, how about working some of your magic over in Darfur? Oh, right, because you and your boss don't care.
Stranger Than Fiction. And speaking of Condi's boss, what the hell is going on? It's obvious from Bob Herbert's editorial (above) that Bush didn't really care about "freeing Iraq." He wanted his name in the history books as the great unifier and liberator. But why are we surprised? He obviously doesn't care about the environment, international security, the advancement of science or the press. In fact, when it comes to the press, as Eric Alterman writes, Bush doesn't even read the papers. Bush, remember, wants to hear that he's right, or hear nothing at all. The White House, then, withholds information, undermines journalism, and has no concept of the idea of the first amendment. Are we being harsh? Absolutely? Is it warranted? You betcha.
|
December 29, 2005
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Oppose Advantages for Predatory Lenders. Another day, another attempt by Congress to take from the average American and give to big businesses. This time, it's in the form of the "Responsible Lending Act", which would basically give more breaks to lenders that take advantage of homeowners and other borrows. Is anyone going to stand up for the little guy? Go to the link, write your Congressperson, and demand this bill be struck down!
News
An Energy CEO With a Conscience? The chief executive of the General Electric Company, Jeffrey R. Immelt, made sweeping comments at George Washington University yesterday, pledging to clean the company up, reduce emissions, and demanded a better energy policy from the government. But Immelt is one of the guys who is benefitting from Bush's energy plan. Could Immelt have a....dare we say it...conscience? Immelt feels that new products are the answer, and is doubling his R&D budget to get there. Good for him! Why can't more CEOs see what's going on, and think about the long-term effects of their work, and not the short term gains that come from tax cuts and lax emission standards?
Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says. You know, we think the petals have finally come off the rose. Many of us were willing to turn a blind eye to Kerry's flaws as a national candidate because we were so eager to get rid of Bush. But he clearly was far from perfect, and now it seems that he's working to undermine the Democratic Party. Is he angling for 2008? Is he against equality for all? Senator Kerry, you lost. You've served your country well, and we hope you continue to do so as a Senator. But pulling the Democratic Party to the middle, and away from their ideals, didn't work the first time. Besides, shouldn't you be standing up for your constituents, who are strongly in favor of gay rights?
Bolton Hearings: State Department Only Responding To Requests Approved By Republicans. You know, when the Democrats are winning on issues, it's a bit tempting to become complacent. But that's exactly what Republicans are counting on - that Democrats will allow civility to limit the extent of their actions, while Republicans have no such restraint. And so, to remind you of how this administration lets politics affect EVERYTHING, we present you with this little tidbit about the John Bolton nomination. It seems that despite all of the ongoing questions about Bolton's qualifications and conduct, the State Department is only responding to document requests that Senator Lugar (R-IN) approves, but not ones that Senator Biden (D-DE, not CT as the article says) is interested in, even though the documents might not be classified. Does this make you angry? It should. That's why we have to keep fighting...
Editorials
What Would Dewey Do? There are journalists we admire, journalists we disagree with but respect, journalists we dislike, and journalists we disrespect. But even lower than that, we have a small set of journalists who we are ashamed to call journalists. A small circle reserved for people like Robert Novack. Novack, who would send his mother to Guantanamo Bay if it enhanced his career. Novack, who doesn't even seem to respect his like-minded peers. Novack, who alleges that there is an overwhelming liberal bias in the media, and thus gets away from "serious trouble." And yes, Novack, who publicly outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, and refused to divulge his source (while two other reporters sit awaiting a Supreme Court hearing over it). For more comprehensive news on the Valerie Plame saga, we encourage you to read Murray Waas, who is even more outraged at this than we are. The quick background is that Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, had alleged that Bush's "reasoning" for going to war with Iraq was faulty (and he had proof). So, in an effort to discredit him, or at least shift the public's attention somewhere else, Novack outed Wilson's wife as a CIA agent, thus blowing her cover and ending her career. What a stand-up move, Mr. Novack! Truly, world class journalism. For your next trick, will you steal candy from a baby? Folks, when a journalist is allowed to get away with such a great breach of ethics, how can we not lose faith in the mainstream media?
It's Good to be Pharoah. Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt for 24 years. Most of his "elections" have been unopposed, and the U.S., in the form of Condi Rice, recently said, "Pardon us, Egypt, but if you don't bring some democracy into the fold, we won't bring out toys over to play with you." It seems that Mubarak took this threat seriously, and has opened up his elections. But has he? Apparently, it is just as difficult for a candidate to even step up to the platform than it was in the past, so nothing has really changed at all. In fact, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has said that he doesn't expect serious democratic elections until 2011. Hey, Condi, how about working some of your magic over in Darfur? Oh, right, because you and your boss don't care.
Stranger Than Fiction. And speaking of Condi's boss, what the hell is going on? It's obvious from Bob Herbert's editorial (above) that Bush didn't really care about "freeing Iraq." He wanted his name in the history books as the great unifier and liberator. But why are we surprised? He obviously doesn't care about the environment, international security, the advancement of science or the press. In fact, when it comes to the press, as Eric Alterman writes, Bush doesn't even read the papers. Bush, remember, wants to hear that he's right, or hear nothing at all. The White House, then, withholds information, undermines journalism, and has no concept of the idea of the first amendment. Are we being harsh? Absolutely? Is it warranted? You betcha.
|
December 29, 2005
Oppose Advantages for Predatory Lenders. Another day, another attempt by Congress to take from the average American and give to big businesses. This time, it's in the form of the "Responsible Lending Act", which would basically give more breaks to lenders that take advantage of homeowners and other borrows. Is anyone going to stand up for the little guy? Go to the link, write your Congressperson, and demand this bill be struck down!
News
An Energy CEO With a Conscience? The chief executive of the General Electric Company, Jeffrey R. Immelt, made sweeping comments at George Washington University yesterday, pledging to clean the company up, reduce emissions, and demanded a better energy policy from the government. But Immelt is one of the guys who is benefitting from Bush's energy plan. Could Immelt have a....dare we say it...conscience? Immelt feels that new products are the answer, and is doubling his R&D budget to get there. Good for him! Why can't more CEOs see what's going on, and think about the long-term effects of their work, and not the short term gains that come from tax cuts and lax emission standards?
Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says. You know, we think the petals have finally come off the rose. Many of us were willing to turn a blind eye to Kerry's flaws as a national candidate because we were so eager to get rid of Bush. But he clearly was far from perfect, and now it seems that he's working to undermine the Democratic Party. Is he angling for 2008? Is he against equality for all? Senator Kerry, you lost. You've served your country well, and we hope you continue to do so as a Senator. But pulling the Democratic Party to the middle, and away from their ideals, didn't work the first time. Besides, shouldn't you be standing up for your constituents, who are strongly in favor of gay rights?
Bolton Hearings: State Department Only Responding To Requests Approved By Republicans. You know, when the Democrats are winning on issues, it's a bit tempting to become complacent. But that's exactly what Republicans are counting on - that Democrats will allow civility to limit the extent of their actions, while Republicans have no such restraint. And so, to remind you of how this administration lets politics affect EVERYTHING, we present you with this little tidbit about the John Bolton nomination. It seems that despite all of the ongoing questions about Bolton's qualifications and conduct, the State Department is only responding to document requests that Senator Lugar (R-IN) approves, but not ones that Senator Biden (D-DE, not CT as the article says) is interested in, even though the documents might not be classified. Does this make you angry? It should. That's why we have to keep fighting...
Editorials
What Would Dewey Do? There are journalists we admire, journalists we disagree with but respect, journalists we dislike, and journalists we disrespect. But even lower than that, we have a small set of journalists who we are ashamed to call journalists. A small circle reserved for people like Robert Novack. Novack, who would send his mother to Guantanamo Bay if it enhanced his career. Novack, who doesn't even seem to respect his like-minded peers. Novack, who alleges that there is an overwhelming liberal bias in the media, and thus gets away from "serious trouble." And yes, Novack, who publicly outed a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, and refused to divulge his source (while two other reporters sit awaiting a Supreme Court hearing over it). For more comprehensive news on the Valerie Plame saga, we encourage you to read Murray Waas, who is even more outraged at this than we are. The quick background is that Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, had alleged that Bush's "reasoning" for going to war with Iraq was faulty (and he had proof). So, in an effort to discredit him, or at least shift the public's attention somewhere else, Novack outed Wilson's wife as a CIA agent, thus blowing her cover and ending her career. What a stand-up move, Mr. Novack! Truly, world class journalism. For your next trick, will you steal candy from a baby? Folks, when a journalist is allowed to get away with such a great breach of ethics, how can we not lose faith in the mainstream media?
It's Good to be Pharoah. Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt for 24 years. Most of his "elections" have been unopposed, and the U.S., in the form of Condi Rice, recently said, "Pardon us, Egypt, but if you don't bring some democracy into the fold, we won't bring out toys over to play with you." It seems that Mubarak took this threat seriously, and has opened up his elections. But has he? Apparently, it is just as difficult for a candidate to even step up to the platform than it was in the past, so nothing has really changed at all. In fact, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has said that he doesn't expect serious democratic elections until 2011. Hey, Condi, how about working some of your magic over in Darfur? Oh, right, because you and your boss don't care.
Stranger Than Fiction. And speaking of Condi's boss, what the hell is going on? It's obvious from Bob Herbert's editorial (above) that Bush didn't really care about "freeing Iraq." He wanted his name in the history books as the great unifier and liberator. But why are we surprised? He obviously doesn't care about the environment, international security, the advancement of science or the press. In fact, when it comes to the press, as Eric Alterman writes, Bush doesn't even read the papers. Bush, remember, wants to hear that he's right, or hear nothing at all. The White House, then, withholds information, undermines journalism, and has no concept of the idea of the first amendment. Are we being harsh? Absolutely? Is it warranted? You betcha.
