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December 29, 2005
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Saturday's Links
Activism
Activate ActBlue in OH, PA, TX, FL, and MT. ActBlue is a powerful fundraising powerhouse. They're an organization that wants to "enable anyone — individuals, grassroots groups, and millions-strong organizations...to fundraise for the Democratic candidates and causes of their choice." So far, they've been quite successful. If you'd like, you can even get your own account to support the candidates that you want to promote. Previously, ActBlue was only set up to support candidates for national office. But that's changing. They're working to get "activated" in the five states mentioned above. Once that happens, that will mean: "Every Democratic candidate for every state legislative and executive office can immediately accept contributions online." and "Every supporter can immediately fundraise online for the Democratic candidates and party committees of their choice." They've chosen five important states. If you can help them, please do so! This is a fantastic way to combat the GOP money machine.
News
Test Scores Move Little in Math, Reading. For most things, the evidence that Bush screwed up is quite palpable. But the jury's been out for No Child Left Behind for quite a while now. Oh, sure, we've heard from people opposed to it in principle, and we've seen states get exemptions because it truly is an unfunded mandate. But now we have evidence that it's really not working all that well. Of course, the Bush Administration did the only thing it knows how to do in the face of bad news: Spin and distort the information presented: "Bush called the report 'encouraging' and emphasized that the numbers showed a narrowing of the achievement gap between white and minority students." But even NCLB supporters are finally admitting the plan might not be working: " 'No one can be satisfied with these results,' said Ross Wiener, policy director for the Education Trust, an advocacy organization that backed No Child." Well, no one except for President Bush, that is. (By the way, a little bonus coverage - hint of the GOP's attack strategy in '08. Remember that Dean warned in '06 and '08, the strategy would be to attack immigrants? Well, here it is, buried in this article: "...others point to the nation's changing school demographics, which show a doubling of the number of Hispanic students in the last 15 years, some of whom may be struggling with the English language. 'These students create enormous labor costs to the schools because they need additional attention'..."
For a Senate Foe of Pork Barrel Spending, Two Bridges Too Far. The absurdity of this story sheds light on the true agenda of most Senators - get re-elected. How else can you explain the spoken desire to cut spending with the vote to keep the "Bridge to Nowhere?" Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a staunch opponent of pork barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. We can't fault Coburn here, though we normally do. In this case, however, he's dead on. Passing this amendment would be setting a sort of precedent, especially since the two Alaskan bridges are almost totally useless. Said Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), "I don't kid people. . .If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body." The amendment failed, 82-15, and we're nauseated that so many Democrats voted against it. But then, this shows the priorities, and that's a sad, sorry state of affairs.
Colonel Finally Saw Whites of Their Eyes. Look, we'd love to say that we're excited that Colonel Larry Wilkerson (Colin Powell's #2 at the State Department) came out and blasted the administration for their hijacking of the national agenda and subsequent lies to the American public. But isn't it too little too late? It's fantastic that Wilkerson feels that he needs to be loyal to the public, but did he have to wait two and a half years to do it?
Editorials
'Hidden Scandal' in Miller Story, Charges Former CBS Newsman. Frankly, there are enough overt scandals in the Judy Miller story to make our heads spin. But it's important not to get tangled in the web of deceit surrounding the White House's campaign to drag us into war. Every little bit of light that gets shed on these criminals gives us more insight into the depths of their deception, and should heighten our resolve to make sure it never happens again. Former CBS National Security Correspondent Bill Lynch highlights one particular piece of information that may have slipped through the cracks in all the hubbub: "[T]hat is Ms. Miller's revelation that she was granted a DoD security clearance while embedded with the WMD search team in Iraq in 2003." Think about this for a second. Journalists are supposed to report information to the public. But if she obtained information via a clearance, then clearly that information should not have been shared with the public. So why did she get the clearance? What was her motivation in obtaining it? What was the motivation of the people who granted it to her? Concludes Lynch: "In my opinion, Miller also violated her duty to report the truth by accepting a binding obligation to withhold key facts the government deems secret, even when that information might contradict the reportable 'facts.'"
The Iraq War Runs through It. As we watch the soap opera that is Plamegate unfold, it's important to remember that while we sit here and chortle with glee over the possible indictments of Rove and Libby, while we sit here and lament Valerie Plame's lost career and Joe Wilson's unconscionable treatment, Sydney H. Schanberg reminds us that this whole thing started with Iraq, and Americans are still dying over there. Schanberg summarizes Plamegate, but he couldn't be more right with his closing lines: "What I find fascinating is that we're about to learn what happens when you bamboozle the public with empty words and false image - instead of trusting them with the truth, or something close to it. So then it becomes a game wrapped in a hoax - and the only goal is to get elected, not do what's good for the country. And with a war, lots of people die. There's got to be some penalty for "leaders" who play that game - perhaps something more than a permanent blot on their record."
Blogger Commentary
What's the Difference Between a Liberal and a Progressive? Now that's a good question, David Sirota! Thanks for asking it, and answering it. We're sure some of you are wondering the same thing. Liberals have been demonized over the past decade or so, although using Sirota's definition, it seems pretty easy to understand how that happened; he sees liberals as people who want to use taxpayer money to better society. And while that's a noble cause, throw enough P.R. money around, and all of a sudden you get "tax-and-spend" liberals. He sees progressives as people who see a bigger picture, and want to use government authority to "make large institutions play by a set of rules." Of course, these groups aren't mutually exclusive - many progressives are liberals as well, but the distinction is interesting. Do you agree with it? It is important to realize that progressive isn't just some term we made up to run away from the "liberal" label. What are you? What does your designation, whatever it is, mean to you?
This Is How Republicans Support Our Troops. Put aside the fact that most Republicans who trumpet the war won't enlist to fight in it, and put aside the fact that at the pro-war rally in DC this month, only 400 people showed up. Instead, you need look no further then then 109th Congress to see exactly how Republicans, who ran in 2004 ona ticket of soldier support, don't give a damn about our troops. Soldiers wounded in the line of duty (and not properly armored by our cash-strapped military) receiving bills while in the hospital recouperating. Senate Republicans voting against body armor, health care and veteran's benefits for soldiers. It's obvious that Republicans love to talk the talk, but they never walk the walk, and it's high time we made them, or kick them out when they don't.
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December 29, 2005
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Saturday's Links
Activism
Activate ActBlue in OH, PA, TX, FL, and MT. ActBlue is a powerful fundraising powerhouse. They're an organization that wants to "enable anyone — individuals, grassroots groups, and millions-strong organizations...to fundraise for the Democratic candidates and causes of their choice." So far, they've been quite successful. If you'd like, you can even get your own account to support the candidates that you want to promote. Previously, ActBlue was only set up to support candidates for national office. But that's changing. They're working to get "activated" in the five states mentioned above. Once that happens, that will mean: "Every Democratic candidate for every state legislative and executive office can immediately accept contributions online." and "Every supporter can immediately fundraise online for the Democratic candidates and party committees of their choice." They've chosen five important states. If you can help them, please do so! This is a fantastic way to combat the GOP money machine.
News
Test Scores Move Little in Math, Reading. For most things, the evidence that Bush screwed up is quite palpable. But the jury's been out for No Child Left Behind for quite a while now. Oh, sure, we've heard from people opposed to it in principle, and we've seen states get exemptions because it truly is an unfunded mandate. But now we have evidence that it's really not working all that well. Of course, the Bush Administration did the only thing it knows how to do in the face of bad news: Spin and distort the information presented: "Bush called the report 'encouraging' and emphasized that the numbers showed a narrowing of the achievement gap between white and minority students." But even NCLB supporters are finally admitting the plan might not be working: " 'No one can be satisfied with these results,' said Ross Wiener, policy director for the Education Trust, an advocacy organization that backed No Child." Well, no one except for President Bush, that is. (By the way, a little bonus coverage - hint of the GOP's attack strategy in '08. Remember that Dean warned in '06 and '08, the strategy would be to attack immigrants? Well, here it is, buried in this article: "...others point to the nation's changing school demographics, which show a doubling of the number of Hispanic students in the last 15 years, some of whom may be struggling with the English language. 'These students create enormous labor costs to the schools because they need additional attention'..."
For a Senate Foe of Pork Barrel Spending, Two Bridges Too Far. The absurdity of this story sheds light on the true agenda of most Senators - get re-elected. How else can you explain the spoken desire to cut spending with the vote to keep the "Bridge to Nowhere?" Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a staunch opponent of pork barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. We can't fault Coburn here, though we normally do. In this case, however, he's dead on. Passing this amendment would be setting a sort of precedent, especially since the two Alaskan bridges are almost totally useless. Said Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), "I don't kid people. . .If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body." The amendment failed, 82-15, and we're nauseated that so many Democrats voted against it. But then, this shows the priorities, and that's a sad, sorry state of affairs.
Colonel Finally Saw Whites of Their Eyes. Look, we'd love to say that we're excited that Colonel Larry Wilkerson (Colin Powell's #2 at the State Department) came out and blasted the administration for their hijacking of the national agenda and subsequent lies to the American public. But isn't it too little too late? It's fantastic that Wilkerson feels that he needs to be loyal to the public, but did he have to wait two and a half years to do it?
Editorials
'Hidden Scandal' in Miller Story, Charges Former CBS Newsman. Frankly, there are enough overt scandals in the Judy Miller story to make our heads spin. But it's important not to get tangled in the web of deceit surrounding the White House's campaign to drag us into war. Every little bit of light that gets shed on these criminals gives us more insight into the depths of their deception, and should heighten our resolve to make sure it never happens again. Former CBS National Security Correspondent Bill Lynch highlights one particular piece of information that may have slipped through the cracks in all the hubbub: "[T]hat is Ms. Miller's revelation that she was granted a DoD security clearance while embedded with the WMD search team in Iraq in 2003." Think about this for a second. Journalists are supposed to report information to the public. But if she obtained information via a clearance, then clearly that information should not have been shared with the public. So why did she get the clearance? What was her motivation in obtaining it? What was the motivation of the people who granted it to her? Concludes Lynch: "In my opinion, Miller also violated her duty to report the truth by accepting a binding obligation to withhold key facts the government deems secret, even when that information might contradict the reportable 'facts.'"
The Iraq War Runs through It. As we watch the soap opera that is Plamegate unfold, it's important to remember that while we sit here and chortle with glee over the possible indictments of Rove and Libby, while we sit here and lament Valerie Plame's lost career and Joe Wilson's unconscionable treatment, Sydney H. Schanberg reminds us that this whole thing started with Iraq, and Americans are still dying over there. Schanberg summarizes Plamegate, but he couldn't be more right with his closing lines: "What I find fascinating is that we're about to learn what happens when you bamboozle the public with empty words and false image - instead of trusting them with the truth, or something close to it. So then it becomes a game wrapped in a hoax - and the only goal is to get elected, not do what's good for the country. And with a war, lots of people die. There's got to be some penalty for "leaders" who play that game - perhaps something more than a permanent blot on their record."
Blogger Commentary
What's the Difference Between a Liberal and a Progressive? Now that's a good question, David Sirota! Thanks for asking it, and answering it. We're sure some of you are wondering the same thing. Liberals have been demonized over the past decade or so, although using Sirota's definition, it seems pretty easy to understand how that happened; he sees liberals as people who want to use taxpayer money to better society. And while that's a noble cause, throw enough P.R. money around, and all of a sudden you get "tax-and-spend" liberals. He sees progressives as people who see a bigger picture, and want to use government authority to "make large institutions play by a set of rules." Of course, these groups aren't mutually exclusive - many progressives are liberals as well, but the distinction is interesting. Do you agree with it? It is important to realize that progressive isn't just some term we made up to run away from the "liberal" label. What are you? What does your designation, whatever it is, mean to you?
This Is How Republicans Support Our Troops. Put aside the fact that most Republicans who trumpet the war won't enlist to fight in it, and put aside the fact that at the pro-war rally in DC this month, only 400 people showed up. Instead, you need look no further then then 109th Congress to see exactly how Republicans, who ran in 2004 ona ticket of soldier support, don't give a damn about our troops. Soldiers wounded in the line of duty (and not properly armored by our cash-strapped military) receiving bills while in the hospital recouperating. Senate Republicans voting against body armor, health care and veteran's benefits for soldiers. It's obvious that Republicans love to talk the talk, but they never walk the walk, and it's high time we made them, or kick them out when they don't.
|
December 29, 2005
Activate ActBlue in OH, PA, TX, FL, and MT. ActBlue is a powerful fundraising powerhouse. They're an organization that wants to "enable anyone — individuals, grassroots groups, and millions-strong organizations...to fundraise for the Democratic candidates and causes of their choice." So far, they've been quite successful. If you'd like, you can even get your own account to support the candidates that you want to promote. Previously, ActBlue was only set up to support candidates for national office. But that's changing. They're working to get "activated" in the five states mentioned above. Once that happens, that will mean: "Every Democratic candidate for every state legislative and executive office can immediately accept contributions online." and "Every supporter can immediately fundraise online for the Democratic candidates and party committees of their choice." They've chosen five important states. If you can help them, please do so! This is a fantastic way to combat the GOP money machine.
News
Test Scores Move Little in Math, Reading. For most things, the evidence that Bush screwed up is quite palpable. But the jury's been out for No Child Left Behind for quite a while now. Oh, sure, we've heard from people opposed to it in principle, and we've seen states get exemptions because it truly is an unfunded mandate. But now we have evidence that it's really not working all that well. Of course, the Bush Administration did the only thing it knows how to do in the face of bad news: Spin and distort the information presented: "Bush called the report 'encouraging' and emphasized that the numbers showed a narrowing of the achievement gap between white and minority students." But even NCLB supporters are finally admitting the plan might not be working: " 'No one can be satisfied with these results,' said Ross Wiener, policy director for the Education Trust, an advocacy organization that backed No Child." Well, no one except for President Bush, that is. (By the way, a little bonus coverage - hint of the GOP's attack strategy in '08. Remember that Dean warned in '06 and '08, the strategy would be to attack immigrants? Well, here it is, buried in this article: "...others point to the nation's changing school demographics, which show a doubling of the number of Hispanic students in the last 15 years, some of whom may be struggling with the English language. 'These students create enormous labor costs to the schools because they need additional attention'..."
For a Senate Foe of Pork Barrel Spending, Two Bridges Too Far. The absurdity of this story sheds light on the true agenda of most Senators - get re-elected. How else can you explain the spoken desire to cut spending with the vote to keep the "Bridge to Nowhere?" Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a staunch opponent of pork barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. We can't fault Coburn here, though we normally do. In this case, however, he's dead on. Passing this amendment would be setting a sort of precedent, especially since the two Alaskan bridges are almost totally useless. Said Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), "I don't kid people. . .If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body." The amendment failed, 82-15, and we're nauseated that so many Democrats voted against it. But then, this shows the priorities, and that's a sad, sorry state of affairs.
Colonel Finally Saw Whites of Their Eyes. Look, we'd love to say that we're excited that Colonel Larry Wilkerson (Colin Powell's #2 at the State Department) came out and blasted the administration for their hijacking of the national agenda and subsequent lies to the American public. But isn't it too little too late? It's fantastic that Wilkerson feels that he needs to be loyal to the public, but did he have to wait two and a half years to do it?
Editorials
'Hidden Scandal' in Miller Story, Charges Former CBS Newsman. Frankly, there are enough overt scandals in the Judy Miller story to make our heads spin. But it's important not to get tangled in the web of deceit surrounding the White House's campaign to drag us into war. Every little bit of light that gets shed on these criminals gives us more insight into the depths of their deception, and should heighten our resolve to make sure it never happens again. Former CBS National Security Correspondent Bill Lynch highlights one particular piece of information that may have slipped through the cracks in all the hubbub: "[T]hat is Ms. Miller's revelation that she was granted a DoD security clearance while embedded with the WMD search team in Iraq in 2003." Think about this for a second. Journalists are supposed to report information to the public. But if she obtained information via a clearance, then clearly that information should not have been shared with the public. So why did she get the clearance? What was her motivation in obtaining it? What was the motivation of the people who granted it to her? Concludes Lynch: "In my opinion, Miller also violated her duty to report the truth by accepting a binding obligation to withhold key facts the government deems secret, even when that information might contradict the reportable 'facts.'"
The Iraq War Runs through It. As we watch the soap opera that is Plamegate unfold, it's important to remember that while we sit here and chortle with glee over the possible indictments of Rove and Libby, while we sit here and lament Valerie Plame's lost career and Joe Wilson's unconscionable treatment, Sydney H. Schanberg reminds us that this whole thing started with Iraq, and Americans are still dying over there. Schanberg summarizes Plamegate, but he couldn't be more right with his closing lines: "What I find fascinating is that we're about to learn what happens when you bamboozle the public with empty words and false image - instead of trusting them with the truth, or something close to it. So then it becomes a game wrapped in a hoax - and the only goal is to get elected, not do what's good for the country. And with a war, lots of people die. There's got to be some penalty for "leaders" who play that game - perhaps something more than a permanent blot on their record."
Blogger Commentary
What's the Difference Between a Liberal and a Progressive? Now that's a good question, David Sirota! Thanks for asking it, and answering it. We're sure some of you are wondering the same thing. Liberals have been demonized over the past decade or so, although using Sirota's definition, it seems pretty easy to understand how that happened; he sees liberals as people who want to use taxpayer money to better society. And while that's a noble cause, throw enough P.R. money around, and all of a sudden you get "tax-and-spend" liberals. He sees progressives as people who see a bigger picture, and want to use government authority to "make large institutions play by a set of rules." Of course, these groups aren't mutually exclusive - many progressives are liberals as well, but the distinction is interesting. Do you agree with it? It is important to realize that progressive isn't just some term we made up to run away from the "liberal" label. What are you? What does your designation, whatever it is, mean to you?
This Is How Republicans Support Our Troops. Put aside the fact that most Republicans who trumpet the war won't enlist to fight in it, and put aside the fact that at the pro-war rally in DC this month, only 400 people showed up. Instead, you need look no further then then 109th Congress to see exactly how Republicans, who ran in 2004 ona ticket of soldier support, don't give a damn about our troops. Soldiers wounded in the line of duty (and not properly armored by our cash-strapped military) receiving bills while in the hospital recouperating. Senate Republicans voting against body armor, health care and veteran's benefits for soldiers. It's obvious that Republicans love to talk the talk, but they never walk the walk, and it's high time we made them, or kick them out when they don't.
