| Phew. Politics. Phew. |
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| Written by OHmommy | |
| Saturday, 24 October 2009 00:00 | |
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Why now? Why politics again? Because the situation, at hand, has become quite comical to me.
People across the nation have openly bashed conservatism and the questions that many respectful republican citizens have asked the current administration. Why? Because it goes against our leader's ideas and it seems as if everyone else is under Obama's trance unwilling to look at what is really going on. (Stop rolling your eyes at me - I can see that - I do have a point) As one of the most liberal American leader, to date, Obama has asked Americans to email The White House with fishy accusations and recently attempted to delegitimize Fox news channel (his White House press secretary Robert Gibbs stated it was because "that's our opinion)." I can only imagine the field day NBC, CBS, and ABC would have on this, if the tables were turned. Never in our history has a president, who vowed to be a transparent leader, asked to stop a media source because it's was against his "opinion."
The government of socialist President Hugo Chavez has recently cracked down on the media too, closing 200 radio stations many of which in his own words were "sick" and encouraged that viewers "turn off the illness." Because they ultimately did not support him or his opinions and caused "his" people to needlessly worry about things that were accusations.
How dare I compare Obama to Chavez? Both men got upset when media, whatever format, started to spread "criticism" about them and threatened to shut down the source. I don't care what the media source is and what the message they were spreading; this country was founded on the freedom of speech. My parents and I left our birth country that silenced my father's political views. How could this be happening here, a silencing of opposing opinions? Leave it up to the people to research and decide on their own. That is the most beautiful part of living in a true democracy and should never be silenced.
It's almost as if the Obama has assumed a Nixonian paranoia thinking that everyone on the other side is against him. Our rich history is full of stories of citizens criticizing our presidents. Get over it Obama and start making the changes you promised! You have the majority of votes to make things happen!!! I, as a conservative, forced my child to watch TV on the day of the inauguration knowing very well that history was made. I was proud. Only thing now is that, nothing has really changed and the actions of the administration are causing me super paranoia of a socialist government to come. I. Am. Afraid. Nothing has happened but the nit-picking of people opposing in opinions.
Perhaps the only liberal journalist that actually senses trouble in the administration is ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper. The rest of the journalist fill mainstream media with rainbows and unicorns stifling the majority of Amercian's political curiosity. Even sites like BlogHer, a community I am very proud to be a part of for women who blog, is headquartered in the uber-liberal San Francisco and continues to fill their site with predominately liberal sources in regards to politics. They recently interviewed Nancy Pelosi (democrat, the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, also from San Francisco). Woot. Woot. To woman in power! But, boo on Pelosi and her extreme views who never actually answered pressing questions posed by my fellow bloggers while on conference call with www.blogher.com. But I digress.
Gah. I've had enough. There are so many things happening within the current administration that I'm not cool with. I am in the vast minority online. I know this. No need for me to hide behind my computer screen because that would do no good for my children. What would I be teaching them? If you disagree with the leader just silence yourself and play along with the majority because they might be right? I am not okay with where the current administration is leading us.
I am following in my father's foot steps, voicing my opinion out loud, questioning the politics of our great nation and in hopes that it will bring answers. Or changes. I don't know what else to say. I am just very distraught tonight and have been holding it in for some time now. Hoping I don't end up in Siberia. Phew. |
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 13 May 2010 19:56 |
Comments
You are so inspiring and I am so glad to see someone not be a blind sheep!
We may disagree on things but you certainly haven't lost me as a reader.
As for HC reform, I'm still torn. Much like you husband.
Bravo to you for using your voice to ask them.
Apparently we need to start talking politics during gymnastics :-)
Personally, I prefer the transparency.
I think, as a whole, we Americans have the mistaken idea that we are "free". While we do indeed have certain freedoms that other countries do not, we are far from free. We live in an illusion of freedom, and everyone seems to have their own interpretation of it.
I understand your frustration, as I to am frustrated, but for very different reasons.
Frankly, I'd love to move to Canada.
Think we can arrange something?
I applaud your voice, and I'm glad you have one. That - is something we better not ever lose in this country and I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure it stays that way.
I agree with you on this subject, and I'll be linking to this post soon. Thank you for having your voice!!
and just fyi,the president does not hate white people like Kanye said GW hated black people.but being the free america we live in,we still watch box news and buy Kanye's music."We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." The government is made of We the people.
Bravo to you for forcing your kid to watch history - I gave mine a choice.
Just like Obama is a leader and should take advantage of having the majority of votes and DO things instead of worry about media. THAT is my point. What a joke it is that he is worried about opposing opinions.
Take a stance. Have a opinion. Stop with your ad hominem arguments and attack the issues not the people.
I'm not a conservative and I have worked for Rahm Emanuel for a couple years.
It sounds like you might have something interesting to add to the argument so by all means add it!
Name calling is such a conservative move and so 2000-2008!
Well, I find it disheartening that the administration is trying to ostracize conservatives and Fox news. Conservative, Liberal, or Independent, we are all Americans and have the inherent responsibility of criticizing anything we deem unjust.
I'm not a fan of the Glenn Beck's, Ann Coulter's, or the Al Franken's but I would never tell people not to listen to them because I disagree.
It's just Un-American.
How is the Administration trying to ostracize conservatives?
I haven't been able to find one statement by the Administration that outright states or insinuates that Americans should not criticize the government. If, however, you would like quotes from the Bush Administration verbalizing those thoughts let me know!
Here's the quote from President Obama:
"I think what our advisers have simply said is that we are going to take media as it comes," Obama told NBC's Savannah Guthrie. "And if media is operating basically as a talk radio format then that's one thing, and if it's operating as a news outlet that's another. But it's not something I'm losing sleep over."
www.cbsnews.com/.../main5415921.shtml
Your first link is an article that paints the comments as trying to "undermine" conservatives. I disagree - I think they are calling it like they see it.
That said, I do understand where you are coming from. Regardless I would much prefer the current situation to the past:
www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3812
The second link is basically stating that the whole dust-up is benefitting Fox financially!
Never in our history has a president, who vowed to be a transparent leader, asked to stop a media source because it's was against his "opinion."
Has any other President vowed to be transparent?
Leave it up to the people to research and decide on their own.
Right, and that is what Fox *claims* to do, & yet they have been caught in ludicrous lies, many times, deliberately spinning stories WAY far to the right. Now, granted, some or many of these websites will have a liberal bias, but: google "fox news caught lying". Tons of results. If you sub in "abc", there are a tenth as many results: nearly 65k vs. ~6k. NOW, google results don't have to be the end-all and be-all, and certainly, as you said, you are in the minority online, so that makes sense that there would be more anti-fox websites.
Really all he has done is exactly what you have done - he stated his opinion.
Opinion that Fox "News" is not a legitimate news source.
There is no censoring going on. No threats of censorship. No revocation of press passes. NOTHING but a stated opinion,
I have read many stories of the current health care system letting people down, terribly. It is so NOT right that people can lose their homes or life savings because of a medical accident!
Anyhow, I applaud you for saying your piece; for bravely linking to it in a liberal-leaning community. &, indeed, I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it, quite vigilantly!
Jeremiah, just above me in comments, made a great point: "how quick did we forget the last 8 years or better yet the last 30 years"
So, indeed: what is this ideal America of which you speak? Have you seen it in the last 8 or 30 years? As far as I've seen, Obama has greatly increased our liberties as compared to his predecessors!
He's still got a ways to go, clearly, but it takes time to clear away the muck that Bush instituted.
I hope we get some good news soon. The passing of the Matthew Shepard act today was quite heartening, for me.
Kudos to you for writing this. I wish more people had the courage to stand up and speak out.
Thank you
I think we all know that this is not how censorship works. Call me once O'Reilly has been disappeared.
(and good luck getting rid of me as a reader, Comrade. Not going to happen.)
Like when SNL did the Obama skit last week and I tweeted how funny it was and a flood of tweets from liberals came in saying that were not amused. OMG. Are people serious?
What threat was verbalized?
I would love to see a quote.
Regardless, I would rather deal with someone's known opinions than the insidiousness of "managing the media", pretending that nothing is wrong all the while punishing with silence.
times are scary. i worry for my children what they are inheriting and if there will be anything worth salvaging when it's over.
I watched Campbell Brown the other day when this Fox business started and she laughed while saying that Fox didn't do serious news like them. Directly after? A story about Miley Cyrus and Twitter. When Michael Moore was on CNN- somehow everyone was totally okay with his statement that as a democracy we should spread wealth around to everyone. No questions were asked, he was just allowed to spew propaganda. Now that's what I call hard hitting, non biased news. Yeah right.
When you are the President, you are the President of everyone. Not just the ones that watch the news shows that love everything you do. By alienating Fox, you are also alienating a large part of your country. Here's to equality, right?
To me, the worst part is that when anyone is critical of the administration, they open themselves up to being labeled a racist. It is assumed that because I disagree with Obama in pretty much all policy areas, I must be a racist. They can not look past the fact that it's not the color of his skin, it's the color of his policies. They seem to forget that I could have carefully considered his views, regardless of his color. I'm surprised no one has gone there with this post, but I see it coming your way.
Whatever your thoughts are, you need to voice them. I don't care if you are pro or against. This country is great because of the good People, not the government.
Way to stand up and keep standing tall.
Great, well thought out, well linked post.
The fact that the President has an opinion about a news source that he makes public scares you?
You do realize that that Fox News was called out on not being a legitimate news source - that's it.
When the last Bush Administration was "reigning" they didn't vocalize anything, they just did. Like when they would appear on Fox and no other news channel.
Here's an interesting article you might like:
www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3812
To me, though, regardless of whether you agree with the party in office or not, questioning their decisions and the motives behind them is 100% essential. It isn't about being for or against them, it's about making sure that they ALWAYS have the country's best interests in mind. I'm pretty conservative in my views, but I was not terribly worried when he took office. The longer he's in, the more worried I get.
Obama was not who I voted for(neither was McCain FTR) and there are a lot of issues I disagree with him on.
The same could be said for Fox News. There are a lot of issues I disagree with them on. I can't watch anything beyond headlines on that channel or my blood pressure sky rockets.
HOWEVER...calling for the silencing of a news outlet (however biased and untrustworthy may find it) is against the principles we were founded on. Not Christianity, but Freedom. Freedom of speech, Freedom of press...freedom to know wtf our gov't is up to.
But I see I've stepped on my soapbox, so allow me to hop off, and reassure you that I won't make fun of the fact that you watch Fox...much:p
I really and truly think that people who get all their news from Fox are about as educated as people who get their news from The Onion (and I include my parents in this group). I mean come on, what other "news" channel has organized protests against any administration? If they want to be thought of as a legitimate news organization then they need to act like one.
But, Obama is the "the most liberal American leader to date"? To quote Inigo Montoya "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." I'm pretty sure that title goes to FDR with LBJ following... I think even Carter was more Liberal then Obama is. While he may be in the top 10 liberal presidents there is no way he is the most liberal. And, the guy doesn't even have a year in office under his belt yet - to declare him the "most", "best" or "worst" in anything while other presidents served a full 4-8 years is impossible. ...
I was scared for the future of our country when GWB and Co. steamrolled a push to war in Iraq…For a long time I was unsure if I even wanted to have children in a country where the decision of putting the lives of our volunteer military in danger is based on lies and spin. I protested against the war at every chance I had. I wrote letters, I called congress, I spoke with my vote at as much as I could. I was scared for the future when that administration continued to alienate the US from our foreign friends. I was scared for the future when that administration contented to cut funding for programs and protections for the poorest among us at the same time as they gave enormous tax cuts the the uber-weathly. I was scared for the future when they weakened and eliminated laws in place for years that protected our environment and our shared National spaces.
But now? We have an administration that wants to reduce the military presence in a part of the world that was never a threat and finally concentrate on an area that is. It gives me hope that this administration has worked very hard and has gotten farther then any previous administration in making real and necessary changes to how we pay for healthcare. It makes me proud that they have taken broad strokes returning morals to our military and it's treatment of prisoners. I feel safe in the work they are doing to repair broken ties to other countries and to see them build new bridges.
Are you sure about that? Because my brother shipped out just last Friday for a 15 month tour in Iraq (I assume that is the non-threatening part of the world that you were referring to). And our military has been asking Obama to send back up troops to Afghanistan and he has been delaying - while our soldiers wait and continue to fight and die without their necessary resources. Police officers don't even go in without enough back up. That looks like the opposite of what you just descirbed.
"At a House Appropritions subcommittee hearing Sept. 24, 2003, Army Gen. John Abizaid, chief of the U.S. Central Command, did not dispute the estimate that 40,000 troops were without the newer design, and said the $300 million was needed to buy more of the vests.
Abizaid: Now, I can't answer for the record why we started this war with protective vests that were in short supply. But I can tell you that by November, every soldier that's serving in Iraq will have one. It's very important."
It can hardly be categorized as "convenient", it's a fact.
If I understand you correctly we can only look to the present and we can't look to history?
Which mistakes are the Obama administration making that make you feel badly?
When was Iraq a threatening part of the world to the US? Was it when we invaded and occupied the country AFTER our government conspired to lie to their people and the world?
It may be a threatening part of the world now but certainly we must be willing to take responsibility for that.
The fact that the Bush administration lied in order to occupy and invade a country, at least in part for profit (Blackwater), that it is hardly convenient but morally reprehensible. That they did not ensure that those fighting for their profit were not protected is a travesty and something that should never be forgotten.
You do fail to mention (or answer) that I did ask you what mistakes you feel that the Obama administration is making that make you feel badly?
We (not just you and I but we as a community, a group of people, those being represented) can never have a productive dialog without facts.
As to the "you started it" feeling that you may perceive, I think it is exasperation that it took 8 YEARS to get us into this multi-faceted nightmare. We heard no voices of dissent from Bush supporters only undying support. People that did speak up were called unpatriotic, traitors, told to leave, told that they were supporting "the enemy", etc...
Now that we have a new President of 9 MONTHS people somehow are shocked that things aren't different, are pissed when changes are proposed, don't want to look back at the role they played in the creation of this mess.
So I am assuming this is what you are referring to:
"...our military has been asking Obama to send back up troops to Afghanistan and he has been delaying."
I'm sure that you couldn't have forgotten that more troops were sent to Afghanistan earlier this year under the Obama administration.
I'm sure that you understand that the military has been asking for more troops to Afghanistan almost from the beginning.
I'm sure that you remember that the military was taxed when we invaded and occupied Iraq.
I'm sure you realize that this "war" against an unknown enemy has been going on for 7 years.
continued below...
Stephanie (Part 2),
I hope you have read history and realize that the problems in this region began a long long time ago. The US involvement in the region in the '80's is the basis for the current cluster-f*#@.
I want to believe that you had reservations about our country attacking another without basis. The Afghani people did NOT attack our country. The power vacuum, devastation and empty promises that we left in the '80's allowed for Bin Laden to grow from an ardent supporter of the US to one who wanted to fight back.
I am sure that you must be following the current news that the latest election has been another cluster f#*% and sending in more troops without a proper government in place might very well possibly cause even more deaths.
I can only assume that you understand that the larger issue is way past black and white.
This you might really be interested in:
news.yahoo.com/.../usafghanistanmilitarytroops
In addition to the troop surge earlier in the year (21,000), another 13,000 were just approved (10/13/09) by Obama.
Side rant: I don't think we should call them troops. I think that this is a convenient euphemism to make us forget that troops are soldiers. When "troops" are attacked, killed or put in harms way it doesn't outrage us like it would it were reported that soldiers died, etc...
"Nie z zajmuj sie tym bo sie nie znasz"
"My" sie na tym znamy i my Tobie powiemy czym masz sie zajmowac i gdzie jest Twoje miejsce.
Alez wlasnie Ona sie tym zajmuje,przyszloscia "branzy "cloth" i przyszloscia swoich dzieci.
Przeciez jak sie tym nie zajmie to niedlugo bedziemy chodzic ubrani jednakowo, bo bedzie tylko jedna "prawidlowa" fabryka Odziezowa (Cloth),jedna prawidlowa szkola, jedn ":dobry lekarz" ,jedna telewizja jeden "Wielki Przywodca",ktorego nie mozna krytykowac.
To idzie i tylko takie glosy ja Ten moze cos zmienic i nie dopuscic do tego ze bedziemy "przyjaciolmi dla nieprzyjaciol"
He then said that in socialist Poland there was only one "right" brand of clothing, one "right" school, one "right" doctor. It was those things that could not be criticized.
I love that your dad just gave someone the smack down in polish
Sincerely
Thepsychobabble
This political environment right now is charged big time. There is such an extreme arc to where people fall and everyone is getting all worked up so quickly.
I hope Obama makes better changes. Right now, I don't know if it will happen.
I know you're aware of the lies that are being perpetrated as TRUTH by Fox news, The Drudge Report, and other so called 'news sources' that conservatives/republicans turn to and repeat not as OPINION, but as FACT. And it's not.
Obama is not trying to shut them up, he's trying to make sure that he is able to address them and make sure people know what's REALLY going on. No one's going after bloggers or trying to shut down Fox News. I think it's a GREAT thing that he's trying to make sure his public knows the truth and this obviously IS in the interest of transparency.
This post, and the last post in which you mentioned this, it just fuels the fire and spreads more lies. Whether you intend it or not. And this has nothing to do with me being liberal, this is just me hating that people are twisting this.
Ok. Love you!
Im not trying to do anything here but merely posting my honest opinion. The links I included are all credible sources. I want Obama to succeed. Im just not happy with where I think things are going.
Ok. I love you more!
Fox is not a NEWS source, it is an ENTERTAINMENT source. If Fox is given access to the White House Press so too should The Daily Show.
The Bush Administration was brilliantly subtle with their disdain for reporters - with any hard hitting questions, they just didn't call on them. Of course, it's easy to be called out for freezing reporters out so the best solution was to hold fewer (almost no) press conferences!
One other thing, you have voiced your dissenting opinion,. You have received "bravo" and "kudos" for doing so.
When citizens voiced their dissenting opinion from 2000-2008 they didn't hear "bravo" they heard "you unpatriotic bitch, leave if you don't like it!".
That right there is a change I think everyone can appreciate!
Very well said. And extremely good point.
I recently declared my opinion that Barack Obama is incredibly similar to Benito Mussolini and that made some people real mad, but you know what, he is, so, I'm going to say it. You can disagree if you want and that is your right, but it is my right to dislike him and recognize his fascist tendencies.
I didn't vote for him.
I love America. You are so right. We lose our freedom when we don't fight to keep it. So keep stating your opinion!!!
I'm curious, is this something you have been concerned about since the the Patriot Act was enacted in 2001?
What about when President Bush signed it into law in 2006? Were you protesting, worried, blogging and speaking up it then?
I'm also curious, what freedoms exactly are slipping away now?
And this is an honest to goodness question that I hope will not offend you...
Is your blog sponsored at all by anyone? Are you paid for ads, etc.?
I admit I do lean more towards the liberal column but I do have some views that are moderate, a few that could even be construed as conservative too -although some of my conservatism tends towards money issues but definitely not those espoused of a social nature. I believe whole-heartedly in Gay Rights, also in the freedom of choice for women.
I know there is a drastic need for changes to be made to our healthcare system -DRASTIC changes!
In the meantime, keep talking, Pauline. Don't shut yourself down and stifle your beliefs, your opinions. I, like most everyone else who comes to visit your place, sure as Hell wouldn't desert you for speaking your piece, your mind, opinion, etc! (Sorry for writing a book here -but this was something I HAD to respond to and you know me by now, the longest-winded commenter ever, maybe.)
Peace!
When I criticized President Bush I was instantly "unpatriotic"- the word of the administration themselves.
Yes. There is a Liberal majority and from what I've seen President Obama is urging them to vote and pass the ideals you are talking about. This comes down to those Congresspeople to stand up and Act. The President is ONE branch and we have 3 governing branches. It's time to be mad at our own representative and tell them we want change.
I think I'll shut up now. Please know that despite my being far left and your conservative beliefs, I do not unsubscribe to your blog for that reason. I love that I live in a place that we can openly discuss and disagree. I respect your opinion and the fact you take stands against for what you personally believe in.
Pauline, what a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately the silencing of Fox and conservative talk radio is just the tip of the iceberg. We now have czars that have been appointed to offices with NO Congressional oversight. What Wall Street executives did to make our economy tank should be criminal, but to now have a "Pay Czar" dictating how much they can earn is the beginning to them dictating what we can earn. Kenneth Fienberg said yesterday, " That he believes that every publicly traded company's executives pay should be regulated." Sadly this redistribution of wealth is exactly what our founders warned against and has failed every where in the world it has been tried and yet it seems as though our government is going to try to shove it down our throats. Where is the tipping point? When are we as a freedom loving nation going to wake up to what's happening around us? It blows my mind that there are those that don't see it. I understand it more here in Communist California where the Government employees, utilities, water and electric, not to mention our State legislators vote themselves raises and unsustainable pensions and never really produce anything. I don't know where the tipping point is. I do know this, I will be attending the next TEA PARTY in our area. I encourage everyone that is as fed up with what's happening to this Country as Pauline, myself and a growing number of Americans to stand up and be heard. TIPPED OFF!
There is no silencing going on. The Administration took a stance about an entertainment program disguising itself as a news program.
Talk radio was only referred to as comparing Fox "News" to talk radio.
President Richard Nixon appointed the first "Czar" - really a special advisor which now had a new name. I believe that President G.W. Bush appointed 47 Czars.
Is the idea of a Czar or special council all of the sudden distasteful? Why?
Why were the companies whose executive pay was cut targeted? Oh yeah, they took government money instead of going bankrupt. They have not yet paid back that money. They have made no moves toward change. They have the people's money and the people deserve better.
I tried to find the quote you refer to made by Kenneth Fienberg yesterday. Can't find it. Would you provide a link?
Where were these people who are all of the sudden concerned about change and their fears how these changes are impacting freedoms during the Bush/Cheney years?
Patriot Act? Patriot Act that became law? Illegal war? The President lying to the American people and people dying as a result? Budget surplus depleted? Bush tax rebate? I could go on but I'll stop myself!
I live in California too. I'm shocked that in your critique you leave out the ridiculous recall of Davis (Democrat) and the mess that Schwarzenegger (Republican) has all too happily created.
Facts can be scary - sorry!
I stand corrected-it was Sen. Schumer. (Reference finance.yahoo.com/.../... )
Arnold is no Conservative,never has been, nor is CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC or MSN any more Journalistic than Fox, they just happen to worship the current administration. Back to Arnold, our communist legislature is a much larger part of the problem than an ineffective Governor whose biggest concern is being liked and making everyone happy.
As far as the pay cuts go, rather than cut the pay of the crooked top twenty five, why have they not been fired? More importantly, if our government has the power to dictate wages in the private sector, (oh I forgot these institutions are no longer private sector as they are owned by the government,)what's to say that that middle managers won't be next? What about the obscene amount of money that athletes or entertainers make? Fiscally irresponsible airline executives? Where does it end? It's a slippery slope.
Ok, throw all the bad guys out. How are you going to attract this country's best and brightest to lead the largest companies when they have no incentive going in knowing their income is capped. There is no profit motive.
continued...
Schwarzenegger isn't a conservative? Repealing the "car tax"; no increased tax rates (the emergency reimplementation of the car tax 5 years later not withstanding). Let's just say I beg to differ.
Calling the legislature communist is just a way to shut down an argument. That type of fear mongering is designed for bullys. If you have something to say (like facts) say it.
So you are arguing that the pay cuts weren't enough? You'd rather the government fired them?
The obscene amount of money anyone makes isn't an issue unless they are given a government bailout.
I wouldn't label executives that ran companies into the ground and required billions and billions of dollars to keep afloat "the best and the brightest". I wouldn't hire them to run a dog walking service.
The profit motive comes in stock incentives.
As a scary Liberal, I don't have blind faith in my government, which is why I'm ACTIVE in my government.
As for your comment earlier, I reiterate: NO ONE is silencing Fox. Last I checked their FCC clearance has not been yanked nor their station taken over by scary liberals.
Do you believe that if McCain had been elected that there would have been a 10 day economic turn-around?
I would love to see links to your posts & comments from September, October & November of 2008 crying foul over the Bush bailouts.
Then, trying to have a legitimate and knowledgeable discussion with a school of minority students (obv, as a white teacher) re: the president. So very hard! It ALWAYS seems like it is a race issues.
So, please, please continue following in your father's footsteps!
I would hope, as a teacher, you would be able to have a discussion about anyone with anyone without it being about race issues.
That really doesn't make sense unless that is something you are bringing to the table.
NEVER stop speaking your mind, NEVER.
I, too, am scared of the direction that this country has taken and I continue to be amazed at the people that continually sing the praises of the current administration. I find it amusing that they've made it their personal mission to bring Fox News down. Don't we have more pressing matters at hand?
I admire the President and First Lady for wanting change. We ALL want change. I just don't think this is the best way to get it.
When you say "this" (as in "I don't this this is the best way to get it), what exactly are you referring to?
I do respectfully disagree with this particular opinion...but I see the points you're making and think it's great that you're passionate about it. I love a good debate on politics! And I think we should all feel very lucky that we're allowed to have that right. I wish more people actually put this much thought into their political stance.
Don't listen to people that say stupid crap like "stick to writing about kids and clothes."
To all of the commenters who are scared about the direction of this nation I will tell you about scared. My husband has been deployed for 3 of the 6 years that we have been married. I often go to bed wondering if my sweet baby daughter will know her dad.
Last week 8 American soldiers died in Afghanistan. Fox gave the fallen soldiers a quick 10 second mention, and proceeded to give the woman who gave birth in her sweatpants mere minutes of air time. Luckily I only encounter Fox news at the gym.
Maybe you should stick to writing posts about your adorable children and being a mom. Just a thought.
I'm glad you voiced your opinion. I voted for this president and was SO very happy to see BUSH fly away from the White House on inauguration day but that doesn't mean I agree with everything this president is doing or will do. Personally, I think our government has some MAJOR issues right now, on both sides of the spectrum and so I pray about it a lot. I know that won't fix things but it certainly won't hurt.
They expressed their opinion that Fox News was not a legitimate news agency.
www.cbsnews.com/.../main5415921.shtml?tag=stack
Were you disgusted when President Bush depleted the budget surplus ($236 billion) left to him?
Were you disgusted with the President Bush cuts ($2.5 trillion so far)?
Were you disgusted to learn that if President Bush had "stayed the course" of what was left to him there would have been a $5.6 trillion surplus?
Were you disgusted with the financial cost ($700 billion thus far) of the war in Iraq?
You and I have talked about this before and you know how I feel. We think a lot alike.
I have been on every single conference call that BlogHer and the Sunlight Foundation have sponsored with our elected officials, including the call with Speaker Pelosi. I was the first one out of the gate to ask her a question and all I got was more of the same. Each call it's been the same. More rhetoric and NO CLEAR ANSWERS!
I have been telling myself that I would write about these calls and my experiences after each one. It still hasn't happened because I'm having a hard time containing my anger at being marginalized by someone with a superiority complex.
I'm in the thick of this health care reform drama and I very much have a dog in this fight. We make great money, as a family, have health insurance, and yet, my illness is bankrupting us...but I don't want what's currently on offer, shoved down my throat because it won't do us any good. Apparently we make too much money, according to Pelosi, et all. Yeah, tell my kids that when we uproot them because we've been foreclosed on.
Medical treatment or our house? No one should have to live this nightmare and no one should have to wonder if their gov't is really being transparent. Period.
www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28532.html
It is really scary all that is going on these days!
Bravo for standing up and speaking out--you must get that for your brave dad
And whether I agree with you or not, I wouldn't stop reading a blog over the writer's political opinion.
Unless it was a political blog. 'cause, well, duh
Is it alright if I blame the flu, the sick children, and the codeine for my total mind melt there?
Which constitutional freedoms are in jeopardy now that Obama is President?
Anyway, well done... I always love your political posts - you do it very well!
Would you please supply a link to the quote you are referring to?
Would you post links to what you found please?
Here are several links:
www.youtube.com/.../ - A video of several occasions he discusses a single payer system
www.youtube.com/.../ - The speech quoted in the above clip
www.youtube.com/.../ - While he "backtracks" here - clearly by the end of his statement he discusses "down the line"
www.youtube.com/.../ - on the Today show during the campaign - Backtracking again.
Clearly he has future plans... I am not so sure that the current proposal IN AND OF ITSELF is so bad, but I am very afraid of the doors that it opens and the future direction that it advocates.
Thanks for the links.
I watched each video in it's entirety trying to find support for what you stated earlier:
"...if the current proposed plan isn't "socialized", its intent is to go in that direction as quoted by Obama himself"
He never states that he wants "socialized" medicine, he states that he is a proponent of a single payer health plan, he stated that if he were building a plan from scratch then he would build it as a single payer system.
Help me out, at what time stamp does Obama state that he wants socialized medicine?
Second, pardon me for not using the appropriate semantics on my first statement that just came off the top of my head, commenting on a blog that I read for entertainment. I should have used the term "single payer system", which whether or not you want to admit to it, would in fact be this country's version of socialized medicine. Is there anyone else that you would speculate to run a single payer system other than our government? Not likely... that would be socialized medicine. So, terminology aside, we are only talking semantics here.
"First of all, you have way to much time on your hands to spend the whole day debating..."
And yet, you are here debating with me. Would you like be the pot or the kettle?!
If I were debating to support your view then I would be "brave" but because you and I don't agree then I have too much time on my hands. Interesting...
I do believe that language is vital, especially in situations like this. If statements that are false are argued then it's all just leading to misunderstanding. When facts are substantiated and then debated, only then can real progress be made.
I don't agree that "single payer system" equals socialized medicine. Of course to have a real debate we would have to define what you mean by "socialized medicine".
What single payer means is publicly funded healthcare.
So in your terminology, the following publicly funded services are our country's version of socialized institutions:
Schools, roads, 9-1-1 operators, police, firefighters, public health officials, transportation, military, broadcasting, utilities, etc...
Are you afraid of the above too? Are you afraid of what they might lead to?
One last comment - And, yes you can fairly call me the kettle - Just know that the comment wasn't meant to be derogatory, I am just blown away by your tenacity and in all fairness, your bravery. Do not assume that I do not think you brave for expressing your opinions. I do not align myself completely with either political party and strive to give respect to all opinions.
On this, I do disagree and while you make a great point in listing publicly funded institutions, there is a difference between publicly funded and publicly run. While a single payer system refers to the funding, who do you think they propose to run it? I highly doubt that it will be anyone but a government agency or someone closely tied to government interest. Yes, that is my own speculation but it is also an example of the doors that open with going down the road towards a single payer system and that is exactly where my fear lies.
As a general rule, I am not overly impressed with much of what the government runs and unless Obama overhauls everyone, kicks them out and a whole new set of lawmakers is elected, I do not see that my opinion will change.
As far as I am concerned the jury is out. The one thing I do know is that I NEVER want to see the day come that I don't have fair options and choice in the healthcare I receive - I do not want the government to make my medical decisions for me.
Thanks for the debate and asking tough questions - I respect your opinion as I hope you can respect mine.
If you don't want someone making your healthcare decisions, should I assume you do not have health insurance? Because they are the ones deciding right now and they have to make a profit, it's not evil, it's just the way it is right now. But people are dying because of it. Something has to change, something big.
In addition to people dying, people are going bankrupt because of this and ending up in such dire health that the government has to step in and cover them!
I saw a piece about a man who had a job but no health insurance - he could not afford it nor could he get subsidized care because he made too much money. He could not get treatment for his diabetes. He ended up blind and losing a kidney. Now he is covered by 2 government policies and he can no longer work. Because of his health issues the amount of money being spend on his care is outrageous it would have been much better spend on preventative care and it would have been much cheaper.
I have a family member that went to their state's program for the self-employed. Its supposedly a way for entrepreneurs to gain access to a large pool for group insurance. The quote for a family of 5 healthy people (no pre-existing conditions but that doesn't matter because it's group insurance) was $30,000/year. THAT is not tolerable.
Bravo!
Who has called you a racist?
You aren't the first person to mention this is this thread.
My first inclination is to think that "vibe" must be something you are bringing to the table. However, that inclination is wrong. My first inclination should be to ask WHO called you that and/or said those things to you?
I love how liberals always say that Fox is all lies and conveniently forget the lies and omissions of the mainstream media. When I heard that Obama was targeting Fox, I was scared. Just one more step towards the total control that dems have been wanting for so long. Because *they* know what is best for everyone.
2010 can not come soon enough. There are enough people who are really unhappy with how things are going and the folks in DC are going to get some big surprises.
What do you mean by "targeting"?
Here's a documentary that you might find interesting:
johnlocker.com/.../...
I do consider myself "liberal" or "progressive". I was one of the people on the streets protesting the wars. I saw the numbers of people and was aware of the many events. I noticed how the news did not report on these events accurately (in my mind) or at all.
I felt that the "mainstream" media has a bias too. I felt that their bias was toward "conservatism".
I hear people on the "right" claiming that the mainstream media is biased. I hear people on the "left" claiming that the mainstream media is biased. Maybe that's a good thing? If all sides think there is a bias might that mean that neither side is being represented more unfairly than the other?
And by attack, I mean that Obama and his henchmen went on no less than 6 shows this past weekend and said that Fox was not a real news organization and should not be taken seriously. Past presidents may have been more selective about their press engagements, but none have ever gone so far as to openly attack the only station on tv that dares criticize them.
If the internal memos of John Moody directing the organization's news, direction and boundaries aren't enough I'm not sure what would be!
I'm confused though - did we watch the same documentary? Jon Stewart was not interviewed, they showed a clip from The Daily Show. They also showed clips showing President Bush, Ari Fleisher, Bill O'Reilly, etc...
You wanted to know if there was more - yes A LOT more.
If you watched it, you would have seen the interviews of 15 former Fox "News" employees exposing the Fox "News bias and tactics, Bob McChesney: Founder of the Free Press/author of "The Problem of the Media"; David Brock: President/CEO Media Matters for America; Gene Kimmelman: Senior Director of the Public Policy & Advocacy Consumers Union; Av Westin: Former Vice President ABC News; James Wolcott: Former Staff Writer for the New Yorker/Cultural Critic for Vanity Fair; Peter Hart: Media Analyst for "Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting"; Bernie Sanders: Congressman (I-VT); Jeremy Glick: Son of Port Authority Worker who died on 09/11; Eric Alterman: Media Critic, Author of "What Liberal Media?"; John Nichols: Author of "Dick: The Man Who is President"; Chellie Pingree: President of Common Cause; Jeff Chester: Executive Director of Center for Digital Democracy; Larry Irving: Former Assistant Sect'y of Commerce for Communication & Information; Len Hill: Independent Producer; Malkia Cyril: Executive Director of Media Youth Council; David Goodfriend: Founder of Air America Radio and Wally Bowen: Founder & Executive Director of the Mountain Area Information Network.
So Obama spoke his opinion and that's an attack. Does that mean that you are attacking me because you are stating your opinion? I wouldn't categorize it as such and I sure hope you wouldn't.
Fox "News" isn't a real news organization, they are an entertainment outlet. If they are considered a news organization so too should be The Daily Show.
Some of Fox "News" own hosts have admitted that they aren't journalists or aren't "practicing" journalists (quotes and description mine, referring to O'Reilly's quote below), but entertainers, commentators, etc...
GLENN: "Now remember, I'm not a journalist"
bit.ly/3BT2d
Sean Hannity:
"Sean is not a journalist - Sean is a conservative commentator," said Bill Shine, Fox's senior vice president of programming.
bit.ly/ApPEs
Letterman: What you do is mostly commentary?
O'Reilly: Now it is, yes.
Starting at around 9:16 bit.ly/27jmO9
Your last sentence sounds to me like you would be okay with Obama's opinion as long as he didn't share it.
For me, I prefer honesty.
I just want to say that I LOVE YOU. It's great that you are willing to post for us minority (and deeply worried) people.
Cuz surely hell has frozen over when OHmommy has gone and gotten political!
LOL! Bravo girl!
Couldn't agree more!
I. AM. SCARED!!!
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