All the experts say that increased drilling off our shores wont produce oil for 5 to 10 years, and then won't make a difference at the pump for even longer than that, and then by only a nickel!!!
Do you ever hear a "news person": ever give you those facts? Never. When someone comes on the news and says we need to "drill here and drill now" never does a "Reporter" correct them on it. Not that they are supposed to give their opinion on the issue, but they are supposed to FACT CHECK the claim that increased drilling will help us. this oil drilling issue is a perfect example of what is wrong with our democracy.
A strong democracy requires an informed electorate, without one, shit like the last 8 years happens,. Look at the last 8 years, and how the corporate news media has completely let us down, never, ever FACT CHECKING, and then telling us the results.
Here is a news cast I'd like to see:
"Good evening America, our top story: Turns out the bastards* were lying to us all along. We did some fact checking quickly learned that the decision to invade Iraq was made long before 9-11! It really is for fucking oil, and they they really did use our patriotism to manipulate us, and the rest they fear mongered. And now all of their moneyed friends are making bundles of billions because the same bastards have privatized most of the war effort."
"in Other news, The Oil companies just make a another zillionfuckingdollars. We did some checking, and turns out, all that money is coming from you."
Do facts matter?
Does it matter that John MCcain has no health care plan at all???
That he has no energy plan? that what we are experiencing right now is the result of the Bush Cheney "energy plan" that was drawn up in secret with the heads of all the oil companies.
the media is in the tank for the Military Industrial Complex, and we are now living in a little fascist state that is run in the interest of the corporation instead of in the interest of the people.
We need Teddy Roosevelt to Break up the media giants so people can get the facts they need to make a choice, instead of what the Oil COmpanies and the Military Industrial Complex wants us to think.
When I see what is happening to this country, it makes me wonder if George Orwell's 1984 is still on the high school required reading list.
Stick to the facts, and you can stick it to the fucks that have been sticking it to us for the last 30 years, and especially the last 8.
If you need a look at how the media is full of shit and does not hold politicians feet to the fire, and how consistency and holding everyone to the same standard is not important to the people running this country here it is:
I find it hilarious that the Speaker of the House is the worst speaker IN the house.
Holy shit.
Did you see that? I don't know much about political speeches, but I think they are supposed to inspire you, right? Then why was I screaming "Are you fucking kidding me!" right before I dozed off?
I think the whole night was a debacle with the possible exception of Michelle Obama's speech, in which she seemed a sharp contrast to the usual "Stepford Wife" the Republican are so fond of. .
the thing a convention is supposed to do is make your message crystal clear to the american people. And I think the message last night was, "We are going to find a way to lose AGAIN!!!!!"
Is it just me or did Weeds totally lose its original charm? I liked that show because it was funny and charming, and now they have made it all gangster.
I was recently in the heartland, and I got a little glimpse into how regular folk are thinking these days. I was in St. Louis and hooked up with an old college friend who has landed on tough times. See, he use do be a Mortgage broker, I say "used to" , because he lost his job when, um, well...you know.
So he is in a tough spot, out of work, two kids, underwater on his own house, and no health insurance.
I was of course sorry to hear about the tough times my old pal had fallen on, "Who you voting for?" I asked.
"Oh, I don't pay attention to politics", was his reply.
"Well, do you pay attention to your LIFE!?"... is what I wanted to say. But I didn't. Because there is nothing to be said to someone like that. They act as if being involved in politics was a luxury reserved for people with too much time on their hands. LIke politics has as much relevance to their life as Arena football. They could be a jew in 1930's Germany and they would be just as clueless: "I don't pay attention to politics, I let the guy with the mustache take care of stuff ".
Not that the media makes it easy for them to get informed. Corporate-made, for-profit, news reporting, turns out to be the least informative of all. I mean, trying to get the truth about a war from a bunch of multi-national corporations, some of which are actual DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, is like trying to get the truth from someone that who is not inclined to give it to you....(ok, so I got kicked out of analogy school, but you get the point).
In fact the people are so misinformed that most still belive the myth of the liberal media. My friend recently said that he doesn't watch NBC because they're too liberal. Hmmm... A liberal defense contractor, I have to remember to look that up.
Me, I only watch Fox News. I lke my newsman to give it to me straight, exactly how the white house wants me to hear it, without disrespecting the president by getting all fact-checky about it. What good does it do anyway?
I mean, let's say that you find out that the facts the president gave you are wrong. What then? We all know that the president is going to keep right on doing exactly whatever the hell he wants to do, whether it be bad or super bad for the country. So now all you've done is upset yourself because you know the "truth".
I''ve seen it happen to people I love, My brother only watches Jim Lehrer on PBS and he walks around anxious and miserable all the time. Jim Lehrer and and his crew are always investigating and finding out stuff like facts, constantly exposing that everything this administration tells us about everything is just propaganda given in an attempt to confuse the american people.
George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson: THANK YOU!
So here I am sitting in Pasadena California the night of the Pennsylvania debate, my house's value is falling, we are in two wars in muslim country's with no end in sight, the banks are starting to fail, and I just pumped something in my car that cost $4 a gallon. SO I was a little worried that the corporate shills at abc news wouldn't address the things that I am thinking about and that matter most to me in this election. Things like:
1. What did the first lady do at a Bosnian airport 12 years ago? 2. Does a preacher from Chicago really love America? 3. Where is Baracks lapel flag pin?!!! 4. Just who is going to be VICE-president?!! 5. Are there fringe radical groups from the 60's that I should know about now ?
But my worries were unfounded. The ABC newsmen spent the entire first hour of the two hour debate talking about this stuff. And I say THANK GOD. I was afraid they were going to spend time with questions about the economy, the collapsing dollar, health care, and a bunch of other time wasters. It takes real balls to completely ignore those distractions on live TV for an hour straight. The kind of balls you only find on a couple millionaire newsman that are completely out of touch.
It was as if Gibson and Stephanopoulos were reading my mind, their questions are my questions, things that I think about everyday. It's true.
Like when I am pumping $4 a gallon gas, other people might be wondering why this country doesn't have an energy policy that makes more sense than one based on oil?
Other people might be thinking that, but not me pal. No sir, sorry to disapoint you, I say energy smenergy. What I am thinking at a time like that is "does Reverend Wright loves this country or not?!"
Or when I am sitting down to figure out how I am going to pay the thousands of dollars in medical bills that my health insurance company refuses to pay, what keeps pounding in my head then are questions of Sen Obama's ties to obscure underground groups from the 60's.
And when I see another "for rent" sign being placed on a lawn of another foreclosed house in my neighborhood, I find my self thinking "what exactly did Hillary mean when she said she was under sniper fire in Bosnia 12 years ago?"
My girlfriend says I'm easily distracted from the issues and I watch too much Fox news, I say I've got my finger on the pulse. And now i have the first hour of last nights presidential debate, and the two biggest names at ABC news to back me up.
You have to admire the courage it took to ask the tough questions, even in the face of the crowd booing them. But this kind of courage and insight is nothing new to Mr. Gibson. No sir. For example, the last time I saw Charles Gibson he was interviewing President Bush, and he came right at him with this zinger (and I swear I am not making this up), "Okay Mr. President, the surge has worked, I'll give you some time to go ahead and crow now ". Atta boy Charlie.
And what kills me is that some people have misguidedly derided Gibson and Stephanopolous for their performance. Some have even scolded the abc newsmen for asking Sen Obama why he does not wear an American flag pin on his lapel. Well, I for one am glad they spent so much time on it, this is very important information that I need to have.
Think about it. What is going to happen in the future, when we have some other problem that we need to be distracted from? Is Senator Obama willing to engage in empty symbolism and false patriotism? Is he going to pander? The evidence would suggest otherwise. And what then?
America thanks you for your service Mr. GIbson and Mr. Stephanopolis.
Hasd n0w bcome the most deranged thing you can do. Ever since Elliot Spitzer got caught in a prostitution ring, all I keep hearing is "why!".
Why would Elliot Spitzer risk everything to be with a 22 year old hottie??? Well, I did a little research, and it turns out that Elliot Spitzer has one of those things called ........a penis.
And then I did a little more checking and it turns out that almost 100% of all the people that go to hookers have penis’s. Who knew?
I read so many article saying how he is a pervert, and has deep sexual problems.
Really???? I see it as the oldest story in the book. Man gets horny for hot sexy girl. MAn does what it takes to have sex with her. End of story.
I know some of you will think I am over simplifying this, but tghe truth is that people are making it more complicated than it is.
Are we surprised that the Governor of NY gets just as horny as every other guy in the world? He just has the dough to pay someone $4000 at the drop of a hat to get laid.
I am reminded of a LArry Miller joke, he said "Women, if you knew what men were really thinking, you would never stop slapping us".
.....And it is Karl Rove with another idea for Hillary of how to mislead, misinform and generally scare the shit out of everyone. And Hillary has been answering it.
Ring ring..
Hillary: "Hello"
Rove: "Hillary, its Karl. Few more ideas."
Hillary: "Shoot"
Rove: It seems like some people are catching on to the truth about Sen Obama being a Christian.
Hillary: What should we do? Send out a picture of him dressed like a muslim?
Rove: Wow Hill, you're good. SOmetimes the simplest things are the most brilliant! Yes, send out the picture, but have someone not connected to you do it.
Hillary: "Someone I'm not connected to? How about Bill? Ha ha... just kidding.
Rove: "When people wrongly and ignorantly refer to Obama as a Muslim, don't correct them with the truth, just keep scaring people by saying there's "no evidence that he is a muslim."
Hillary: "Got it".
Rove: " Good. Now your commercials need to be way more slimey and misleading. Run a commercial with a 3 year old sleeping. Then tell them if you vote for Sen Obama someone is going to kill her."
Hillary: "Done and done".
Yeah we have a women running for president, and it is historic. But what history will show is that an xx chromosome is no insurance against tyrannical tendencies.
