Fair and Balanced
Here is Fox News anchor John Gibson talking to two members of our government. The first is a Democrat and the second is a Republican. Watch both, compare them. Compare how many times Gibson interrupts and attacks the Democrat and then watch how many softball questions he tosses to the Republican.
Compare the questions. Compre the tone. Compare the interruptions.
And when you are done, tell me that Fox “NEWS” is Fair and Balanced.
Democrat:
Republican:
You know that flu thing that’s going around?
Well, it finally got around to me.
Two Days Ago…
Two days ago, it was illegal for our government to arrest you without a warrant.
Two days ago, it was illegal for our government to beat you “within serious physical and mental injury.”
Two days ago, it was illegal for our government to use testamony gained from those beatings against you in a court of law.
Two days ago, you had the right to an attorney to speak for you in court.
Two days ago.
Today, the government can arrest you without a warrant.
Today, the government can torture you “within serious physical and mental injury.”
Today, the government can use whatever you say from those torture sessions against you in a “military tribunal” with no jury and no attorney.
Welcome to the new America.
PS: Mr. Bush, please consider me an enemy combatant as defined by your own Patriot Act. Because now, civil disobedience, according to the Patriot Act and your own Attorney General, can be classified as “terrorism.”
In other words, voting against the ruling party–the Republicans–can be interpreted as “terrorism.”
I will indeed not be voting Republican this time around, Mr. President. You know where I am. Come and get me.
___
Another post script. A friend of mine sent this to me. I’m glad I’m not alone in my outrage.
Both sides strain facts about California’s most expensive ballot measure in history.
Summary
(from Fact Check)
Former President Bill Clinton says California’s Proposition 87 will help “save the planet” and Al Gore says it’s the one thing the state can do to “free us from foreign oil.” One ad urging a “yes” vote says it will bring “cheaper fuels for our cars, trucks and SUVs.”
On the other side, a campaign financed mostly by oil companies says it would mean more foreign oil, higher gasoline prices, and fewer tax dollars going to pay for firemen and other public safety officials.
Both sides are overselling. Stripping out the hype and hooey, we find the measure would impose an additional $4 billion in taxes on the state’s oil producers over an uncertain number of years, with uncertain results. The measure would set aside the money for research and development of alternative energy and for consumer subsidies. The results, however, can’t be guaranteed, or even foreseen with any certainty.
Tom Waits Mix Tape
Australian JJJ radio has compiled a Tom Waits Mix Tape broadcast with several well-known songs and two live recordings: Tom Traubert’s Blues from the 1979 State Theatre show in Sydney and The Hokey Pokey. (FUCK YEAH!)
And trust me, you’ve never heard the hokey pokey until you’ve heard Tom Waits do the hokey pokey. 😉
Oh, how we danced with the Rose of Tralee!
Democrats accuse Rep. Clay Shaw of profiting from his Medicare vote, but evidence is flimsy.
(from Fact Check)
Summary
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has launched an ad claiming Florida Republican Clay Shaw took part in a “drug deal” when he voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, more commonly referred to as Medicare Part D. We find the DCCC’s evidence of this flimsy at best.
The ad claims that Shaw bought drug company stock before the legislation passed, sold it after, and put “profits in his own pocket.” That’s true, but the shares the ad refers to were in a company that could not have profited from the legislation. Its anti-cancer drugs were covered by Medicare even before the legislation was passed, and the company even told shareholders there was a risk that the legislation might hurt sales.
The DCCC might have had a better case if it had referred to the one other drug-company stock that Shaw owned, and which the ad doesn’t mention. That company’s sales may indeed have been helped by the legislation. Shaw’s paper profit on that stock, however, is no more than $4,268.15 and perhaps considerably less. Furthermore, Shaw’s Florida land holdings already make him one of the wealthiest members of the House.
We leave it to readers to examine the facts and judge for themselves whether Shaw’s vote to expand Medicare was part of a “drug deal” motivated by personal profit, as the DCCC ad implies.
C’est La Vie
Growing up, I listened to a lot of music. I had my parents’ record collection, of course, filled with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Holly. That’s the first music I remember listening to. Listening to each song, unaware of how instruments even worked, let alone song structure, lyric-writing, or anything else. But I listened.
I loved voices. Cash’s honesty was embedded in his gruff voice. The Big O and his operatic big weepers. And Buddy Holly’s southern twang.
As I grew older, I began finding my own music–much to the chagrin of my parents. And, again, voice was important. Geddy Lee’s voice is distinct and immediate. Ronnie James Dio had a voice that sounded like it came right out of a mythology book. And then there was this guy. This guy down below here.
All during high school, all I wanted was to sound like him. I practiced and practiced and practiced. It’s the voice I always wanted. Learning that I’d never have it, I eventually turned to playing drums, my frustration shoving me all the way to the back of the stage.
I sing once in a while. It’s not a great voice, but it’s a good one. I sound better when I warm up and when I practice. But I’ll never sound like this guy. Not ever.
Dammit.
Found Orphans
In case you missed them, three songs have been released from Tom Waits’ forthcoming album, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards. (November 21st.)
Bottom of the World
You Can Never Hold Back Spring
The Road to Peace
Meanwhile, these Orphans have wandered over to Youtube:
I Know I’ve Been Changed
Ain’t Goin’ Down to the Well
Little Drop of Poison (with a Pirates of the Carribean theme)
An official FUCK YEAH.
The Prisoner Movie News
Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige) will be directing a movie adaptation of the classic ’60’s TV show The Prisoner.
This alone has me excited. You know what’s got me really excited?
David Peoples (Ladyhawke, Unforgiven, Twelve Monkeys, Blade Runner) is writing the script.
FUCK YEAH.