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Continuing my one-man campaign against the Festival of Consumption, I offer neither Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Shop at your own peril. I am looking forward to Winter Solstice, being the pagan I am, and beginning to gain sunlight time. Yippee!
Things that were on my mind as I traveled yesterday:
1. I've been stunned at how empty the airports have been the past few months. Very few travelers, although I haven't seen any numbers from the airline industry. Businesses are adjusting to reduced demand, and my sense is that some of the cutbacks will be permanent.
2. Why do First-Class passengers get expedited treatment at the TSA security checkpoints? This is paid for by my great-grandchildren's tax dollars, too.
3. They really have taken the fun out of flying. Can't bring your booze in, no toothpaste, and the ungentle pat-downs are impersonal. Every once in a while, though, I do have a good experience, and yesterday was one of those rare events. As I wondered the empty concourse, stretching my legs, I happened upon a guitar player at a deserted gate. I sat for 40 minutes and listened to him play some great acoustic songs. Thanks, Mr. Mystery Musician.
4. I think that the President will embrace deficit reduction in the SOTUS, and we haven't seen the last of the austerity and deflationary policies. Everything is on the table.
5. FDR was an incredibly courageous man and a brilliant politician. I can't think of a modern-day leader who could even begin to measure up.
What are your random musings heading into the weekend?
So here it is, almost halfway through this President's first term, and it's starting to become abundantly clear that there is no way Obama is going to pursue the same agenda that he ran on in 2008.
In fact, as the President announces a deal that even he agrees the majority of the American people do not support, and he prepares the Nation for the news that we're going to have to borrow money for the very tax cuts he said we couldn't afford a few weeks ago, it's starting to look like Obama isn't even going to pursue the same agenda he campaigned for in October.
Now it is true that a lot of the problem here is the President's-but it's also fair to say that we Progressives have failed to force the President, and certain reluctant Members of Congress, to govern in a way that promotes that agenda.
That's a real problem, and it needs a real solution; before we get done today I'll offer a suggestion that could be not only highly effective, and a lot of fun besides, but a great chance to release your artistic muse as well.
The Washington Post reports a deal reached by Obama and Congressional Republicans will extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in exchange for extending unemployment benefits.
The deal has been in the works for more than a week and represents a concession by Obama to political reality: Democrats don't have the votes in Congress to extend only the expiring income tax breaks that benefit the middle class.
Why do we allow this? Why not call their bluff and place the blame where it belongs, on House Republicans?
Sympathetic as I am to those who would prefer a fight to compromise it would be the wrong thing to do," the president said. "The American people didn't send us here to wage symbolic battles."
Is this a "symbolic battle"? I don't think so.
When Vaclav Havel was President of the Czech Republic, he was likened to Ferdinand the Bull, the children's book character that would rather smell the flowers than engage in a fight. Is Obama the American Ferdinand?
This is a very hard blog to write and I expect to be criticized, but this is an issue that we need to talk about in a realistic manner. Who is going to be the Democratic candidate for President in 2012? The easy answer is Barak Obama. He is a good, intelligent, compassionate man whose heart is in the right place and who deserves reelection. But can he be reelected?
In the late 1990s and the early 2000s I had the pleasure of working with former President Jimmy Carter who, in my opinion, is the best former President that the United States has ever had. But for some reason, while in office, this U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Naval Officer failed to establish Presidential leadership. It became clear at the mid-point of the Carter Administration that he was in trouble and would lose reelection. Senator Ted Kennedy announced for President but Democrats were loyal and Carter secured the nomination. He was soundly defeated by a B-List actor who although incompetent to be President, knew how to project Presidential leadership.
The situation that the Obama Administration finds itself is similar. This is not a matter fault on the part of President Obama; it is far too complex for that. But the problem exists and to say that we should blindly follow President Obama is to deny reality. We are only about 15 months away from the New Hampshire Primary and either President Obama needs to provide Presidential leadership immediately or we need to find another candidate.
This is too important decision to simply relay on loyalty. If the Republicans win the Presidency, the Senate and maintains its' position in the House of Representatives, not to mention State Government, our country and Democracy itself are at risk.
When President Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980, it led to conservative Republicans controlling the White House for 20 of the next 28 years. We can't let this to happen again.
In the December 6th edition of The Nation, a magazine I continue to get by snail mail so I can read it wherever I can pick it up, Eric Alterman has a thought-provoking piece reminding us that, despite some obvious miscalculations on the part of the president, we just might share some of the blame for the failures to reach the goals we thought we voted for in 2008.
I took a couple of weeks off, as Thanksgiving and snow came around (a subject we'll address in a day or so), but we are all again occupied as lots of things we've been talking about either will or won't come to pass, and it seems like all that's happening all at once.
Today we'll take on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT); this because the Pentagon's top leadership just came out and reported that revocation of the policy, following a period of preparation, would be their preferred way to go.
There will be lots of others who will take on the question of what's right and wrong here, and exactly how implementation might occur; my interest is, instead, to focus on one little fact that makes all teh rest of the conversation a lot more relevant.
That is the fact that about 70,000 LBGT troops serve in the military today, DADT notwithstanding, and, that if it wasn't for DADT, almost 45,000 more troops would be serving that aren't today.
And that one little fact leads to today's Great Big Question: exactly how much military would 115,000 troops be, exactly?
Over the course of the past couple of weeks we've been talking about how the War On Social Security was about to get under way and what happens when countries choose to privatize their systems.
Today we take on another bite-sized chunk of economic analysis: how can you get to a situation where Social Security is financially stable for the next 75 years?
We'll describe some proposals that are out there-but the big focus of this conversation will be to look at one change that, all by itself, could not only solve the entire funding problem, but could actually allow us to lower the Social Security tax rate, immediately, and still achieve fiscal balance.
"Well, if that's such a bright idea" you might ask, "why haven't we adopted it already?"
That's a great question-and after you hear the proposal, you may well have explanations of your own.
So if you've been following my work lately, you know that there is a renewed effort underway to change Social Security, and that the fight officially began just this very morning.
Now what's supposed to happen is that a television ad buy sponsored by a Wall Street billionaire is supposed to get you enthused about cutting your own Social Security benefits in the future; this is the tip of a "disinformation iceberg" that is trying to get you to act, right now, because if you don't you will never, ever, ever, ever, see a single dime of Social Security when you get older.
I was on a "let's talk strategy" conference call today that laid out some ideas for the "next steps"; we'll be talking about that call over the next couple of stories...but for today, we're going to talk about something you can do that will bring the message right to your favorite Member of Congress.
It is my job to bring to you not just the news that took place, but the news that has yet to happen.
Today, that's exactly what we have.
There is a war coming to try to change Social Security from a social safety net to a "revenue stream" for certain corporate interests, and that war is set to begin Tuesday morning, according to information that was provided to me yesterday afternoon.
Follow along, and you'll be both forewarned and forearmed.
I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has realized the magnitude of the forces in our culture/country that are stacked against any progressive political progress. I read a column today that speaks so well to my concerns. Let me quote Carlos Ball, from Rutgers in today's Huffington Post:
"Ultimately, however, the real problem is not that liberals have been playing defense for decades. Instead, the real problem is that progressive politicians (President Obama included) during that time have been utterly incapable of defending liberal values -- such as society's moral obligation to help and care for all of its members in need -- against the onslaught of attacks by social conservatives and free-marketeers. The thing that I yearn for the most are liberal leaders who are willing to speak in explicitly moral terms about what we owe each other as human beings and as equal members of our society."
When I get most frustrated with Obama is when he continues to miss opportunities to speak with passion about his values and vision for our country. His flat, affect-less, pathetic press conference on Monday was the most recent case in point. Why can't he get out there and speak -- not about the political process but about the results he wants to achieve -- for us -- for the middle class people, many of whom watch FOX News and who have been lead to slaughter -- some shred of power going up against giant corporations, health care companies, banks, oil companies that dictate their terms, ruin our environment and care only about profits.
Why can't he at least underscore how Republicans have demonstrated over and over throughout recent history their concern only for these giant corporations. Why can't he come out as our champion in the face of incredible odds given the decades of Bush's and Reagan and the recent Supreme Court give-away. If he can't do this. If he can't speak with conviction about why he's president, well, then, I give up!
The Motion for Recusal/Reconsideration overnighted yesterday prompting the immediate hearing instead of a 17 Nov date.
http://www.wepapers.com/Papers...
The video with Judge Lynn prompting the Motion to Recuse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Republican Nashua City Chair Dennis Hogan, who just got reprimanded the same time Judge Lynn was reprimanded this year, actually told the Telegraph that I "left voluntarily."
The pictures from other journalists present prove otherwise:
http://christopher-king.blogsp...
What planet are the GOP inhabiting?
Nashua Republican City Chair Dennis Hogan actually stated:
"He left voluntarily. I know that from his own video," Hogan said.
Here's today's story by Patrick Meighan.
Let's start with Kelly Ayotte media man Jeff Grappone and my response:
This is baseless and we will file a motion to dismiss," said Jeff Grappone, spokesman for the Ayotte campaign.
.....Yeah Jeff, the same way that you said the ALT+CONTROL+ DELETE email production lawsuit was an "election year stunt."
You guys just hate the First Amendment, that much is clear. And of course with Judge Lynn on the bench who thinks my activities are "nonsense" you have a fighting chance of winning, I'm just here to convey all of the relevant facts to the public.
That's what journalists do, whether you like it or not, my friend.
[So Jeff, let's see just how far you and a reprimanded Judge who thinks KingCast is "nonsense" will go to set back the First Amendment, and to show the World just what's it's like to practice journalism in the "Live Free or Die" State..... I'm just here to expose each and every step of our journey to the World Public. See you in Court.]
*************
And I almost always win First Amendment cases and I push it hard against Dems and Repblicans, watch Democratic County Commish Mary Jo Kilroy get an earful from Columbus School Board member Loretta Heard back in 1998, and watch Judge Lynn's nasty attitude toward me in 2006 all in one video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
*********
Now, then, on to the substance, Dennis Hogan, you are crazy. Have you forgotten that I have the audio of our conversation that day?
You say I was not forcibly removed, have you seen the pictures taken by other media with three police officers running me out the door, and on video you can hear them stating that I am going to be arrested both at Arpaio and at VFW. And at VFW the cop clearly says I will be arrested if I try to go in, THAT is what is on the video Man, what planet are you on?
http://i54.tinypic.com/33njh55...
And of course they threatened to call the police
Mexican Standoff video with all 3 violations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Ayotte public Facebook rally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Arpaio public rally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Wow Counselor, if that is the best you can do it's no small surprise that you didn't know you can't represent both husband and wife in a divorce proceeding.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com...
You really should have kept your mouth shut like the other GOP mook because a Jury will find you entirely disingenuous, but thanks for the public statements Counselor.
Very Truly Yours,
KingCast.net -- Reel News for Real People
posted by Christopher King at 5:47 AM | 0 comments
Stories begat other stories, or at least they do for me; this two-part conversation came from a comment that was made after I posted a story suggesting that voting matters this time, especially if you don't want environmental disasters like the recent Hungarian "toxic lake" that burst from its containment and polluted the Danube River happening in your neighborhood.
Long story short, we are going to be moving on to ask what, for some, is a more fundamental question: if you're an LBGT voter, and the Democratic Party hasn't, to put it charitably, "been all they could be" when it comes to issues like repealing "don't ask, don't tell" or the Federal Defense of Marriage Act...what should you do?
Now normally I would be the one trying to develop an answer to the question, but instead, we're going to be posing the question to a group of experts, and we'll be letting them give the answers.
And just because you, The Valued Reader, deserve the extra effort, for Part Two we've trying to get you a "Special Bonus Expert" to add some input to the conversation: a Democratic Member of Congress who represents a large LBGT community.
I attended a house party Sunday and I ran into a very interesting gentleman who shared with me his analysis of the national debt and the deficit and who is responsible for it. He was very concerned that President Obama was being blamed by the Republicans for all the increase, and being of a scientific and mathematical mind, he decided to get out a piece of ledger paper and a pencil and figure it out.
Those of you who've followed my work over a period of time know that I'm usually the one suggesting moderation and keeping everyone in the big tent, and, even in this most difficult year, I'm the one telling folks that sometimes you just have to hold your nose and vote for the candidate that sucks less.
And even though the last thing I'd ever want is a Speaker Boehner or a Leader McConnell (or even worse yet, DeMint), the fact remains that there are two Democratic Senators I would actually vote against, even if the candidate that sucks more does win...and those two are Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln and Nebraska's Ben Nelson.
One of those two is up for re-election this year, and thanks to a particularly ridiculous vote by Senator Lincoln, we found ourselves in a bit of an email exchange, which is what we'll be talking about today.
As I pick up the pace of work again, coming into the midterms, I have to get some stories cleared off the desk in order to make room for some others, and that's what we're about today.
We'll be talking about saving more than 300,000 of this country's most important jobs, and paying for it in a way that is not only good policy, but is a real problem for Republicans who are yelling "no new taxes!" once again while pretending they care about actually paying for actual spending and actually want to cut actual unemployment.
We have a bit of work to do today, but we want to keep it somewhat short...so let's get going.
I simply had to share this with those among us who are displeased with their elected officials who haven't fixed it all yet.
The sacrifices we are called on to make are small. Donating money until it hurts, making phone calls, going door-to-door don't amount to much in the scheme of things. The idea we have to get across is that the barbarians actually are at the gates in the form of the modern Republican Party. We honor our predecessors for making much bigger sacrifices, often under much, much worse leadership, to hold off other barbarians. Now it's our turn
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
--Langston Huges Mother to Son
Please, keep climbing on, reaching landings, and turning corners.
It's been a while since we had to have a real heart-to-heart, the Obama Administration and I, and last time it was because Rahm Emanuel had been a bit snippy toward those of us who are carrying the water for this Administration.
We need to have another one of those conversations today; this time the circumstances are a lot more positive-in fact, if the Administration follows my suggestions here, we have a real chance to put the Democrats on the road to victory, not just this November, but also in 2012.
What I'm proposing will create hundreds of thousands, if not millions of jobs, and it will stimulate millions more as we create a national source of discount electrical power that can be used by business and consumers alike.
Here's the best part: it's no "pie in the sky" promotion I'm offering here; we've already done the same thing before, it's been working out well for almost three quarters of a century...and even better than all that...my idea first pays for itself, and then...it actually makes the Federal Government a profit, forever after.
