Email from Ron Paul
I have included an email this week that I received from Presidential Candidate Ron Paul who has been a Texas Congressman for over ten years and is now facing the possibility of being replaced by "a handpicked" opponent that "represent everything that is wrong with DC."
The problem is that there are only a few Congressman left in the White House that share a view of "limited government", "sound money",and following a strict constitution. People like Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland), and Walter Jones (R-North Carolina), both of which also have been running against the same type of neoconservatives for their congressional seats. One of which has already lost, the other is having a tough time battling the opponent chosen for him. Now Ron Paul is facing the same thing.
I find it very strange that it is the Congressman with these beliefs, Ron Paul has been congressman of Texas for ten years and yet this year all 3 are facing battles against the same type of neoconservative opponents. America had better wake up to what is going on fast or we will have a congress made up of nothing but war mongers that will stop at nothing to tear up our constitution and throw it away in their first congressional secret hearing.
I really am concerned with the fact that there are no media outlets covering this type of news anymore. I used to see the reporters of the world as a type of watchdog on our constitutional rights. I thought that big corperations would not stand a chance against them if they went too far. Now I really have to wonder if anyone would care to cover it at all. I guess I will have to do it myself. Soon.
All stories that are factual and sourced will often come down to black or white, true or false, right or wrong, I include personal opinions about where these stories fall in that spectrum and allow humor whenever possible to lighten the topics. Goto @twiggles4u for more.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Media Spotlight II
Paraguay in a panic over yellow fever (International)
Vaccine is in short supply amid the country's first outbreak in 34 years. As residents protest, officials scramble to secure supplies from abroad.
In a country of 6.5 million, one million is not very many, but that is the number of Vaccines which have been given to the people of Paraguay. People are in a panic and are rushing to hospitals terrified that they will be infected with yellow fever.
It has not put any of their minds at ease that their neighboring countries have been sending in supplies of vaccines to them because the people feel it was already known and something their government should have been prepared for.
You have to wonder living in the United States if that is what our government is preparing for with these FEMA camps popping up all over the country. Grounds that are supposed to be Amtrak facilities like this one in Beachgrove Indiana that could hold a very large number of people.
The federal government and our military are not supposed to be entangled with any of our jails in the United States, yet that is exactly what we see taking place. The govenrment already has passed laws regarding germ warfare. I shudder to think of what would happen if yellow fever were to hit the United States.
Vaccine is in short supply amid the country's first outbreak in 34 years. As residents protest, officials scramble to secure supplies from abroad.
In a country of 6.5 million, one million is not very many, but that is the number of Vaccines which have been given to the people of Paraguay. People are in a panic and are rushing to hospitals terrified that they will be infected with yellow fever.
It has not put any of their minds at ease that their neighboring countries have been sending in supplies of vaccines to them because the people feel it was already known and something their government should have been prepared for.
You have to wonder living in the United States if that is what our government is preparing for with these FEMA camps popping up all over the country. Grounds that are supposed to be Amtrak facilities like this one in Beachgrove Indiana that could hold a very large number of people.
The federal government and our military are not supposed to be entangled with any of our jails in the United States, yet that is exactly what we see taking place. The govenrment already has passed laws regarding germ warfare. I shudder to think of what would happen if yellow fever were to hit the United States.
Email from Ron Paul
February 18, 2008
The DC neocons think their old dream is about to come true. They think they can defeat me in the Republican congressional primary in Texas on March 4th. And you know what? They may be right.
My opponent, who describes himself as a traditional conservative, is a dedicated servitor of all the special interests who have given us the disaster of recent years, from unconstitutional wars to a looming recession, from huge deficits to massive new welfare programs.
A Republican operative allied with the worst forces in DC recently said: "Give what you can [to Ron Paul's opponent]. Ron Paul is running scared -- using his Presidential campaign's donors' money to subsidize a desperate last-minute attempt to save his Congressional seat."
That is a lie, of course. It is illegal to use presidential campaign donations in my congressional race. The congressional campaign has to stand on its own. But so far, we have raised only about a third of what a well-funded effort would need.
In my 10 terms in Congress, I have not only been able to serve my constituents, and help them, for example, negotiate federal red-tape. I have also been able to defend our principles of less spending, lower taxes, no inflation, and strict adherence to the Constitution. Some people in DC laugh at the idea that I should obey my oath of office, and ask first of any proposed legislation, is it constitutional? But I know that you share my support for the vision of the framers.
My friend Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) was just defeated in his primary election by a neocon fraud similar to the one I face. My friend Walter Jones(R-North Carolina) is under heavy pressure as well. People like our hand-picked opponents will do anything to gain and keep power. They represent everything that is wrong with DC.
If I am defeated in the upcoming congressional primary, our ideas will be held to have been defeated as well. It will be proclaimed from the rooftops in DC that such "ridiculous and outmoded notions" as the free market, sound money, personal liberty, limited government, and a pro-American foreign policy are through.
I am determined not to let this happen. All that you and I believe in is far too important to the future of our country, and to everyone and everything we love, to let the neocons dance on its grave.
Please, help me stop the lies, the distortions, the pressure groups, the special interests that benefit from DC rip-offs. There is still time to run radio and tv ads, to set up phone banks, to get out the vote. But unless you help, my reelection to Congress may be in jeopardy. Please help me return to Congress to fight for the people of my district, and for the ideas that can save our country from the path to trouble we are now on.
I hesitated to ask you, since you have already done so much. But my wife Carol said, "When you need help, you ask your best friends." So I do ask you, to hold out your hand in support.
Please give today http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com, as generously and as
quickly as you can.
Sincerely,
Ron
The DC neocons think their old dream is about to come true. They think they can defeat me in the Republican congressional primary in Texas on March 4th. And you know what? They may be right.
My opponent, who describes himself as a traditional conservative, is a dedicated servitor of all the special interests who have given us the disaster of recent years, from unconstitutional wars to a looming recession, from huge deficits to massive new welfare programs.
A Republican operative allied with the worst forces in DC recently said: "Give what you can [to Ron Paul's opponent]. Ron Paul is running scared -- using his Presidential campaign's donors' money to subsidize a desperate last-minute attempt to save his Congressional seat."
That is a lie, of course. It is illegal to use presidential campaign donations in my congressional race. The congressional campaign has to stand on its own. But so far, we have raised only about a third of what a well-funded effort would need.
In my 10 terms in Congress, I have not only been able to serve my constituents, and help them, for example, negotiate federal red-tape. I have also been able to defend our principles of less spending, lower taxes, no inflation, and strict adherence to the Constitution. Some people in DC laugh at the idea that I should obey my oath of office, and ask first of any proposed legislation, is it constitutional? But I know that you share my support for the vision of the framers.
My friend Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) was just defeated in his primary election by a neocon fraud similar to the one I face. My friend Walter Jones(R-North Carolina) is under heavy pressure as well. People like our hand-picked opponents will do anything to gain and keep power. They represent everything that is wrong with DC.
If I am defeated in the upcoming congressional primary, our ideas will be held to have been defeated as well. It will be proclaimed from the rooftops in DC that such "ridiculous and outmoded notions" as the free market, sound money, personal liberty, limited government, and a pro-American foreign policy are through.
I am determined not to let this happen. All that you and I believe in is far too important to the future of our country, and to everyone and everything we love, to let the neocons dance on its grave.
Please, help me stop the lies, the distortions, the pressure groups, the special interests that benefit from DC rip-offs. There is still time to run radio and tv ads, to set up phone banks, to get out the vote. But unless you help, my reelection to Congress may be in jeopardy. Please help me return to Congress to fight for the people of my district, and for the ideas that can save our country from the path to trouble we are now on.
I hesitated to ask you, since you have already done so much. But my wife Carol said, "When you need help, you ask your best friends." So I do ask you, to hold out your hand in support.
Please give today http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com, as generously and as
quickly as you can.
Sincerely,
Ron
On the Bypass
N.Y. Philharmonic gets a warm welcome in North Korea (International)
South Africa to resume killing elephants (International)
Animal welfare groups call for a tourist boycott of the country, which says the herds must be thinned to protect other wildlife and the land.
South Africa to resume killing elephants (International)
Animal welfare groups call for a tourist boycott of the country, which says the herds must be thinned to protect other wildlife and the land.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Media Spotlight II
Supreme Court rejects wiretap suit (National)
I don't know how this story is not making the front pages of all of our newspapers. This should be one of the most important issues for American voters is making sure that our civil rights are not being violated. If we let the president get away with ignoring laws and spying on the American people without a warrant things will not get better they will continue to get worse. We will only see more executive power violations and our rights will continue to deteriorate.
The companies that have let the president tap into their customers privacy should not receive immunity because they knew they were breaking the law and they knew the extent to which they were breaking it.
As Keith Olbermann pointed out on “Countdown” if the things you asked these companies to do were perfectly legal then there would be no need to ask for immunity for them in this bill. The president just wants to make sure the next time he decides he is going to break another law or violate our rights again that the same company's will help him to do so in the future.
I don't know how this story is not making the front pages of all of our newspapers. This should be one of the most important issues for American voters is making sure that our civil rights are not being violated. If we let the president get away with ignoring laws and spying on the American people without a warrant things will not get better they will continue to get worse. We will only see more executive power violations and our rights will continue to deteriorate.
The companies that have let the president tap into their customers privacy should not receive immunity because they knew they were breaking the law and they knew the extent to which they were breaking it.
As Keith Olbermann pointed out on “Countdown” if the things you asked these companies to do were perfectly legal then there would be no need to ask for immunity for them in this bill. The president just wants to make sure the next time he decides he is going to break another law or violate our rights again that the same company's will help him to do so in the future.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Media Spotlight I
Left bewildered by a second cruel turn of events (Local)
This article is an important read for any aspiring journalist. It is a story about a journalist who has been fighting for the release of a 16-year-old boy who was wrongfully convicted of robbery.
The journalist even uses the boys first name, Author, to show how connected he was to his “subject.” He had wrote various articles, talked to witnesses and jurors about the case, and became close to family members.
He was released after spending over 2 years in prison for the crime. His 12-year sentence was dropped and he would now re-enter society at 18-years old Much of the reason that Author would get that chance is because of this journalists efforts.
It ends up being a short lived happy ending, and you can feel how a journalist can be affected by the story. Author was murdered on the month of his 26th birthday. He was ran down by a pick-up truck in a mobile home park.
It is sad, but I am sure common for journalists to become attached to people and events that they feel passionate about. After all, they felt it was something that was important enough to spend their time writing about. Sometimes that time pays off and there has got to be times that it does not.
This article is an important read for any aspiring journalist. It is a story about a journalist who has been fighting for the release of a 16-year-old boy who was wrongfully convicted of robbery.
The journalist even uses the boys first name, Author, to show how connected he was to his “subject.” He had wrote various articles, talked to witnesses and jurors about the case, and became close to family members.
He was released after spending over 2 years in prison for the crime. His 12-year sentence was dropped and he would now re-enter society at 18-years old Much of the reason that Author would get that chance is because of this journalists efforts.
It ends up being a short lived happy ending, and you can feel how a journalist can be affected by the story. Author was murdered on the month of his 26th birthday. He was ran down by a pick-up truck in a mobile home park.
It is sad, but I am sure common for journalists to become attached to people and events that they feel passionate about. After all, they felt it was something that was important enough to spend their time writing about. Sometimes that time pays off and there has got to be times that it does not.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Media Spotlight I
Associated Press
Bush says Senate must vote on nominees (National)
The Washington Post
Bush Pushes Senate to OK 180 Nominees (National)
These two articles written about “Bush wanting the senate to confirm his nominees” are almost identical. Both are done in straight news form and they each use only one page for the information.
The two writers even use the same quotes to highlight their stories.
The only difference in numbers I found were when Bush talked about the particulars of the time-frames that his nominees had waited. The Washington Post said,, "Three of my nominees for the Court of Appeals have waited nearly 600 days." While the Associated Press said, "About half these nominees have been waiting for more than a hundred days. More than 30 have been waiting a year or more. And nine have been waiting for more than two years."
What was really interesting in both pieces is that Bush does not bring up one nominee in particular, Steven Bradbury for assistant attorney general, but because that particular nominee is so controversial the writers both found it noteworthy to mention that Bush had intentionally not brought him up. They even both explain the details surrounding the controversy Though one article ends with a quote from Sen. Harry Reid, and the other extends the quote a bit farther they have both found the most important part of the story to be the candidate Bush did not even talk about. Interesting.
Bush says Senate must vote on nominees (National)
The Washington Post
Bush Pushes Senate to OK 180 Nominees (National)
These two articles written about “Bush wanting the senate to confirm his nominees” are almost identical. Both are done in straight news form and they each use only one page for the information.
The two writers even use the same quotes to highlight their stories.
The only difference in numbers I found were when Bush talked about the particulars of the time-frames that his nominees had waited. The Washington Post said,, "Three of my nominees for the Court of Appeals have waited nearly 600 days." While the Associated Press said, "About half these nominees have been waiting for more than a hundred days. More than 30 have been waiting a year or more. And nine have been waiting for more than two years."
What was really interesting in both pieces is that Bush does not bring up one nominee in particular, Steven Bradbury for assistant attorney general, but because that particular nominee is so controversial the writers both found it noteworthy to mention that Bush had intentionally not brought him up. They even both explain the details surrounding the controversy Though one article ends with a quote from Sen. Harry Reid, and the other extends the quote a bit farther they have both found the most important part of the story to be the candidate Bush did not even talk about. Interesting.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Media Spotlight II
McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says (National)
I found this article particularly newsworthy that was about an interview Chris Wallace had with President George W. Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat . The reason why is because it is one of the only interviews that a reporter asked Bush some very controversial questions and actually received a answers from Bush that were related to them.
I admit the answers were still controversial and sometimes waved off by Bush as being “psychobabble“, but they were answers.
It started off as what looked like an endorsement for GOP candidate John McCain for president, but Bush later said that was not his intention.
He answered questions later in the same interview that moved away from McCain and were on subjects like the economy, the legality of waterboarding, or how long we were going to be in Iraq. The president usually changes the subject or dismisses questions on these issues by telling the reporter that the question is “ridicules” or commenting that it is “an absurd insinuation.”
This interview, Bush at least makes some effort to answer the question being asked of him.
What is amazing is that I did not really hear too many quotes come from this interview in the stories or articles that followed unless it was about his original comments on McCain.
Ironically this article , “McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says,” is the one quote that has been mentioned in the few articles, like this one, that I did find.
I found this article particularly newsworthy that was about an interview Chris Wallace had with President George W. Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat . The reason why is because it is one of the only interviews that a reporter asked Bush some very controversial questions and actually received a answers from Bush that were related to them.
I admit the answers were still controversial and sometimes waved off by Bush as being “psychobabble“, but they were answers.
It started off as what looked like an endorsement for GOP candidate John McCain for president, but Bush later said that was not his intention.
He answered questions later in the same interview that moved away from McCain and were on subjects like the economy, the legality of waterboarding, or how long we were going to be in Iraq. The president usually changes the subject or dismisses questions on these issues by telling the reporter that the question is “ridicules” or commenting that it is “an absurd insinuation.”
This interview, Bush at least makes some effort to answer the question being asked of him.
What is amazing is that I did not really hear too many quotes come from this interview in the stories or articles that followed unless it was about his original comments on McCain.
Ironically this article , “McCain a 'true conservative,' Bush says,” is the one quote that has been mentioned in the few articles, like this one, that I did find.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
On the Bypass
Sniper unit leader tells of ordering shooting (International)
At a trial for one of his soldiers, the U.S. Army team leader says he ordered an Iraqi civilian killed 'to shut him up.'
U.S. soldier gets 10-year term in Iraqi's death (International)
The sniper, who was directed to kill the man by a superior, had faced a life sentence for the May 11 shooting.
At a trial for one of his soldiers, the U.S. Army team leader says he ordered an Iraqi civilian killed 'to shut him up.'
U.S. soldier gets 10-year term in Iraqi's death (International)
The sniper, who was directed to kill the man by a superior, had faced a life sentence for the May 11 shooting.
Pacific Post
LAPD deeply shaken by nightlong siege in Winnetka (Local)
A smoldering controversy at UCLA (Local)
The school accepts money from tobacco giant Philip Morris in its three-year study of nicotine addiction. Teenagers and monkeys are part of the research.
A smoldering controversy at UCLA (Local)
The school accepts money from tobacco giant Philip Morris in its three-year study of nicotine addiction. Teenagers and monkeys are part of the research.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Media Spotlight I
San Francisco Chronicle
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
The Washington Post
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports this article as straight news. The first paragraph includes the “what” and “where” immediately. They tell us that bombs tore through two popular pet markets on Friday, and killed at least 64 people.
In comparison, The Washington Post decided to report this story as a feature, so we learn most details about the story from an eye witness. The first paragraph here tells us the “when”, and the “what” is delayed until paragraph four when it was explained that, “the two bombings killed 58 people, according to Iraqi police, and wounded more than 170 others.”
The number of people killed and wounded is only one of many discrepancies found within the two stories. The Chronicle article tells us, “Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others.” However, the Post tells us, “there have been at least six female suicide bombers in different parts of Iraq.”
Although the sources were different, both newspapers agree that some witnesses and police said the two woman were mentally disabled, but neither had any proof that this was true.
The Chronicle was the only one that listed facts regarding the increased use of suicide vests according to the latest U.S. military statistics. They said, “In October, six were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January.”
Other information seems to have been scaled down a bit. This occurs when the Chronicle mentions the Ghazel pet market is a favorite target of insurgents. They tell us, “This was the second bombing there since late November and the fifth since June 2006.” However, the Post tells us that the Ghazel market, “has been attacked at least four times in the past two years.”
The Post even makes things more confusing when it mentions that, “U.S. military officials said seven people were killed and 23 others wounded in the Ghazil market attack, while Iraqi police put the toll much higher: 45 killed and 105 wounded.”
Additionally, the Post said, “Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said he believed the bombings were a coordinated effort by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The Chronicle does not make any statement about who may have been behind the attacks.
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
The Washington Post
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports this article as straight news. The first paragraph includes the “what” and “where” immediately. They tell us that bombs tore through two popular pet markets on Friday, and killed at least 64 people.
In comparison, The Washington Post decided to report this story as a feature, so we learn most details about the story from an eye witness. The first paragraph here tells us the “when”, and the “what” is delayed until paragraph four when it was explained that, “the two bombings killed 58 people, according to Iraqi police, and wounded more than 170 others.”
The number of people killed and wounded is only one of many discrepancies found within the two stories. The Chronicle article tells us, “Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others.” However, the Post tells us, “there have been at least six female suicide bombers in different parts of Iraq.”
Although the sources were different, both newspapers agree that some witnesses and police said the two woman were mentally disabled, but neither had any proof that this was true.
The Chronicle was the only one that listed facts regarding the increased use of suicide vests according to the latest U.S. military statistics. They said, “In October, six were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January.”
Other information seems to have been scaled down a bit. This occurs when the Chronicle mentions the Ghazel pet market is a favorite target of insurgents. They tell us, “This was the second bombing there since late November and the fifth since June 2006.” However, the Post tells us that the Ghazel market, “has been attacked at least four times in the past two years.”
The Post even makes things more confusing when it mentions that, “U.S. military officials said seven people were killed and 23 others wounded in the Ghazil market attack, while Iraqi police put the toll much higher: 45 killed and 105 wounded.”
Additionally, the Post said, “Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said he believed the bombings were a coordinated effort by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The Chronicle does not make any statement about who may have been behind the attacks.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Media Spotlight II
Ron Paul's big chance for a modest splash (National)
I have been searching for news about the GOP Candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, and I finally found this small article that made the Los Angeles Times Blog on their web-site. Andrew Malcolm, press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000, writes about Paul's campaign raising $20 million in donations in the last three months of 2007. According to Malcolm this makes Paul “the most successful GOP fundraiser then and the only one to increase his donations every quarter last year.”
Malcolm is the only one to point out that not only are Paul's supporters loyal and dedicated, but they are generous too. He even cites facts from Paul's website, www.ronpaul2008.com, that say supporters have given an additional $5 million-plus since Jan. 1.
It is very hard for supporters of Paul's campaign to find any news regarding their candidate without the use of the internet. Most mainstream media outlets act like he is not even there. Even Malcolm admits, “Paul typically gets the least speaking time during GOP debates, if he isn't barred from participating altogether.“
Malcolm does his best to give supporters some hope for “priceless free publicity” if he could take Maine during a “slow news weekend” because he has been the only Republican candidate to actually visit there.
The grass root supporters would see any publicity at all as a step in the right direction. Malcolm also recognizes that Paul has been “largely dissed and dismissed by party politicians and the media.” Despite the incredible support and donations his campaign has been bringing in consistently.
One of the fund-raising days supporters called a “money bomb” earned Paul over $6 million in 24 hours, and most donations were $150 or less.
It is hard to see how something that significant can go by with barely a mention from any news outlet, and then see all Hillary has to do is cry to receive a weeks worth of media attention on every channel.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
On the Bypass
After Months of Relative Calm, 2 Deadly Blasts Rock Baghdad (International)
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
Germany Rebuffs U.S. On Troops in Afghanistan (International)
Refusal to Shift Deployment A Setback for NATO Effort
Deadly blasts rock Baghdad
2 women blamed for suicide bombs that killed 64 - worst attacks since U.S. surge peaked (International)
Germany Rebuffs U.S. On Troops in Afghanistan (International)
Refusal to Shift Deployment A Setback for NATO Effort
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