Monday Musings: January 18, 2010

This morning, I happened to replay the interview between Bill Moyers and Thomas Frank - author of “What’s the Matter With Kansas” and “The Wrecking Crew”. If you haven’t read these two books, then you may not have a firm grasp of the current sociopolitical landscape and how it has been taken over by the so-called ‘conservative’ right - the election of Obama notwithstanding.

It was even more disturbing than when I first saw it. Frank is right that Americans have become part and parcel in a culture with an attention span shorter than a gerbil. The media is a black hole. Todays’ ‘big story’ can be forgotten in the blink of an eye. I don’t exactly blame the media for this. They’re chasing dollars. But what is the excuse for the American public? Or our legislators?

This is most apparent in the current round of Obama bashing from both left and right.

How soon they all forget who and what caused all this. And, the mainstream media lets the bashers get away with it. So does the Democratic Party.

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The short memory of America and the GOP

I adore Thomas Franks, both as a historian and truth teller about the America of today. Franks is the author of “The Wrecking Crew”, and “What’s the Matter With Kansas:.

Here he discusses the internal flaws in our national thinking that could ultimately put the very scoundrels - the Republicans - who caused our current failures and meltdown back into power…via the short memory of the American people.

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Friday Fish Wrap: October 9, 2009

I held my breath at o’dark hundred this morning as I read the news flash that Obama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, since I knew it would be only a matter of minutes before the Republican spitting outrage machine would get spooled up to a froth over the honor.

John Bolton, Master of Highest Rightwing Umbrage, is not exactly Obama’s number 1 fan.

Personally, I think the award premature. But, who knows what goes through the mind of the Nobel Committee? They stiffed Ghandi of all people. If this award does two things, it will have been a smart move: 1- Set forth the momentum that Obama needs to be the leader he can be, and say ‘ta-ta’ to the big money of special interests that have infiltrated his circle. 2- Confuse and piss off the Republicans.

Regarding the health insurance debate: Max Baucus’ bill got a slightly more positive nod from the Congressional Budget Office now that the bill has, essentially, been gutted. Well, there you go … it’s cheaper because there’s no engine under the hood. Who would have thought?

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Bill Moyers Journal: Conservatism examined

Author, Sam Tanenhaus, makes a compelling argument for the death of real conservatism in America today, having been replaced by a revanchist ilk of conservatives who feel not only marginalized, but that the country has been taken away from them.

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The HBO Bill Moyers/Bill Maher discussion continues

Well, I got an email from YouTube today suggesting that I may want to consider joining their program to ‘monetize’ my video - since it has been so WILDLY popular. Who know that would happen? Yes, there have been more than 400 comments between the four video segments I posted.

Are you listening, HBO?

People want to hear the message. Don’t put people like Moyers on and then restrict access to only the paying public. The Moyers interview is bigger than that, and you should be, too.  Furthermore, think of all the potential customers there are within these 400 who just might sign up for HBO.

Somebody brought up an excellent point the other day about posting these interviews on a blog. What’s the difference between that and clipping an article from a magazine or newspaper (in the digital virtual sense), posting it or quoting from it for discussion in a public forum?

So many of the comments on YouTube are so good, and thought provoking that I thought I’d post them again here.

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HBO and YouTube censorship

I’m wowed by the response of very thoughtful ( except for one, at least ) commenters on my YouTube post of the three segments of the Bill Maher-Bill Moyers interview. People are getting pretty annoyed with HBO’s heavy handed treatment of Youtube posts - doing ‘take downs’ right and left. Most notable was the ‘take down’ of the Pete Seeger “This Land is Your Land” song during the Obama inaugural.

How lame

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Bill Moyers: the conscience of a country

NOTE: the link to the first video has gone, since the video was removed apparently, from youtube. I’m currently in process of downloading, processing and reuploading to youtube under First Amendment protection - for my readers right to know and be informed.

Stay tuned …. be patient …

Okay, it’s on … please send this link to as many folks as you can. It’s just that important! Thanks, for your patience and support.

This is one of the best interviews Bill Maher has ever done. Again, I wish Moyers had decided to run for office…

Moyers elegantly dissects how the Democratic party has, indeed, become the biggest impediment to reform in this country, and perhaps the most tragic player in it’s own demise.

You must watch this interview, and then make sure that all your friends and relatives watch it. Send them the links, please.

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'Critical Condition': The human toll of America's health disaster

We just got done watching, with dismay and anger, Bill Moyers Journal. This weeks show followed several American’s through an unbelievably heart wrenching journey through illness without benefit of health insurance.

At the end of the shows online content, there are a lot of personal stories by others who were as moved as we were.

This isn’t rocket science, and it isn’t really news that this health care system is fatally flawed. A few years back, I was contacted by the then CEO of a local hospital to serve on their cancer committee, since I’d been an outspoken critic of the lack of up to date care for breast cancer patients in my community.

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Who did you elect? Congress or 'K Street'?

I just read one of the most scathing rebukes of this so-called healthcare reform bill process, that continues to stumble - like a hapless drunk - through Congress, by Bill Moyers. Here is an excerpt:

“Three out of four of the big health care firms lobbying on Capitol Hill have former members of Congress or government staff members on the payroll – more than 350 of them – and they’re all fighting hard to prevent a public plan, at a rate in excess of $1.4 million a day.”

And, there you have the ‘why’ as in why nothing ever seems to quite get done. Somebody forgot to take down the big ‘For Sale’ sign on the front of Congress.

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Friday Fish Wrap: April 3, 2009

TV Fare: HBO has gone and done it again, offering us a literate, richly textured slice of African life as seen through the eyes of a woman - who goes completely against type by opening The #1 Ladies Detective Agency with money from the sale of 180 cows left to her by her recently expired father. Our heroine, Precious Remotswe, throws an smarmy ex-husband, his equally weasel like attorney, and conventions to the wind to find her own unique place in her beloved Botswana.

We were both absolutely captivated by this show.

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