Rescue The Democratic PR Machine!

The federal government has come to the rescue of the auto industry, of banks, AIG, and home owners, it’s high damn time the Democratic PR machine was rescued as well!

Associated Press

Struggling newspapers should be allowed to operate as nonprofits similar to public broadcasting stations, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., proposed Tuesday.

Cardin introduced a bill that would allow newspapers to choose tax-exempt status. They would no longer be able to make political endorsements, but could report on all issues including political campaigns.

Cardin has dubbed this idiocy the “Newspaper Revitalization Act”.

My first question (which I quickly realized was a stupid question) was why should a dying medium be saved? Newspapers are dying for a reason, the medium has been replaced.

Ever heard of this thingy called the internet?

I realized the question I had asked myself was a stupid question given that the vast majority of print media is a cog in the Democratic PR machine.

The AP story notes that political endorsements would no longer be allowed.

Lets be honest, do newspapers really need to make an actual endorsement for it’s readers to know what person, what legislation that particular newspaper finds preferential?

Will the government force objectivity upon any newspapers which choose to take part in this revitalization act?

Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax exempt, and contributions to support news coverage or operations could be tax deductible.

Imagine Moveon DOT org providing contributions to a newspaper. What do you suppose that papers lean might be? What kind of “news” might they disseminate.

Truth be told, I wouldn’t want the conservative equivalent of Moveon DOT org to contribute to a ‘non-profit’ newspaper either. Of course, there is no such conservative equivalent.

I know it’s the dream of a simpleton, but I’d prefer a newspaper simply report facts. Perhaps, speaking strictly for myself, I’d still read a newspaper from time to time if I knew I could pick one up and be presented facts rather than assaulted by spin and opinion.

Likely not though…

because of this thing called the internet.

Serious consideration should also be given to the dangers of newspapers being fully under the thumb of the federal government. 

Perhaps Cardin already gave that some consideration previous to proposing this legislation.

 

Technorati Tags: Benjamin Cardin,Newspaper Revitalization Act,internet news,pravda

Mandatory Recycling

Bring this to my home of Denver and I’ll be easy to spot.

I’ll be the guy driving down I-25 chugging cans of Mountain Dew just so I can chuck the empties out the window.

I’m pretty sure such a requirement would cause me to pop a vein in my head and throw me into full on anti-dirt eater mode.

Let’s also not forget about the economy and the additional cost to people that would come from such a program.

Pueblo Chieftain

The Pueblo City Council will create another citizen panel to explore a controversial issue in the community. […]

Now, council wants the issue of mandated recycling examined.
Waste Connections has made a pitch to the city and Pueblo County to enact ordinances that require either local trash haulers or residents participate in a recycling program.

 

Technorati Tags: Recycle,recycling,Pueblo Colorado,Pueblo,Colorado,trash,waste managment,landfill,climate change,global warming,going green

Omnibus Bill, Top 20 Earmarking Senators

Eight of the twenty are Republicans, six of those eight are among the top ten.

That should go a long way in convincing the American people that Republicans are fiscally responsible.

What a wasted opportunity to demonstrate leadership.

Fox News

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va	$122,804,900
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala	$114,484,250
Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo	$85,691,491
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif	$76,899,425
Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss	$75,908,475
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska	$74,000,750
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa	$66,860,000
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla	$53,133,500
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky	$51,186,000
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii	$46,380,205
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash	$39,228,250
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D	$36,547,100
Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt	$36,161,125
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill	$35,577,250
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa	$27,169,750
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev	$26,628,613
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa	$25,320,000
Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis	$23,832,000
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y	$21,952,250
Former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M	$19,588,625

 

Technorati Tags: Omnibus,spending bill,budget,economy,Republican,Republican party,earmarks

Are We Socialists? A Poll

I had briefly heard Glenn Beck talking about this poll but wasn’t able to hear his comments in full but I heard enough to think, holy hell!

So, are we [Americans] socialist?

For years I’ve thought we were tending towards socialism and that we would embrace it when and if it came.

I believe that Bush the younger took a big step towards socialism and that president Obama is currently jogging towards socialism and will breakout into a full run very soon.

I want to show you question 32 first.

If you are having trouble reading the text, the question is:

I’m going to read you a list of items, for each one please tell me
whether you think it is the responsibility of the federal government or not.
First, do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to
[ITEM], or is that not the responsibility of the federal government? (RANDOMIZE)
SCALE: 1. Yes, is responsibility of federal government 2. No, is not the
responsibility of the federal government 3. (Don’t know)

The responses are as follows:

Make sure all Americans have food/ 68% say yes.

Make sure all Americans have health care/ 66% say yes.

Provide housing to those who cannot afford it/ 52% say yes.

Make sure all Americans who want a job, have a job/ 51% say yes.

I think the first question concerning rebuilding communities is also an indicator, but would be better dealt with separately at a different time.

The final question of rescuing failing financial institutions could be considered encouraging, but it really isn’t.

The only reason people say the government should not rescue these organizations is because they [perhaps rightly so] are angry with the organizations.  The American people blame [wrongly so] these financial institutions for our current economic situation and they [the American people] want to see these institutions suffer.

Consider the above responses and then consider along side the following poll questions and responses.

Question 39: Do you think Americans are starting to rely too much on the government and not enough on themselves?

A case of schizophrenia?

The polled persons want the federal government to supply food, health care, employment and housing and at the same time they believe Americans rely too much on government and not enough on ourselves?

Are we socialists?

Yes I think so, reluctant perhaps, but socialists none the less.

There is a lot more to this poll, follow the link at the beginning of this post to see the whole of the poll. I thought the whole of the poll is disturbingly revealing.

Technorati Tags: American economy,economy,socialist,socialism,republic,president Obama,Obama,president Bush,welfare,welfare state,nanny state

Gilbert Arenas Has Got Mad Love For Barack Obama

 

NBC Washington

Soon after Election Night, the Washington Wizards franchise player decided to show his support for President-elect Barack Obama by getting a political tattoo on his left hand.

I won’t even bother adding my personal thoughts, I think the picture speaks volumes.

 

Technorati Tags: NBA,Gilbert Arenas,Barack Obama,Washington Wizards