Why We Have Ads for Anne Coulter and John McCain on OpEdNews
we run google adsense ad blocks on OpEdNews. The way they work is we paste in a line of code on a page and google uses its web technology to sense the words on that page. Then, they select a context sensitive ad to put next to our content. We don't accept a specific ad, just the ability of Google to place a relevant ad. We get paid when people click on the ads. There's a bit of a sweet irony that, when our readers click on ads from right wing sources, those sources are actually paying to support our left wing site.
Subscribers with Comcast Addresses
Comcast has been treating our newsletters as spam. We've written to them and they tell us they've taken us off their spam list. Drop me an email that says comcast subscriber in the subject heading if you get this. Newsletter. Don't expect a reply. Ifyou like what we do and want to send us a message we can use in our website promotion and fundraising, say comcast and comment in your subject heading, then tell us what you like and why you like about opednews.
If It's Sunday, It's Meet the Press-- Predictably with Right Wing Pundits and Centrist, Weak Speakers representing the Left.
I'm sick and tired of this weekly abuse of media balance. The goddamn networks should be bringing balanced punditry to the air or they should lose their effing licenses.
So I switch to Face the Nation and of course, there's VP Cheney-- spewing lie after lie, regurgitating the same lame spin he's been stuck on for years. Why do they give him air time? He makes Spiro Agnew look honest and brilliant.
He is so pathetically stuck with his limited, restricted, myopic view of the world, he is a danger to America's future.
So I switch to ABC. Finally... a Democat-- Bill Richardson... he's speaking up for the "good side to Don Imus." Next. Arlen Specter-- the first person who is actually worth talking to. His hearings this week, with Patrick Leahy, will put Gonzales where he belongs. And if Specter plays an honest role and evaluates Gonzales on the facts, Gonzales will have to go.
Specter reports that he, Leahy and Whitehouse counsel Fred Fielding will meet tomorrow to discuss the missing emails. Why do they need a lawyer to discuss missing emails. They need IT people to go the RNC and whitehouse and find what can be found, and to find what has been done to delete and erase the emails and when.
Specter sounds good-- saying there are serious questions about some of the firings. He's not using the lame talking point that the president can fire at his pleasure, and that Bill Clinton fired all 93 of his US attorneys. You have to be listening to right wing talk radio continuously to not get it that those talking points are shallow and irrelevant to the issues here. When someone raises them to me, I laugh inside and tell them to look into this beyond what people like Bill the oaf O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and their copycats are parrotting.
Specter says he should consider re-instating some of the attorneys who were fired.
And that's from a Republican. Why haven't we heard that from Democrats. Oh... I said it. I mean congressional Democrats. Come on blue guys-- Get Tough!!!
Dumping Gonzales is only the beginning.
It is the key that has already opened the door to impeachment.
The Don Imus Story
My initial response to the Imus imbroglio was to say punish him, then bring a new staff on with him, since Imus didn't say Hoe first-- his creepy producer did. I almost never watched or listened to Imus, a lot because of his producers. They were so much further right than he was and they created the environment he worked and spoke in. His producer, by saying Hoe first, primed Imus to say it. That's not at all excusing Imus. He created that environment. He owned it.
Nasty Talk on Rap and Hip Hop
My teenager listens to rap. When I use the car after he's used it, there's usually a CD that goes on that uses ugly, foul language that abuses women or curses in general. I don't like it, but there are bigger battles and issues to deal with for this parent of a 17 year old-- a lot more. When I'm in the car, I usually can't take too much of the music. Fortunately, he's begun learning to appreciate music of the sixties through eighties-- Clapton, The Who, Led Zeppelin.
But this would be a lot less of a problem if the music wasn't played on the air, and if companies didn't sell it. A radio station doesn't have to play music which abuses women. A publicly held music selling company doesn't have to offer CDs or downloads (Apple, Verizon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon take note.) I don't buy the claims of Snoop Dog, that he has the right to talk that way. There's a cartoon that features a ten year old black kid. Why does he have to call another black person the "N word" on this cartoon show? Because people do it? Bull!! If it's a cultural phenomenon, maybe child sexual abuse should be considered a "cultural phenomenon" too. Lots of people do it. No. This is ugly talk. It's gotten out of control and it is time to quash it.
Yes, people have the right of free speech, and they also have to face the consequences of their use of those rights. If hip hop artists choose to use that language, and they find their music is banned from radio, sales and movies and TV, including MTV. If they can't express their anger, contempt for mainstream culture, etc. without abusing women, then too bad. (Same goes for me.)
It seems to me that the "N word" is used as a put-down, generally used by a person with more power. It's like name-calling. There's nothing warm and friendly about it. IN some languages, like Spanish's tu versus usted, there's a formal and informal way to talk to people. You only address someone in the informal way if you are close personal friend or family, or if you are superior. The respect of formality is built into the language. The talk that rap and hiphop has popularized and made more acceptable for wider use has, in a way, created a new way to talk down to and insult. Well, maybe it's not a new way. Abusive, ugly talk is not new. But the way it has been accepted in the media, in everyday discourse in some communities and cultures-- it's gone too far.
I'm glad Imus was fired. I'm convinced his defenders are right. He's not all bad. But, that does not excuse him from his disgusting behavior. Now we need to take this message on language to the places it needs to go.
Tax Refund Time
By now, I guess most of you in the US have finished and sent in your taxe returns. I have an idea. Take a portion of it and make a contribution to OpEdNEws. We're halfway through the month and, as usual, not halfway to reaching our overhead goals. Help us catch up, so we don't have to send out urgent notices later in the month. It's easy to do it online, with credit card or Paypal, or you can send a check. Contribute to OpEdNEws now... because it feels good.
Other Kinds of Contributions to Support OpEdNEws
I'm thinking of exploring ways that supporters can contribute non-montarily to OpEdNews.
You could contribute a car, services, items that could be sold on Ebay (the logistics require they sell for over $100)
Any thoughts on this?
A Great Week Coming Up
With Gonzales' hearing coming up, with the missing five million emails hitting the fan-- this is going to be a fun week with some exciting news. We'll be all over it. Come check our news and oped links and articles to get the big picture.
Have Great One
Rob Kall
Newest Articles
CONFLATED TRAGEDIES: BLUFFTON, DUKE And IRAQ
I watched these two events unfold. The Bluffton tragedy. Young lives lost from a roadway hazard unforeseen. The Duke tragedy. Young lives shredded by lies, spurred on by reckless officials. Remarkably similar to the plight of our military. Only the Bluffton and Duke incidents are anomalies. Our young military suffers these tragedies EVERYDAY.
"Swing State Ohio" A Documentary By Jed Wolfington
This is a professionally done piece, and it's quite apparent that the team did its homework. The music, camerawork,and editing are all executed neatly and effectively.The storyline is crisp,and the pace lively but not rushed.While the content is painful,the finished product is a pleasure to watch.But most importantly,the subject is an important one.Ohio as swing state – the quintessential swing state in the 2004 election.
The Unintended Consequences Of Rutgers And Imus
How forced silence on issues of Race and Sex could blow up in all of our faces - literally.
Message To Ann Coulter: When Will You Apologize?
Ann, it is about time that you apologize to the 9/11 widows, the victims of Darfur, the people of Baghdad, Anna Nicole Smith's daughter and yes the Rutgers women's basket ball team since you used this tragic case by interjecting what other names could have been used against them.
A 9/11 "Smoking Gun" Hidden In Plain Sight
Pssst. Wanna Know How To Reduce Your Tax Bill? Simple: Become Rich
Let's say your wealth puts you in the top 1/100th of 1 percent of all Americans. The tax burden for these super-rich people has been steadily falling for years. In 1993, they paid 30 cents of every dollar into federal income tax. In 2000, that had fallen to 22 cents. Now, with the Bush tax cuts, it has fallen to 18 cents. And if you're wealthy, your odds of a tax audit actually decrease these days.
Report Slams Intl. Monetary Fund Practices In Africa
An incommodious report was released Friday by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) that elucidates restrictive spending of annual aid on behalf of the 29 Sub-Saharan African countries.
Minus Imus
Mr. Imus said it once, and was fired, why is it Ok for others in the media to repeat what Mr. Imus said over and over without any repercussions?
April/Quote A Martyred Progressive's Condemnation Of U.S. Wars
Asks why Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus do not repeat MLK's condemnation of U.S. war policies on the floor of Congress. The fourth article in the series appearing on the 15th of each month exhorting peace and justice activists to follow the example of Howard Zinn, who, in radio interviews quotes King Jr.' strong condemnations of U.S. murderous war policies and the use of its military throughout the 3rd world
Peace Be With You, Kurt Vonnegut
As the media fills with whimsical good-byes to one of America's greatest writers, lets not forget one of the great engines driving this wonderful man-he HATED war. Including this one in Iraq. And he had utter contempt for the men who brought it about.
The Final Act Of Submission
Is congress allowing AIPAC to dictate policy that puts Israel before the US?
Aid And Comfort For Torturers: Psychology And Coercive Interrogations In Historical Perspective
Psychologists have a long history of aiding the development of abusive interrogation techniques. Understanding this history helps put psychologists' participation in torture at Guantanamo in context. It also helps to explain the American Psychological Association abetting of this torture.
The Apostles Of Deception
The phony evangelicals have stolen the pulpit and the ignorant and foolish have fallen under their spell. Now we have fools and con men, pretenders and flim-flam artists: hucksters, jilters, jokers and clowns fleecing the hapless flock. We have Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, George Bush, Hillary Clinton, and those masquerading as the Christian right marching us into war after war.
From Imus To Africa: Racism Here, There, Everywhere
It is an undeniable fact; color is a major factor in nearly all facets of life - whether in relationships, housing, jobs, education, or incarceration - color is always front and center.
Nuclear Energy Revisited
On 60 Minutes last Sunday night they had an ode to nuclear energy in the form of new pictures of Paris France, brilliantly lit by atomic power. Sixty minutes, under new management, is apparently atoning for its past liberal sins by bearding for the Bush administration.
'Daily Voting News' For April 14, 2007
a run-down of the days elections/voting news from across the country and overseas
McCain Unjustly Calls The Iraq War Just
John McCain's claim that the Iraq war was just is tested against the principles of the just war theory and is proven false.
No Greater Promoters And Protectors Of Al-Qaeda In America
-Bin-Laden 'won' when we pulled the bulk of our nation's defenders away from the hunt for the terrorist and his accomplices, and drew Iraqis (and others) into armed resistance against the U.S. invasion and occupation. The 9-11 terrorists 'win' every day that we sacrifice more lives consolidating power in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of just hunting them down.
KURT VONNEGUT / A FORCE OF NATURE
As I scanned the obituaries regarding the death of Kurt Vonnegut ~ I was looking for the one that would capture the true essence of this unique man, the one that would capture his spirit and vitality that was, quite literally, a force of nature. Who else but Vonnegut could write ~ "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: ' The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music.' I found it ~ enjoy !
Pharma To Medical Press: Thanks For Resuscitating HRT
Less than five years after being discredited, HRT is back and extolled as helpful against heart disease.
NEW EVIDENCE THAT THE 2001 AND 2003 TAX CUTS HAVE ONLY MODEST ECONOMIC EFFECTS AND DO NOT PAY FOR THEMSELVES
A new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office finds that extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts could result in a modest increase in the number of hours that people work. However, any "dynamic" revenue gains associated with the resulting increase in wages and salaries would pale in comparison with the cost of extending the tax cuts.
Biskupic The Politician Emerges
US Atty Biskupic's statement does nothing to quell the controversy, and raises more questions about the nature of Biskupic's office that resembles more and more that of a desperate politician's out to save his hide.
Conyers Says DOJ Disclosure Not Enough, Subpoena Still Stands
Despite the release of nearly 3,000 pages of documents on Friday related to the firing of eight ADAs last year, including some materials that had been previously withheld, House Judiciary Comm ChairJohn Conyers (D-MI) says the Justice Dept still has not fully complied with a subpoena issued by his panel, setting up a potential showdown next week between Congress and the Bush admin over the purged prosecutors.
The Governor's Database
Texas is amassing an unprecedented amount of information on its citizens Piece by piece, Republican Gov. Rick Perry's homeland security office is gathering massive amounts of information about Texas residents and merging it to create the most exhaustive centralized database in state history. Warehoused far from Texas on servers housed at a private company in Louisville, Kentucky . . .
Hillary's College Classmates Speak Out
They've winced at her struggles over how to be a modern first lady and her marital humiliations, rejoiced with her election to the Senate, puzzled over how her guarded and cool political persona is so different from the warm, funny and outspoken woman they know.They still see her as the thoughtful friend who called every week after a husband died, or wrote a charming note about the birth of a grandson. Some are raising money
What WIll A Data Breach Cost The Taxpayers?
Security breaches can cost elected officials dearly when it comes to a marred public image and loss in voter confidence but the financial costs to the taxpayer can be staggering. Now one company is providing a free online tool to calculate the risk and another offers a million dollar guarantee to anyone who was compromised by the breach.
Kerry Slams Bush Pick For VA Post
Kerry announced Friday that he would fight "tooth and nail" against Bush's nomination of Dr. Michael Kussman to a senior post at the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a VA official back in 2004, Kussman co-chaired a task force that issued a report indicating there were problems with healthcare for injured veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "My concerns are that this fellow was part of the problem..."
Graft Beats Out Food Safety At Bush's Agriculture Department
Woefully, the scandals are rolling in like waves for the most corrupt administration ever to get into power. Now it's the Agriculture Department's use of public funds for totally nonagricultural purposes.
Bush Knew/didn't Know About Longer Troop Tours?
Bush tried to lay our troop tour extentions on the Democrats if he didn't get the funding bill he wanted, then the next day troop tours are announced. Either Bush knew when he made his speech yesterday and he lied to the American Legion, or he didn't know about it himself. Commander-in-Chief or Liar-in-Chief?
How The Web Became A Sexists' Paradise
Everyone receives abuse online but the sheer hatred thrown at women bloggers has left some in fear for their lives.
Returning Troops Face Obstacles To Care
VA still broken...Injured soldiers returning home for medical treatment face an unacceptable maze of paperwork and bureaucracy, leaders of a presidential commission on veterans' health care said Saturday. at least nine congressional committees are investigating veterans' health care problems after the disclosures about Walter Reed & other facilities.
Celebs Contribute To Al Franken Campaign
Scores of actors, writers, producers and others from the entertainment industry have contributed to Al Franken's Senate campaign, helping the Minnesota Democrat get off to a strong fundraising start. That helped Franken pull in $1.35 million in the first quarter of the year - despite not beginning his fundraising effort until Feb. 14 - just behind Coleman's $1.53 million.
Obama Returns Lobbyists' Contributions
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign has returned more than $50,000 in political contributions after discovering the donors were lobbyists.
Maureen Dowd: More Con Than Neo
We are forced to contemplate the batrachian grapplings of Paul Wolfowitz, the man who cherry-picked intelligence to sell us a war with Iraq. You will not be surprised to learn, gentle readers, that Wolfie in love is no less deceptive and bumbling than Wolfie at war.
Human Trafficking Of Indian Guest Workers Alleged In Mississippi Shipyard; Contractor Defends 290-man Camp
Paid $18.50 an hour, but living twenty to a trailer and fighting for spoons
White House Claims Bush Was In The Dark About Iraq Troop Extensions, Fueling Speculation
What explains the strange timing? when the Pentagon announced its new policy on Wednesday, Gates said he was angry that the news had been leaked to the press. That has sparked suspicion that the deployment extension was actually supposed to be announced after Bush had vetoed Congress' Iraq legislation "so that he could try to claim it was their fault." In that scenario, Bush's remarks were just meant to prime the pump.
Documents Dump Show Justice Ranking U.S. Attorneys - New Details Put Rove At The Heart Of It
NPR now has new information about that plan. According to someone who's had conversations with White House officials, the plan to fire all 93 U.S. attorneys originated with political adviser Karl Rove. It was seen as a way to get political cover for firing the small number of U.S. attorneys the White House actually wanted to get rid of. Documents show the plan was eventually dismissed as impractical.
Former Iraq Commander Backs Return Of Military Draft
Ret. Maj. Gen. John Batiste states that in order to "win the peace" in Iraq, current troop levels there would need to be nearly doubled to 300,000, adding that to make numbers like that possible, a military draft might need to be considered. The draft was last used in the US in 1973. "We've had generations of Americans now who have not served their country, they don't know what the word means."
Car Bomb Blast Near Iraq Shrine
At least 37 people have been killed and about 70 wounded in a car bombing at a bus station in the Shia holy city of Karbala in Iraq.
Suicide Bombers Strike In Casablanca
Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up in Casablanca close to the city's US consulate and American cultural centre.
May Peace Be With You, Kurt Vonnegut
As the media fills with whimsical good-byes to one of America's greatest writers, lets not forget one of the great engines driving this wonderful man---he HATED war. Including this one in Iraq. And he had utter contempt for the men who brought it about.
