Rep. Kennedy Rips National Press

Rarely have I seen or read of such a passionate speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on the subject of the national press. Certainly persons on the right have been passionately critical. But less often have persons on the left -- normally staunch advocates of freedom of the press -- been this critical with this kind of vehemence. Patrick Kennedy is to be congratulated for his speech.





N.B. I have no control over the ads appearing with this video. --TMP

Several Founding Fathers and One Founding Mother Apparently Visit Washington

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42735292@N06/sets/72157624268930937/show/

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See post below for further information.

Something Cheerful!

"George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Betsy Ross" have re-appeared in Washington, this time protesting the influence of big money on politics! The article whose link appears below tells more.

It is about time our founding fathers and mothers got involved in the continuing cesspool which is otherwise known as American electoral politics. While there are certainly many, many wonderful people in elective office, the system which brings them there is all-too often corrupt and untrustworthy.

Hear ye, all citizens, the patriots of old* have returned to the fray! Their appearance is long-overdue.


*As you will see from the article, our Patriot Progenitors appear with actors under the clothes. But I don't want to spoil the fun.


http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/30/protesters-dressed-as-founding-fathers-crash-d-c-fundraisers/

Another Lion of the Senate Passes

Early this morning, in the wee hours, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia died after being in declining health for some time. This great lion of the Senate, who stood for the Constitution even when it wasn't popular, will be sorely missed. I will have more to say about Robert Byrd later.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/us/politics/29byrd.html?hp

Toronto Out of Control. Or Was It?

Here is a provocative account of what is being described as a riot in Toronto. Allegations are flying back and forth. It seems from the eye-witness reports given at this link that police were negligent (purposely?) in not stopping the actions of the Black Bloc. Astonishing and powerful reading.


http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/judes/2010/06/toronto-burning-or-it

New Report on Bush-era Torture Raises Question of Human Experimentation

Here is a quick post to direct you to a report on a report, one which raises serious questions of unethical and illegal human experimentation on detainees under the Bush Administration. It is time for the Obama Administration to step up to the plate and investigate if they have the nerve to reverse policy as stated by Mr. Obama himself.

No American should put up with anything less than a criminal investigation of this kind of activity!



http://www.truthout.org/human-experimentation-heart-bush-administrations-torture-program60199

Another Oil Company Plays Hardball

Bill Moyers in an article on his program's web site alerts us to another oil company disaster. Chevron has sued in court for access to out-takes of a movie critical of the company. In most cases, courts have ruled that journalistic film out-takes are the equivalent of a reporter's notebook. But now some judge in New York has given Chevron access to supposedly make sure the documentary was "fair." This is an outrageous ruling. If upheld it will chill both documentarians and sources. One wonders: Where are we getting these judges, perniciously ignorant of long-standing First Amendment law?



http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2010/05/bill_moyers_michael_winship_ch_1.html

Calls for a Return to Glass-Steagall Continue

An important economist has written an article in the Financial Times of London.
Roubini declared, "It is time for radical reform of finance. The majority of proposals on the table are inadequate or irrelevant. Large financial institutions must be unbundled; they are too big, interconnected and complex to manage. Investors and customers can find all the traditional banking, investment banking, hedge fund, mutual fund and insurance services they need in specialized firms. We need to go back to Glass-Steagall on steroids."


(unconfirmed but from a usually-reliable source)