In a provision in the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, Congress expanded the circumstances under which the President could use the military for domestic law inforcement purposes. This provision, passed in the dead of night and almost totally ignored by the major media, was subsequently opposed by the National Governors Association and the National Guard association.
The House Armed Services committee under new chairman Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri has proposed a repeal of the expansion of Presidential power. The article at the link below gives more information. It is from Congressional Quarterly on line and was published on October 19, 2007. The repeal appears to be still in committee as of this writing. I will continue my research on this topic.
The proposed repeal is another example of good work on the part of the new Democratic Congress.
http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002609356.html
IN EXIGENCY. Welcome to THE MUSICAL PATRIOT (In Exigency), a web log of information and inspiration. Also included are events of interest in my own life. Now in its nineteenth year. (Comments to any post may be made by clicking on the "COMMENTS" link. Commenting is moderated.) To get the most out of this blog, a free subscription is recommended; see "Subscribe To" in the column to the right.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Warning to Patriots
Today I have read an article about a new book on the rise of fascist dictatorships. The interview is with Naomi Wolf.
The article is very interesting and I highly recommend it. The information here corresponds very much with my own research. Everyone in America and beyond who cares about democracy should read this article!
I will have more to say later.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112107R.shtml
The article is very interesting and I highly recommend it. The information here corresponds very much with my own research. Everyone in America and beyond who cares about democracy should read this article!
I will have more to say later.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112107R.shtml
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Last evening's Bill Moyers Journal brought official word of the attempt by the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to allow a significant expansion of the reach and power of the already powerful corporate media in the United States. This outrageous power grab is being promoted at a time of high profits for newspapers (an average of 17% per year according to Bill Moyers).
Now Chairman Martin and his Republican cohorts are trying to push through on short notice the same sweetheart deal for big media which the public rejected in overwhelming numbers under the previous chairman, Michael Powell, in 2003. The proposed relaxation of rules would allow one company to own both a major newspaper and a major TV station in the same market. More details can be found at the link below.
Because Chairman Martin intends to railroad these rule changes through next month, Moyers is telling us we need to make our voices heard by December 11. Please do contact the FCC and your members of Congress as soon as possible. It is critical the policy-makers hear from us right away. A handy contact form is provided through the web site I have referenced below.
It is clear to me ownership rules need to be strengthened, not relaxed. These rule changes are a clear pay-back by the Bush administration to their corporate supporters in the huge media conglomerates. There are several links on the Moyers web page which I will be examining. One includes incidents of media companies providing favors to FCC members. If this information is true, we have corruption on a high order.
After you do contact the government officials, I would be glad to hear about it. (You may use the "Comment" button here.)
This is a time to stand together -- and -- take action.
Now Chairman Martin and his Republican cohorts are trying to push through on short notice the same sweetheart deal for big media which the public rejected in overwhelming numbers under the previous chairman, Michael Powell, in 2003. The proposed relaxation of rules would allow one company to own both a major newspaper and a major TV station in the same market. More details can be found at the link below.
Because Chairman Martin intends to railroad these rule changes through next month, Moyers is telling us we need to make our voices heard by December 11. Please do contact the FCC and your members of Congress as soon as possible. It is critical the policy-makers hear from us right away. A handy contact form is provided through the web site I have referenced below.
It is clear to me ownership rules need to be strengthened, not relaxed. These rule changes are a clear pay-back by the Bush administration to their corporate supporters in the huge media conglomerates. There are several links on the Moyers web page which I will be examining. One includes incidents of media companies providing favors to FCC members. If this information is true, we have corruption on a high order.
After you do contact the government officials, I would be glad to hear about it. (You may use the "Comment" button here.)
This is a time to stand together -- and -- take action.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Cheney Impeachment Up-date
This afternoon I spoke with the office of the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House, Mr. John Conyers. The subject of the conversation with the gracious woman who answered was the Cheney Impeachment matter. I was told that the matter would be dealt with after the first of the year, as there are only two weeks left in the current session.
The mere fact that the resolutions impeaching Cheney have been sent to the Committee on the Judiciary is, in itself, quite extraordinary. We have Rep. Dennis Kucinich to thank for this. It is clear to me that if there is a mass uprising of interest on the part of the American people the Judiciary Committee will be forced to at least hold hearings. And I believe any honest hearings by credible witnesses will establish that Richard B. Cheney should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, if not treason.
So we are in important times. Will you be part of solving the problems of our current executive branch? Your support of this impeachment effort is thoughtfully and urgently sought. Please call or write Rep. John Conyers and your own representative at your earliest convenience and respectfully express your opinion.
The mere fact that the resolutions impeaching Cheney have been sent to the Committee on the Judiciary is, in itself, quite extraordinary. We have Rep. Dennis Kucinich to thank for this. It is clear to me that if there is a mass uprising of interest on the part of the American people the Judiciary Committee will be forced to at least hold hearings. And I believe any honest hearings by credible witnesses will establish that Richard B. Cheney should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, if not treason.
So we are in important times. Will you be part of solving the problems of our current executive branch? Your support of this impeachment effort is thoughtfully and urgently sought. Please call or write Rep. John Conyers and your own representative at your earliest convenience and respectfully express your opinion.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Explosive New Article by Elizabeth Holtzman
Please see the link below for an article by former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman on the possible culpability of Bush and Cheney on the issue of torture.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111407R.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111407R.shtml
Monday, November 12, 2007
"Lions for Lambs"
The new Robert Redford film, "Lions for Lambs" debuted this past week-end. I was priviliged to view it along with a friend last evening. The film is extremely well-done with fabulous acting by Redford with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. Focusing on the propaganda surrounding U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the film throws light on the dilemmas faced by major media. The movie also contains a theme rare in films of today: pertinent and timeless advice for wayward youth.
All themes are handled intelligently, and, dare I say, entertainingly. "Lions for Lambs" is highly recommended.
All themes are handled intelligently, and, dare I say, entertainingly. "Lions for Lambs" is highly recommended.
Friday, November 02, 2007
The Missing Class
They amount to 57 million Americans. They are the near-poor as defined by statistics and author Katherine Newman whose book (with Victor Tan Chen) The Missing Class has just been published.
Katherine Newman was interviewed this evening on Bill Moyers Journal in a very informative conversation about these forgotten Americans. I am not ashamed to say I am experienced with this economic class of Americans. I know the particular struggles and the hardships.
Because of the hour I am unable to write more. However, I did want to make this posting now so readers would be able to look up the book and check it out. I will plan on writing more about it in a future post.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2007/11/the_missing_class_1.html
Katherine Newman was interviewed this evening on Bill Moyers Journal in a very informative conversation about these forgotten Americans. I am not ashamed to say I am experienced with this economic class of Americans. I know the particular struggles and the hardships.
Because of the hour I am unable to write more. However, I did want to make this posting now so readers would be able to look up the book and check it out. I will plan on writing more about it in a future post.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2007/11/the_missing_class_1.html
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Is Iraq Another Vietnam?
I have just started reading an important new book about Iraq called Iraq and the Lessons of Vietnam, a compendium of essays edited by Lloyd C. Gardner and Marilyn B. Young. I am only in the first chapter, having already completed the introduction.
The book is a collection of essays by writers such as Christian G. Appy, David Elliott, Elizabeth L. Hillman, and John Prados. In coming days I will relate more about what I am reading. So far the book is a well-written accounting of the history of the propaganda surrounding the Vietnam war and its aftermath as well as the Gulf War and the current Iraq war. Being dealt with in the early pages are the hubris of George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld who changed stories as events did not go their way in Iraq.
Certainly it is crucial to get the story straight when it comes to understanding why the United States attacked Iraq in 2003 and remains stuck there in the proverbial quagmire. I am looking forward to reading this book.
The book is a collection of essays by writers such as Christian G. Appy, David Elliott, Elizabeth L. Hillman, and John Prados. In coming days I will relate more about what I am reading. So far the book is a well-written accounting of the history of the propaganda surrounding the Vietnam war and its aftermath as well as the Gulf War and the current Iraq war. Being dealt with in the early pages are the hubris of George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld who changed stories as events did not go their way in Iraq.
Certainly it is crucial to get the story straight when it comes to understanding why the United States attacked Iraq in 2003 and remains stuck there in the proverbial quagmire. I am looking forward to reading this book.
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