Saturday, January 3, 2009
Does this post?++
Liberty Savings
Awful Carnage in Mumbai, India a Reminder of World's Instability
Friday, November 28, 2008
The scenes I've seen on CNN-IBN have been like nothing we can ever imagine. And they're a stark reminder of just how unstable this world truly is--even in lands where democracy is alive and well. Of course, for the people of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), this is their own version of Sept. 11.
If you have some free time, take a few minutes to watch live coverage from CNN-IBN by clicking here .
Hoping to bring the blog back
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Well, it's been nearly two months since I last posted--and in between posts, the United States of America elected itself a new president. While I'm not sure this site can ever be what it once was--I am hoping to return to posting regularly, more so with opinions than anything else. Given my new schedule, it's near impossible to keep the site at a level it once was, with coverage of several towns.
With that said, when I first started the blog, I did it as a hobby so I could continue to write as much as possible. And with luck, in the coming days, I'll be able to restart that.
Check back, will you?
My sincerest thanks to everyone who made this place special for nearly two years. My only wish is that I could dedicate as much time to the site as I used to--but that's the nature of this world and this economy to boot.
We'll talk soon!
-- Kevin
Enough with the conservative pundits already
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I can't help but get a laugh out of what the conservative talk show hosts say about the media. Today, for instance, I heard Steve Malzberg jump all over Bob Scheiffer. I heard Sean Hannity discuss how the media gives Sen. Joe Biden passes all the time, while they pounce on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
It's not so much their critical nature that I question—it's their universal dismissal of the media that gets me. The people they speak of go on the air, once a day, for about an hour. Scheiffer gets a little longer each week because he hosts "Face the Nation." But outside of him, most of the so-called media members Hannity and Malzberg speak of have less airtime than they do.
Malzberg is on the air from 4 to 6 p.m. each day for a total of 10 hours of airtime each week, and Hannity is on the air from 3 to 6 p.m. on the radio and 9 to 10 p.m. on Fox News each weekday for a total of 20 hours a week. This figure doesn’t include "Hannity's America," which airs a lot weekends on Fox News, and it doesn’t take into account the rebroadcasts of "Hannity and Colmes" each night and early morning on Fox News.
So when Sean and Steve get mad at the media, are they upset with themselves?
Hardly.
It's just so typical of Republican hacks to be critical of the media, when they are just as much a part of the media as the anchors of the three major nightly news programs. In fact, given their schedules, wouldn’t it be somewhat proper to say they've got an even greater influence on the American people by sheer time than the anchors do?
The same goes for Sen. John McCain, too, who is often critical of the "media," when it's the same media—in the form of talk show hosts—who give him and Palin the most exposure on a daily basis.
The hypocrisy, of course, isn’t unexpected.
Malzberg, perhaps the third most arrogant and irritating commentator on the radio behind the obnoxious Mark Levin and the world's most hate-filled man Michael Savage, had the audacity to call Scheiffer "arrogant, self-serving and elitist" on his show today. Perhaps it's because he doesn’t get to hear his own show—but perhaps it's time for Malzberg to realize he's just as arrogant, self-serving and elitist—if not more—than the people in the media he thinks fit into that same category?
I don’t know about you folks, but with this campaign getting as nasty as any campaign has ever been, I've about had it with the "slam the media" motif these conservative hosts have undertaken.
Because you see, they're the media, too. They get plenty of air time.
Perhaps they might consider constructive ideas about how to better this country. Perhaps they might consider offering the candidates some direction.
Don’t expect that anytime soon though.
In fact, never expect it—it won't happen.
Thank goodness there's one great thing we can all do when these venom-filled hate mongers take to the air: We can tune out and find something else to listen to.
NOW endorses Obama-Biden ticket
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The National Organization for Women has endorsed the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden for the presidency and vice presidency of the United States. NOW rarely endorses candidates.STATEMENT OF KIM GANDY
Chair, National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC)
Sept. 16, 2008
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce today, on behalf of the nation's oldest and largest women's rights organization, that the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) proudly endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States.
It is no coincidence that I am joined in this announcement by so many allied organizations that collectively represent a broad and diverse cross-section of U.S. women. From teachers to social workers, from business owners to college students, women in this country are lining up behind the candidate who is out there every day standing up -- clearly and consistently -- for women. Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are coming together in support of Sen. Obama and his pledge to fulfill this country's promise of equal opportunity for our daughters as well as all our sons.
Although it is very unusual for us to endorse in a presidential election, this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country. The NOW PAC reviewed Sen. Obama's record and public statements on issues that disproportionately affect the women of this nation, and I spoke with him at length about his commitment to women's equality. For example:
On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.
On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.
On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act -- of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor -- as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.
On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush's extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women's rights,
For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no" - NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women's rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.
NOW supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary, and now we join with her in saying "NO" -- No Way, No How, No McCain! And we proudly stand arm-in-arm with her in putting our hopes and our dreams, our hard work and our hard-earned money, behind the next President of the United States -- Barack Obama, and his running mate, longtime friend and ally of women, Sen. Joe Biden.
Imus with Cavuto
It's a little behind--but I haven't listened to Imus for a while now. Here's a great interview he gave to Neil Cavuto on FOX.
