LBJ knew the way......

So much news and hub-bub in the last week that what seems to have been already forgotten is the Democrats have 60. Yes, Senator Al Franken has finally be legitimatized. Now that the Dems have what they have waiting so long for, all I keep hearing is that don't think it will so easy getting all 60 to agree to pass certain things. Certain things like health care. What??? I always thought the reason that the Dems wanted 60 was to get some legislation past for the good of the people who elected them. If they are still uncertain about what can be done - then the people have to be uncertain with who then elected. Now that the power has shifted will the Democrat controlled Congress be the congress of NO ALSO? I hope not.

Maybe President Obama should take a few pages or the whole book from LBJ. Why? Cause before he was consumed and done in by the Vietnam War, LBJ passed more legislation for the Great Society than any president before or after him. He knew how to pass laws; maybe because before president he was "Master of the Senate" (another good book President Obama) and knew what it took to convince senators to pass laws. He took that knowledge to the White House and parlayed into good for the people. He cajoled, intimidated, twisted the proverbial arm to get things done; but things got done. If he had the 60 that Pres. Obama has now - who knows what would get passed; but I am sure the first item would be health care. Don't squander this opportunity Pres. Obama.

Also - maybe instead of Press Secretary Gibbs arguing with Helen Thomas he should read her column more often and forward it to you Mr. President. Helen has been around longer then both of you and believe it or not ..... She gets it.... Read and learn

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/helenthomas/19790472/detail.html

Read a newspaper - save good reporters.....

If we keep losing newspapers at this fast paced rate, will we ever have a reporter of this caliber again... From Socialized medicine to war in Vietnam to the Palestine/Israeli conflict; seems like all the news of the past is in some way still the news of today.

If you have the time - enjoy the video....

From Democracy Now.... June 18, 2009
Twenty years ago today, I.F. Stone died at the age of eighty-one. He was the premier investigative reporter of the twentieth century, a self-described radical journalist. I.F. Stone’s legacy of work spanned the New Deal, World War II, McCarthyism, the Cold War, Israel/Palestine, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and beyond. He scooped reporters right and left. As the FBI tracked him, he tracked down the story. He is best remembered for his self-published I.F. Stone’s Weekly. At its peak in the 1960s, the one-man publication had a circulation of about 70,000. We speak to his biographer, D.D. Guttenplan, and air historic recordings of I.F. Stone at the 1965 Vietnam teach-in in Berkeley, CA, and on The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. [includes rush transcript]

To read, listen to, or watch the whole story:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/18/american_radical_the_life_and_times

Judges.... Is there a perfect way???

The hot topic in recent days has been that of judges. Not only because of the newly hope to be appointed after much scrutiny, Sonia Sotamayor, but because in many states it is Primary election time and time to elect judges. One of the amazing things is that most people don't even know there are judge race much less even know who there are. I am amazed that such an important position are taken for granted by the voters; well I guess for granted that is unless you are unlucky enough to go before one. Then if that were to happen could you have the judge excuse themself because you may have voted for him. Or better yet maybe your attorney donated to that particular judges campaign. Yes they claim they are supposed to be nonpartisan positions and they get to cross file on both the Dem and Rep sides of the ballot but we who pay attention always know what party they really belong to. They claim not to be politicians but they are always showing up to every political function there is so that they can schmooze with the committeepeople and powers to be to get elected. Now if that isn't a politician then what is. And talk about a lawyer frenzy - wow they all come out .... And we don't even know if they are half way good lawyers but they want now to be a judge. So if they are a crappy lawyer and happen to be popular among their peers, they can just get a promotion because of their meritocracy, to a judgeship. What better ally to have if you are a litigating lawyer then an incompetent judge that you may have helped get elected. And who is it that supports the judges the most and gives them great ratings when they are still attorneys...... You got it..... Fellow attorneys.....Never know when it may be your turn.

Now I am not saying that appointed judges are any better. They really have to kiss butt to get appointed. They have to be real party members to get appointed by the power to be. At least elected judges are beholding for a small fraction to the people.... Appointed judges only have one person voting for their approval... the appointor. So these lawyers keep in touch with party powers and get their name out there because schmoozing is really important.

And why lawyers? Are they the only ones who can make a good judgment? Albeit that they may know case law - judgment is usually based on a variety of conditions and most judges mix the law, life and circumstances to come up with their decision. An intelligent person can and will learn the law and/or have clerks who can look up certain case laws for them to interrupt. That person could be - an English professor, a social worker, an accountant or maybe a housewife. I would agree that they would have to have some qualifications but just solely going to law school should not be the only requirement.
If we are to be tried by our peers - what about the judge?

Finally it is the salaries. I saw that locally here in Pa. that the judges average a salary of anywhere from 75K for a district judge to 180K to superior court judge. Why should being a judge also become a way for some to get rich - fat - and lazy. For that much money and of course benefits they should have to be evaluated every year - and by a civilian board - to determine if they should keep their jobs.

Now although it may seem like an imperfect system - and it is - we can only hope that the cream rises to the top and maybe that crappy lawyer makes a great judge. But until we find that perfect system and appoint or elect Solomon like judges - please let's research who is running and pay more attention to who we blindly elect.

The best have been stealing presidential elections - The GOP

I am amazed of what cry babies the conservative right are. All they want to talk about stealing elections - well guess they have limited memory or maybe it's is that they have acquired some dementia - what about the 2000 & 2004 elections. Stolen by a master thief, with some family help.

Maybe the people had just gotten tired of being abused. Stop squawking and adjust to what the people want and need. The majority of the citizens of USA are not millionaire businessmen but hard worker individuals who want government to represent them. Cry yourself a river or wake up to reality and stop blaming others. The conservatives built a huge glass house and now they want to throw stones....

Speak the truth and be accountable.....

Is this the only man who has any guts? Whether you like him or not - former Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura tells it like it is and maybe that is something we are missing from politicians. They should not be worried what group or PAC is going to support them and fund their campaign. They should not have to worry about always siding with their party; even when the party may say crazy things. What they should do is - represent the people who voted them in. Tell the truth; vote their conscience not pocketbook; and have guts.

This blog was created to hold our elected officials accountable; whoever they may be. And to also give kudos to those who deserve it. Right at this moment I feel that Mr. Ventura is that man. Go Jesse!!!
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/05/12/lkl.jesse.long.cnn?iref=videosearch

Cowards of a feather are chickenhawks.....

http://thedailybeast.com/video/item/cheney-chooses-rush-over-powell

Just what I want when going into war is two draft dodgers to lead me. Both Dicky Cheney and Rushbo Limbaugh are known draft dodgers but super (chicken) hawks. There should be a rule that if you are such a hawk and willing to send other people's children to die a in a foreign country, you should either be willing to send you child there (and I mean in harms way), or maybe you yourself should go on the front line to practice what you preach.

Dicky and Rushbo seem to live by the saying "Do as I say - not as I never done" and are getting away with it. Hey guys if you think that waterboarding is not torture - or sleep deprivation is not torture then put you money where you mouth is and go through the procedures yourselves (280 times).

I really don't care if Gen. Colin Powell is a Republican or Democrat - I care that he would lead me in battle. He has been there and done that. You two cowards hang together. Maybe if you ever get into a real altercation; you can see who can run the fastest.

100 days? Why?

For many of a president we have always heard about the all important 100 days of a person's presidency. My question is why? It seems the benchmark was FDR - but from what many a historian said there was not much done during those 100 days. Ike was trying to improve his golf swing. Next came JFK. Well, I am still trying to find out what he did in those first 100 days except maybe find the best hiding places for his stash of women. LBJ was being chased by the ghost of JFK. Tricky Dick was hiding recording devices. Ronnie; Well. Then good ole Bill Clinton. He was just getting to know the interns during his first 100 days.

Now this is not to say that all the above were not good presidents; cause they all had their accomplishments. It is to say that the 100 day benchmark is hogwash. Heck, when someone gets a new job the probation period for the position is usually 90 days. I guess the president gets 10 extra days.

All I do have to say is if we are going to still use this yardstick to measure the starting point of a presidency then we may have to forget FDR,IKE JFK,LBJ,Dick, Ronnie and WJC and start to consider President Barack Obama's 100 days.

He has tackled some pretty heavy duty issues; albeit they still need some solving. He has restored civility and honor to the USA's reputation. But still it is only 100 days and that is too soon to judge. Although, if you had to judge I would say these first 100 days of President Obama's are just as historical as his election.

Like any normal human being, I can only assume that even the President of the United States is just getting acclimated with the position 100 days into it. Then again I would also assume that the President of the United States is not any normal human. So even though we should hold the presidency to higher standards - we should also realize that these men; and soon women; are human and if their first 100 days are good, bad or indifferent, we can only hope their tenure is a super success.