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Archive for the ‘Communications’ Category

Obama and Romney,Third Presidential Debate Transcript

Posted in Communications, Politics, tagged , , , , , , , on October 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From the White House Website:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
October 23, 2012

Remarks by the President and Governor Romney in the Third Presidential Debate

Lynn University
Boca Raton, Florida

9:01 P.M. EDT

MR. SCHIEFFER:  Good evening from the campus of Lynn University here in Boca Raton, Florida.  This is the fourth and last debate of the 2012 campaign, brought to you by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  This one is on foreign policy.  I’m Bob Schieffer of CBS News. (more…)

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Feminist Majority’s 2012 “HerVotes” List

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, Congress, Disaster, ERA, Feminism, Feminist Majority, Politics, Women's Rights on August 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The Feminist Majority has compiled this year’s list of threats to women’s rights.

Top Ten Historic Advances for Women Now at Risk

Link to: HerVotes

I must say that I was glad to see this list; one of the underreported elements of job loss in the public sector is how it is disproportionately affecting women. Because public service jobs were more likely subject to affirmative action requirements, a larger number of women were afforded the chance for a good job with decent benefits. Public service jobs were  representative of wages we were all supposed to be getting, but lost during Reaganomics, the loss of union influence, the BushCo push to make small business into the new poor class, and set up the slurpy with straws for Federal  money into religous non-profits 

So the loss of these jobs, forcing women back into minimum wage survival is viewed by me as the greatest attack on women’s rights in the last 50 years.

Of course all those foes had help. The unleashing of the oligarchs was part of the pincer attack.   Then came the Great Bushco push to force retirement funds into bed with corporations instead of investing in their own state. It went a long way to tear down the house.

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Following the Posts on the Sandra Fluke Attack

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, Congress, Feminism, Health Care, Justice, Politics, women, Women's Rights, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2012| 1 Comment »

Yesterday ThinkProgress’s Adam Peck reported that enough uproar had been created by Rush Limbaughs remarks over Sandra Fluke, that as many as 4 sponsors of Limbaugh’s show had canceled. It’s a good read.

Rush Limbaugh’s Advertisers Facing Social Media Firestorm

By Adam Peck on Mar 2, 2012 at 3:40

…So far, Sleep Number, The Sleep Train, Quicken Loans, Legal Zoom and Citrix have pulled ads from the program, and several others are considering following their lead…..

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/436852/rush-limbaugh-advertisers/

I especially think people who sell beds WOULD want to stay away from insulting half the US population.

Over at the CS Monitor Peter Grier asks:

Is Rush Limbaugh damaging the Republican Party?

Before Rush Limbaugh spoke up, the Republicans thought they had a winning issue on contraception in health-care plans. Now, everyone is on the same side: against Rush Limbaugh.

By Peter Grier, Staff writer / March 2, 2012

…Limbaugh himself remains unapologetic for his comments. On his radio show Friday he said, “This isn’t about contraception anyway. This is about expanding the reach and power of government into your womb, if you’re a woman.”…

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0302/Is-Rush-Limbaugh-damaging-the-Republican-Party

Good question Peter- except I think that question was answered in 2008, when Clear Channel signed that 400 million dollar contract for Limbaugh, during the last election. You can’t undo the anger of women then, by generating more outrage.

Erick Erickson decided a flank attack to defend Limbaugh was a good idea (Think Sun Tzu) and went after Carly Fiorina.

Does Carly Fiorina Just Not Get It?

Posted by Erick Erickson (Diary)

Friday, March 2nd at 10:12AM EST

[Carly Fiorina is offended by Rush Limbaugh’s comments on Georgetown Law School student Sandra Fluke, who testified before Congress that she wants the American taxpayers to subsidize her sexual proclivities.

We should be insulted with Fluke, but Fiorina is insulted by Limbaugh.

“That language is insulting, in my opinion. It’s incendiary and most of all, it’s a distraction. It’s a distraction from what are very real and important issues,” said Fiorina on CBS’s “This Morning.”

…So of course Rush Limbaugh was being insulting. He was using it as a tool to highlight just how absurd the Democrats’ position is on this. It’s what he does and does quite well. And in the process he’s exposing a lot of media bias on the issue as people rush out (no pun intended) to make Sandra Fluke a victim of his insults and dance around precisely what is really insulting — her testimony before congress that American taxpayers should subsidize the sexual habits of Georgetown Law School students because, God forbid, they should stop having sex if they cannot afford the pills themselves.

Suddenly, an act Democrats have said for years was private and consensual, must despite that be paid for by the American taxpayers.

BONUS POINT: Why is a person who lost a U.S. Senate campaign after sucking up vast resources from Republicans donors that could have gone elsewhere somehow made the Vice Chairman of the GOP’s Senate Campaign Committee?..]

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/03/02/does-carly-fiorina-just-not-get-it/

Erickson is referring to her failed California Senate race for Barbara Boxer’s seat. If you read her interesting bio link attached to her name above, you’ll know I’m not near her political pasture. There is no doubt, however, she is qualified to be Vice Chairman of the GOP’s Senate Campaign Committee.

Money drives elections; Carly couldn’t have made the CA run if supporters weren’t willing to pay the money for her to do it. Money drives elections, yet Erickson would rather spread the misogyny and insult an important republican woman overseeing the Party’s finances, to support the Limbaugh  Hate Speech Club. Erickson’s stated opinion above that that Limbaugh WAS being deliberately insulting probably doesn’t help Limbaugh.

Carly gets it, Erick.

I’ll point out again, the Blunt bill was stupid and would have allowed unnamed and anonymous exclusions from the Affordable Care Act for any sort of “conscience” claim.

Birth control was not specifically identified  in the bill.

Contraception is for two.

If a woman wants sex with him the man has got to want it too.

Limbaugh’s hate speech is paid for, to the tune of 400 million dollars, by Clear Channel. No matter the right or left politics of it, or which political party comes out of this looking better, it’s hate speech against women, and, Sandra Fluke in particular. The man called her a “slut and round heeled”. The lawyers will have to decide if Limbaugh’s speech is also actionable.

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What of The Sherrod Lawsuit? Is it Applicable Elsewhere?

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, ERA, Feminism, Justice, Politics, women, Women's Rights, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

After the announcement of Andrew Breitbart’s death, I did wonder about this and Politico has the scoop:

[Shirley Sherrod’s suit against Andrew Breitbart likely to continue

By JOSH GERSTEIN | 3/1/12 4:38 PM EST
A defamation lawsuit a former Agriculture Department employee filed against conservative journalist Andrew Breitbart is likely to continue despite Breitbart’s unexpected death on Wednesday night at age 43 …..

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2012/03/shirley-sherrods-suit- against-andrew-breitbart-likely-116078.html ]

Please go to their full article and read it. If all the kinks are worked out it seems likely that Breitbart’s estate and at least one co-worker will be subject to the continued court proceedings.

If you’re trying to remember who Shirley Sherrod is, I have attached a pdf of an older blog post from JohnSmart, now at:
http://johnwsmart.wordpress.com/

I liked John’s post, first because he laid out the timeline of events nicely, and because I thought he well represented the traps, pitfalls and honesty in opinion writing.

Can the the tenants of this lawsuit apply elsewhere? You lawyers out there will know, but it seems to me that one person who defames another and gets paid or promised 400 million dollars to do it ought to have made vulnerable the whole business system that allowed this defamation.

Even if he gets fired.

Even if he dies.

What are 15 million listeners supposed to think, when year after year Limbaugh and Company get away with this garbage and no one brings them to justice?

And, what about Danica?

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TPM Reports that Sandra Fluke has issued a statement on the Limbaugh Affair.

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, Congress, ERA, Feminism, Health Care, Justice, Media, Politics, Women's Rights, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

TPMLivewire
04:26 PM EST
Sandra Fluke Issues Statement On Limbaugh’s Comments And Public Support

Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law student who was the subject of Rush Limbaugh’s remarks Wednesday, issued the following statement on Limbaugh and the support she has received:

[“I thank the thousands of women and men, including members of Congress, Georgetown University students and faculty, and total strangers of all political stripes across the country who have offered kind words and support following recent egregious personal attacks.

“We are fortunate to live in a democracy where everyone is entitled to their own opinions regarding legitimate policy differences. Unfortunately, numerous commentators have gone far beyond the acceptable bounds of civil discourse.

“No woman deserves to be disrespected in this manner. This language is an attack on all women, and has been used throughout history to silence our voices.

“The millions of American women who have and will continue to speak out in support of women’s health care and access to contraception prove that we will not be silenced.”]

Fluke testified at a hearing a week ago in which she talked about the burden of paying for contraception out of pocket. Limbaugh used those comments to call her a “slut” and a “prostitute.” Over 75 Congressional Democrats Thursday called on House Speaker John Boehner to condemn Limbaugh’s remarks.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/sandra-fluke-issues-statement- on-limbaughs-comments-public

Link below for TPM’s article on the remarks:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/fox-and-limbaugh-miss-the-point-o n-birth-control-costs.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

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Sandra Fluke Revisited

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, Congress, Election, Feminism, Finance, Human Rights, Men's Rights, Politics, Women's Rights, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

If you were out chopping wood to heat your house, after the weather we have had, you might have missed the tie-in of the Sandra Fluke story leading up to today’s vote to table the Blunt Bomb otherwise known as S.1467 – Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011². Last night, while trying to fall asleep, I came upon Nancy Pelosi’s pronouncement condemning Rush Limbaugh’s demented misogyny directed toward Ms. Fluke. I sure hope college student Fluke sues the gizzard out of Limbaugh and Clear Channel Vision and all those 600 stations and Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners.

Keep in mind though, Limbaugh is just the potty-mouth lap dog for those other paternalists who wouldn’t even let her speak at their hearing. I loved that the Pelosi site linked to this Think Progress page posted by Alex Seitz-Wald:

…[ While it¹s probably not even worth engaging with Limbaugh on the facts, Fluke¹s testimony was about a friend who is a lesbian and needed birth control for non-sexual medical reasons, so he¹s only wrong about three times over, and offensive many more times over than that….]

Clear Channel is to be blamed for this tripe. This kind of free speech does not deserve a 400 million dollar reward. That’s 50 million a year, and since his 8 year contract runs till 2016 we are going to be subjected to it for a while, unless we do something. COMPLAIN!!! BOYCOTT THE SERVICE!!

Clear Channel is owned by two groups. The first is Bain Capital which over the years has leveraged buy-outs on a lot of big name companies.

Founders for Bain Capital include:

Mitt Romney

T. Coleman Andrews III

Eric Kriss

Clear Channel’s other group is Thomas H. Lee Partners,(THL) which among other numerous assets, recently bought Warner Music Group. They also leverage big buy-outs.

The top three people for THL are:

Vice Chairman and Managing Director David Harkins
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Massachusetts/Boston/david-v-harkins/30357908 .aspx

Vice Chairman Scott Schoen

Co-President Scott Sperling
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Massachusetts/Boston/scott-sperling-P7833817. aspx

Sex is for two. Contraception is for humans. If there weren’t any men, women wouldn’t need it.

By the way, I hope you noticed who was at the top of the Bain list. No wonder he wasn’t sure how to answer.

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Quick Note

Posted in Communications, Politics, tagged , , , , on January 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Happy Day!

Bill Moyers is back on free TV. To find him go to http://billmoyers.com.  Look for “schedule” and insert your zip code. On dial up this may take a few tries to load. In my location he will be on KVIE 1 and 2 at 5:00 PM Sunday, and 7:00 PM Tuesday, respectively.

Secondly, AnglaChelg at AnglaChelg.blogspot.com is posting again after a hard year’s absence. I find that I am still unable to leave comments.  I think there might be some nasty google quirk that is preventing acknowledgement of  the necessary identifier word from WordPress.

Daily Howler has moved to http://dailyhowler.blogspot.com/

Alegre is setting up shop at WordPress – algrescorner.wordpress.com

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“Transformation” is a Four Letter Word

Posted in Communications, Election, election reform, Humanism, I Own My Vote, Justice, Politics, voter reform, tagged , , , , , , on February 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I’m spending an inordinate amount of time in the “Asphodel Meadows”, so I haven’t posted. Hopefully, I’ll find my way out soon. However, I just had to say this regarding an email I received today—

POLITICO Breaking News
————————————————-

President Barack Obama declared that a “transformation” is taking hold in Egypt as reports said President Hosni Mubarak was on the verge of stepping down. “We are witnessing history unfold,” Obama said. “The people of Egypt are calling for change.”

“America will continue to do everything we can to support an orderly and genuine transition to democracy in Egypt,” he added.

For more information…  http://www.politico.com

First, if there was a buzzword fuzzy employed in the 2008 election, that got my goat, it was the word “Transformation” used by Senator Kerry in the context of describing President Obama’s then active candidacy for President.

So I suppose it’s only appropriate that I should be equally annoyed with Politico’s reported use of the word now.

As we know, when transformation occurs, it can mean there has only been a change in form or appearance, rather than the third larger meaning of change in character. Secondly, transformation is not necessarily good or better, and can be worse; that kind of valuation comes later.

I now hate this word and the generational mythology it encompasses. Gone are the days of the cartoon “Transformers” where change is heroic and the battle is bad versus good.

Second, when Politico reported above that they were quoting Obama in a “genuine transition to democracy”, I wondered about that pronouncement on President Mubarak’s government and his subsequent refusal to step down. In the past Mubarak has espoused democratic principles. At this moment in time, it would be pretty insensitive of the USA to state that his government is not in any way, democratic, even if there is a genuine need for change.

As it turns out, Politico was summarizing or editorializing or something; HERE is the press release from the WH. It’s much more nuanced and neutral.

Are Politico’s quoted statements in the press release video that I can’t load on dial-up? I don’t know.  However, they don’t sound like something HRC’s Dept. of State would have prepared or reviewed. It does seem like the DOS and the Prez would be coordinating closely on the subject of Egypt affairs. Even if it is time for change, words matter.

 

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Grade School Campaign Strategies

Posted in 51 Percent, Communications, Congress, ERA, Feminist Majority, Politics, Women's Rights, tagged , , , , , on October 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

From a feminist’s viewpoint, it makes no sense to consider a woman, (or even a man) for senatorial candidacy who expresses contempt over it’s appellation. That’s what Carly Fiorina is doing when she attempts to belittle Barbara Boxer’s senatorial exchange in the recent September ad.

Must we again remind ourselves that job titles reflect our experience, value, and job worth? One of the very things that keep us on the low end of the job scale monetarily is our inability to properly identify ourselves. Fiorina knows this. She has had no trouble identifying herself as former CEO of Hewlett Packard.

In this botched ad, it appears that Fiorina was attempting to spotlight Boxer’s 28 years as a public servant as being too long, and Boxer’s correction of General Michael Walsh, who’s use of “Ma’am” was inappropriate, even if allowed by protocol. The problem is, the way in which Boxer’s 28 years experience is addressed induces thought. It makes you think of what she has accomplished, rather than her being out of touch. And, does anyone really think that the military should be above correction?

Republican feminists have to be cringing over this ad. Taken along with the earlier hair remarks, Fiorina couldn’t have skewered herself better if she tried. Who even cares what her platform is, when she takes her campaign strategy cues from rabid bat misogynist trolls?

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Cap and Trade Pulled From Senate Bill?

Posted in Communications, Congress, Environment, Health and Food, Nature, Politics, tagged , , on July 22, 2010| 2 Comments »

Politico is reporting:

Democrats Pull Plug on Climate Bill

By DARREN SAMUELSOHN & CORAL DAVENPORT | 7/22/10 1:01 PM EDT

Updated: 7/22/10 2:29 PM EDT

[Senate Democrats pulled the plug on climate legislation Thursday, pushing the issue off into an uncertain future ahead of mid-term elections where President Barack Obama’s party is girding for a drubbing. …]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40109.html

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