January 13, 2008
That's 212-664-4444
.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
UPDATE BELOW
Well it wouldn't be an election year and this wouldn't be my blog if I couldn't start things off on the left foot with a good rant and a plea for support. I'm sorry if I'm bouggin' ya (I don't mean to boug ya) but there's this thing that's got me a bit steamed, and I think it's important enough to post and try to roust up some help here at 2:00 a.m. (and I've only had three beers, okay?). It will only take a few minutes of your time if you are so inclined to read/act.
Here's a pared-down version of a letter I got from the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign (obviously I'm a supporter, but you don't even have to be a Democrat to see the validity in this):
Dear Friends,
Once again, America is faced with questions about the rights of Americans to decide for themselves who they should be allowed to vote for in this crucial Presidential election. In Nevada, it's a question of whether the GE-owned NBC television network should have the power to decide who your choices should be for President.
The decision by NBC to exclude Dennis from next week's Presidential debate - even though he met the criteria - is outrageous. NBC and MSNBC have made a corporate decision to exclude the one and only voice who represents you and those things that the Democratic Party should stand for. If you are as outraged as we are, please call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com
PLEASE share this message with everyone you know so that the voice of the people will be heard.
Strength through Peace,
The Kucinich Campaign
Okay, a little more background for those who may need some convincing.
In an email to the Kucinich campaign on Wednesday, January 9, Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:
“Now that New Hampshire is over, we are on to Nevada and our Presidential Debate on Tuesday January 15. This letter serves as an official invitation for your candidate to participate in the Nevada Presidential Debate at Cashman Theatre in downtown Las Vegas. You have met the criteria set by NBC and the Debate.”
NBC also sent a congratulatory note and an invitation to Rep. Kucinich to participate in the debate in Las Vegas, but less than 44 hours later the network notified the campaign that it was changing the announced criteria, rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.
NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that, although he had met the qualification criteria publicly announced on December 28, the network was “re-doing” the criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards. This marks the third time since the Iowa Caucuses that Kucinich has been excluded from a national debate for spurious, if any, reasons.
The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders. In the recent ABC/Facebook sponsored New Hampshire debate from which he was excluded, Kucinich, according to Facebook’s own figures, ranked fourth in popularity among Facebook members, AHEAD of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who participated in that event but who has since dropped out of the campaign. By the way, Dennis Kucinich has won more than a dozen major on-line polls and post-debate surveys, including Democracy for America, Independent Voters of America AND one conducted by ABC News. He also scored high if not on top of the exit polls of the debates in which he has participated.
The Kucinich campaign filed an emergency complaint with the Federal Communications Commission last week because of ABC’s decision to exclude the candidate from a nationally televised debate, and is considering legal action to address “the blatant disregard of the public interest in silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent company GE, and all of the military contractors and their candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and much more un-American.”
“When ‘big media’ exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion dollar corporations that want the votes to go their way,” the Kucinich campaign said.
Folks, I'm not voting for DK because I think he has a chance, I'm doing it because I think his voice needs to be heard (quite specifically so that he could earn some delegates to the Democratic National Convention and be allowed to speak and influence the party platform). To exclude dark horse candidates like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul from debates is to say to the American people, "Here's your monologue, folks, enjoy the show."
What is NBC/GE, afraid of? All I am asking is for the opportunity to have the person who represents the thoughts and feelings of a significant portion of our citizenry be able to share his views with the nation. Is that just too inconvenient for NBC and the front runners in this election? Could it be because Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 AND every war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act; advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO?
Probably, but if you please, call NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or email them at letters@msnbc.com to tell them you don't think it's in the interest of democracy to exclude a U.S. Congressmen who has put forth a valid effort in the presidential campaign to be excluded from national televised debates. Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested and by all means encourage a friend or three to contact NBC as well.
Thanks,
Tim the crazy politico
THIS JUST IN:
Judge says MSNBC debate must include Kucinich
Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times:
A judge in Nevada has just ordered MSNBC to include Rep. Dennis
Kucinich in Tuesday's Democratic Party presidential debate in
Las Vegas or he will cancel the forum.
Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed
to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate
if MSNBC failed to comply. Kucinich had filed a lawsuit seeking
to be included just this morning.
The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters
would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton,
John Edwards and Barack Obama. Kucinich had been invited to
participate in the 6 p.m. Pacific debate Tuesday, but that
invitation was rescinded last week ... So set up a fourth
podium.
RIGHTEOUS ! ! But I would not be surprised if corporate sponsors pressure MSNBC to let the judge cancel the debate in order to give their lawyers time to file appeals that would keep DK out.
Labels: couldn't we just TRY a hardcore lefty for four years folks?, Kucinich, media, politix, protest, terms of enragement
December 08, 2007
He'll get away with it
.
I know that I recently posted about fighting the good fight, but seeing the way the Bush administration gets a pass on every-fucking-thing, I can't help but be feelin' a little Todd tonight.
And instead of putting a countdown ticker in my sidebar, I'm going with one constructive idiot's dedicated method of reminding me/us that the days left to impeach Bush and Cheney are dwindling.
I know that I recently posted about fighting the good fight, but seeing the way the Bush administration gets a pass on every-fucking-thing, I can't help but be feelin' a little Todd tonight.
And instead of putting a countdown ticker in my sidebar, I'm going with one constructive idiot's dedicated method of reminding me/us that the days left to impeach Bush and Cheney are dwindling.
Labels: Bush, politix, protest, Todd Snider
September 25, 2007
Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho!
.
There's been a bit of talk around Blogovia of late about protest songs (here fr'instance). Not being one to pass up the opportunity for some righteous indignation, here's one of my favorites from a quintessential American folk hero. About three minutes into this video John Prine explains his take on the current relevance of this decades-old classic. I saw him this same year (2004) and when he played it for us his comment was a bit less tongue-in-cheek. "I wish George Bush would quit making all these old anti-war songs of mine make sense again," Prine said.
There's no bouncing ball to follow but I've posted the lyrics below (courtesy of JPShrine.org) if'n yer in the mood fer a sing-along.
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
© John Prine
While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store
A plastic flag with gum on the back
Fell out on the floor
Well I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel
Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
Well I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free"
Well I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead
(Repeat Chorus)
Well I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see
So I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...
"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."
.
There's been a bit of talk around Blogovia of late about protest songs (here fr'instance). Not being one to pass up the opportunity for some righteous indignation, here's one of my favorites from a quintessential American folk hero. About three minutes into this video John Prine explains his take on the current relevance of this decades-old classic. I saw him this same year (2004) and when he played it for us his comment was a bit less tongue-in-cheek. "I wish George Bush would quit making all these old anti-war songs of mine make sense again," Prine said.
There's no bouncing ball to follow but I've posted the lyrics below (courtesy of JPShrine.org) if'n yer in the mood fer a sing-along.
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
© John Prine
While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store
A plastic flag with gum on the back
Fell out on the floor
Well I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel
Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
Well I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free"
Well I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead
(Repeat Chorus)
Well I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see
So I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...
"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."
.
Labels: dead bodies, music, protest, religion, war
