Friday Questions for Diane, June 13, 2008

1. Congressman Kucinich’s 35 Articles of Impeachment include the charge of that Mr. Bush "willfully corrupted and manipulated the electoral process of the United States" and failing to protect the civil rights of African-American voters and others" and impeding "the right of the people to vote and have their vote properly and accurately counted, citing, among many issues, the continuing inappropriate purging of voter registration roles, particularly in urban minority areas, and the failure to count provisional ballots.

Meanwhile, Mark Crispin Miller, from NYU, with his new collection of essays, Loser Take All, by various authors, is aggressively speaking out to inform the public about the evidence that our election results are completely at risk.

How do we get the media to investigate and report on this?

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In his dissent to yesterday’s Supreme Court decision regarding detainees, once again Antonin Scalia has said something that reveals his prioritizing immediate partisan ideology and lack of concern for the broader principles and integrity the Supreme Court should represent. Six weeks ago, in an interview with 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl, he revealed the irrational logic he must use to defend torture, nitpicking over the meaning of the word "punishment".

Given his increasingly anti-Justice stance – and the premise that the Supreme Court is untouchable, is there no way to keep these people accountable to higher principles?

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What must we do to stop Bush and Cheney from attacking Iran? We cannot assume that an air strike will not lead to other country's responding against the U.S. for its ongoing bullying.

Friday Questions for Diane, April 18, 2008

Somehow I believe Mr. Bush significantly demonstrated his comprehension of Christianity by welcoming the leader of the original Christian religion (as in the Prince of PEACE) with a 21-GUN SALUTE!!

Then, as if to put a cherry on this bloody sundae, the Supreme Court finds that we can move forward on executions.

What timing.


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I'm grateful that Tom Shales nailed Gibson and Stephanopolous for their "shoddy, despicable performances."

Apparently, the two fail to grasp the principles that only two nights earlier were passionately defined by actor/director/writer Tim Robbins, the keynote speaker at the National Association of Broadcasters gathering in Las Vegas:

"Imagine a new broadcasting industry aesthetic, that respecting the better nature of the American people, produces shows that promote strength instead of fear. That does not divide, but inspires, that does not promote hate, but unity, that will not tear the weak down, but build up their strength. Imagine a world of broadcasting where the American people are encouraged to reject despair & distrust. And when they turn their TVs and radios off at night and go to sleep they possess strength, and unity and compassion for those they disagree with."

When the media fails us, the repercussions are horrific -- across the world. This election is too important for such behavior to be tolerated.