Musings from a variety of people from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
6/19/2004
The Bush Landslide of 2004
The Bush Landslide of 2004
By Charles Cutter
May 6, 2004, 20:38
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By connecting the dots, we can see into the future that’s envisioned by George W. Bush’s corporate sponsors. Control the media; control the vote; control the military. Conspiracy theory? Not really; a good portion of it is being done right out in the open. It’s being done with a double-edged arrogance, with the conviction that most people are so disinterested or propagandized they won’t care anyway - call it a "coup d’etat of the willing" - and that those who do care are helpless to prevent it.
Control the media: The FCC is working to consolidate the power and reach of media conglomerates. As this issue unfolds, we witness the eagerness of these conglomerates in striking down voices of dissent. Clear Channel Communications fires Howard Stern (following the FCC’s partisan demonstration of selective enforcement). The Disney Company refuses to distribute Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911, a documentary film critical of Bush & Co. Sinclair Broadcasting Group forbids its ABC affiliates to air a Nightline episode honoring America’s fallen soldiers in Iraq. Executives at Sinclair - Bush supporters, of course - refer to the episode as a "so-called tribute…designed to undermine the efforts of the United States in Iraq." Senator John McCain calls Sinclair’s actions "…unpatriotic…a gross disservice to the public, and to…the United States Armed Forces."
It’s not necessary that a media conglomerate hew to a right-wing agenda. For effective control, it’s only necessary that a company’s vested interests be threatened. In the case of Disney, for instance, Moore’s film is small potatoes compared to the risk of losing tax breaks for their other ventures in Jeb Bush’s Florida. This is the problem with large companies - there’s always a branch somewhere that can be threatened. Governor Bush (and Disney) deny this is a factor, but they can’t deny that extortion works best when it’s unspoken. Nor can they deny what Richard Clarke, Valerie Plame, Paul O’Neill and many others know so well - that those expressing criticism of this administration can expect retribution.
Control the vote: Why rely on the Supreme Court to prevent a ballot recount, when right-wing corporations can do it much more efficiently? Walden O’Dell, chairman of the board of Diebold Election Systems - one of the largest suppliers of touch-screen voting machines in the country - is a huge Bush supporter. He claims he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to [George W. Bush] in 2004." Certainly he’s just offering donations and activism, right?
Let’s forget that, in 2002, Senate Democrat Max Cleland went from a 49-44 lead in the polls to a 53-46 loss a week later. Diebold fraud? We’ll never know. "Computer experts say that software at Diebold and other manufacturers is full of security flaws, which would easily allow an insider to rig the election…And here’s the crucial point: even if there are strong reasons to suspect that electronic machines miscounted votes, nothing can be done about it. There is no paper trail; there is nothing to recount." (Paul Krugman, "Democracy at Risk," New York Times, 1/23/04)
Control the military: The second largest military force serving in Iraq (after the United States) consists of corporate soldiers. Many of these mercenaries - provided by Titan, Blackwater, etc. - reportedly make in excess of $100,000 per year (compare that with salaries paid to U.S. soldiers). Bush’s war for "freedom" is - to a large degree - being staffed by soldiers of fortune; hired killers.
We’ve moving well beyond the "military-industrial complex" that President Eisenhower warned about. The future now holds an added threat - not only will the armored tank be the product of private industry, but the soldiers inside it will be working for a private corporation as well (with the companies themselves funded by - and this is the kicker - American taxpayers). In which direction does a corporate soldier point his gun, when conflicted between defending the Constitution and defending a mission statement?
This unfolding future - it’s called a "capitalist theocracy," where the object of worship is money - will not be stopped simply by replacing George W. Bush. It is, however, an essential first step, which forces us to confront two difficult questions.
First, is there any way to persuade a solid majority of the American public of the true damage this administration has wrought on this country, and on the world? Putting some faith in polling results, there is evidence of erosion in support for Mr. Bush’s policies; but this erosion has not translated into support for his opponent, Senator Kerry. At the moment, we’re looking at a dead-even presidential race. So this first question is still undecided.
But the second question is by far the more disturbing: If so inclined, could an activist electorate successfully vote Mr. Bush out of office? In other words - to face our worst fears - has the presidential election of 2004 already been "fixed?" Certainly Mr. Bush’s supporters have both the means and the motive to steal another election. How can we - with less than six months remaining - guarantee a legitimate outcome? Suppose that pre-election polling shows an imminent Kerry victory, but touch-screen results deliver the election to Bush. How do you prove (or disprove) charges of fraud and corruption? As we’ve seen, these issues are difficult enough to resolve under normal circumstances. But without a paper trail, it’s like trying to match a pistol to a crime scene - when the bullet used was made of ice.
Charles Cutter can be reached at http://cuttersway.com.
© Copyright 2003 by Magic City Morning Star
6/17/2004
Haverford Hoopla
What a shame...
Haverford Taxpayer Alliance at vanguard of protest
LOIS PUGLIONESI , Times Correspondent 06/16/2004
MEDIA COURTHOUSE -- Although a number of local political groups joined the fray, the Haverford Taxpayer Alliance was the catalyst in organizing Tuesday’s rally of about 15 protesters at the county courthouse.
A mix of Republicans, Democrats and independents, the taxpayer alliance claims it’s leading a campaign for honesty, accountability and reform in local government and the judiciary, as well as an end to wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.
The group was born out of protest to a covert $600,000 payment made to Haverford real-estate consultant Jeffrey Rotwitt last December. Members have also expressed criticism of current plans for developing the Haverford State Hospital site, and the majority commissioners’ controversial reapportionment plan, currently before the Board of Elections.
Launched by a core membership of 10 to 12 community activists, the alliance has grown rapidly, using an extensive email list and the Haverford Blog.
Tom Broido, a founding member, said he believes "people who accept the public trust should behave in the best interest of the public who elected them and not treat it like a feeding trough."
Broido thinks jobs, favors, contracts and even district justice jobs are going "to people who are connected" while "a lot of the connections can usually be traced back to Clouse ..I’ve lived in the township 24 years and I’ve had it. This isn’t going to go on in Haverford anymore."
Before he became a judge, Clouse was a Republican commissioner in the township and led a group of rebels who were often at war with party leaders.
While Broido was dismayed by the allegations leveled at Clouse, he said he is more troubled by the judge’s silence. "In refusing to answer questions ..Clouse is putting himself above the law, beyond reproach and the need for explanations. To me that is unforgivable because of the position he’s in," Broido said.
"Something’s got to be done. The president judge should be held to higher standards, said Jeff Heilmann, a Republican committeeman and taxpayers alliance founder, displaying a sign that read, "We won’t relax until Clouse pays the tax."
Republican committeewoman and alliance member Pat Biswanger pointed to "the waste of tax dollars ..caused largely by a group of people who have taken hold of our government and think there’s one set of rules for them, and one set of rules for the rest of us ..When we see what appears to be a judge ..who doesn’t think he should have to pay the same taxes we all do ..we figured it was time to take action."
©The Daily Times 2004
6/16/2004
Matt Starr What a rotten piece of ...
Unbelivable. This guy steals a four year olds foul ball. Thankfully, the story has a happy ending.
Delaware County Links
I am curious to know if anyone who reads this blog has web sites of their own. If you do, how about responding? Sites from Havertown, Radnor, Upper Darby, and many other towns are already listed on our site. Personal websites are welcome.
Anyone?
6/15/2004
Windows Streaming Web Cam
I 've been trying to establish a web cam that is pointed out our back window. I call it the Alley Cam. Anyway, I was checking out The Head Nut web site The Head Nut and they have a streaming Windows 9 Media broadcast. I tried to do the same here using port 8080 but cannot get it to work. I think that RCN (Our internet provider) is blocking port 80 and 8080. I know they block port 25 for outgoing e mail (Thanks to Spammer Bastards) So i'm at my wits end.
Any one out there know how to solve this? Please respond.
Thanks.
6/13/2004
Family (Well sort of) Feud...
Good old GOP in Delaware County. This crap has got to stop. And Gil? your Neocon views are not as widely accepted as you think.
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