tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22460045291666985202024-03-14T04:30:25.305-04:00Conrad Strongopen your mind and seek the truthConrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-21637256700648597632009-07-31T05:01:00.003-04:002009-07-31T05:07:19.796-04:00President Obama Names 16 Agents of ChangeTo Receive the Medal of Freedom Top Honor<p><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Names-Medal-of-Freedom-Recipients/">Release from The White House:</a></p><p>WASHINGTON – President Obama today named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.</p> <p>This year’s awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change. Among their many accomplishments in fields ranging from sports and art to science and medicine to politics and public policy, these men and women have changed the world for the better. They have blazed trails and broken down barriers. They have discovered new theories, launched new initiatives, and opened minds to new possibilities.</p> <p><strong>President Obama</strong> said, "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way. </p> <p>"Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom."</p> <p>President Obama will present the awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 12.</p> <p>The following individuals will receive the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom:</p> <p><u><strong>Nancy Goodman Brinker</strong></u><br />Nancy Goodman Brinker is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s leading breast cancer grass roots organization. Brinker established the organization in memory of her sister, who passed away from breast cancer in 1980. Through innovative events like Race for the Cure, the organization has given and invested over $1.3 billion for research, health services and education services since its founding in 1982 and developed a worldwide grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists who are working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures. Brinker has received several awards for her work, and has also served in government as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2001 – 2003), Chief of Protocol of the U.S. (2007 – 2009), and Chair of the President’s Cancer Panel (1990). In May, Nancy Goodman Brinker was named the first-ever World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control.</p> <p><u><strong>Pedro José Greer, Jr.<br /></strong></u>Dr. Pedro Jose Greer is a physician and the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at the Florida International University School of Medicine, where he also serves as Chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society. Dr. Greer is the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to over 10,000 homeless patients a year in the city of Miami. He is also the founder and medical director of the St. John Bosco Clinic which provides basic primary medical care to disadvantaged children and adults in the Little Havana community. He has been recognized by Presidents Clinton, Bush, Sr., and Carter for his work with Miami's poor . He is also the recipient of three Papal Medals as well as the prestigious MacArthur "genius grant". He currently has a joint private practice with his father, Pedro Greer, Sr.</p> <p><u><strong>Stephen Hawking</strong></u><br />Stephen Hawking is an internationally-recognized theoretical physicist, having overcome a severe physical disability due to motor neuron disease. He is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a post previously held by Isaac Newton in 1669. In addition to his pioneering academic research in mathematics and physics, Hawking has penned three popular science books, including the bestselling <em>A Brief History of Time</em>. Hawking, a British citizen, believes that non-academics should be able to access his work just as physicists are, and has also published a children’s science book with his daughter. His persistence and dedication has unlocked new pathways of discovery and inspired everyday citizens.</p> <p><u><strong>Jack Kemp</strong></u><br />Jack Kemp, who passed away in May 2009, served as a U.S. Congressman (1971 – 1989), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1989 – 1993), and Republican Nominee for Vice President (1996). Prior to entering public service, Kemp was a professional football player (1957 – 1969) and led the Buffalo Bills to American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965. In Congress and as a Cabinet Secretary, Kemp was a self-described "bleeding heart conservative" who worked to encourage development in underserved urban communities. In the years leading up to his death, Kemp continued seeking new solutions, raising public attention about the challenge of poverty, and working across party lines to improve the lives of Americans and others around the world.</p> <p><u><strong>Sen. Edward Kennedy</strong></u><br />Senator Edward M. Kennedy has served in the United States Senate for forty-six years, and has been one of the greatest lawmakers – and leaders – of our time. From reforming our public schools to strengthening civil rights laws and supporting working Americans, Senator Kennedy has dedicated his career to fighting for equal opportunity, fairness and justice for all Americans. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that every American has access to quality and affordable health care, and has succeeded in doing so for countless children, seniors, and Americans with disabilities. He has called health care reform the "cause of his life," and has championed nearly every health care bill enacted by Congress over the course of the last five decades. Known as the "Lion of the Senate," Senator Kennedy is widely respected on both sides of the aisle for his commitment to progress and his ability to legislate.</p> <p><u><strong>Billie Jean King</strong></u><br />Billie Jean King was an acclaimed professional tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s, and has helped champion gender equality issues not only in sports, but in all areas of public life. King beat Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, then the most viewed tennis match in history. King became one of the first openly lesbian major sports figures in America when she came out in 1981. Following her professional tennis career, King became the first woman commissioner in professional sports when she co-founded and led the World Team Tennis (WTT) League. The U.S. Tennis Association named the National Tennis Center, where the US Open is played, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2006. </p> <p><u><strong>Rev. Joseph Lowery</strong></u><br />Reverend Lowery has been a leader in the U.S. civil rights movement since the early 1950s. Rev. Lowery helped organize the Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa Parks was denied a seat, and later co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a leading civil rights organization, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Lowery led the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Rev. Lowery is a minister in the United Methodist Church, and has continued to highlight important civil rights issues in the U.S. and worldwide, including apartheid in South Africa, since the 1960s. </p> <p><u><strong>Joe Medicine Crow – High Bird</strong></u><br />Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, the last living Plains Indian war chief, is the author of seminal works in Native American history and culture. He is the last person alive to have received direct oral testimony from a participant in the Battle of the Little Bighorn: his grandfather was a scout for General George Armstrong Custer. A veteran of World War II, Medicine Crow accomplished during the war all of the four tasks required to become a "war chief," including stealing fifty Nazi SS horses from a German camp. Medicine Crow was the first member of his tribe to attend college, receiving his master’s degree in anthropology in 1939, and continues to lecture at universities and notable institutions like the United Nations. His contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans are matched only by his importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country.</p> <p><u><strong>Harvey Milk</strong></u><br />Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected official from a major city in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality. Milk, alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was shot and killed in 1978 by Dan White, a former city supervisor. Milk is revered nationally and globally as a pioneer of the LGBT civil rights movement for his exceptional leadership and dedication to equal rights.</p> <p><u><strong>Sandra Day O’Connor</strong></u><br />Justice O’Connor was the first woman ever to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Nominated by President Reagan in 1981, she served until her retirement in 2006. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, O’Connor served as a state trial and appellate judge in Arizona. She was also as a member of the Arizona state senate, where she became the first woman in the United States ever to lead a state senate as Senate Majority Leader. At a time when women rarely entered the legal profession, O’Connor graduated Stanford Law School third in her class, where she served on the Stanford Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Since retiring from the Supreme Court in 2006, O’Connor has served as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary, on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center, and participated in the Iraq Study Group in 2006, as well as giving numerous lectures on public service. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding achievements and public service. </p> <p><u><strong>Sidney Poitier</strong></u><br />Sidney Poitier is a groundbreaking actor, becoming the top black movie star in the 1950s and 1960s. Poitier is the first African American to be nominated and win a Best Actor Academy Award, receive an award at a top international film festival (Venice Film Festival), and be the top grossing movie star in the United States. Poitier insisted that the film crew on The Lost Man be at least 50 percent African American, and starred in the first mainstream movies portraying "acceptable" interracial marriages and interracial kissing. Poitier began his acting career without any training or experience by auditioning at the American Negro Theatre. </p> <p><u><strong>Chita Rivera</strong></u><br />Chita Rivera is an accomplished and versatile actress, singer, and dancer, who has won Two Tony Awards and received seven more nominations while breaking barriers and inspiring a generation of women to follow in her footsteps. In 2002, she became the first Hispanic recipient of the coveted Kennedy Center Honor. Propelled to stardom by her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story, Rivera went on to star in additional landmark musicals such as Chicago, Bye Bye Birdie, and Jerry’s Girls. She recently starred in The Dancer’s Life, an autobiographical musical about her celebrated life in the theatre.</p> <p><u><strong>Mary Robinson</strong></u><br />Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland (1990 – 1997) and a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997 – 2002), a post that required her to end her presidency four months early. Robinson served as a prominent member of the Irish Senate prior to her election as President. She continues to bring attention to international issues as Honorary President of Oxfam International, and Chairs the Board of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI Alliance). Since 2002 she has been President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, based in New York, which is an organization she founded to make human rights the compass which charts a course for globalization that is fair, just and benefits all.</p> <p><u><strong>Janet Davison Rowley</strong></u><br />Janet Davison Rowley, M.D., is the Blum Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics at The University of Chicago. She is an American human geneticist and the first scientist to identify a chromosomal translocation as the cause of leukemia and other cancers. Rowley is internationally renowned for her studies of chromosome abnormalities in human leukemia and lymphoma, which have led to dramatically improved survival rates for previously incurable cancers and the development of targeted therapies. In 1999 President Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Science--the nation's highest scientific honor.</p> <p><u><strong>Desmond Tutu</strong></u><br />Desmond Tutu is an Anglican Archbishop emeritus who was a leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa. Widely regarded as "South Africa's moral conscience," he served as the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) from 1978 – 1985, where he led a formidable crusade in support of justice and racial reconciliation in South Africa. He received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work through SACC in 1984. Tutu was elected Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, and the Chair of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. He retired as Archbishop in 1996 and is currently Chair of the Elders.</p> <p><u><strong>Muhammad Yunus<br /></strong></u>Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a global leader in anti-poverty efforts, and has pioneered the use of "micro-loans" to provide credit to poor individuals without collateral. Dr. Yunus, an economist by training, founded the Grameen Bank in 1983 in his native Bangladesh to provide small, low-interest loans to the poor to help better their livelihood and communities. Despite its low interest rates and lending to poor individuals, Grameen Bank is sustainable and 98% percent of its loans are repaid – higher than other banking systems. It has spread its successful model throughout the world. Dr. Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work. </p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-15734540428216938252009-07-29T18:58:00.003-04:002009-07-29T19:09:56.576-04:00Morning Joe Crew Rips on Glenn Beck<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/gtwjrXhB1gY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/gtwjrXhB1gY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object><p>This is exactly what Glenn Beck wanted. We're all outraged and ranting about him and he's laughing all the way to the bank. It's a damn shame that it's come to this in American. If you're a right winger and say crazy shit on the air, they reward you with million dollar contracts. Something is seriously wrong with these people and something is seriously wrong with network news executives who allow it.</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-79688006292056839732009-07-28T09:16:00.003-04:002009-07-28T09:20:53.719-04:00Carl Bernstein Destroys Sarah Palin<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Ykghe8gK6jc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Ykghe8gK6jc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-71311450895146391042009-07-28T02:47:00.004-04:002009-07-28T02:52:31.031-04:00Great Photo | Obama in Ghana<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsyBOkk4JHpP9oF4WkTLkgyQaffcmxk3wriBUfvYYGPSqPmCTGPxNPjAAy-IJr5i_Z5H1Pe2V14UioOkYUXtN7lox-7rgvzh84uNK5wcxPCfbgzCS94XLmkNXizjftmRa_FrPlipLU4c/s400/GhanaObama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363399367834003762" /></a><p>This is a great photo from Obama's visit to Ghana in early July. See all the latest <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/">White House photos here</a>.</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-77919358468628601852009-07-27T20:07:00.004-04:002009-07-27T20:19:07.947-04:00Bachmann Blocks Obama Birthplace Resolution<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GyrBakvKbyM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/GyrBakvKbyM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object><p><i>H. Res. 593, a resolution “recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State,” contains this provision: “Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii”</i></p><blockquote><p>BACHMANN: <strong>Mr. Speaker? I object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and make a point of order that a quorum is not present</strong>. [...]</p>REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD): Further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.</blockquote><p>The bat-shit crazy Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) actually did us a huge favor by calling for a quorum. Now when the resolution does come back up, it will be with a roll call vote. Let the 'Birthers' stand up in front of congress and be accountable while the cameras are rolling for all the world to see.</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-72883008523705125202009-07-26T12:42:00.004-04:002009-07-26T12:50:56.825-04:00Bad Moon Rising | The Day Nixon Was Elected<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/5BmEGm-mraE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/5BmEGm-mraE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object><p>“[writer John] Fogerty <a href="http://jukeboxjunior.com/2008/03/31/15-creedence-clearwater-revival-‘bad-moon-rising’/">claims</a> it was written on the day Richard Nixon was elected to power in the States, and it reflects the sense of unease in the air and the portents of what was to follow.”</p><p>HT: <a href="http://unrulymob.blogspot.com/">Les Enrages</a></p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-80856435895364791272009-07-26T06:48:00.002-04:002009-07-26T06:53:40.049-04:00DAVID LETTERMAN: Top Ten ThingsOverheard At Sarah Palin's Farewell Party<p>10. “More tiny hot dog appetizers? You betcha”<br />9. “Don’t forget to schedule an appointment with Joe the Mover”<br />8. “Quiet down! We don’t want to wake the Russians<br />7. “Todd, I’ve always wanted to know — what do you do exactly?”<br />6. “John McCain passed out in the dip<br />5. “Where can I check my pelt?”<br />4. “Bad news — the new governor just quit”<br />3. “Please accept this gift from all of us at Lenscrafters”<br />2. “Dancing with the Stars’ called, they got your resume”<br />1. “I haven’t seen you since the ‘Fire Dave Letterman’ Rally”</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-52696567107074982062009-07-25T14:18:00.003-04:002009-07-25T14:20:07.078-04:00Too Funny | SCOTUS Humor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqHphNfNkaa0QuFir-PuTYk6h4ecGk2md7JV7RAYsJSmPySJ0Tz1PY1L3nMG_9aBK6s4DgVgKl-2Ts23hlpN2pm3pmxSUTT3FLlBlTmiU_h68lLcxeaTXYHOE4qaO6h24P8kr2xBUMxw/s1600-h/SCOTUShumor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqHphNfNkaa0QuFir-PuTYk6h4ecGk2md7JV7RAYsJSmPySJ0Tz1PY1L3nMG_9aBK6s4DgVgKl-2Ts23hlpN2pm3pmxSUTT3FLlBlTmiU_h68lLcxeaTXYHOE4qaO6h24P8kr2xBUMxw/s400/SCOTUShumor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362463964490632690" /></a>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-15418131103671944572009-07-25T00:19:00.005-04:002009-07-25T00:24:18.879-04:00Rachel Maddow Exposes GOV. PERRY as an IDIOT<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TkKTIDNJ4k8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TkKTIDNJ4k8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-66379773643219901622009-07-24T09:40:00.003-04:002009-07-24T09:47:00.321-04:00Appropriate Dave Chapelle For The Moment<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/473532/dave_chappelle_stand_up_scared_of_the_police.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" name="Metacafe_473532" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"Because sometimes you have to laugh about it."</span><br />–<a href="http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/07/23/dave-chapelle-predicts-the-henry-louis-gates-jr-incident/">Oliver Willis</a></p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-8500151650418924642009-07-24T06:21:00.007-04:002009-07-24T06:32:56.150-04:00Yes, We Are Proud "Digital Dickweeds"<p>CNBC’s Dennis Kneale thinks we bloggers are all <b><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/cnbc-burns-airtime-on-blogger-morons-and-dickweeds/">"digital dickweeds."</a></b> I kind of like the ring of that and it just makes me want to blog all that much more. Yes, Mr. Kneale we are digital dickweeds and proud to be of service. Now get your nerdy ass back to work and quit trying to convince the world that the recession is over. It's not. I like his optimism but he's a little early with all his glee I'm afraid.</p><p><object id="cnbcplayer" height="380" width="400" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0"><br /><param name="type" value="application/x-shockwave-flash"><br /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><param name="quality" value="best"><br /><param name="scale" value="noscale"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><br /><param name="salign" value="lt"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/1170046473/code/cnbcplayershare"><br /><embed name="cnbcplayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" height="380" width="400" quality="best" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" salign="lt" src="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/1170046473/code/cnbcplayershare" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /></object></p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-84591203737976977722009-07-23T03:07:00.003-04:002009-07-23T03:11:02.926-04:00Tag Team Trying To Kill It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGpRxSuqEahtJ7YF_x2NrxXvbOwMl0db8gLiw0DmXv3oJTUi7w4H3f3s0MbWCHXfUcOtBdvJaULl3ao0Mh0E7j9KVDdYpAai-alyx8rWiXe1me-HIsGCWdjvYh1B2bzVeFtrBDglaERA/s1600-h/tagteam.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGpRxSuqEahtJ7YF_x2NrxXvbOwMl0db8gLiw0DmXv3oJTUi7w4H3f3s0MbWCHXfUcOtBdvJaULl3ao0Mh0E7j9KVDdYpAai-alyx8rWiXe1me-HIsGCWdjvYh1B2bzVeFtrBDglaERA/s400/tagteam.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361548986561636194" /></a>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-65208596564562415682009-07-22T23:24:00.006-04:002009-07-23T15:50:33.334-04:00The Wacko Wing & The News Pundits<object width="400" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRnvrBtK5zE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&ap=%2526fmt%3D18"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRnvrBtK5zE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="325"></embed></object><p>So what's the deal with all the right-wing pundits feeding the wacko wing of the Republican party?</p><p></p><ol><li>Are they just crazy and insane?</li><li>Are they just filled with hate and want to stir up a fake controversy with mean nasty partisan politics?</li><li>Are they un-American and un-patriotic and trying to harm America?</li><li>Are they trying to copy Glenn Beck and get some of those crazy wacko wing FOX News viewers to boost their ratings?</li></ol><p>I think it's #4. They've seen Glenn Beck act crazy, as hell as he plays a full throated lunatic, and they've watched his ratings soar. They've discovered that there are lots of wacko wingnut Republicans and they've said screw this honest reporting bit, I want me some of those wackos and big ratings. Which do you think it is?</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-32150572362176562512009-07-22T19:11:00.004-04:002009-07-22T19:22:48.092-04:00American's Most Trusted Newscaster?<a href="http://www.timepolls.com/hppolls/archive/poll_results_417.html"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 204px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQY_728ltTl7PxIR8DAvEELbJE-HJXRse5oBBDhwhgyuzHxC4hbp4IXIWCxhxofAmEbdhu4lANR3AKPfsmqQKgHdxBHRHNpKOu6U5t4Bc_Olx4BQHFjCp5XOGf5dNkMQGIkmPbCTsp6E/s400/TimeTrustedNews.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361427953748410434" /></a><p>According to a <a href="http://www.timepolls.com/hppolls/archive/poll_results_417.html">TIME poll</a>, Jon Stewart is now America's most trusted newscaster, beating out Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric. I'm not sure what this says about the state of nightly news at ABC, CBS and NBC. I love Jon Stewart and this really does not surprise me. Maybe we all get more of our news from the cable news shows and the internet today. In my opinion, the nightly news hour has become irrelevant. By the time they report it, we've already seen it on the internet or cable news. It's the same reason that newspapers are becoming irrelevant. We all want instant news and the nightly news hour host and the newspaper are usually nothing but reruns.</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-26728218367453790822009-07-22T10:15:00.004-04:002009-07-22T10:19:46.610-04:00Spacey & Letterman Talking Twitter & Tweets<object width="400" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/2Z1aZ7Gs46A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/2Z1aZ7Gs46A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object><p>HT: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/22/kevin-spacey-tries-fails_n_242568.html">Huffington Post</a></p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-25594611102328942822009-07-22T01:19:00.001-04:002009-07-22T01:21:00.084-04:00Lewis Black | Health Care Reform<table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-july-20-2009/back-in-black---health-care-reform'>Back in Black - Health Care Reform</a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:233178' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.jokes.com'>Joke of the Day</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-25006187439048633792009-07-21T15:27:00.005-04:002009-07-21T15:38:58.653-04:00Birthers Right Up There With Loch Ness Monsters<p><a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/21/2002893.aspx">MSNBC FirstRead</a> blog:</p><div><blockquote>*** <strong>Birth(ers) of a Nation</strong>: Remember that McCain event last year during the presidential campaign, when a woman asked <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YIq5Q15L1o" target="_blank">if Barack Obama was an Arab? </a>Well, that’s nothing compared to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V1nmn2zRMc&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">YouTube clip </a>of a Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) town hall, in which a woman carries on and on about Obama's citizenship and birth certificate. Let's get something straight: If Obama weren't a United States citizen, don't you think the Clinton campaign (first) or the McCain camp (second) would have said something during the two-year-long presidential campaign? (In fact, McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal Zone, was the one who had the bigger potential legal question mark about his eligibility for the presidency.) But the real story in all of this is that Republican Party has a HUGE problem with its base right now. That some Republicans believe a man who won last year’s presidential contest by seven percentage points is not the legitimate president is a base problem much bigger than Cindy Sheehan anti-war protestors or black helicopter conspiracy theorists who flock to some Ron Paul events. Check out how flummoxed Castle looked. How many other Republican elected officials are dealing with questioners like this woman? Meanwhile, did Lou Dobbs really GO THERE? Seriously? This is getting absurd.</blockquote></div><div>Chuck Todd and the gang over at <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/21/2002893.aspx">FirstRead</a> pretty much covered it. On one hand, it's infuriating to hear these nuts make these outrageous claims but on the other hand, it's probably great for Democrats that this is the face of the new GOP base, knowing that most of the country realizes how crazy these people are. It's kind of like watching one of those conspiracy shows where people think that the moon landing was fake.</div>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-90033247170869981392009-07-20T23:35:00.005-04:002009-07-20T23:44:24.745-04:00ObamaCare Demise Greatly Exaggerated<a href="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/07/rumors-of-demise-of-obamacare-have-been.html"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 379px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8o0y0lqF-BxFLMpHmNb6YYoZnSpV4iUW9WHbW6bKuC1yzYZwGd0pCztTCbE-MCzM1xyvW8mAXtCx4GOMckjCVhpWQF313RARXsTZtODDEfq9EnAYSEkWYQ3idh6JpBT2CpLc8eEHrRY/s400/538.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360753609057737986" /></a>Nate Silver over at <a href="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/07/rumors-of-demise-of-obamacare-have-been.html">FiveThirtyEight examines</a> the four scenarios under which health care reform could still pass this year.<p></p><p>I'm banking on scenario number one – "Whip the Democrats Into Submission."</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-48375473840828578972009-07-20T17:45:00.005-04:002009-07-20T17:57:56.971-04:00Understanding the FOX News Mob Think<p>Briseadh na Faire, an author over at <a href="http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/know-thine-enemy/">TheZoo blog</a>, posted the following as a comment to a ThinkProgress blog post and then posted it on TheZoo as an Op-Ed:<br /></p><blockquote><i>FOX has millions of viewers who agree with whatever it broadcasts. They display a lynch-mob mentality: trial by media, then hanging. Their group-think gives them comfort in that “majority rules” absolves each individual from individual responsibility.<br /><br />If you don’t understand the enemy, you cannot defeat it. The mob will always need a leader; one who feeds its fears and provides weak victims as sacrifices. Notice how often its spokespersons portray their opponents as weak?<br /><br />Those who negotiate are weak. Those who compromise are weak. Those who resort to violence first and ask questions later are strong. This is primal. This is mob-think. This is what is left of the Republican Party. This is Fox’s viewing audience.</i></blockquote>That's it. That is the perfect description of what they do and who they are. I've never been able to put it into proper words but in three short paragraphs, this author nailed it.Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-51386099775592356582009-07-20T13:11:00.003-04:002009-07-20T14:27:48.096-04:00GOP: No Plan, No Knowledge, Just Kill It<object width="400" height="332"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ABGmNKvWOwo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ABGmNKvWOwo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="332"></embed></object><p>It's become pretty clear that Republicans don't have a credible health care alternative, many of them don't understand the intricacies of the policy debate, they don't seem to get why we think reform is necessary and furthermore they don't care. They just want to kill it.</p><p>Michael Steele opened his mouth again today and gave us some new word salad. You can watch the video above but there were a couple of telling answers to questions. One of the questions was about the individual mandate policy debate, as to whether or not there should be an individual requirement. Steel was completely ignorant as to what that meant, even though it was a much discussed point of debate during the 2008 election season. Stumped a couple of different times, Steele said, "I don't do policy, ...My point in coming here today was to begin to set a tone, and a theme if you will." I really should not complain because Steele is one of the best things to ever happen to Democrats but I can't help but shake my head when the Chairman of the Republican Party continues to show such a lack of knowledge or grasp of the issues. It's astonishing actually.</p><p>Further proof that Republicans just want to kill health care reform comes from remarks made by FOX News pundit, William Kristol and Senator Jim DeMint (S-SC). Kristol said, "My advice, for what it's worth: Resist the temptation. This is no time to pull punches. Go for the kill." Meanwhile, we had Jim DeMint proclaim this past Friday, "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."</p><p>It's just politics for these guys. They don't care about finding a solution to help 47 million Americans without health insurance. They are not concerned that there are an additional 25 million with insurance so lousy that they are afraid to use it, for fear of being cancelled. It really doesn't stop there either. What about the millions of Americans who can't change jobs because they are slaves to their health insurance and in fear of being dropped if they move to a new job? The only people that I know who are not afraid of their health insurance company are the people in congress who have great coverage and great options. Don't we deserve what they have? Shouldn't we demand it?</p><p>I'm very suspicious that anyone trying to slow dow or delay health care reform is simply angling for time to find a way to kill it. Follow the money. Joe Liberman has been on the news this morning, calling for the process to be slowed down. A look at the record shows that he "raised almost $3.6 million in campaign contributions from the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries over the course of his career, averaging more than $500 per day since taking office." You can find similar contributions for almost anyone in congress who is calling for a slow down in health care reform. </p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-12756725498458300422009-07-19T11:29:00.006-04:002009-07-19T11:37:11.604-04:00The Matthews Meter Says YES On Health Care<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluGQo4raEykvTAv1xIv5mbLnCrDYX3eap71iDog0MVR452LIrJMsrjYcqy2L9KQYH98bdmwpS1MGntTtmYJ4x6FhEwBlgepxNYVKfwwH16Gc7EViZc1LS_mqe3JzRbhDNgDttVglqM4k/s1600-h/MatthewsMeterHealthCare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluGQo4raEykvTAv1xIv5mbLnCrDYX3eap71iDog0MVR452LIrJMsrjYcqy2L9KQYH98bdmwpS1MGntTtmYJ4x6FhEwBlgepxNYVKfwwH16Gc7EViZc1LS_mqe3JzRbhDNgDttVglqM4k/s400/MatthewsMeterHealthCare.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360194080823392354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluGQo4raEykvTAv1xIv5mbLnCrDYX3eap71iDog0MVR452LIrJMsrjYcqy2L9KQYH98bdmwpS1MGntTtmYJ4x6FhEwBlgepxNYVKfwwH16Gc7EViZc1LS_mqe3JzRbhDNgDttVglqM4k/s1600-h/MatthewsMeterHealthCare.jpg"><b>view larger</b></a></span></div>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-32163842229683182372009-07-19T10:24:00.003-04:002009-07-19T10:37:52.938-04:00Is The Southern Strategy Finally Dead?<p><object width="400" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9ic7KTz-XQM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9ic7KTz-XQM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object><p>I would contend that the so called "southern strategy," used so effectively for the past several decades by Republicans, is probably dead as a national strategy. I'm thankful for that. But, it's alive and well and being used regularly on a statewide and local basis in southern states and cities. I would like to see the day when southern states and cities also reject the old racial "southern strategy."</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-54774407943996807232009-07-18T14:11:00.004-04:002009-07-18T14:33:51.087-04:00Hate Crimes Bill Passes Senate 63-28<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCusnggsDLe4fwPeGf6PfXeyrRpLi24txLvBGwoVk7BOGPq7ECXbi7ecJwwyv5NOevN2hdnm261IfP2F2vcB2q1dCUyjrCi5AbWFhzwwyZIVPEY4_LeqB9_G3w9P9dlk0jSwxPf1SMKM/s1600-h/us-capitol-building-1a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCusnggsDLe4fwPeGf6PfXeyrRpLi24txLvBGwoVk7BOGPq7ECXbi7ecJwwyv5NOevN2hdnm261IfP2F2vcB2q1dCUyjrCi5AbWFhzwwyZIVPEY4_LeqB9_G3w9P9dlk0jSwxPf1SMKM/s200/us-capitol-building-1a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359869661686401026" /></a><p>The Hate Crimes bill passed in the Senate this week as an amendment the Department of Defense authorization bill but may face a presidential veto. Obama has told Congress that he will veto the defense bill if it includes funding for the F-22 fighter jet. Sadly, both of my senators voted against the hate crimes bill. I sat for a while just staring at that list of "NAY" voters. They are mostly old men from a different era and many of them are from the deep south where I live. These times they are a changing and with every tick of the clock and with every passing year, this list of old school naysayers grows smaller and smaller. I'm not sure I'll ever live to see the south completely transformed but I'm enjoying seeing my country transformed.</p><p></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="96%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"><strong>Voted Yea - 63</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <hr /></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td class="contenttext" width="33%">Akaka (D-HI)<br />Baucus (D-MT)<br />Bayh (D-IN)<br />Begich (D-AK)<br />Bennet (D-CO)<br />Bingaman (D-NM)<br />Boxer (D-CA)<br />Brown (D-OH)<br />Burris (D-IL)<br />Cantwell (D-WA)<br />Cardin (D-MD)<br />Carper (D-DE)<br />Casey (D-PA)<br />Collins (R-ME)<br />Conrad (D-ND)<br />Dodd (D-CT)<br />Dorgan (D-ND)<br />Durbin (D-IL)<br />Feingold (D-WI)<br />Feinstein (D-CA)<br />Franken (D-MN)</td> <td width="33%">Gillibrand (D-NY)<br />Hagan (D-NC)<br />Harkin (D-IA)<br />Inouye (D-HI)<br />Johnson (D-SD)<br />Kaufman (D-DE)<br />Kerry (D-MA)<br />Klobuchar (D-MN)<br />Kohl (D-WI)<br />Landrieu (D-LA)<br />Lautenberg (D-NJ)<br />Leahy (D-VT)<br />Levin (D-MI)<br />Lieberman (ID-CT)<br />Lincoln (D-AR)<br />Lugar (R-IN)<br />McCaskill (D-MO)<br />Menendez (D-NJ)<br />Merkley (D-OR)<br />Mikulski (D-MD)<br />Murkowski (R-AK)</td> <td width="33%">Murray (D-WA)<br />Nelson (D-FL)<br />Nelson (D-NE)<br />Pryor (D-AR)<br />Reed (D-RI)<br />Reid (D-NV)<br />Rockefeller (D-WV)<br />Sanders (I-VT)<br />Schumer (D-NY)<br />Shaheen (D-NH)<br />Snowe (R-ME)<br />Specter (D-PA)<br />Stabenow (D-MI)<br />Tester (D-MT)<br />Udall (D-CO)<br />Udall (D-NM)<br />Voinovich (R-OH)<br />Warner (D-VA)<br />Webb (D-VA)<br />Whitehouse (D-RI)<br />Wyden (D-OR)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="96%"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="middle"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"><strong>Voted Nay - </strong><strong>28</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <hr /></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="33%">Barrasso (R-WY)<br />Bennett (R-UT)<br />Brownback (R-KS)<br />Burr (R-NC)<br />Chambliss (R-GA)<br />Coburn (R-OK)<br />Cochran (R-MS)<br />Cornyn (R-TX)<br />Crapo (R-ID)<br />DeMint (R-SC)</td> <td width="33%">Ensign (R-NV)<br />Enzi (R-WY)<br />Grassley (R-IA)<br />Hatch (R-UT)<br />Hutchison (R-TX)<br />Inhofe (R-OK)<br />Isakson (R-GA)<br />Johanns (R-NE)<br />Kyl (R-AZ)<br />McCain (R-AZ)</td> <td width="33%">McConnell (R-KY)<br />Risch (R-ID)<br />Roberts (R-KS)<br />Sessions (R-AL)<br />Shelby (R-AL)<br />Thune (R-SD)<br />Vitter (R-LA)<br />Wicker (R-MS)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="96%"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="middle"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"><strong>Not Voting - 9</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left;" colspan="3"> <hr /></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="33%">Alexander (R-TN)<br />Bond (R-MO)<br />Bunning (R-KY)</td> <td width="33%">Byrd (D-WV)<br />Corker (R-TN)<br />Graham (R-SC)</td> <td width="33%">Gregg (R-NH)<br />Kennedy (D-MA)<br />Martinez (R-FL)</td></tr></tbody></table>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-23424653388997855582009-07-18T13:36:00.003-04:002009-07-18T13:46:41.772-04:00Crazy Wingnut of the Day<p>It's hard to believe that anyone would be trashing Walter Cronkite upon news of the former anchorman's death but leave it to <a href="http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/07/walter_cronkite.html">Debbie Schlussel</a>. She's glad he'd dead and blames the loss of the Vietnam War on Walter. I swear to God, these people could burn something in the oven and scream that it was the media's fault.</p>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246004529166698520.post-64831245090850189692009-07-17T13:44:00.003-04:002009-07-17T14:06:52.928-04:00Same-Sex Marriage Announcement Fracas<div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bil-browning/indiana-newspaper-publish_b_237739.html">Huffington Post:</a></div><blockquote><div>When the Elkhart Truth published a <a href="http://www.etruth.com/Know/Engagement/Story.aspx?ID=487609">same-sex wedding announcement for Micheal Berkey and James Chapin</a> earlier this week, Hoosier fundies went bananas. The couple plan to be married July 25th in Iowa.</div><div><br /></div><div>It didn't take long for the American Family Association of Indiana to start spinning and spreading lies. The group sent out an action alert to their sheep suggesting that the paper will soon start printing "anniversary announcements for polygamous marriages" and "incestuous birth announcements." So far the newspaper has stood its ground that same-sex marriage is legal in Iowa.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bil-browning/indiana-newspaper-publish_b_237739.html">continue</a></div></blockquote><div></div><div>Well I have to say that same-sex wedding announcements never occurred to me. The paper absolutely did the right thing in publishing the announcement, in my opinion and if I owned a newspaper, I would publish them as well. However, I must say that I feel for small town newspaper owners put in this position. Even if the owner / editor is pro gay marriage, being asked to publish these announcements puts them in one hell of a bad spot. As you can see from the Huffington Post piece, the evangelical nuts will come after you. I'm sure they will try and demand that businesses not advertise with the paper and that people cancel their subscriptions. It wouldn't take much to put a small town paper out of business. That being said, if I were in that position, I still would have published the announcement if asked to do so.</div>Conrad Stronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16313855021651861788noreply@blogger.com0