Thursday, July 12, 2007
(11:34 AM) | Stephen:
Filibuster
Filibuster. Filibuster filibuster filibuster.
Filibuster. Filibuster FILIBUSTER fil-i-buster.
Senate Republicans filibustered the Webb Amendment. The vote that was taken yesterday was a vote on whether to end "debate" or not. The Republicans - including Joe Lieberman whatever party he claims - voted to continue a FILIBUSTER.
But this little, itty-bitty blog and a few others are the only place you will see this called a filibuster. In our media, it's just a debate. Just a discussion. The Senators monopolizing the chamber's time, delaying other important legislation in order to make sure that Bush can continue to ignore the basic human needs of our soldiers - training, equipment, time to rest and see their families - are portrayed as just making "remarks" on the Senate floor.
Of course, when the Democrats try to do that, it's a FILIBUSTER!!! AAAGGHHHH!!!! OUR NATION IS DOOMED!!! OH NOES A FILIBUSTER WHAT WILL WE DOOOOOO???? WHY DO THE DEMOCRATS HATE AMERICA????????
And that, of course, was just over the nomination of a couple of complete assholes to the Supreme Court. There's a million asshole judges out there; every time we have a Republican President they make sure to stock the judiciary with them as much as possible.
But the question of whether American citizens, soldiers, people who have signed up to serve this country with their skills, their efforts and ultimately their lives - this question can be filibustered by the Republicans for as long as they want, and no one in the media will call them out on it. In fact, they will studiously refrain from even the mention of the word.
Journalists may answer surveys in such a way as to make them seem "liberal." Journalists may make most of their contributions to Democratic candidates and causes. But because of the concentrated Republican effort to falsely accuse them of a "liberal bias" over the last several decades, they will bend over backwards to accommodate the GOP's spin on things.
So not just in editorials, but in supposedly "straight" news as well they will uncritically and without interpretation or editing pass along whatever complete bullshit the GOP tells them. Michael Moore is "factchecked" - meaning his claims are disputed with lies - while conservative after conservative gets on TV, says whatever they want and almost never will their claims be disputed or followed up. In terms of economic/business reporting, the vast majority of columns, articles and TV news segments reflect the fact that a few extremely large corporations control the media in this country. The interests of the middle and lower classes are never represented in business sections, only those of large corporations and the rich.
George Bush is forcing our soldiers to stay in Iraq past not only their required tours, but even past the end of their military obligations. He's forcing our soldiers to go into the field without proper training - and that's according to the Pentagon's own standards, not some civilian. George Bush has been sending our troops to Iraq without rest, without the chance to see their families. He's cut veteran's health benefits and plans on cutting them more right when our VA health system is already under siege from the tens of thousands of wounded soldiers returning from Iraq.
These soldiers are real people. They are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers - and even though I don't really know him, these soldiers can also be a step-brother. I don't need to know him in order for me to be mad as hell that a member of anyone's family is being treated so poorly, let alone my own.
Remember, yesterday 86% of Senate Republicans said that such treatment is just fine with them. The media, in their reporting on this, has also signaled their willingness to carry water for this administration, to frame this issue in such a way that it obscures just what Bush and Congressional Republicans are doing.
Filibuster. Filibuster FILIBUSTER fil-i-buster.
Senate Republicans filibustered the Webb Amendment. The vote that was taken yesterday was a vote on whether to end "debate" or not. The Republicans - including Joe Lieberman whatever party he claims - voted to continue a FILIBUSTER.
But this little, itty-bitty blog and a few others are the only place you will see this called a filibuster. In our media, it's just a debate. Just a discussion. The Senators monopolizing the chamber's time, delaying other important legislation in order to make sure that Bush can continue to ignore the basic human needs of our soldiers - training, equipment, time to rest and see their families - are portrayed as just making "remarks" on the Senate floor.
Of course, when the Democrats try to do that, it's a FILIBUSTER!!! AAAGGHHHH!!!! OUR NATION IS DOOMED!!! OH NOES A FILIBUSTER WHAT WILL WE DOOOOOO???? WHY DO THE DEMOCRATS HATE AMERICA????????
And that, of course, was just over the nomination of a couple of complete assholes to the Supreme Court. There's a million asshole judges out there; every time we have a Republican President they make sure to stock the judiciary with them as much as possible.
But the question of whether American citizens, soldiers, people who have signed up to serve this country with their skills, their efforts and ultimately their lives - this question can be filibustered by the Republicans for as long as they want, and no one in the media will call them out on it. In fact, they will studiously refrain from even the mention of the word.
Journalists may answer surveys in such a way as to make them seem "liberal." Journalists may make most of their contributions to Democratic candidates and causes. But because of the concentrated Republican effort to falsely accuse them of a "liberal bias" over the last several decades, they will bend over backwards to accommodate the GOP's spin on things.
So not just in editorials, but in supposedly "straight" news as well they will uncritically and without interpretation or editing pass along whatever complete bullshit the GOP tells them. Michael Moore is "factchecked" - meaning his claims are disputed with lies - while conservative after conservative gets on TV, says whatever they want and almost never will their claims be disputed or followed up. In terms of economic/business reporting, the vast majority of columns, articles and TV news segments reflect the fact that a few extremely large corporations control the media in this country. The interests of the middle and lower classes are never represented in business sections, only those of large corporations and the rich.
George Bush is forcing our soldiers to stay in Iraq past not only their required tours, but even past the end of their military obligations. He's forcing our soldiers to go into the field without proper training - and that's according to the Pentagon's own standards, not some civilian. George Bush has been sending our troops to Iraq without rest, without the chance to see their families. He's cut veteran's health benefits and plans on cutting them more right when our VA health system is already under siege from the tens of thousands of wounded soldiers returning from Iraq.
These soldiers are real people. They are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers - and even though I don't really know him, these soldiers can also be a step-brother. I don't need to know him in order for me to be mad as hell that a member of anyone's family is being treated so poorly, let alone my own.
Remember, yesterday 86% of Senate Republicans said that such treatment is just fine with them. The media, in their reporting on this, has also signaled their willingness to carry water for this administration, to frame this issue in such a way that it obscures just what Bush and Congressional Republicans are doing.
Site feed
