Media Activists Lobby Senate on Web
June 30th, 2006 - by: danny
On the Eve of the July 4th holiday weekend….
NET NEUTRALITY FUTURE UP TO SENATE
ISRAEL “ARRESTS” HAMAS LEADERS
THE DECLARATION OF IMPEACHMENT
“I read the news today, oh boy…..”
As the net neutrality debate moves to the Senate, media activists prepare for a big push against many vested interests, conservative Republicans and collusive Democrats. Senator John McCain is voting against web freedom and with the Telecom industry.
JONATHAN RINTELS: “Public Nearly Wins”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-rintels/stunning-development-on-c_b_24063.html
MOVEON: Procedural tie leads to huge political win
Media says failure to protect Net Neutrality could derail entire telecom bill.
USA TODAY, July 29, 2006
Headline: ‘Net neutrality’ battle may sink sweeping telecommunications reform bill
http://tinyurl.com/sx86v
WALL STREET JOURNAL, July 29, 2006
“disagreement over the issue now threatens to scuttle Congress’s effort to rewrite the nation’s telecommunications laws this year.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115153164120893476.html?mod=politics_primary_hs
WASHINGTON POST, July 29, 2006
“It’s a bad sign for the prospects of this bill on the Senate floor without significant changes to network-neutrality provisions.” – - David Kaut, telecom analyst at Stifel Nicolaus.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/28/AR2006062802176.html
RED HERRING — THE BUSINESS OF TECHNOLOGY
“Calling a telecommunications bill passed by the U.S. Senate “badly flawed” because it does not include an outright ban on Internet tolls, a Democratic senator threatened to torpedo the bill unless Net neutrality provisions are included.
http://tinyurl.com/oa25x
ISRAEL HAMMERS GAZA, HAMAS, DEAL UNDERWAY
AP: GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli warplanes struck the Palestinian Interior Ministry early Friday, setting it ablaze as Arab leaders tried to forge a deal that would halt the Israeli offensive and free a 19-year-old soldier held by gunmen allied with the ruling Islamic Hamas. Israel called off a planned ground invasion of northern Gaza on Thursday in order to give diplomacy another chance.”
NY TIMES ANALYSIS: “PART OF A PLAN”
“The seizures are partly intended to warn Hamas leaders that they could lose their power and liberty, if not their lives, unless they act to release a captured Israeli soldier, a senior Israeli military official said. But Israel has also concluded that Hamas, which had largely kept to a cease-fire before, is now openly engaged in violent acts against Israel and must be treated differently.
“It was unclear what would happen to those held if the Israeli soldier were released, but the officials described the seizures as part of a plan well beyond seeking that.”
“HEADING FOR THE ABYSS”
Haaretz (Israel) “Israel plans to arrest more Hamas leaders”
UN aid chief warns Gaza is on the verge of humanitarian crisis. Relief chief: “Gazans ‘heading for the abyss’ unless utilities restored”
ISRAEL’S RETURN TO GAZA: MULTIPLE MOTIVES
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0629/p01s04-wome.htm
ANSWER COALITION CALLS FOR US PROTESTS
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=7851
WAR RAGES IN AFGHANISTAN
The Center For American Progress reports:
“Violence has surged in Afghanistan this year to its worst level since the Taliban were ousted in 2001 for refusing to give up Osama bin Laden. More than 1,100 people, including nearly 50 foreign troops, have been killed.” Bin Laden’s deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a videotape in recent days calling on Afghans to rise up in violence against the U.S. forces and the Karzai government. NBC Nightly News recently reported (6/22), “U.S. officials say Taliban Islamist fighters, numbering in the thousands, now control at least a third of Afghanistan. How did it happen?
First, the Taliban’s tactics have improved. Roadside and suicide bombs, techniques borrowed from Iraq, are on the rise.” As evidence of this, two car bombs detonated in a southern province during Rice’s visit yesterday. The Taliban are also surging on the backs of improved leadership and organization. Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday, “We are seeing enemy forces now operate in formations of 40 to 50 fighters; they are demonstrating better command and control, and they are fighting hard.”
ARE AMERICANS GULLIBLE?
Paul Craig Roberts argues we are:
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=26704&mode=nested&order=0
IRAQ: DAHR JAMAIL ON IRAQ “PLAN”
“Recent days have found a media feeding frenzy at the trough of the “National Reconciliation” plan by the US puppet “prime minister” of Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki. This “plan” was clearly a political move orchestrated from within Pentagon and State Department circles in preparation for the upcoming November mid-term elections in the US and has effectively changed, on the ground in Iraq, approximately nothing.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13781.htm
Lynching Saddam —The More You Watch the Less You Know
http://www.thecatsdream.com/blog/2006/06/lynching-saddam-part-6-more-you-watch.htm
SUPREME COURT REBUKES BUSH ON GUANTANAMO
By James Vicini
In a sharp rebuke of President George W. Bush’s tactics in the war on terrorism, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as unlawful the military tribunal system set up to try Guantanamo prisoners.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13788.htm
WASHINGTON POST: A GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY REBUFFED
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/29/AR2006062902300.html?referrer=email
PILGER: UNREPORTED COUP IN EAST TIMOR
John Pilger reports:
“On 28 April last, a section of the East Timorese army mutinied, ostensibly over pay. An eyewitness, Australian radio reporter Maryann Keady, disclosed that American and Australian officials were involved. On 7 May, Alkatiri described the riots as an attempted coup and said that “foreigners and outsiders” were trying to divide the nation. A leaked Australian Defence Force document has since revealed that Australia’s “first objective” in East Timor is to “seek access” for the Australian military so that it can exercise “influence over East Timor’s decision-making”. A Bushite “neo-con” could not have put it better.”
http://www.zmag.org/sustainers/content/2006-06/23pilger.cfm
FINANCIAL CRISIS: A VIEW FROM UTAH
For those fighting debt, the end of the month can bring a painful experience of seeing bills with expenses that outnumber the money they have in their bank account.
The financial burden of debt plagues many Americans today living in a “buy now, pay later” kind of culture. Today you are able to purchase just about anything on credit. TV’s, furniture, computers, and cars are all frequently purchased on credit. The allure of having these kinds of items contributes to many people living their lives in a constant state of financial crisis.
http://www.hilltoptimes.com/story.asp?edition=254&storyid=7002
GIVE ME YE TIRED, YE POOR
WAPO: “A Medicaid rule takes effect tomorrow that will require more than 50 million poor Americans to prove their citizenship or lose their medical benefits or long-term care.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/29/AR2006062902093.html?referrer=email
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Media Wars and War Against Media
June 30th, 2006 - by: danny
Telecom bill would leave U.S. lagging behind rest of world
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003092244_telecom29.html
ROBERT SCHEER: Bush vs. New York Times
“Attacks on the New York Times aren’t about national security, they’re about muting criticism.”
http://www.Truthdig.com
MEDIA CONCENTRATION QUESTIONED – IN CANADA
Canada Urged to Scrutinize Media Mergers
OTTAWA, June 21 – Mergers of Canadian news organizations should be given closer scrutiny under competition laws, a report by a committee of Canada’s Senate urged on Wednesday.
The report, which came after three years of hearings, also recommended that the government-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation end commercials on its TV networks and stop sports programming.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/business/worldbusiness/22canada.html?ex=1308628800&en=0fff9e7f8c45a651&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
RESPONSE TO COCKBURN’S “HOT AIR FACTORY”
Chris Lowe or Portland Oregon responds:
http://lists.portside.org/cgi-bin/listserv/wa?A2=ind0606d&L=portside&T=0&P=3653
REUTERS: NBC PLANS MORE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – NBC News will dramatically expand its investigative unit in the latest of a wave of changes since Steve Capus ascended to the presidency of the news division.
NBC News said Wednesday that the news division will double the number of producers working in the Investigative Reporting Unit. The unit’s senior investigative correspondent is Lisa Myers, but other NBC News correspondents will work with the unit, too. The number of producers in the unit will go from the four working with Myers to about 10 in the initial ramp-up. The unit’s new producers will come from elsewhere at the network, though it isn’t been ruled out that more will be hired late
WEATHER COVERAGE
http://www.margieburns.com/blog/_archives/2006/6/29/2065855.html
TAKING IT OFF GETS YOU IN THE NEWS
DXM does some comparative counting:
” While some of dig Bill Evans, Bush and Koizumi (and Kim Jong-il) dig Elvis. Some dig Britney, and on the kind of slow news day as we experienced today, she still was able to capture the imagination of more than 4,910 news editors and bloggers that considered her nudie pics for Harper’s as worthy of posting; both the little story and the pics – along the lines of Demi Moore’s naked and pregnant or pregnant and naked 1991 Vanity Fair cover. One cynic who posted the Brit pics on (Dlisted) Sex, Drugs & Gossip blog titled the spread The Photoshop Awards: Britney Spears in Bazaar.
http://dlisted.blogspot.com/2006/06/photoshop-awards-britney-spears-in.html
As search criteria on Google (News), “bush koizumi elvis” got 1,180 web slots, and 121 for “kim jong-il elvis”
GUARDIAN: “Serge July, the former Maoist and founder of French daily Liberation, has announced his resignation as editor.”
KAZAKHSTAN IN SETBACK TO PRESS FREEDOM
Kazakhstan’s upper house passed new media legislation on Thursday despite criticism from the United States and others that the changes represented a setback to press freedom in the Central Asian state… If approved, the amendments would put reporters under tighter state control and make registration harder for news outlets.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-29T075543Z_01_L29881540_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MEDIA-KAZAKHSTAN.xml&archived=False – Reuters
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A New Declaration For July 4th
June 30th, 2006 - by: danny
Virginia Weldon writes from Boulder:
>Here’s an article by Ted Rall (“Silk Road To Ruin”) that explains a lot of what the republican left hand has been doing while the right hand spews propaganda and disseminates lies and distortion. A real eye-opener.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13792.htm
INDONESIA SOUNDS LIKE AMERICA
James Porteous writes:
” “…the pro-business state with almost no social conscience is continuously failing to implement preventive measures which could save lives in times of disaster, as well as educate citizens and improve
infrastructure…”“I’m afraid that what the reporter said about Indonesia could also be said of the US government.”
IRAQ SCAM LETTERS
For years we have all been getting scam letters allegedly from Africa promising big money for investments and the like. These scams are well known. Now there’s a new twist – the IRAQ WAR SPAM SCAM. Check this out:
” My name is, Major. Jeffrey Burton and i represent a faction of American soldiers serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq, we came across your e-mail address(s) in the process of research and enquiry into an immense military global data base. I believe you are familiar with the war situation in Iraq ? Besides the killings, a lot of activities do occur; antique sales, stocked foreign cash discovered and lots more.
We are lucratively involved in these activities. Consequently, we require a worthy,upright and business minded individual for safe keeping outside the Iraqi state.
You might have an insight through http://news .bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm and details will be sent upon signal of interest. Our contact email; johnseco@virgilio.it
I would report this to the Pentagon but they will likely ignore it because they have so much bigger corruption to oversee.
Greg Gingold writes:
“With all eyes on the unfolding crisis in Gaza, there’s a closely related issue that’s begging for clarification.
Like an awful lot of other people, my reaction was wide-eyed astonishment when I heard those reports that Hamas had, in effect, agreed to “recognize”Israel as part of the agreement it worked out with Abbas and Fatah. “Wow. That’s really something. That’s a huge, fundamental shift,” I thought.
But then — given that it’s Israel/Palestine we’re talking about — I couldn’t help wondering if there might be less to this seeming breakthrough than those news reports were claiming.
And sure enough, it turns out that, in reality, the supposed “recognition” of Israel exists mostly in the minds of reporters and commentators who prefer to believe the spin from Abbas. As the two reports below make clear, Hamas itself recoils at the very suggestion. For better or for worse, there hasn’t been a major substantive shift on the part of Hamas. “
DID YOU KNOW?
Whole Foods CEO Mackey Endorses Cato Book – No More Corporate Crime Prosecutions: Whole Foods CEO Mackey Endorses Cato Book – No More Corporate Crime Prosecutions
Russell Mokhiber writes about the CEO recently profiled on 60 Minutes which did not examine his political orientation. His commentary appears on CommonDreams.org.
Most people who shop at Whole Foods are liberal yuppies.
They have enough money to spend $9 on a pound of cherries.
They believe that shopping for groceries at Whole Foods instead of Safeway or Food Lion or Giant or Wal-Mart is the politically correct thing to do.
They probably believe that the President and CEO of Whole Foods is a liberal like themselves.
They of course would be wrong.
John Mackey is instead a libertarian with right-wing tendencies.
Mackey says that Milton Friedman is his hero.
He’s a devotee of Ayn Rand.
He’s opposed to national health insurance.
He’s a union buster.
And he has recently endorsed a book published by the libertarian Cato Institute whose author concludes that no corporation should ever be prosecuted for crimes – no matter the corporation, no matter the crime.
THE DECLARATION OF IMPEACHMEMT
On Tuesday July 4, The NY Times will, as it does every year, reprint the Declaration of Independence. It would be more appropriate if they would run this version sent in by David Swanson:
Veterans for Peace has drafted a Declaration of Impeachment using nothing but excerpts from the Declaration of Independence (plus a few words in parentheses). It reads as follows, and should be read at picnics and protests on the Fourth of July:
…whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
…all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations…design(s) to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
…The history of the present King (George)…is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny…To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
§ He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
§ He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
§ He has…deprive(ed) us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury…transport(ed) us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
§ He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us…
§ He is at this time transporting large Armies…to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
§ He has constrained our fellow Citizens…to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
A (President) whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
We, therefore…do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People…solemnly publish and declare, That these…Free and Independent (People)…are Absolved from all Allegiance to the (Bush Administration), and that all political connection between them and (this Administration), is and ought to be totally dissolved…And for the support of this Declaration…we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
I will salute to that.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: MY EVENTS
I will be at ULSTER SUNY at Stone Ridge NY tonight with Congressman Hinchey, Amy Goodman, Jeff Cohen and Alan Chartock discussing our “free press.” The panel gets underway at 7 PM
Sneak peak at my new film IN DEBT WE TRUST on Sunday July 2 at 5 PM at the Rosendale NY Theater. A big Dissector thank you to Andi Novik and family and colleagues for organizing both events.
See Indebtwetrust.com for more on film.
Declare your independence this weekend. Support Independent Media. Support Media channel. Our best to all who have had to cope with these horrible floods in our region of the world.
Comments to Dissector@mediachannel.org
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About Danny Schechter
Danny Schechter is an Emmy award winning journalist, television producer and independent filmmaker who also writes, blogs and speaks about media issues.
His latest film is PLUNDER The Crime Of Our Time.
Mr. Schechter is NOT the Godfather of Soul.
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