But...It's TRUE!!

When Bill O'Reilly, responding to a stated fact, exclaimed,

"But it's TRUE!" to Frank Luntz, on last night's show, Luntz replied,

"Yes it is, but it doesn't MATTER that it's true; what MATTERS is PERCEPTION."

And that should end today's post. Purely and simply, like it or not, the truth has long been cast aside, thrown under the bus and disregarded as little more than an occasional annoyance by political strategists and main stream media. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear and incontrovertible. Today as I trolled cable news [kicking and screaming--it is painful to watch and fruitless for information gathering purposes unless the info I want concerns which network's telling which lies and for whom] for Bailout info, I was, as usual, appalled as I saw channel after channel give voice to some of the biggest whoppers I have seen--and that's saying something!

For example, I SAW John McCain and even, god help me, George Bush stating that Fannie and Freddie needed oversight to prevent an economic disaster in 2005; youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM , youtube.com/watch?v=_ROOriYvJM4 I SAW Barney Frank, Democrat par excellence, at the same time, state unequivocably that NOTHING should be done about it, youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH I SAW the Democratic Black Caucus speaking strongly against any kind of oversight or preventive measures youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs . And I SAW Bill Clinton saying that these Democrats refused all Republican attempts to reel these agencies in. And yet, today, I heard main stream media taking every opportunity to blame it all on the Republicans. Now, let me be the first to remind you that I am a life long Democrat of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt persuasion. Never mind "Reagan Democrat"--for the life of me I still cannot begin to fathom just exactly what that is; having survived the Reagan era [just barely], I can tell you that I never knew a Democrat who supported him or his cockamamy ideas. But I do know what FDR stood for, and what, as the head of the Democratic Party, he tried in instill in that party, and the miracles he accomplished getting our country back on track after the crash of '29. He was supremely unpopular with conservatives, beloved by many and served an incredible three terms as POTUS. And he accomplished all of it without, Joe Biden's assertions notwithstanding, television. Print media in the 1930s, and even the '40's, '50s and '60s still pretty much respected and adhered to journalism's Professional Standards, and TV was too nascient in its early years to have gone astray. It has only been over the last twenty years that main stream media has followed itself down the darkest path there is: that of self delusion about its importance and its obligation to report the truth objectively. The saddest part about this decline was twofold. The technology itself held the potential to inform an electorate as never before, but instead devolved into the basest of tools for those with the most money to assert their influence, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week by having paid, self proclaimed pundits and pollsters supplant news casters.

Instead of Ed Murrow, we have an actor named Keith reading a script, trying to sound as he thought Murrow might have sounded when he read the news. Instead of Walter Cronkite, we have Frank Luntz telling us that the truth matters no more: it's all about PERCEPTION. And that is the most devastating aspect of all. Luntz is right, and he's about the only one telling the truth now.

Tribute to Two Patriots

Robert Gwatney Murdered in office by lone gunman Aug. 13, 2008

Stephanie Tubbs Jones August 20, 2008

It would be difficult improve upon the poignance with which our own PUMAS pay tribute to Stephanie. Please click the links below.
http://freemenow.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/tell-me-why/
http://comealongway.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/stephanie-tubbs-jones-1949-2008-we-will-miss-her-fighting-spirit/

This is so terribly sad and so horribly terrible that words cannot express the depth of it. No matter how many people try to express their shock horror and anguish, NO words work. NO words help.

It now seems fairly apparent that our electoral system is dealing with an opposition that literally will stop at nothing to thwart free elections to get what they want: be it the choir director from the Wright church; Bob Gwatney in Arkansas, the Democratic State Chair or Stephanie Tubbs Jones, stalwart and steadfast champion of Ohio voting rights, steward of the investigation into the 2004 Ohio voting fraud, 5 term congressperson and champion and supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton--and how many others???

I received this today from an editor at cityedition.com:

After publishing a story on the Bill Gwatney murder in Arkansas last week, new information surfaced in an email to TheCityEdition.com. On
the day before the killing, Gwatney may have told the group petitioning DNC delegates for Sen. Clinton's name to appear in a roll-call vote that he would sign on to the drive. Evidently he is the only state chair to do so. Most other members of the Arkansas delegation indicated to organizers they would support her.
Sen. Clinton won the state on Feb. 5th by 44 points, her biggest margin nationwide. Significantly, in a roll call vote at the convention, Arkansas is one of the first states called, and thus a potential for starting a bandwagon effect.

So the timeline goes like this: 8/12 Gwatney agrees to back Clinton
nomination - 8/13 Gwatney shot - 8/14 DNC announces Clinton will be
nominated.

In addition, on Tuesday, Little Rock police announced that the keys
found in the killer's home attached to Gwatney auto dealership
might have been diversionary, if not planted, evidence. The article
has been updated to reflect the latest facts. If anyone has info
on this case, please get in touch. Here's a link to the story:

http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Summer08/BillGwatney.html

I have been highly reluctant to sound alarmist or extremist--on the contrary, I am always the optimist, dismissing notions of threat, but even I, in my reluctance to believe conspiracy theorists and extremists, have been forced to reassess my views. Is it extreme to wonder whether a group that has repeatedly asserted that THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING to win really won't stop at nothing? Election fraud in Texas caucuses, Iowa polls and Florida and Michigan, strong arm, intimidation tactics aimed at delegates, elected officials and the ultimate strong arm tactic against Bob Gwatney tell me that this truly IS a group that will stop at nothing.

This is a sad, sad day for America and a very frightening one too. Forty years ago we witnessed the killings of MLK and RFK...we now witness the killings of two of Hillary's most intrepid, loyal supporters, both of whom lived their lives espousing the words of Dr. King and Senator Kennedy, within days of one another, within two weeks of the Democratic Convention. This cannot possibly be an accident of random coincidence. The universe simply does not work that way.

Our hands tremble, our hearts are heavy and our thoughts race as we search for a way in which to protect ourselves and our country from the mob tactics of fascism and the loss of our democracy.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Bob Gwatney shall remain in our hearts and minds forever as courageous Americans, patriots who stood by their word, voted their conscience and espoused integrity. They will go down in history as individuals who died for their beliefs that America deserved Democracy and free speech.

As we move ahead to the Denver convention, I implore everyone to remember these brave, patriotic, public servants, and vote your conscience. Vote for the candidate most qualified to lead our country and most likely to win the election. Do not let the tactics of thugs dictate the choice of our next president.

truthisgold

PUMA Central

Hubris v. Honor Redux...and STILL No Questions from the Press

Just when it seemed like things couldn't GET either any more surreal or less credible, we start the week by learning that while Russia invades Georgia, Hillary delegates are being purged, and the news of Obama's close ties with an anti Christian, pro Taliban Kenyan leader named Odinga continues to be suppressed, http://truthisgold.blogspot.com/2008/08/obama-and-jeopardization-of-national.html we find that Mr. Obama has flown the coop for the sunny isle of Hawaii, leaving Hillary home to do his pre-convention campaigning and the DNC to do his dirty work.

So...What is Wrong With This Picture?

Well, first of all, it speaks to Hubris [his] and Honor [hers]. Apparently deciding he can't take the heat, political or otherwise, he's off to "vacation" [at least that's what he SAID] while SHE, the candidate with the hugest popular vote in primary history, is off to work, keeping her word [as usual] to campaign for him.

It speaks to the Hubris of a Democratic party who is apparently so terrified that the fast waning popularity of their selectee will result in his failure to be nominated that they have gone into panic mode, hunkered down in their bunker, purging, McCarthy style, delegate after delegate that might be so much as even rumored to support Hillary. The latest in this string of casualties [preceded by Wisconsin's Debra Bartoshevich] is Sarah Millstone of Boulder Colorado, who, after PRIVATELY acknowledging to a fellow delegate in an email that she was upset at the Obama campaign's tactics of dismissal and intimidation of Hillary delegates and was not sure that she could vote for Obama at the Convention, received a letter from Pat Waak, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, threatening her with the loss of her delegate seat.

"I think that one of the reasons I got this...was to intimidate me," said Millstone. "It sounded... totalitarian [and]...undemocratic and I was completely shocked. Having had conversations on the pros and cons of those candidates, I don't think this is an unusual thing at all in the Democratic Party."

About Millstone, Waak stated, [giving new meaning to the phrase, 'Waak Job',]

"From our point, it's over with. She's chosen not to come in and talk with us...so, we're two weeks...from the convention and we'll continue to work with the delegates who want to be worked with."

Fear Tactics, Intimidation & Threats: Our Party at Work??

Millstone firmly believes the letter was a clear message to Clinton delegates nationwide to refrain from any comment, even those made privately, that could be construed as even slightly critical of Obama if they wish to attend the convention. "I think that it was calculated to have an impact on other delegates...this kind of communication...has a very chilling impact on other delegates because people become afraid to speak up. They become afraid to say what they think."Millstone added, "You can't get unity by telling people to shut up." http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17163668/detail.html
Unlike those who, like Gerry Ferraro, [rare birds in a forest of parrots], have tremendous courage, conviction and power, most delegates are ordinary folk, desirous of doing their patriotic duty unhampered by threats, intimidation and fear tactics. Like the lone suffragette in the famous picture, standing alone on a sidewalk crowded with men, holding her simple sign, Gerry Ferraro stood up to the DNC Machine yesterday and stood her ground, speaking her piece in support of Hillary Clinton, the lone voice of reason.

Res ipsa loquitur, or...the thing speaks for itself...and it echoes the multitudinous pattern of threats from not only the Obama camp, but DNC and Democratic Party elected officials as well, to wit: one among many received by an Election Watch writer from none other than Donna Brazile:

"Do not send me...this crap and I promise not to send your email address to anyone.
Soon, I will have to kick some truth into the lies.
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile. Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors."

None But the Brave
Not to be outdone, the direct approach from Montana's Senator Jon Tester:
"Your message has been forwarded to the U.S. Capitol Police Force for investigation. Do not send any further messages to this address."
And, although certainly neither the last nor the least, this from http://freemenow.wordpress.com/

"Democratic Party Collapses Into Stiff Arm Politics"
TO: All Clinton Delegates
FROM: Mary Isenhour, Executive Director
DATE: August 11, 2008
RE: Nomination
If anyone approaches you about signing a petition to place Senator Clinton’s name in nomination at the Democratic National Convention, the Governor has asked me to ask you to refrain from signing such a petition until we know what Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have worked out.
As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
Rachel A. Moore, Office Director,Pennsylvania Democratic Party
300 North 2nd Street, 8th Floor,Harrisburg, PA 17101
ofc. 717.920.8470 / fax 717.901.7829

Feel the love. ClintonDems.com states:

"With the convention just around the corner, it is imperative that all Democrats everywhere understand that whether or not Hillary is nominated, we are in this for the long haul. This primary has revealed DNC "leadership" to be corrupt, mean-spirited, and devoid of respect for basic democratic principles. They have completely and effectively ceded the moral high ground to Republicans at this point." http://hillaryclintonnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/action-item.html

Brave New World

In the meantime, life goes on: we are informed that Mr. Obama, still on vacation in Hawaii, far from the madding crowd and its pesky, inquisitive reporters, will take HIS brave stand and announce his vice president via text message, thus eliminating the need for a press conference and those burdonsome concepts of Hubris, Honor, and Courage of Conviction can be dispensed with and replaced with Newspeak until further notice...by text message, of course.