Take Back the Media begins a Rush Limbaugh advertisers boycot.

Take Back the Media: Rush busted.

Start writing your letters to the companies who advertise on the Rush limbaugh show. What better way to show your support for truth in the media! Visit the Take Back the Media story for the list of companies and their addresses. It can be as easy as sending an email, and your voice on what the media caries can be heard. Any letter is better than none!

 

Also, frequently visit TBTM for updates on how you can help America take the media back from the corporate conglomerates. Rush Limbaugh loves them!

      your note []

Republican State Senators files "waiting period" bill.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Bill calls for waiting period.

Yes, yet another radical conservative files a bill to chip away at abortion rights. This one calls for a 24 hour waiting period, and forces the doctor to to inform the woman of certain information.

That information would include possible physical and emotional risks involved in ending the pregnancy and legal options if a woman continued the pregnancy.

The information must include the "probable gestational age of the fetus" and the "probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the fetus" at the time an abortion is to be performed.

The doctor also has to give his opinion if the fetus would be more interested in art or sports.

This one has a chance. Republicans are in control of Georgia right now. Please contact you senators and representatives. Governor Perdue will most likely sign.

      your note []

The Voice of Atlanta

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Be apart of the Voice of Atlanta.

Let your liberal voice be heard. The AJC takes a survey periodically of Atlantans. Some of the lastest results seem to be showing a conservative slant. We need some liberals to sign up. Go here and sign up and let your liberal voice be heard. About once a month you will be sent an email with a link to a survey. It takes about 5 minutes. Go and sign up.

      your note []

I'm sorry but this is just too funny.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Man tries to kill dog, kills himself instead.

Police say a man tried to beat his dog to death with a shotgun -- but wound up shooting himself to death instead.

......

Police say the shotgun must have gone off while Poore was using it to beat the 30-pound shar-pei. The stock of the weapon was broken and there appeared to be blood and dog hair on it.

I hope the dog is okay.

      your note []

Atlanta's only Quaker congregation distributing "Peace" signs.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Metro Quakers start a quiet protest of war.

Atlanta Friends Meeting began distributing them, and churches are starting to follow suit. Most a charging a $5 fee to cover printing costs. When will there be one on your front yard?

      your note []

Most celebrated White House Correspondent calls Bush "Worst President ever."

Daily Breeze: Press veteran's take on state of presidency.

There was a lot of that in her speech, this talk of devaluation in the character of leadership. Not surprisingly for an admitted liberal, she held her greatest praise for John Kennedy, the only president in her estimation who made Americans look to their higher angels.

Then came Johnson’s Great Society and Vietnam. Nixon, she said, was a man who would — when presented two roads — “always choose the wrong one.” He was followed by “healing” Ford, well-meaning Carter, Reagan’s revolution, Bush Sr.’s self-destruction and Clinton’s damaging of the presidential myth.

She seemed to have sympathy and affection for everyone but George W. Bush, a man who she said is rising on a wave of 9-11 fear — fear of looking unpatriotic, fear of asking questions, just fear. “We have,” she said, “lost our way.”

......

“This is the worst president ever,” she said. “He is the worst president in all of American history.”

Go read it all.

      your note []

Images of an unseen Gulf War

The Digital Journalist: The unseen Gulf War by Peter Turnley.

Some very disturbing images of war. If your are going to support the war in Iraq, you should certainly be able to view these. If you are against it, these will remind you why.

Via Joe Conason at Salon.

      your note []

Notes about Washingon 1/24: Bush appointing right wing nuts to AIDS Council

National Stonewall Democrats: NSD harshly criticizes Bush appointments to AIDS Council.

Appointments of abstinence only right wing lunatics to Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA). Most are anti gay and lesbian, anti sex education, anti safe sex, and anti anything intelligent. Almost all are against condom use and some believe that homosexuality can be cured by religious conversion. Few have any medical training or experience. Yes this is who George W. Bush has choosen to be on PACHA.  He is not pandering to the right wing base, he is a right wing lunatic.

I am cutting and pasting the list. There is more to read. Go to NSD website and do so. Here we go:

Tom Coburn, Co-Chair

Former Rep. Tom Coburn (R-OK) received a 0% Congressional voting rating in all three of his terms from the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to his poor record on issues of concern to the gay and lesbian community, Coburn consistently voted against needed HIV/AIDS legislation. Coburn also called for the firing of the Director of the Centers for Disease Control because the CDC promotes condom use to prevent transmission of the HIV virus. Rich Tafel, Executive Director of LCR, has called Coburn’s past votes "morally wrong and politically dangerous." (Washington Blade, May 07, 1999)

Louis Sullivan, Co-Chair

Dr. Louis Sullivan was HHS Secretary for President George Bush. Sullivan is known for addressing HIV/AIDS issues in communities of color, and for supporting needle exchange efforts. However, as HHS Secretary, Sullivan extended the Bush Administration’s ban on allowing HIV-positive people, and gays and lesbians, from entering the country. Sullivan also encouraged HIV-positive people, and gay men, to stop having sex. As HHS Secretary, Sullivan argued for guidelines that would have prevented HIV-positive surgeons and dentists from operating, and he repressed a government study on suicide among gay teens so that it would not be linked to the Bush Administration. Sullivan’s relationship with a scam artist, who claimed to have a vaccine for AIDS, was used to swindle millions out of investors before Sullivan realized that the vaccine did not exist.

Pat Ware, Executive Director.

Ware’s appointment is disturbing due to her advocacy that undermines safe-sex education and that shifts away money from prevention efforts in the gay community.

Ware has been associated with anti-gay organizations such as the Family Research Council and is most closely linked to her work with Americans for a Sound HIV/AIDS Policy (ASAP), which has since changed its name to the Children’s AIDS Fund. ASAP was an abstinence-only organization opposed to most HIV/AIDS education and prevention measures. ASAP also lobbied against including HIV and AIDS in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ware herself is a strong abstinence-only proponent, lobbying against any effort that promotes education and protection over abstinence. Ware is also opposed to condom use. Pat Ware has advocated that the government shift away funds from groups that serve gays and towards abstinence-only education. At the 2000 Republican Convention in Philadelphia, Ware referenced the "innocent babies" infected with HIV, a comment that implied that others are "guilty" victims of the epidemic.

Joe McIlaney

Dr. Joe McIlaney is the founder and director of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MISH) in Austin, Texas. MISH is an abstinence and anti safe-sex organization. Dr. McIlaney is most noted for his repeated attacks against the idea of using condoms to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Among his books, McIlaney co-wrote The Myth of Safe Sex with James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family (which runs a prominent ex-gay ministry). McIlaney frequently interprets medical statistics for his own liking, and those interpretations are often used by anti-gay groups. On November 15, 2001, McIlaney testified before Congress to promote abstinence. McIlaney also enjoyed influence over the state health curriculum while George W. Bush was Governor of Texas.

Rashida Jolley

As a young person, Rashida Jolley has given much to her community. Jolley was named Miss District of Columbia in the year 2000. She is a college student and sexual abstinence advocate. Jolley travels with a group of beauty pageant winners promoting abstinence for Project Reality, an abstinence organization.

After promoting the administration’s faith-based initiatives, and interning with the Heritage Foundation, President Bush appointed her to PACHA. A biography of Ms. Jolley states that she hopes to become an attorney or a professional harpist. While Ms. Jolley has done much to better her community, she still does not bring the level of expertise on HIV/AIDS issues that would benefit the council.

Dandrick Moton

Dandrick Moton, 25, is a man whose background in HIV/AIDS policy consists of traveling with his mother as dual motivational speakers to promote abstinence for youth until marriage.

Anita Smith

Anita Smith is the co-founder of the Children AIDS Fund (formally Americans for a Sound HIV/AIDS Policy). Smith has stated that her organization "believes abstinence is the only true prevention." (Family Voice, July/August 2001). Smith’s organization lobbied against including HIV/AIDS status in the Americans With Disabilities Act. The organization has also pushed to take money from prevention efforts in the gay community and reassign it to less effective efforts. Smith has also worked extensively to promote abstinence-only programs.

Smith has appeared in articles by the Concerned Women for America, who have lobbied to keep gay men off the council. Referencing potential appointments to the council, Concerned Women for America stated:

"What we have here, frankly, is a power struggle between homosexual white men who have used all the government AIDS programs fundamentally to fund their subculture and political activities, versus the other dominate demographic group who’s suffering from AIDS, - namely, black women." (Battle Underway of AIDS Panel, Family News in Focus. October 29, 2001).

Joseph Jennings

Joseph Jennings is a motivational speaker, and former gang leader, who travels the country speaking to children about drugs and violence. Jennings’ background in HIV/AIDS comes mostly from telling teenagers to abstain from sex. Jennings is a frequent speaker for Acquire The Fire youth conferences. Acquire The Fire, organized by TeenMania Ministries, promotes among other issues, religious conversion as a cure for homosexuality and sexual abstinence until marriage.

I picked this up via Atrios. I don't think anybody would mind if you spread this list around, other than the GOP.

And if you don't think outrage can help, it already has. Gay bashing Jerry Thacker already withdrew from his appointment to the same council because of the uproar it caused. Bush probably thinks he can now slide these in without anybody noticing. We need to show him that we do not like these at all.

      your note []

Triumph, the dog not the band, messes with Bon Jovi

IFILM: Triumph mocks Bon Jovi.

This 2 minute clip is just too funny. The quote about Cher at the end is priceless. Don't worry, they don't actually play any Bon Jovi music.

      your note []

Teachers aren't getting raises, but Governor Perdue's staff is!

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Officials' 6-figure salaries draw fire.

Perdue has said that there is no money for teacher's raises, but has brought 7 people onto his staff making over $100,000 a year- one making almost a quarter dollars a year. In comparison, former Governor Barnes, whom Perdue thinks is a spendthrift, had no staffers making a 6-figure salary. Perdue said Barnes practiced cronyism?

Democrats criticized the salaries in a flier they circulated at the Capitol this week.

"At a time when Georgians from all across the state are asked to sacrifice and pay more taxes . . . salaries for bureaucrats in the office of the governor have risen dramatically and new, lucrative positions have been created," the flier said.

Looks like Perdue is going to run the state more like a business after all! Maybe he can replace the St. Andrews Cross on our flag with a crooked "E"?

      your note []

Georgia GOP trying to get tough on abortion.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Perude, GOP pledge to curb procedure.

Cope said Perdue wanted to go beyond cutting off public funds that could be used for abortion -- to eliminating funding for family planning programs.

........

"We will find and root out any money going to groups like Planned Parenthood," Johnson said to cheering abortion protesters, including children.

So anti-abortionists will do anything to eliminate abortion, including harrassing women, massive protests, and even killing doctors, but they won't allow the teaching of family planning and sex education? If they really want to stop abortions, making sure all people are well educated about how pregnancy actually occurs and how to prevent it seems to be the most logical answer. When we try to cut down on the number of pets put to sleep each year, we don't do it by killing animal shelter employees and bombing the local human society. We do it by preventing pet pregnancy.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Cynthia Tucker.

Of all the flashpoints in the culture wars, few are more frustrating than the conflict over legal abortion. With effective, easy-to-use contraceptives widely available, abortion ought to be, as Bill Clinton once put it, "safe, legal and rare."

However anti-abortionists want it "unsafe, illegal, and frequently needed." Abstinence is a great idea for teenagers. It should be incouraged by parents, school, and church. However it needs to go hand-in-hand with planned parenting and sex education. Teenagers have always had sex. They always will. If they do, we need to make sure that they are not going to cause an unwanted pregnancy and also make sure that they are not going to get a STD. Both can change young lives, and the later can also kill.

We encourage teenagers not to speed in automobiles. We show them films at school about accidents. We talk about tickets and insurance rates. We show them articles about teenagers dying in accidents. We do all we can to show them the dangers of speeding, and how on little mistake can change or end a life. In the end, they still are most likely to drive too fast sometime during their teenage years. At that point we can only hope they also heard us preaching about seatbelt use, and hope they are wearing one.

      your note []

Even the New York Times is writing about Perdue being in a pickle.

The new governor of Georgia has all these big ideas: a fully wired state with high-speed Internet access for all; mentors for students taking the SAT; a saber-toothed ethics commission; more money for legal defense of the indigent.

But all the attention keeps coming back to same, single, stubborn issue: the state flag.

I am actually starting to think that Perdue may be a decent Governor. He appears to be more like a Democrat than a Republican, and may be to the right of Barnes on most issues. However he did not campaign on these issues. He campaigned on the flag. This will be the defining issue of his term, as it was for Barnes. Their is no getting away from it. Bringing it back will probably cripple Atlanta's fragile economy. Don't bring it back, and it will cripple Perdue for a future term. Perdue put himself in this pickle, and nobody is ready to let him wiggle out. I don't think flaggers can win a referendum, the NY Times thinks they can.

WSB is reporting that a referendum this fall will cost the state "millions."

Including a referendum during the 2004 elections will cost very little, since it is a statewide election and only requires adding one question to the ballots. Trying to have the referendum this fall during municipal elections will cost "millions" as most precincts won't be holding these. Bush and the GOP has reportedly made it clear that they do not want the referendum during the 2004 elections. Another pickle for Perdue.

      your note []

Notes About Washington 1/22

Transcript of Ted Kennedy's speech.

Ted Kennedy blasted Bush in a speech in Washington that is getting little coverage. He made some valid points.

In a time of testing for America, every American should bear a fair share of the burden. We must put aside policies which lavish benefits on some, while ignoring what it is like to be poor and struggling, to be unemployed, to be old and phased out of a career, to be a woman, to be a worker, to be disabled, to be gay, to be an immigrant, to be a victim of discrimination. And we must weigh in the balance not just the claims of the privileged, but the growing strains that other families now face as education, healthcare and housing costs soar.

The rich, the poor, workers and business, all contributing to a better America and a better world: This is how we waged and won our battles in the past, from the defeat of tyranny to the progressive reforms of our social and economic life. The rich and business contributed along with the worker and the immigrant. They were not accorded great tax cuts or disproportionate benefits. The road to prosperity was not paved with handouts to those at the top.

.....

The President says the war on terrorism requires us to tighten our belts. But he refuses to ask the wealthiest taxpayers to share the burden; in fact, he proposes the opposite. In the midst of repeated calls to sacrifice, he is advocating massive new tax breaks primarily for those with the highest incomes. But under the Bush tax plan already enacted, the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers will each save an average of $50,000 a year. Now he proposes to give each of them even more - an additional $25,000 a year. He sees no need for them to share in the national sacrifice. That policy is wrong. We cannot say it is wartime for the rest of America, but still peacetime for the rich.

.....

I continue to be convinced that this is the wrong war at the wrong time. The threat from Iraq is not imminent, and it will distract America from the two more immediate threats to our security – the clear and present danger of terrorism and the crisis with North Korea.

The far more likely reality is that an assault against Iraq – especially without broad international support – will not advance the defeat of Al Qaeda, but undermine it. It will antagonize critical allies and crack the global coalition that came together after September 11th. It will feed a rising tide of anti-Americanism overseas, and swell the ranks of Al Qaeda recruits and sympathizers. It will strain our diplomatic, military and intelligence resources and reduce our ability to root out terrorists abroad and at home. It could quickly spin out of control, and engulf other nations in the region too.

.....

And let me say plainly to my fellow Democrats: If we cannot achieve a fair and fiscally responsible compromise, there is no assured political safety in just going along with President Bush. Not a single Senate Democrat who voted against the Bush 2001 tax cut was defeated. Tom Harkin openly campaigned on his opposition to the unfairness of that tax cut – and, facing his toughest opponent, won by his biggest margin ever.

We as Democrats serve our country and our party best when we state, debate, and proudly defend the principles at the heart of our purpose. The lesson of 2002 is clear. We will not succeed if we fail to stand up and speak out.

Kennedy continues and discusses civil rights, education, medicare, childcare, and social security. Lefty bloggers all over the web are praising Kennedy for his vision, his voice, and the willingness to speak out. It is time for the Democratic moderates to step aside and let peope with courage lead. If you have the time, read the speech.

      your note []

Notes About Washington 1/21

Don't think Sonny Perdue of Georgia is the only GOP Governor raising taxes.

And don't let him blame it on Barnes. It is the economy.

Include GOP Governors in Idaho, Arkansas, and Connecticut with the Governor of Georgia. Democratic Governors in California and Illinois are looking at raising taxes.  Many have tried cutting services, but have reached a point where cuts are getting too painful.

This year, facing another 10 percent budget gap, Kempthorne [Governor of Idaho] said these were his only options left: Close the state parks; end state aid to public health clinics; abolish state support for community colleges and student financial aid; cut public education; slash Medicaid and programs for seniors and veterans.

He couldn't do it.

Unlike the federal government, most states have laws against running deficits and demand balanced budgets. Unlike Bush, who can run deficits and call for outrageous tax cuts, these Governors must raise taxes or cut spending.

So while Georgia has a "rainy day fund" of $800 million, Perdue is planning on running a balanced budget. He should. It is good government.

Maybe Bush should follow the lead of some other members of the GOP.

 

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democrats rising star.

But Mrs. Clinton proved her worth to Democrats at the start of the session by battling incoming Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, in his first test of procedural acuity over an emergency bill to extend 13 weeks of federal unemployment benefits by unanimous consent.

Mrs. Clinton insisted on doubling the extension to 26 weeks or Democrats would block quick passage with objections. Mr. Frist consented to a handshake deal with Mrs. Clinton to extend 13 weeks of benefits by unanimous consent in exchange for his promise to consider expanding the scope of the program later.

The scene on the Senate floor raised eyebrows of veteran Washington political reporters.

"You know what's impressive?" asked MSNBC host Chris Matthews on his talk show, "Hardball." "Sitting in the Senate press gallery and looking down and realizing that Hillary Clinton is the leader of the U.S. Senate Democrats. She's the boss. Everybody was circling around her when they were having that big dispute over unemployment benefits. Hillary was calling the shots."

.........

"I've never seen this before, all these senators gathered around Hillary, and she's like the quarterback in the huddle," he said. "Hillary looks to me like the number one Democratic senator right now. She's intellectually and ideologically the center of the Democratic Party."

You know there are some angry white males having fits right now! How I would love to see the faces they are making as one of their eyes begins to twitch.

      your note []

Atlanta radio station dropping listeners.

Radio listeners abandoned three longtime favorites in droves last fall, causing soul-searching in corporate offices across Atlanta.

Top 40 Star 94 (WSTR-FM), classic rock Z93 (WZGC-FM) and alternative rock 99X (WNNX-FM) all suffered their worst ratings performances in history, newly released Arbitron ratings show.

Z93 lost one third of its audience since September. Wow! I have noticed a shift in format to even older classics, perhaps to pickup some Fox listeners? They canned morning show host Dave Marino and hired former country DJ Moby in hopes for a boost. Then the morning show went from 14th to 18th. Bad move. Since the summer of 2001, they have gone from a market share of 4.0 to 1.9. Anybody hearing Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'?"A nice station to listen to on a Sunday afternoon, but evidently most people do not feel that way.

Star94 has lost about one fifth of its listeners, including many of their core audience of 25-49 females. They seemed to be getting hammered by stations playing more of an Urban format. Star is starting to add some rap to its playlist, but the pop format seems to be dying out again. I can't even listen to the Steve and Vickie Morning Show for more than a minute without cringing when I surf the dial. The music is bad, as are the personalities.

99X has lost almost one third of it audience. Big wow! However, the station is so stale, that I have no problem believing this. The morning show is living on fumes. Barnes got married, had a kid, and stayed obnoxious. Jimmy Barron finally got engaged and stayed obnoxious. Leslie Fram should have her AARP card by now to save on her shopping sprees, yet still can not pronounce difficult words during news casts. Most of the other DJs have sucked since Shawn and Will left years ago- the Peter Principle in action. The rotation is pathetic. They used to spin some edgy tunes and break new artists. Not anymore. In the past year they have gone from a 5.5 rating to a 2.9. Ouch! The bright spots are Toucher, the afternoon DJ, and Rich, "Associate Producer" of the morning show. Getting rid of the dead weight, and improving the play list would probably jump start their ratings.

Where did the listeners go? 99X's did not go to Clear Channel's 96.7 The Buzz, the newest alternative radio station. They remain in the ratings cellar. Of course with a weak signal way south of Atlanta, that is probably not going to change. Their "hey moron, if you can't receive us, stream us" commercials did not appear to do much good. It is hard to stream a radio station in a car- morons. Z93's did not go to 96 Rock, which plays newer rock but is now pretty much all talk in the morning. They saw no solid gains. They do seem to be trying to replicate their morning show success with a new afternoon ride time show. Two guys who talk a lot- worked in the morning! Although they are down from a year ago, they still hold a solid 3.6 rating, which is about average for them.

Overall the listeners of Atlanta radio just seem to be disappearing. Maybe satellite, maybe CDs. I know I listen to more CDs or NPR now, instead of my old diet of radio. I am also looking into XM Satellite Radio. Anything is better than what is being sent across the airwaves in Atlanta.

In case you are wondering, the big winners for the rating period were '80's stations. 98.5B, which programs a heavy rotation of '80's music, and 105.3 The Max, which spins all '80's, saw good improvements.

      your note []

Was running over her husband with her car fatal attraction or a fatal mistake?

"It was an accident," Clara Harris said as she was arrested, but eyewitnesses told police that they watched her run over her husband at least three times.

There goes my "It depends on how many times she backed over him" joke.

      your note []

NBC's Dateline to do show on Michael Jackson's face.

Do we need charts and diagrams to illustrate why this is just wrong? No. We do need charts and diagrams to see what has happened to Michael's face however. And the charts and diagrams begin here. Notice how Michael went from being an attractive young man to being a freak in a sideshow. Maybe if he had stopped in the "Tim Curry" phase, it would not be that bad.

The show will air February 17th.

      your note []

Bob "Rocky" Russo dead.

The owner of Rocky's Brick Oven Pizzeria died of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His business he was suffering financial problems, while he battled cancer. Politically outspoken, Rocky frequently posted political messages on the sign in front of his pizzeria. It is not known if the pizzeria will reopen.

I ate at Rocky's a few weeks ago. Rocky was not there, but I did talk with a gentleman who identified himself as Rocky's goomba. While the people were very nice, the place was cold, and business down. They were catering to kids in the warmer part of the restaurant. Hopefully the Buckhead institution can remain open.

      your note []

Only a few thousand.

And they say it was only a few thousand people. See the photo essay for yourself.

In case the URL above does not work due email posting, this link using tinyurl.com may.

      your note []

It starts off with sign at an anti-war protest.

Via Atrios:

Navy veteran Robert McHaney of Reno made a sign, “Vet for peace: I served. Bush deserted.”

“We have a president of the United States who didn’t serve his time in Vietnam. He went to the Texas Air National Guard and disappeared,” McHaney said. “If he didn’t have his daddy in place, he would have been arrested for desertion and gone to jail.”

Yes, that is correct. George W. Bush, our President, was actually a deserter from the armed services. The conservative media has never carried, nor investigated the story. You can read about it, and read the documents that actually survive at awolbush.com. The name of the site is a bit misleading. Bush was not AWOL, that is absent without leave for less than 30 days. Bush was gone for over a year, and so is guilty of desertion from the National Guard. Bush refuses to answer any questions on the issue. Of course he refuses to answer any questions on his DUI and the cover up of his DUI. He also refuses to answer any questions about the abortion his girlfriend, Robin Lowman, had many years ago. I don't think he has ever been asked about his grandfather profiting by working with the Nazis and by using slave labor at the Auschwitz concentration camp. (Yes, these links are on websites with leftist slants. Neither major media, nor any conservative pundits would ever report on these stories, however. By using google, you can probably find more websites with more info.)

The DUI and the abortion are nothing very alarming.  many young men have been through similar things. What is concerning about these is the extent many have gone to cover these up. The abortion sdoes seem hypocritical since Bush appears to be on a mission to appoint anti-abortion judges to our federal courts, and the Supreme Court. He of course had no control over what his grandfather did in business, but he will still inherit. The desertion, however, was very alarming and illegal, as was the cover up. I don't know if there is even a statute of limitations on desertion. It is conceivable that charges could still be pressed against Bush.

Now all the conservatives please shout at once, "But Clinton was a draft dodger!" First off, Clinton is no longer President and is not driving the country to war. So, it does not matter what Clinton did. That is not a defense. Then of course, Clinton was not a draft dodger. Bill Clinton received 5 student deferments, I believe. In 1969 he finally entered the draft, but receiving a high draft number, he was never actually drafted. Did he avoid the draft? Yes, through student deferments and joining, but not enrolling, in ROTC. Nothing he did was illegal, and many people all over the country did what he did.

Now all the conservatives can yell "Gore was a reporter in Vietnam, and didn't fight." As the statement suggests, Gore was in Vietnam. Gore enlisted in the Army in 1969, and was sent to Vietnam in 1971. The majority of soldiers in Vietnam were not in combat positions. Gore was an information specialist, also known as a writer. He wrote press releases and such, but also did interview soldiers in battle zones. After almost two years, Gore opted out early to return to school.

Are you stunned that you have never really heard all this about George W. Bush, even during the elections? You should be. You are probably not alone, however. At a UAW Media Panel Discussion held in February 2001 and reported in a UAW News and Views article:

Wasting no time, delegate Charlie Cox from UAW Local 2162, who is a Vietnam veteran, set the tone by asking why George W. Bush got a free ride from the media regarding reports that he was AWOL during most of the time he served in the National Guard during the Vietnam war.

"Let me give you some statistics," responded panelist Paul Begala, "I worked for Bill Clinton in 1992 and …in anticipation of this very question, I looked this up on Nexis. There were 13,641 stories about Bill Clinton 'dodging the draft' …and there were 49 stories about Bush and the National Guard," Begala said.

Conservative media, owned by large corporations, which are run by Republicans, do not want you to know about any of this. No longer is news reported. Editorial and news divisions of media are no longer separate. They are dictated to about what to cover and what to cover up. They are directed on their editorial content. Media is now controlled. It is up to the people to investigate what is going on. It is up to the people to demand coverage from their local news sources. It is up to the people to help distribute the news.

It starts with a sign at an anti-war protest. Perhaps it can end with the truth getting out. Can you help? It doesn't take much- maybe sending a letter, maybe sending a link, maybe starting a blog, maybe spreading the news. Do what you can.

BTW, if you want to know about the military records of many politicians and pundits, see this webpage.

      your note []