Daily Worldwide News: Keith Olbermann Fired by CurrentTV

Source:The Daily Press

To be honest you I wasn’t shocked to hear that Keith Olbermann was fired by MSNBC a year ago. Even though they want to have a progressive prime time lineup. Giving voice to American Progressives and looking at the news from a progressive slant. They want to be for Progressives what FNC is for the right-wing. The rest of the NBC News operation I believe is fairly objective. And their reporting is solid. NBC Nightly News and NBC Meet the Press are excellent examples of this. But MSNBC Talk is clearly slanted towards Progressives. And Keith Olbermann is so far to the left, at least with his political commentary and anti-corporate if not private enterprise and so unafraid of offending anyone. Including the people he works for. CurrentTV owned by Al Gore, that he’ll say whatever he wants as long as he believes in it strong enough.

As much as Current my not want to be part of the corporate media and be part of the private sector version of PBS or something, they are part of corporate media. They are a business and have to turn a profit to be successful. CurrentTV has proven to not be the right format for Keith Olbermann. I’m not sure there is one, other than maybe HBO, Showtime or maybe PBS. Where he could say whatever he wants to, swear as often as he likes. This is a format that’s served Bill Maher very well and if Keith can avoid offending one of these networks, maybe HBO, or Showtime, would be a place for him.

Keith, may fit in well there or going on talk radio. Starting his own website or news organization that reflects the views of Progressives, or Democratic Socialists. Because being the lead anchor on a cable network, which is what Current is and saying things that can offend corporate media, just doesn’t work, it doesn’t fit. Keith Olbermann needs to be on a format where he can be Keith and do his thing. And not have to worry about who he’s offending. Similar to Rush Limbaugh or Bill O’Reilly, but for Progressives. And there may not be a big enough outlet out there that’s also willing to put up with Keith. That can make that happen for him.

Richard Nixon Library: Video: 1969 Inauguration of Richard Nixon

Source:The FreeState

When Richard Nixon became President of the United States in 1969, divided government returned to the Federal Government. After the Democratic Party held the White House and Congress for the last eight years. With Dick Nixon being elected President in 1968 and with Congressional Democrats retaining both the House and Senate, divided government returned to Washington for the first time since 1961. And when Nixon became President, he had an ambitious agenda. Especially on foreign policy, like ending the Vietnam War and opening negotiations with Russia and China. Take on high crime, Welfare reform, health care reform and energy policy as well.

The country was still very divided in 1969 and they were looking for something different. And they certainly got that in Dick Nixon and in President Nixon’s first two years. The country was still very divided, especially over Vietnam. But with President Nixon reaching out to both Russia and China and ending the Vietnam War by 1972, President Nixon had a big opportunity to bring the country together. And solve a lot of the problems the country was facing.

Like with crime, Welfare, health care and energy policy. And moved on all of those issues with limited success. Which is another reason why the Watergate scandal was such a shame. Because without it, President Nixon would’ve had four years to accomplish some of his other goals. During President Nixon’s first four years, he was a Foreign Policy President. And in his 2nd four years, he still would’ve been. But without the Watergate Scandal, he would’ve had four years to deal with some of the other issues. That the country was facing that he was interested in solving.

The Nation: David Cole: Why President Obama’s Healthcare Law is Constitutional

Source:Free State MD

Fareed Zakaria, who’s a foreign affairs analyst for CNN, but who also host a Sunday talk show, Global Public Square, that does cover a lot of issues that relate to foreign affairs, but who’s show covers other issues and who’s someone I respect a lot, hosted a documentary last Sunday night. A week ago from yesterday about healthcare reform. Healthcare in America and healthcare around the World. Looking at what we do and what other countries do as well in healthcare. Was asked by Wolf Blitzer a couple of weeks ago, right before his documentary aired on CNN, whether he believes the Affordable Care Act is constitutional or not. Which Mr. Zakaria replied, “I don’t know that’s above my pay grade”. But that its essential to Healthcare Reform whether its constitutional or not. For us to be able to bring down our healthcare costs. Which is my position and I’ll explain why.

For us to bring down our healthcare costs, we have to be able to cover everybody. With either health insurance, a health savings account or people pay out-of-pocket. Or a package of all three of these things. As long we are all covering our share of our healthcare costs. And don’t past our healthcare costs on to others. Who pay for their healthcare. That’s one way we’ll be able to bring down healthcare premiums. And stop people from going to the emergency room every time they need healthcare, no matter what it’s for. We have to end uncompensated healthcare in America. To bring down our healthcare costs, or we are not going to be able to do that. And our costs will continue to rise.

I believe the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and again I’m not a lawyer. But I believe its constitutional for two reasons. Again whether you support the ACA or not and I would’ve voted for it, you gotta admit it’s a badly flawed law and badly written. Had they labeled the individual mandate a tax, instead of a penalty, Which it acts as a tax based on how its written, it’s just not called a tax, then the constitutionality of it would not be a question. Also had they put in a prevision in it, that would allow the Supreme Court to overturn it, but cherry pick it, meaning throw out what they believe is unconstitutional, but leave in the rest, then whether the individual mandate is constitutional or not, most of the rest of the law would be ruled constitutional.

Most of the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Why, because the Federal Government clearly has the authority to regulate interstate commerce. And clearly has the constitutional authority to assists its citizens that need help. Like paying for their healthcare. And the Federal Government clearly has constitutional authority to tax its citizens. The main reasons why the ACA is at risk of being thrown out by the Supreme Court, it’s because it’s a badly written bill. Even the parts of it that are clearly constitutional.

Los Angeles Times: Robin Acarian: Campaign Gaffes: Is Foot-In-Mouth Disease Always Fatal to Campaigns?

Source:Real Life Journal

Hopefully for Republican Party's sake, they'll decide on their presidential nominee before the cows come home, but they are a little hard to predict right now. They seem about as divided as the Democratic Party in 1972 trying to figure out which Progressive they were going to nominate. Between three Senators, Ed Muskie, George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey. 

They settled on Senator McGovern, even though telling the differences between these three men politically, was trying to tell the difference in color between a couple of red tomatoes. But unless the Obama Campaign is successful in communicating the political gaffes of lets, just for the hell of it Mitt Romney as their  GOP nominee, I flipped a coin that, it would be Mitt Romney, American voters will have forgotten about them, long before the general elections.

Good news that even though generally political gaffes made in presidential primaries aren’t remembered for the general election, whoever the GOP Nominee is. They will still be as addicted to making political gaffes. As Jim Morrison was addicted to alcohol or Rosie O’Donnell is addicted to food. Mitt Romney in the general election, will most likely say something like, "I’m not that rich, I only drive three Cadillacs, I don’t even own a Rolls Royce. I only own three homes, I’m friends with people who own ten. Really I’m not that rich, attack my friends instead". 

I can give you their numbers, they are some of my major contributors. Or Rick Santorum if Mitt Romney were to end his presidential campaign right before he’s nominated. And Rick becomes their presidential nominee. Well first of all if that happens, Republicans will hand in their Republican affiliation. But if that were to happen, he may say something like. "Women. Shouldn’t be allowed to work", the GOP Candidates right now are addicted to political gaffes. There’s more than enough to go around.

America I’m not sure is the only country in the World with a short attention span. But we have the shortest. Are attention span is a midget, so when some politician says something that five minutes later, they want to kick themselves in the balls for saying, or wish they hadn’t drank that extra scotch before giving that speech, take Rick Perry to use as an example, they managed to say something else thats ignorant right after that. That gets played up as well. 

Our politicians and political candidates are only as good as the people who elect them for the most part. From time to time we get leaders that stood out and look like God, at least in comparison to average Americans. Americans say dumb things all the time. But the difference is most of us aren't politicians and our, well bullshit isn't on the national news or web right after we say it unlike our politicians. Which is why they get to look like the assholes, because they represent the assholes who voted for them. 

Real Time: Video: Real Time With Bill Maher; Ethan Nadelman & Ann Coulter on The War on Drugs

Source:The Daily Post

If you believe that government's job is to protect its people even from themselves and you believe in big government, (whether you're even aware of it or not) that people by in large are stupid and irresponsible and they need to be protected from themselves from making bad decisions, well for one I feel sorry for you. Because you're probably one of those people that aren’t too bright and need Uncle Sam (no ones favorite uncle) and you need your Uncle Sammy wiping your ass and escorting you across the street to protect you. 

But if you believe in individual liberty and responsibility, that free adults should have the individual liberty and freedom of choice to make their own decisions in life, as long as they are not hurting anyone else with what they are doing, Then you're probably not a fan of big government. And believe Uncle Sam needs a diet, get on Weight Watchers, perhaps go to a fat farm, if Sam can find one that will take and has the room for him. Because you believe in individual liberty and responsibility, that we are responsible for our own decisions.

If you don’t like alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, pornography, congratulations. Your heart and the rest of your body will thank you for it. Because you’ll probably not consume those products in your life. Or least not much of any of them but that doesn’t give you right to tell others that they can’t use those products either, because you don’t like them. The dangers of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco are about the same. Tobacco is probably the worst of the three, but it's legal. 

Here’s some advice and stay away from those products and mind your own damn business. Also stay away from those people who use those products. Because you’ll probably just bring those people down. Send perky people who enjoy life into depression, leaving doctors wondering what the hell happen. We have property rights in America, meaning we own our material items, but we also own ourselves. We are responsible for our own decisions good and bad in life.

I don’t agree with Bill Maher on much, he’s a Progressive and I’m a Liberal and yes we are different. He does believe in big government when it comes to the economy and I don’t. But on these social issues like marijuana, Bill Maher and people like Ethan Nadelman who’s done a lot of work in America about educating people on marijuana, know what they are talking about and should be listen to. And people who believe in Big Brother and Big Sister, the nephew and niece of Uncle Sam, need to get lives and perhaps try some of the products they despise. It may loosen them up.

Los Angeles Times: Life Without Parole is Too Harsh For Young Killers

Source:FreeState Now

When we are talking about juvenile offenders, especially violent juvenile offenders, juveniles who’ve murdered, committed manslaughter. assault and battery, leaving their victims with indefinite damage, raped people and other horrible crimes, a couple of questions have to be answered. Can we afford to give up on these minors and just lock them up and watch them become better criminals in prison? What’s the proper punishment for them, that they deserve and isn’t too harsh? I believe in the notion do the crime, you do the time.

To let juvenile offenders off the hook, just because they are juveniles, is irresponsible and sends the wrong message. Whether its intentional or unintentional. That, “if you do the crime and are a juvenile, we’ll let you get away with it.” But I also I believe in fair sentencing and I’ll explain what I mean by that. Any juvenile who commits murder and then is convicted of it, has to be given a strong sentence and I don’t care how old they are when they commit murder. Or any other violent crime. And no I’m not talking about the death penalty, at least for Convicted Murderers under 21.

But we also can’t afford to give up on these juveniles either. We simply can’t afford that as a society, financially, or anything else. If you’re 15-16 when sentenced to prison, assuming you live a normal life as far as years, if you’re sentenced to a life sentence and survive it into your senior years, or longer, you could be looking at 50-60 years in prison at taxpayers expense. Also we don’t need any other career criminals in prison. We should be moving to get these inmates past this point in their lives, proper sentences.

The proper sentence for convicted murderers who were juvenile offenders, is 25-Life. Meaning they would only be eligible for parole, if they meet some basic standards in prison during those 25 years. They take responsibility for their crime, or crimes, they apologize for it. They finish and further their education in prison. High school diploma, or GED, a college, or vocational degree. They hold a good job in prison and have a good record there. They seek and complete the proper counseling while in prison. They have a good record while in prison. And they would have to complete all of these things. Just to be eligible for parole after 25 years. They wouldn’t automatically get a parole hearing after the 25 years.

Again life without parole for juvenile offenders, even violent offenders, is too much. And we can’t afford it, but at the same time they have to be properly sentenced so they are properly punished for their crimes. So with 25-Life and then be eligible for parole after certain conditions are met, would be the proper balance we would need with juvenile violent offenders.

Salon Magazine: Alex Pareene: Rick Santorum - 'Liberal Penn State Punished Me For Being Conservative'

Source:Free State MD

If Rick Santorum is a Conservative, then Ron Paul is a Socialist and Ron Reagan was a Communist. Oh by the way I’m Santa Clause, right now its 100 degrees in Boston. And its snowing in Houston and before you take any of that seriously, keep in mind right now its March. And you want to know why Rick Santorum is not a Conservative, I’ll tell you anyway.

Conservatism in a political sense, forget about religion right now, but in a political sense conservatism is about conserving individual liberty. Not subtracting individual liberty or conserving a way of life from the 1950s and never modernizing. And its about limited government, especially the Federal Government, spending no more than you take in and always try to spend less than that. And devolving power back to the states and to the people. And a foreign policy that’s very limited and based around only protecting national security interests.

Not about “I and people who ally with me, no best how free adult Americans should live their lives. And if you don’t take our friendly advice on how you should live your own life, even though we have no idea who you are, we’ll get our friendly advice passed through law. And then if you don’t comply on how we believe you should live your individual lives, we’ll arrest you for your own good for living an immoral life. Even if your lifestyle is not hurting anyone else with how you are living”.

On all counts of what conservatism actually is from a political sense, fiscally and socially especially Rick Santorum doesn’t qualify as a Conservative. Not on social issues, fiscal policy or foreign policy. He has a record as a borrow and spender, porker, empowering the Federal Government. In his sixteen years in Congress, on social issues, he has a record of wanting to outlaw things that are currently legal. Limiting our social liberty and has even added to that in his presidential campaign, coming out in favor of a constitutional amendment to empower the Federal Government to define marriage.

Nothing Conservative about that and what happened to States Rights? The distinguished Senator is also in favor of outlawing pornography, gambling and birth control. On Foreign Policy voting for preventive war, hard to see either Barry Goldwater or Ron Reagan voting for the 2nd War in Iraq. So in a political sense Rick Santorum doesn’t qualify as a Conservative and never has. He meets the qualifications of a religious or neoconservative. But those are different from conservatism and on the Far-Right, where Senator Santorum is in American politics.

Rick Santorum or perhaps Ricky or Slick Rick, at least when it comes to trying to convince people who know better of his conservative credentials or the serious lack of them, is a big government Republican. A right-wing statist, the ultimate big brother or big government, or better yet Uncle Sam, no real Conservative’s favorite uncle, knows best how free people should live their own lives. I mean if he’s a Conservative the Queen of England eats Burger King whoppers for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. And when Burger King is unavailable, she gets her meals from McDonald’s. And it never rains in Seattle and a lot of nonsense that is simply not believable.