When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Thursday, June 13, 2002
The Right-Wing opinion-making machine is hard at work, along with concerted dirty tricks efforts.
First, check out this article by David Borosavage on how the Right operates. It sounds a lot like the Hitler propaganda machine, and it's frightening.
A sample:
-- from Robert Borosage's The Mighty Wurlitzer,
The American Prospect, Volume 13, Issue 8
Second, check out the congressional candidacy (if you have any interest in CT politcs) of Jeff Benedict of Lyme (or is it Ledyard).
Benedict gained notoriety with a book that challenges the Pequot Indians' right to tribal status and hence to all that money they have earned at their casino. (It was written while he was in law school -- who has time to write a book while in law school? Is this why he does not practice law?)
Folks who live near the Pequot casino love Benedict's book for its message, since they feel threatened by the casino, envious of its wealth, and greatly irked that people who used to be unemployed in places like Willimantic are now employed in low wages jobs in their town. Get out.
But is the book's premise true? Doubtful. One reviewer, a historian in Texas, wrote, 'Without Reservation' is exciting reading and should be treated as a well-written novel, not serious scholarship. (quoted by Marilyn Comre in the Norwich Bulletin)
Then Benedict worked, I'm told, for the candidacy of Rob Simmons, who ousted Sam Gejdenson in the last election. Simmons, in some respects a decent guy, is nevertheless a loyal Republican.
Following his support of Simmons, Benedict decided to mount a primary challenge as a Democrat to Second District Congressional candidate Joe Courtney, a long time Democrat who is known and appreciated in progressive circles for his support of universal health care.
I can only speculate that this was a move designed a) to unseat Courtney as candidate, and then withdraw, leaving the field to Simmons; or b) at least force him to spend down his funds in a primary, leaving him depleted and less able to run effectively against Simmons. I say it's skanky, and Democrats won't stand for it. Didn't stand for it. Benedict lost the Norwich delegate primary he mounted, and probably won't garner enough votes at the convention this summer to qualify for a primary challenge in September. (That's the way the party system is supposed to work-- no voter support, no votes, you retire from the ring.)
I went to Benedict's website to check out in what respects he considers himself a Democrat, and it doesnt say; there is a nice resume of his journalism credentials, his education -- many degrees from what I consider second rate places, but that's not important. There are a number of news items discussing the primary and a few letters to the New London Day supporting him and criticizing Courney and the supposed back room maneuvering. Democrats dont decide things in smoke-filled back rooms any more. Most of them have quit smoking and the machine is dead, killed effectively in the party reforms of the 70s. Those reforms made the party very pervious to anyone interested in joining it.
Michele Jacklin of the Hartford Courant in an article called Is This Any Way To Run A Democracy?
takes a few potshots at our primary system, but I kind of like it. I appreciate the party system.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Wurlitzer of the Right
The Right-Wing opinion-making machine is hard at work, along with concerted dirty tricks efforts.
First, check out this article by David Borosavage on how the Right operates. It sounds a lot like the Hitler propaganda machine, and it's frightening.
A sample:
the right has perfected what the CIA used to call a "mighty Wurlitzer" -- a propaganda machine that can hone a fact or a lie, broadcast it, and have it echoed and recycled in Fox News commentary, in Washington Times news stories, in Wall Street Journal editorials, by myriad right-wing pundits, by Heritage seminars and briefing papers, and in congressional hearings and speeches. Privatization of Social Security, vouchers for school, Vince Foster's supposed murder, Hillary's secret sex life, you name it -- the right's mighty Wurlitzer can ensure that a message is broadcast across the county, echoed in national and local news, and reverberated in the speeches of respectable academics as well as rabid politicians.
-- from Robert Borosage's The Mighty Wurlitzer,
The American Prospect, Volume 13, Issue 8
Second, check out the congressional candidacy (if you have any interest in CT politcs) of Jeff Benedict of Lyme (or is it Ledyard).
Benedict gained notoriety with a book that challenges the Pequot Indians' right to tribal status and hence to all that money they have earned at their casino. (It was written while he was in law school -- who has time to write a book while in law school? Is this why he does not practice law?)
Folks who live near the Pequot casino love Benedict's book for its message, since they feel threatened by the casino, envious of its wealth, and greatly irked that people who used to be unemployed in places like Willimantic are now employed in low wages jobs in their town. Get out.
But is the book's premise true? Doubtful. One reviewer, a historian in Texas, wrote, 'Without Reservation' is exciting reading and should be treated as a well-written novel, not serious scholarship. (quoted by Marilyn Comre in the Norwich Bulletin)
Then Benedict worked, I'm told, for the candidacy of Rob Simmons, who ousted Sam Gejdenson in the last election. Simmons, in some respects a decent guy, is nevertheless a loyal Republican.
Following his support of Simmons, Benedict decided to mount a primary challenge as a Democrat to Second District Congressional candidate Joe Courtney, a long time Democrat who is known and appreciated in progressive circles for his support of universal health care.
I can only speculate that this was a move designed a) to unseat Courtney as candidate, and then withdraw, leaving the field to Simmons; or b) at least force him to spend down his funds in a primary, leaving him depleted and less able to run effectively against Simmons. I say it's skanky, and Democrats won't stand for it. Didn't stand for it. Benedict lost the Norwich delegate primary he mounted, and probably won't garner enough votes at the convention this summer to qualify for a primary challenge in September. (That's the way the party system is supposed to work-- no voter support, no votes, you retire from the ring.)
I went to Benedict's website to check out in what respects he considers himself a Democrat, and it doesnt say; there is a nice resume of his journalism credentials, his education -- many degrees from what I consider second rate places, but that's not important. There are a number of news items discussing the primary and a few letters to the New London Day supporting him and criticizing Courney and the supposed back room maneuvering. Democrats dont decide things in smoke-filled back rooms any more. Most of them have quit smoking and the machine is dead, killed effectively in the party reforms of the 70s. Those reforms made the party very pervious to anyone interested in joining it.
Michele Jacklin of the Hartford Courant in an article called Is This Any Way To Run A Democracy?
takes a few potshots at our primary system, but I kind of like it. I appreciate the party system.
Palema
10:29 PM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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