| |
 |
Saturday, May 17, 2003 |
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Any idiot can face a crisis. It's the day-to-day living that wears you out."
- - Anton Chekhov
THIS WEEKEND IN HISTORY:
May 17, 1961 -- Cuba: Fidel Castro offers to exchange 1,167 prisoners captured during the Bay of Pigs invasion for 500 tractors. The United States refuses.
May 18,1958 - - In the face of President Eisenhower's denials that the U.S. is aiding anti-Sukarno rebels in Indonesia, an American B-26 is shot down by Indonesia while bombing Sumatra. The US dismisses the pilot as a "soldier of fortune," but he was eventually unmasked as a CIA employee.
RHINO HERE:
Rhino usually likes to amuse on the weekend blog, but the type of things I might usually get a good chuckle out of, this week just weren't very funny. Is it me? Case in point:
Blair and Bush nominated for Nobel prize
By Alister Doyle, Reuters, 5/8/03
OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian parliamentarian has nominated Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President George W. Bush for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising them for winning the war in Iraq.
"Sometimes it's necessary to use a small and effective war to prevent a much more dangerous war in the future," Jan Simonsen, a right-wing independent in Norway's parliament, told Reuters on Thursday...
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/030508/80/dzjgh.html
That is not a Rhino weekend spoof. Hey! They gave one to Kissinger.
Wanna tell the Nobel Committee you think they should reject that nomination? Go to:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/302184339
Also this week was the busload of Democratic Texas State legislators who left Austin & made it for the Oklahoma border to keep from having to vote on a redistricting law they believed was unfair, but destined to win if voted upon by the Repub dominated state senate. As they were hanging at a Motel 6 off a freeway near the state line, probably eating at Denny's, the Repubs were calling out the Federal shock troops. Funny? Even Rhinos can loose their sense of humor sometimes.
Homeland Security Department Used to Track Texas Democrats
by Glenn W. Smith, CommonDreams.org 5/14/03
Republicans in Washington and Austin, Texas apparently used a Homeland Security Department agency to track Texas Democratic legislators who left the state to block passage of a GOP-backed Congressional redistricting bill. This is the same Homeland Security Department that is supposed to be making America safe from foreign terrorists. It's the agency we were told would never be used for domestic political purposes...
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0514-07.htm
The oncoming FCC vote that shrubCo assumes will help them continue to tame the masses also has my undies in a bunch. This is easily one of the most important issues on the table and the major media aren't watchdogging it. Well that's the point, isn't it?
I've been asked to guest on this coming Tuesday's "Native America Calling", to speak about the potential effects if General Colin Powell's son, the head of the FCC, gets his way. "Native America Calling" is a daily, one hour national radio show hosted by Rhino's Blog Reader, Harlan Makosoto. Unfortunately, the General's son didn't respond to Harlan's invite to the show. Does anyone know any average Joe Americans who think this rule relaxation is a good idea (if they even know about it)?
NATIVE AMERICA CALLING - THIS WEEK
Call toll free to participate at 1-800-996-2848
Tune in and take part in this intense and stimulating one-hour call-in radio talk show inspiring people from all walks of life to reflect on Native American issues and how they influence our lives.
Tuesday, May 20 - Media Monopoly in America:
Can you imagine a world in which our perceptions of reality and public opinion are shaped entirely by the media? Numerous social/media analysts contend we are already living in that world, and it could get worse soon. New FCC regulations will soon be voted on that will loosen rules concerning who can and who cannot buy and operate media in this country. Opponents say this will open the door for a media monopoly by a few monstrous companies like GE, FOX, and Clear Channel. Proponents argue America has achieved the most diverse set of media in the world. Guests include Gary Rhine, producer of First People's TV, the first nationally broadcast TV series concerning contemporary Native people.
" NATIVE AMERICA CALLING" INFO & WEEKLY SCHED AT:
http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/
Rhino's Blog reader Terry Strauss wrote a clear summary for Friday's S.F. Chronicle on the threat to democracy from the proposed loosening of the FCC rules. Great cheat notes for my radio gig. Thanx T
Battle for the Airwaves Silencing the debate
by Terry Strauss, S.F. Chronicle Open Forum, 5/16/03
If we care about a free and open discussion of politics, economics and society in America; if we care about being informed by diverse opinions and voices not frightened into silence; if we really care whether our information comes from journalists who report what they see or journalists who report what they are told; now would be the time to stand up and holler...
Battle for the Airwaves
8:54:57 AM 
|
|
RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE is Spotlight on Howard Dean
If the Demo "Leadership Council gets its way come election time, we'll be watching the sequel to Dumb & Dumber to be called "Right or Righter". Here's an email message from Joe Trippi, Campaign Manager for the Dean for America campaign dated, May 15, 2003:
Al From, founder and CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) and Bruce Reed, President of the DLC, yesterday circulated a memo to "Leading Democrats" titled "The Real Soul of the Democratic Party" in which they argue that traditional Democratic values are "an aberration" and that the thousands of grassroots Democrats inspired by Governor Dean's message to "take back our party" are "activist elites" and not "real Democrats."
I disagree. Activism is the lifeblood of our party and our nation. And, Governor Dean's political conscience and his caring, common-sense issue agenda qualify him as the best candidate to run against George W. Bush despite grumblings by a few DLC members.
Please help Governor Dean by affirming your support for his campaign today. Use this link: ( deanforamerica.com/DLC ) to send a message to the DLC that a few members of the DLC do not represent the views of the entire Democratic Party. You can call the DLC at 202-546-0007.
And if you can, please consider making a special contribution to Dean for America today to show Howard Dean has the support of America's grassroots activists.
http://www.deanforamerica.com/showthedlc
Earlier in the week, Dean announced his health care proposal
May 13, 2003
Governor Howard Dean, M.D., announced a health care plan for America in a speech delivered today at Columbia University. Visit the Dean for America website ( http://www.deanforamerica.com/ ) to read the speech, take a health care survey, and see a side-by-side comparison of Dean's and Gephardt's health care proposals.
"To me, health care isn't simply a policy issue," Dean said. "It's a moral imperative. Here, in the richest, most advanced country in the world in the 21st century, it's simply wrong for a sick child to go without seeing a doctor because her parents can't afford it."
"As a physician, I've seen the suffering caused by this nation's health care crisis," said Governor Dean. "As a Governor and a doctor, I know how it can be solved. This plan is a targeted, affordable, and realistic approach to expanding access to health care now."
The four point plan, which builds on pre-existing programs such as Medicaid, will offer access to health care for all Americans. Governor Dean's plan will cost $88 billion annually--only one-third the cost of Congressman Dick Gephardt's proposal. The Dean plan takes the innovative step of limiting tax deductions and government contracts for large companies which do not provide health insurance to their employees.
"Americans deserve access to health care as a fundamental right," said Governor Dean. "I look forward to implementing this plan as President."
Share Governor Dean's vision by passing this message on to your email circle http://dfa.convio.net/site/TellAFriend?msgId=1703 .
http://www.deanforamerica.com
http://www.deanforamerica.com/showthedlc
The Doctor is in!
"RHINO'S BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. (rhino@kifaru.com)
Feedback, and requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged.
SEARCH BLOG ARCHIVES / SURF RHINO'S LINKS, AT:
http://www.rhinosblog.info
RHINO'S OTHER WEB SITES:
http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG)
http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES)
Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
All copyrights belong to original publisher.
7:43:27 AM
|
|
© Copyright 2005 Gary Rhine.
|
|
