Peggys Activities and Observations: Peggys Activities and Observations: SEXISM AND PARTISAN NEWS MEDIA

Peggys Activities and Observations: Peggys Activities and Observations: SEXISM AND PARTISAN NEWS MEDIA

Peggys Activities and Observations: SEXISM AND PARTISAN NEWS MEDIA

Peggys Activities and Observations: SEXISM AND PARTISAN NEWS MEDIA: "I have had a very busy week and found myself again watching too much television as I lay on the couch hoping I could recoup a little more en..."

SEXISM AND PARTISAN NEWS MEDIA

I have had a very busy week and found myself again watching too much television as I lay on the couch hoping I could recoup a little more energy. I am a news hound and after a day surfing the news channels available to me I am ready to offer my impressions of the content and additional content from past News Articles.

The first trigger emerged on Wolf Blitzers’ segment when a “guest” commented that the newest announced Presidential Candidate, Michelle Bachmann erred during her announcement. She announced her candidacy in Waterloo, Iowa, her home state, wrongly claiming that actor John Wayne was from her Waterloo, Iowa. In fact he was from Iowa, but not Waterloo. It was John Wayne Gacy who was from Waterloo.

Lest we forget, on February 5, 2010 The Patriot Post reported that at the Natonal Prayer Breakfast, President Obama not only got a sailors’ name wrong, but couldn’t figure out how to pronounce “corpsman”. He said “corpse-man”, twice.

And I had just began to think that CNN and Wolfe were fairly non-partisan. I find that not only was the guest partisan but sexist as well. Perhaps I have erred by calling these folks guests, maybe they should be morelikely called “bag men”, you know the guys that that the mob used to deliver pay-off money, but in this case deliver messages that are then paid for doing it.

Then I remembered that Chris Wallace interviewed Michelle Bachmann on his Sunday program for FOX news. Investor.com reported on 6-27-2011 the following: Fox News' Chris Wallace asks Michele Bachmann, "Are you a flake?"

It is reported that he apologized to her the next day, but in my opinion his question was obviously more sexist than partisan. Do you think he would have asked any of the male GOP contenders the same question?

The author of that article writes: “ What she is is a heavyweight. “How should a presidential candidate handle a snide, moronic question completely removed from the issues of the day? If you're Rep. Bachmann, you let the facts expose the questioner's stupidity.

"I'm not only a lawyer," she told Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "I have a post-doctorate degree in federal tax law from William and Mary. I've worked in serious scholarship and worked in the United States federal tax court. My husband and I raised five kids. We've raised 23 foster children."

In view of this attack by Chris Wallace of FOX NEWS, I have to add them to the list of sexist reporters and as partisan as anyone who watches FOX NEWS can agree, although their claim of “fair and balanced” reporting is not justified in my opinion.

So until and unless Sarah Palin declares the media will continue the bashing of Mrs. Bachmann….then they will have no time left to get onto the facts because then they would have two candidates to minimize and demean. Lets face it ladies, they did the same thing to Hillary Clinton. But going back to the Wolf Blitzer account, the “guest-bagman” added that Mrs. Bachmann was a “show-horse, not a work-horse”, which Wolfe repeated as a question for confirmation from the “guest-bagman”. Speaking of “show-horse” vs. “work-horse”….I find the following reports quite representative of our present Commander in Chief.


It's Not Just 'Ayes' and 'Nays': Obama's Votes in Illinois Echo (December 20, 2007)Barack Obama being sworn in as a Democratic state senator in Illinois in 1997. He was first elected in 1996 and left in 2004.

In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in the Illinois legislature — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults, a position that risked drawing fire from African-Americans, or to oppose it, possibly undermining his image as a tough-on-crime moderate.

Related information on Chicagos’ gang violence: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-tavakoli/chicago-gang-violence-_b_873200.html

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

Peggys Activities and Observations: PANTS HANGIN' DOWN

Peggys Activities and Observations: PANTS HANGIN' DOWN: "Hoo ray for U S Airways: It is reported that a University of New Mexico Football player was denied passage on his flight to Albuquerque beca..."

PANTS HANGIN' DOWN

Hooray for U S Airways: It is reported that a University of New Mexico Football player was denied passage on his flight to Albuquerque because he refused to pull up his pants. At some point he was arrested for indecent exposure and taken to jail.

He was interviewed on national television where he stated that his pants not below his buttocks and were only a few inches below his waist line....HUH. Don't look like it to me.

His mother then spoke on a video in his defense saying that he had just come from the funeral of a friend, and was emotionally distraught.....HUH?

Well,, this is a good example of what I intend to talk about. I don't recall just when or where I learned this, but I have been unde the impression for several years that low hanging pants were first seen in the ghettos where many, if not most children wore trousers that were too large for them because the only clothes they had available were "hand-me downs" from older and larger siblings.

But why did it become a "fashion statement"? I was totally surprised when the grandmother of young white relative purchased the low hangings pants for her grandson. She definitely could have afforded several traditional trousers, but she wanted him to have "fashionable" clothes, HUH?

OK, so I am a senior citizen, and the new "fashion" look gives me a chill when I see a young, healthy man wearing pants that would fall to his knees if he failed to hitch 'em up every once in awhile. It has been so closely associated with "gang" life that I would be fearful if there was no one else around. Then hang an annoying, loud and offensive boom box spouting "rap" deragoratories of "Poolice", calling their "women" Bitches, etc., Oh well, guess you got the picture.

Where the Hell are the mothers and grandmothers of these young folks? You can be sure that any child that I would have had responsibility of, would NOT be going outside the house with their "pants fallin' down". I hired a very nice young man a couple of years ago to help with my yard work and weeding. He came to me asking for the work, and I was more than happy to have him. He came with his pants hanging down. We talked a lot and he was a child who needed someone to be responsible for him. He and his mother were being evicted from the place where they lived with the mothers "boyfriend". Then things went from bad to worse for him as his mother broker her ankle and ended up in the hospital over the weekend. He said they had moved, but didn't say where. In the meantime he had earned enough money to buy a new lawn mower. He was proud of the lawn mower and he made a good purchase.

Soon after that I asked him to wear a belt the next time he came to work, he didn't seem offended. At least as much as I was as his butt crack showed every time he bent over. He left that day and left the lawn mower here. Trying to reach him on his mothers cell phone#, I finally got an answer. It was unintelligable, she was either drunk or drugged up, sidn't even know who I was talking about when I asked her to tell him that I wasn't angry with him and if he needed too he could leave his lawn mower here until he needed it. He did not come by or call for the rest of the summer and I was worried about having his lawn mower. On the advice of another of my relatives I called the police to check on the serial number to make sure it wasn't stolen. And it was not. I thought perhaps he and his mother were in a homeless shelter. But early the next spring the young man showed up to collect his lawn mower. He was proud that would be graduating the following month and that he was living in a nearby community and had two jobs he was working also. He was dressed appropriately, but was accompanied by another lady and her daughter. I assumed that he was now in foster care. He was a nice young man who needed someone to guide him and to keep him off the streets. I hope he as followed through.

But back to the young athlete who is a college student and a football player: He needs more people like U S Airways to let him know that his attire is not appropriate, not a mother who supports this kind of dress or his actions. I also wonder if he had been to the funeral of a friend, was his friends' death due to Gang violence?

Dressing in Gang recognizable attire does not make one a Gang Member, but it could also be recognized as a "Gang Wanna Be". So in an attempt to dress, or allow your children to dress in this way may be opening the door to a violent amd drug using future.

Peggys Activities and Observations: PRESIDENT NAMES A NEW AMBASSADOR

Peggys Activities and Observations: PRESIDENT NAMES A NEW AMBASSADOR: "PRESIDENT NAMES A NEW AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANASTAN I watch PBS quite a lot and this past week I happened to watch the program “THE MOST DANGE..."

PRESIDENT NAMES A NEW AMBASSADOR

PRESIDENT NAMES A NEW AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANASTAN

I watch PBS quite a lot and this past week I happened to watch the program “THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA”. Many of my readers will not have been old enough to give the war in Viet Nam a thought, except that there was one. I must admit that I had no idea of what was happening there or why it was happening. I was working and raising my family and had little time to devote to political issues.

I only remember something about the boat people trying to enter Viet Nam, that a few boys that I knew (and a brother) joined the armed services. I also remember hearing that the citizens of Viet Nam were being treated poorly and that many young American men fled to Canada to avoid the draft. Many anti-war demonstrations filled the streets, especially in California. And the draft was abolished at the end of that war, although the reinstatement of the draft was considered later on.

Acknowledging my ignorance of the war in Viet Nam I was particularly interested in the PBS documentary of the “Whistle Blower” Daniel Ellsworth who leaked information on the Pentagon Papers. (See Synopsis below).

Realizing the length, escalation and severity of the numerous Mideast Crisis, the rising deficit, joblessness and state of our economy, I wondered why the President changed the Ambassador to Afghanistan.

My research says that Ambassadors are Presidential appointees and serve “at the pleasure of the President” and can be dismissed at any time for any reason. Many are career State Department employees and will serve until they are needed elsewhere or that want a stateside assignment. Others are political appointees and usually serve as long as they want or until there is a new president. Ambassadors are appointed by the President and confirmed by the senate.

Karl W Eikenberry, Ambassador to Afghanistan was confirmed April 2009 and is being replaced by Ryan Crocker, former Ambassador to Iraq 2007 to 2009. The Senate confirmed him yesterday June 7, 2009.

I was pleased to hear the Ambassadors’ comments regarding his position there: “In no way should our enduring commitment be misunderstood as a desire by America or our allies to occupy Afghanistan against the will of its people. We respect Afghans’ proud history of independence, and we do not seek any permanent American military bases in their country – or a presence that would be a threat to any of Afghanistan’s neighbors.”

Mr. Crocker nonetheless acknowledged a panoply of problems facing Afghanistan, including government corruption that he said would become “a second insurgency” if left unchecked. He said the United State’s goal in Afghanistan was merely to help the Afghans create a “good-enough government,” not necessarily a model democracy. While progress has been hard, he said, the situation was not hopeless.

John Kerry, who served in Viet Nam and was a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Combat V for valor, three Purple Hearts, co-founded the Vietnam Veterans of America became a spokesperson for Vietnam Veterans Against war and was the was former Democratic nominee for president also spoke at the confirmation of Ambassador Crocker.

John Kerry’s questions at the confirmation were reportedly sharp and I quote: “He faced sharp questions from the committee, particularly from its Democratic chairman, John Kerry of Massachusetts, who expressed a growing sentiment on Capitol Hill that the American commitment in money and troops to Afghanistan “is neither proportional to our interests or sustainable.” The United States currently spends about $10 billion a month in Afghanistan and has 100,000 troops there.”

After the appointment of Leon Panetta, the CIA Director as Defense Secretary in April, his confirmation hearing is being held today. He is replacing Defense Secretary Robert Gates who is stepping down.

I am left wondering why in the last eighteen months or so of his Presidency is President Obama making this change? Is hope for the termination of our involvement in the Mideast on the horizon? I certainly hope so, that is the Change that I voted for! Or is this just another campaign move for 2012.

Synopsis
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a leading Vietnam War strategist, concludes that America’s role in the war is based on decades of lies. He leaks 7,000 pages oftop-secret documents to The New York Times, a daring act of conscience that leads directly to Watergate, President Nixon’s resignation and the end of the Vietnam War. Ellsberg and a who’s-who of Vietnam-era movers and shakers give a riveting account of those world-changing events in POV’s The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers by award-winning filmmakers Judith Ehrlich (The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It) and Rick Goldsmith (Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press). A co-production of ITVS in association with American Documentary POV.

Online: June 13, 2011 through June 14, 2011 Check local listings Press). A co-production of ITVS in association with American Documentary POV.

Peggys Activities and Observations: TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS

Peggys Activities and Observations: TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS: "TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS So now some political figures, both Democrats and Republicans are calling for Anthony Weiner to r..."

TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS

TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS

So now some political figures, both Democrats and Republicans are calling for Anthony Weiner to resign. No doubt most of those voicing that opinion are doing so to appear more favorable in their constituents eyes. But more than half of Rep. Weiners constituents are reported to be in his corner.

No doubt that his actions were crude, offensive, undesirable and uncalled for, but this isn’t anything new to the political parties, or even in the general population. You may wonder why your husband or significant other stays up late spending his time on the computer, but would rather not know.

Sexual misbehaviors have been seen in politics (as well as the general population) since the beginning of time, and most relevant in our own country when it was reported that during the presidential campaign John Adams sent his running mate (Charles C Pinckney) to England to procure “procure four pretty girls as mistresses, a pair for each elderly gentleman." John Adams denied the accusation, but lost the election to Thomas Jefferson. Who was not without this “moral restraint”. *

It was reported that Thomas Jefferson later admitted to "improper" behavior toward a beautiful young woman, (the wife of a close friend) and had carried on illicit affairs with two different married women while serving as a diplomat in Paris and had fathered children by one of his own African-American slaves. This did not end his political career and he was elected for a second term and is remembered as one of Americas’ greatest heroes. *

Andrew Jackson is reported to been a home-wrecker when he began seeing a married woman who “ran away” with him, and they were later married. *
Ulysses S. Grant was accused of fathering a daughter whose mother was a Native American girl although this is thought to be an invalid accusation. *

During the 1884 campaign, Grover Cleveland was accused of fathering an illegitimate child whose mother was a Buffalo, New York prostitute. He was serving as Mayor of New York at the time. He later admitted the truth and stated that he was supporting the child and its mother financially. He won the election and served as our president for four years, electing him again in 1892. *

An unfounded rumor accused President Woodrow Wilson of having had an illicit relationship with Edith Galt, who became his second wife, after the death of his first wife. The illicit affair was rumored to have driven his first wife to her death. There was no evidence to support these rumors. *

Warren G Harding is reported to have had two different long-lasting intimate relationships during his marriage. Hardings’ political advisers bribed one of the women with cash and an all-expenses paid vacation abroad with her husband to be out of the country during the campaign of 1920; Harding himself financially supported a child whom his second mistress claimed was the Presidents and, from the White House, stayed closely in touch with her through a Secret Service agent. *

Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy all carried on illicit relationships with mistresses. *

We all remember the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinski scandal and the lesser-known Political figures Edward Kennedy, Tom Davis, Mark Foley, Tim Mahoney, Larry Craig, Paul Stanley, John Edwards, Bob Packwood, Eliot Spitzer and Jim McGreevey.

The list could go on and on but in most cases there was personal physical contact between the politician and the other involved person/persons. Many left office by request, or to avoid public knowledge of other misbehaviors. Others who weathered the storm and not only finished his term but won other elected positions.

I doubt that Anthony weiner will “step down”, but may be ousted by his own party. In any event this is not the only politician who has sought validation of his own importance in an arena other than the political or domestic one. And certainly will not be the last.

I believe that there has also been at least one female political figure who has been charged with “sexual harrasement”. Now that the girls have “broken that glass ceiling”, I wonder how many female political figures will have been found to have had sexual misbehaviors.

* http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/towncry/sex.html

Peggys Activities and Observations: MY EVENING IN CENTRAL PARK

Peggys Activities and Observations: MY EVENING IN CENTRAL PARK: "It had been a busy day although I did have quite a lot of down time and surfed the television to find something new and interesting. Having ..."

MY EVENING IN CENTRAL PARK

It had been a busy day although I did have quite a lot of down time and surfed the television to find something new and interesting. Having heard about Weiners wiener on every station with a few minutes of Casey Anthonys’ trial and even a few seconds hearing of the five US troops being killed in Iraq by a bomb while they were in their “trailer” asleep, I gave up and did go to what I previously called an orchestra. I must correct that it is a Municipal Band.

It is the 154th season for the Decatur Municipal Band. I found the history more interesting than the music. It is a band with the one of the most continuous service in the United States and Canada. Conceived by nine charter members in 1857 and was previously known at the Decatur Brass Band, Decatur Comet Band and Decatur Silver Band and others through the years.

The presentation this evening was played very well according to this untrained ear; however many of the numbers were ones that I had never heard and wouldn’t remember if I heard them again. But some of the selections were from music that I thought was old back in 1957. The exceptions were Duke Ellington’s “Don’t get around much anymore”, “Don’t do nothin’ till you hear from me”, “Sophisticated Lady” and “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. A couple of these were still popular in the mid to late fifties. I was glad to hear those old familiar notes and set my toes to tapping and my hands a slappin’ ”.

The highlight of the first half of the performance was from the Vocalist Kristin Shafer. She is a young local lady who has been performing (as a vocalist and dancer) from an early age, both locally and in many different venues both here and abroad. She has studied and earned her degree from Millikin and currently teaches voice here in our area.

She began her selections with Gershwins “Someone to Watch Over Me” and highlights made popular by the “Dreamgirls”. A group I am not familiar with, but as I recall it was announced that they were a group back in the 50s’. Her stage presence was exceptional and appropriate for each of her presentations and is exceeded only by a wonderful and strong voice. Truly enjoyable.

I estimate that the audience was 500 at a minimum ninety five percent of which were over 65. I was disappointed that the applause was not enthusiastic and was short. I also noted that out of the several hundred pairs of feet that I could see, there was only an occasional foot tapper.

Undoubtedly I would rather have been shakin’ my bootie to some Mo-Town or getting my groove on with Garth Brooks , “I’ve got friends in lower places”, but guess I would be a little out of place where this music is played. But here’s a link to Garth….feel free to play it and shake your bootie with Garth:)

http://youtu.be/LPQvEy74md8

I hope that I never get to a point that doesn’t allow me to show my enthusiasm for a great performance. All in all it was a pleasant evening and well appreciated at the end of the day.

Peggy's pet projects and peeves: Peggy's pet projects and peeves: GERDA LISTENS TO ...

Peggy's pet projects and peeves: Peggy's pet projects and peeves: GERDA LISTENS TO ...: "Peggy's pet projects and peeves: GERDA LISTENS TO THE SCANNER : 'Checking the time, Mrs. Braun decided it wasn’t too late to give Maggie a c..."

Big Bi-partisan vote passes the House today

Big Bi-partisan vote passes the House today

As per my blog of yesterday the Major News channels continued to utilize the majority of their time on the John Edwards indictment, Casey Anthony Trial and the state of our fiscal economy and the much lower than expected jobs creation. I do get a kick out of Elliott Spitzer reporting on the John Edwards indictment **. I’m sure you all will remember his sex scandal that caused him to leave his political office (and now he has his own CNN hour). I must say though that I enjoy his program that mostly deals with political issues and he doesn’t seem to be partisan. Maybe John Edwards will get his own show, unless he actually does go to jail;-O

You may take all of the above “tongue in cheek” irrelevant, serious or ignore it entirely because the purpose of todays blog is to relate what I can of todays Congressional Session.

On Wednesday Dennis Kucinich, Libretarian from Ohio’s 10th Districk and who votes with the Democratic Congress Proposed a Resolution that the US remove all troops and other military actions from Libya, citing “President Barack Obama violated the 1973 War Powers Act by failing to obtain congressional approval for U.S. involvement in the Libya campaign within 60 days of U.S. forces beginning combat operations.”*

The vote failed because John Boehner, House Speaker (Ohio) wanted more time for the GOP to consider the proposed resolution.

He said “The House GOP Conference will hold a special meeting this after noon.” He also said “No decision will be made on what Libya proposals will come to the floor until after that session.”*

I watched today as speaker after speaker, both Democrats and Republicans agreed with the somewhat adjusted proposal prepared by the GOP. The vote passed by a great margin with as I recall 146 Nay to 276 Yea.

The final word on the bi-partisan resolution is that a letter will be sent to the President allowing for two weeks to justify his actions regarding our involvement in Libya. This statement was made by Boehner, adding that “further actions” will be taken should the President not agree to their request.

Now I have never been involved in political situations until after I retired and had the time to be informed: But this looks like a REALLY big deal. Could these charges possibly lead to an impeachment?

“1970, Rep. Gerald R. Ford "defined impeachable offenses as 'whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.” **

*Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56106.html#ixzz1OGfzTjnS ** http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Impeachable_offenses

Peggys Activities and Observations: WHAT NEWS IS THE NEWS

Peggys Activities and Observations: WHAT NEWS IS THE NEWS: "It has been a rainy day here at home so the gardening that I had planned is still to be done and more than likely there will be much more we..."

WHAT NEWS IS THE NEWS

It has been a rainy day here at home so the gardening that I had planned is still to be done and more than likely there will be much more weeding needed when the sun comes out tomorrow.

I have found a few things that needed doing inside and cleaned a few things that were over due and finished painting a project I have been working on for a month or so, checked my emails, Facebook and blog stats several times and have definitively watched too much television. And that of course brings up the news of the day…….or lack there of.

Oh, yes the news is there, but it is all found on the streaming short notices that barefacedly keep running across the bottom of the screen in such small print that I cannot read it from across the room (even with my glasses on) and usually in white on blue making it even more difficult.

There are no details spoken, and in most cases never mentioned verbally about the content of the stream; while the “scoop” of the day is repeatedly announced and speculated on by every “news” segment.

I believe that the most time was given to Representative Anthony Weiners twitter.I do not give a dam about who, why or what he twitters about, nor should any other person, with the exception of his wife and the recipient. I think the Representative did the right thing by failing to let the media control his actions, which of course caused the whole thing to snowball.

Then the next item repeatedly repeated and speculated was Sarah Palin and her bus tour in the same location as Mitt Romneys’ announcement of his run for president in 2012. CNN reported that Palin trashed Romney and suggests that she may be waiting until the last minute to announce that she will also throw her hat in. If that report is true I must give a shout out of BOO to Sarah. On the other hand there are many sites on the Web that say Romney is trashing Sarah and another that says Rick Santorum is trashing both of them. Personally the only announced candidate that has offered any reasonable solutions to the countrys’ problems is Tim Pawlenty, former Governor of Minnesota. I believe that I watched his speech on C-Span and not on either of the Major News channels.

The final of the three “most talked” about on Major News channels was the Casey Anthonys’ murder trial. Of course everyone, everywhere knows all about this case, yet the most poignant moments of the witnesses were filmed and aired, along with previously aired film from the investigation, and subsequently dissected by the usual “guests” of the stations who they work for. Mark Fuhrman for Fox News of course and Nancy Grace for HLN and/or CNN. Nancy Grace certainly seems to enjoy this too much. And let us remember that Fuhrman was the witness who was caught lying on the OJ Simpson trial, and Nancy Grace was sued after her continued attacks on the young woman whose child went missing and she eventually committed suicide.

Ahh, but I have found a channel that avoids the pitfalls of the Major News channels and all the news is from other countries, some in their own language with English language in print. It is Whz Networks on PBS. This channel does report on World News and that affects all of us. C-Span is good to watch for American Politics, except for the time it takes to take a vote, but the speakers are informative.

Thanks for reading! Now it’s time to see what trouble Mrs. Braun can sniff out on my other blog.
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