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July 11 commentary "For links to the articles I read on
the air, guest websites, archived shows, my commentaries, a
listener's discussion forum, and the text of Mark Stanneart’s
latest commentary, visit: www.rabblerousing.org."
On this mornings show, brian Compton mused about our federal
judicial system, and its seemingly have been taken over by the
neocons, and doing the bidding of the bush crowd, rather than
following the constitution. He wondered how our system of checks
and balances had gone so far askew. As with so many things in
politics, this was no accident but a well conceived plan that
has been implemented for some years now. I suggest anyone
interested in how our judicial system has been corrupted do an
internet search on the federalist society. What , you haven’t
heard of the federalist society? That too is no accident.
Corporate media forgot to tell you about this society of lawyers
and judges having a very particular philosophy. It’s a rather
inconspicuous but well organized group whose members comprise
every judicial appointment the republicans have made and will
make. If geo bush nominates anyone for a judicial position, you
can be sure they come out of the federalist society pool of
lawyers ands judges. Look at any judicial decision on the
federal level that seemingly flaunts the constitution, while
furthering the agenda of the neocons and you will almost
certainly find that the judge making that decision came from the
federalist society. Is this yet another conspiracy theory? No,
it is a conspiratorial fact. For at least a decade, there has
been a conspiracy to change our judicial system, and its working
brilliantly. Our judicial system is far from a failure. It is a
brilliant success. The only problem is that it no longer serves
we the people. It serves our elitist masters. That is the reason
why there have been so many seemingly strange decisions favoring
the neocon position while running counter to constitutional law
and common sense. Its not our agenda, it’s the elitist agenda,
working thru the federalist society. You doubt me? Check it out.
Next item; without comment, npr news reported that military
enlistment is down for the 2nd month in a row. Gee, I
wonder why? Why wouldn’t young men and women flock to join an
organization dedicated to killing and being killed in pursuit of
profits for the oil industry? Fact: The wars both in iraq and
Afghanistan are absurdly lost causes. What astounds me is why
anyone would join the American armed forces at this time.
Shrinking pay, diminishing veterans benefits, and an excellent
chance to lose your life or your body parts. What can they be
thinking? Are they that desperate for a decent job? Are jobs for
young people that difficult to get? Simple question: if America
offered good jobs and national health care for everyone, would anyone
join the military? Hum. I wonder if that is a coincidence? Ooops,
cant go there. that would be a conspiracy theory
Next item: Well, some folks are getting pretty excited over
the news that a recent poll shows that nearly half of those
polled want bush and cheney impeached now. Sounds terrific until
one reads the small print and discovers that the number of
people polled was a bit over one thousand. Worse news, we don’t
know how representative those 1000 polled were. Were they chosen
from all over our vast country, or only from one area? Did they
represent Blue collar workers? White collar? Professionals? The
Homeless? Id love to believe this poll represents something
important. I would love to believe that nearly half of the
American people are so sick of the bush administration that they
are besieging their elected representatives to begin impeachment
proceedings. Maybe they are. But this poll doesn’t convince
me. Im sorry, I cant get too excited about 1000 unidentified
people reflecting the true feelings of our nation. And of
course, a far more important question remains: does the
democratic leadership give a tinkers damn what the American
people think or want? We know the republican leadership doesn’t
care. But can anyone offer any evidence that the democratic
leadership is paying anything but lip service to the desires of
the American people? I don’t see it. And finally, How many
congressmen of either party have the courage and morality to
ignore their leaders and do what their constituents desire?
Remember, dennis Kucinich has brought a resolution forth to
impeach dick cheney, at least 14 congresspersons have signed on
as co sponsores, and rep john conyers wont even allow it to
leave his committee. And is there the slightest mention of this
issue from corporate media? Contrast this with the media frenzy
attending the impeachment of bill Clinton. Are the talk show
celebrities correct as they continually bleat that corporate
media has a liberal bias? Sure they are. Gag me with a spoon.
Next item: this news release is from ca norm.: Sylvia Price's
four-year struggle with Medi-Cal officials has ended with the
agency reimbursing her for medical marijuana-related expenses.
Medi-Cal issued her a $4,263 check, eight months after the
California Department of Health Services determined her medical
marijuana expenses are "bona fide" and can be used to
reduce the amount she had been paying for a state-sponsored
caregiver.
For almost three years, Price had been allowed to deduct the
cost of her marijuana -- $430 a month -- from the amount she was
required to pay toward her $1,300-a-month home care services.
Price wanted others in her situation to similarly benefit, so
she went public in April 2003. Shortly afterward, county Social
Services officials terminated her medical marijuana deduction,
saying it was in conflict with federal laws that continue to
outlaw marijuana.
Price appealed and a series of administrative hearings
followed.
The 2006 decision means that other medical marijuana patients
who receive public assistance through the Department of Health
Services should be eligible for similar reimbursements,
according to the Drug Policy Alliance, which represented Price.
Buoyed by their victory, Price is now asking Medi-Cal to
reimburse her for another $16,000 for out-of-pocket marijuana
expenses incurred before and since 2003.
Such requests will be denied, said Department of Health Care
Services spokesman Mike Bowman. While medical marijuana expenses
can be applied to a deductible, Medi-Cal cannot pay for the
marijuana itself because it is not FDA approved, he said.
"Medical marijuana is not a covered benefit under Medi-Cal,"
he said.
Next item: life in wash dc gets sillier and sillier. Npr has
the gall to report this item as news. both sides, if indeed
there are actually two sides to thes farce, both prosecutor and
defence feel that scooter libby should begin his probation
immediately. As I mentioned last week, Neither side is stating
exactly what scooter is prohibited from or what offence he has
to comit before probation is revoked. The answer of course, is
nothing, and nothing. But the ongoing scooter libby farce does
serve one notable purpose and that is to take up news time and
space with nonsense. Ready for more sillieness? The white house
has told congress to screw itself and its subpoenas, and will
not allow anyone to testify on the issue of, well, does it
matter? On all issues, bush and cheney invoke executive
privilege, which means that the entire system of checks and
balances built into our govt by the constitution are null and
void and the white house can do whatever it wants, and screw all
of you. Oh, yeah, and a merry xmas to all you suckers out there
who thought you lived in a republic governed by a constitution.
Our political system is actually govt of, by, and for the bush
crowd. People? We don need no stinkin people. I don got to
listen to no stinkin people. My supreme court selected me, the
democratic party leadership is firmly committed to doing
nothing, and I can do anything I want to do, and what are you
going to do about it? |
Next item:
End of show An elderly Chinese woman
had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she
carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while
the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of
water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the
house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two
years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one
and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud
of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of
its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half
of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it
perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by
the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in
my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your
house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are
flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's
side?" "That's because I have always known about your
flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and
every day while we walk back, you water them." "For
two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are,
there would not be this beauty to grace the house." Each of
us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we
each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are
and look for the good in them. SO, to all of my crackpot
friends, have a great day... and remember to smell the flowers
on your side of the path!
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