Thinking sensibly and intelligently to catalyze progress.

Archive for 2009

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I </3 Media

In Alleigh, General on November 5, 2009 at 6:01 pm

(Yes, I realize that this is my 2nd post about media – I’m sorry.)

Back in high school I dreamed of being on TV. I hosted my High School’s Morning Announcements News Show, I took media classes, I interned at the local ABC affiliate – I thought I’d found my calling.

I begged my parents to understand my passion and was eventually able to prove to them how serious I was about pursuing a career in media. Fall of ‘06 I was off to one of the best journalism and media colleges in the country.

As a bright-eyed freshman I sat in my “Discovering Journalism” class eager to learn the ins and outs of the industry. But, as the semester wore on, my bright eyes became teary eyes as I was told over and over again about the dangers of Fox News and about the “stupid sheep” and “conservative wack jobs” that watch the station. I did my best to ignore the comments, but being the sassy and outspoken person that I am – I often left the class angry, frustrated, and beaten down by the other 35 students in the class.

I figured the most constructive way for me to voice my beliefs was to audition for the school’s TV station – for the political shows. I was ecstatic to receive a call-back as a freshman, only to later realize that I was called back for the entertainment show because, “you’re a tall blonde and that’s where you’d be cast, this is about real world experience.”

Needless to say, I was FURIOUS. I switched my major to Marketing the following semester.

I’d lost much of my hope in the future of Journalism as a whole, but not quite in media, until now…

There has been a clip floating around the web from a 2008 Sesame Street Episode where Oscar the Grouch is told by a viewer of is Grouch News Network (GNN – pun intended) that she’s switching from his network to Pox News.

“Now there’s a trashy news show,” he’s told.

I dug up a study I’d read in one of my marketing classes about advertising to children. Although Sesame Street is not technically an advertisement, it IS content that is targeted specifically toward young children, so I feel this study is still relevent. According to the APA (American Psychological Association), “children under the age of eight are unable to critically comprehend televised advertising messages and are prone to accept advertiser messages as truthful, accurate and unbiased…children under the age of eight lack the cognitive development to understand the persuasive intent of television advertising and are uniquely susceptible to advertising’s influence.”

Realistically, I don’t think any 6-year-old kid is going to really fully comprehend that “Pox News” is Fox News – but doesn’t it make you wonder about the integrity of the Network it’s aired on? If a Network is willing to dip so low as to make below the belt jabs on shows intended for children – what else are they capable of?

Good thing we’ve all determined Fox as the villan…

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I Love America and Hamburgers

In General, Lizzie on November 5, 2009 at 4:59 pm

I was on the bus coming home from Boston this weekend and I heard a little boy in front of me softly singing “God Bless America”.   My heart melted, and not because he was adorable (which he was), but because he sang with such an innocent passion, that I couldn’t help, but think, I love America.

I love coming back to America after a long vacation, craving my own bed, an American beer that’s ice cold, not luke warm, and a real hamburger.  I actually look forward to packing my bags and coming home.  Home, to the country I love.

I love and deeply respect the service people who put their lives on the line to allow me to have the freedom to share my thoughts in this blog.  I understand that Freedom isn’t Free.

I love that we are a nation of equality.  If you want it, if you can dream it, it can be yours (provided you’re willing to work for it…there is no such thing as a free lunch, and if there is, strings are usually attached).

I love that I have the freedom to choose anything I want for myself.

During these hard times, we need to remember that feeling that we get when we put our hand over our heart to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at baseball games.  We need to remember how we felt on 9-11, when we see our nation’s flag, or while we are driving through the nation’s heartland.

We cannot forget these feelings, as they are the ones that will lead us down the road to success in the quest for retaining America’s freedom.

Like the little boy on the bus, we have to be passionate for America at all times.  We cannot take her for granted.  For if we do, then we risk losing our freedom.

I end with a quote from a favorite song of mine in honor of them men and women who are sacrificing their lives to serve our country proudly in the Middle East.

“I thank God for my life, for the stars and stripes.  May freedom forever fly, let it ring.  Salute the ones who die, the ones who give their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love” – Zac Brown Band

I dedicate this article to my dad, a once fearless Air Force pilot, and Erik, a dedicated Marine who loves this country more than life.

-Lizzie

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Are You There Washington? It’s Me, Margaret…

In General, Lizzie on October 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm

As we are approaching the next step towards healthcare reform, I can’t help but think, is anyone in Washington listening?

I was reading yesterday’s IBD article entitled “A 1,990-Page Medical Monstrosity” and the author displays how much Nancy Pelosi really doesn’t care about the little people like you and I. (Video)

But the truth is, it’s the little people who have all of the answers.  It’s the government and its special interest groups who are causing more problems and bringing even worse solutions to the table.

One of the most evident and clearly defined solutions to healthcare problems is tort reform.  We’ve become a sue happy nation.  I’m fat, I’m going to sue McDonald’s.  I’m sad, I’m going to sue the state for being so cloudy.  I’m in debt, I’m going to sue GAP for allowing me to open that credit card, even though I didn’t have the money to pay it off.  My kids are lazy, I’m going to sue XBOX.  You get the point.

Medical malpractice premiums are out of control.  Some states have completely lost any consideration among great doctors because the premiums are too high (Illinois being one of the biggest culprits…don’t we know someone from Illinois?).  Do you see what’s wrong with this picture?!  Doctors are choosing where to practice, not based on best career opportunities, geography, or patient care, but based on whether or not they can afford to practice and pay their bills.  We are doing our nation’s brightest and best doctors a disservice by disabling them through insanely high malpractice costs.

That’s not even the worst part, now here comes the actual malpractice lawsuit.  States like California have the highest annual paid malpractice claims.   According to the Washington Examiner, tort reform or medical malpractice reform could “eliminate anywhere from 6-27% of all additional health costs.” Not to mention, doctors could then stop practicing such defensive medicine because we wouldn’t be threatening lawsuits every other day.

So, if this sounds like such an easy and simple solution, then why hasn’t our government proposed it with the new healthcare reform? Well, two words.  Trial Lawyers.  Naturally, these lawyers (not all) are against tort reform because it would lower their income and their power and the government doesn’t want to do that.  Why?  Because guess who donated $127 million last year to federal government campaigns?  The American Trial Lawyers Political Action Committee (now known as the AAJ PAC).  These lawyers voted 96% democrat, so naturally, you can bet that if they scratched Obama’s back, he better scratch theirs.

Obama is once again putting special interest groups ahead of the American people.  We are getting the short end of the stick because the people in congress and the president don’t have the guts to face the trial lawyers and make a change that is for the better.

Americans voted that they wanted change.  Is this what you had in mind? If it’s not, then let Nancy Pelosi and congress know that while we may be little, we have the real power, we are America’s republic, and we will be heard.

I dedicate this article to the most passionate, proud, and loving doctor I know, my sister-in-law.

If you’d like to write to Nancy: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Are you there Nancy?  It’s me, Lizzie.

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Sorry to Let You Down, Darfur

In Alleigh, General on October 28, 2009 at 10:22 pm

On Tuesday November 25, 2008, Kuyok Abol Kuyok, of the Sudan Tribune, wrote a glowing article about Barack Obama’s then recent victory in the US Presidential race.

US/Sudan relations were strained at this time as President Bush was reported as negotiating with the Sudan Government to normalize relations. In case you live under a rock, Darfur is in Sudan, which is home to what is expected to be one of the largest modern day genocides. Normalizing relations would turn a blind eye to genocide. Not good.

But, not to worry because even outside of the US, Obama’s message of hope rang loud and resonated with many developing nations. Sudan in particular was one of such nations. On April 18, 2008, Obama made a statement regarding the negotiations that the Bush Administration was reportedly making with the Government of Sudan,

“I am deeply concerned by reports that the Bush Administration is negotiating a normalization of relations with the Government of Sudan that would include removing it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism…This reckless and cynical initiative would reward a regime in Khartoum that has a record of failing to live up to its commitments. First, no country should be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism for any reason other than the existence of verifiable proof that the government in question does not support terrorist organizations…”

Obama had done it again – boy did Darfur hope, and hope hard.

But wait, sorry guys, you’ll have to take a rain check.

On Monday, October 19th the Obama Administration began its first steps toward what else…normalizing relations with the Sudan Goverment.

I’m honestly at al loss. This isn’t like raising American taxes a few percentage points – this is normalizing relations with a country guilty of genocide.

Have you no morals Barack Obama?

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I Must Be a Racist Redneck

In General, Lizzie on October 24, 2009 at 6:13 pm

I did not vote for Barack Obama.  I do not agree with his policies, his morals, his values, or his principles.  I’m clearly a racist.   I also did not vote for Hillary Clinton.  I must be sexist or misogynistic.  Come to think of it, I wasn’t even that fond of John McCain.  I’m also an ageist.  I am against Cap and Trade.  I obviously hate Mother Earth.  I believe in tighter border control, so clearly, I despise all immigrants.

I believe in the 9.12 project and the TEA party.  I believe in the American people.  I must be an uneducated redneck full of hatred, anger, and a “large limbic system.”  Oh, and duh.  I’m completely involved in the white power movement…well, according to Miss Garofalo, I am.  In this video, J.G. claims that republicans, conservatives, right wingers, and the like can’t think for themselves, and that we are all racist.  Oh, and women, in particular, who happen to be conservative tend to suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.  Hmmm.  Well, if that was the case, then wouldn’t we all just simply adore President Obama since he’s pretty much holding us all hostage and slowly stripping away our rights?

According to Miss Garofalo, we TEA partiers, and 9.12ers do not know our history, so I thought I would give a brief lesson, since Janeane wasn’t kind enough to teach us during her 8 minute commentary to Keith Olbermann.  The Boston Tea Party originated because the American colonies were being unjustly taxed without any representation in Britain.  Samuel Adams led a group of men, The Sons of Liberty, aboard the three tea ships that were docked in the Boston Harbor, and there they proceeded to empty the tea chests one by one.  It is important to remember that the original tea partiers were not a mob, they were not out to harm anyone, nor were they ravaged beasts running around Lord of the Flies style.  They were concerned patriots who were fighting for America’s right to exist in a free world.

The TEA Party today believes in the same principles that the original Sons of Liberty did. We want America’s freedom and liberty restored.  We want corrupt politicians on both sides of the aisle to step down, and we want patriots who care about America and its citizens to revive the nation’s capital.

If wanting this makes me a racist, then so be it.  Oh, but Janeane, while you’ve been judging me, I realized that you probably shouldn’t cast those stones too quickly.  Didn’t your parents teach you two important life lessons:

1) If you haven’t got anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all

2) Judge not, lest ye be judged and let he who is without sin cast the first stone (I’m pretty sure you attended a Catholic College, did you not?)

So Janeane, I am not going to judge you, but I am going to leave the people with a few of your favorite quotes (thanks to your IMDB page) and allow those redneck, racist people to determine for themselves what type of person you truly are.

Oh, and lastly, my pet peeve is celebrities who use their status to influence the American people into believing what they believe.  But then again, I suppose we can’t think for ourselves, so we need someone like you to guide us.  Tisk, tisk.

Janeane, we the people, dedicate this blog article to you.

-Lizzie

Janeane’s favorite quotes:

“I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half-empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth.”

“After 9/11 disaster from article in Commentary magazine, November 2001: “Who would have thought that I’d be angry on behalf of my country? I’m used to being angry at my country.”

“You know what is good about these Dixie Chicks burnings or bashings? It’s a wonderful, wonderful way for really stupid people to hook up. They meet, they throw some things on the fire, they talk about Vin Diesel, they tell stories about who their favorite Fox anchor is, they exchange phone numbers and in some cases has led to marriages.”

“Our country is founded on a sham: our forefathers were slave-owning rich white guys who wanted it their way. So when I see the American flag, I go, ‘Oh my God, you’re insulting me.’ That you can have a gay parade on Christopher Street in New York, with naked men and women on a float cheering, ‘We’re here, we’re queer!’ — that’s what makes my heart swell. Not the flag, but a gay naked man or woman burning the flag. I get choked up with pride.”

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Obama vs. Fox News

In Alleigh, General on October 21, 2009 at 5:26 pm

There has been much chatter recently from the Obama White House attacking the credibility and intentions of Fox News.

Some accusations follow:

  • White House communications director Anita Dunn suggested that, Fox News operated like an arm of the Republican Party (CNN)
  • White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, “It’s not really a news organization…We’re going to appear on their shows, we’re going to participate, but understanding they have a point of view.” (ABC, This Week)
  • White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, “It’s not a news organization so much as it has a perspective, and that’s a different take. And more importantly, it’s important not to have the CNN’s and the others of the world being led and following Fox, as if what they’re trying to do is a legitimate news organization.” (CNN, State of the Union)

I can’t help but ask if Fox is becoming increasingly more Right, or if every other network is becoming increasingly more Left. Who is to say that the news organizations other than Fox haven’t just followed Obama’s goals and moved with him?

If given the opportunity, having the ability to choose can lead to startling results. In this instance, if Fox News is as far Right as it is being accused, with every increase in Fox’s ratings, another individual is signaling their disagreement with President Obama. Truth is in the numbers – ratings of CNN and MSNBC are declining while Murcdoch was recently quoted in the WSJ as saying the attention coming from the White House has, “tremendously increased their ratings.”

All news stations are biased, and I think what we’re seeing in the media is the same thing that we are seeing in every presidental election, the parties and opinions are so far polarized that the middle ground, the actual majority, is not represented.

According to White House spokeswoman Gannet Tseggai, it’s Republicans who “seem to be formulating lists of people and policies to oppose” while the president “is focused on tackling the list of critical priorities that Washington has ignored for too long.”

But has anything come out of the White House since January?

Obama is picking fights with Fox for the same reason that this summer he asked Americans to e-mail flag@whitehouse.gov if their friends and neighbors were “spreading rumors” about healthcare reform – because his image is everything. Obama’s strong reliance on speeches and rhetoric help to mask that he hasn’t accomplished anything since he’s been in office. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, he hasn’t been there long…but I’d really love to see him get something done before his next attack on the media, premature comment on a local issue, or media tour around the country talking about change.

.Alleigh

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The Witness Protection Program…Obama Style

In General, Lizzie on October 19, 2009 at 10:32 am

Think Van Jones is gone?  Think again…

Welcome to the Obama Protection Program, where no one really goes away, they are just simply relocated.  Van Jones was most recently known as the “green energy czar” for the Obama administration; his sole responsiblity was to utlize Obama’s eco policies to create clean energy jobs.  Easy enough.  That is, until American citizens became aware that Anthony “Van” Jones was actually a celebrated Marxist. Gee, that’s nice.

Wikipedia will even mention that “conservatives launched an aggressive campaign against him”.  Poor Van Jones. Normal, everyday Americans didn’t want a communist, active STORM member in the White House.   Yes, yes, that is correct, we the people, did not want someone who idolizes Mao Zedong representing us in our nation’s capital.

But I digress. Van Jones resigned from his post in the White House on September 5th .  Do not be fooled, Jones did not crawl under some rock to live out the rest of his days as a has-been hermit.  Van Jones is now popping up at another favorite organization of Obama, The Center for American Progress.  Now, what is this center you ask?  It is social progressivism at its best.  Their mission statement even says “We combine bold policy ideas with a modern communications platform to help shape the national debate, expose the hollowness of conservative governing philosophy, and challenge the media to cover the issues that truly matter.”  Below is what I like to call “the progressive translation”.

Bold policy ideas: Radical ideas that are not mainstream, nor are they readily accepted.
Modern communications platform: Could that be the National Endowment for the Arts?

National debate: You mean, kind of like the health care debate?  Except, I think that it’s not really a debate, because after all, two parties are necessary for a debate and it seems to me like the American voice is being overshadowed.
Expose the hollowness of conservative governing philosophy: In short…we, the progressives, want to get rid of those nasty traditionalists and patriots who respect and defend the Bill of Rights and US Constitution.
Challenge the Media: Really (I don’t exactly see you challenging MSNBC)?  I believe you mean control the media coverage.

And how does American Progress tie Van Jones back to Obama?  Well, it’s really quite simple.  CAP is run by John Pedesta.  He served as co-chair for Obama’s transition team in November.  He also happens to be yet, another fellow Chicagoan (stay tuned for our next article regarding the Corrupt Chi-Town).

Check out Johnny on youtube in an interview with Andy Stern discussing the reason behind progressivism and how CAP plans on making America a “better place”.

(full interview) or (4 min clip about progressive values)

Note that Podesta mentions “focusing on the common good rather than the special interest and taking on great concentrations of wealth”, but WAIT…Wait, special interest, wouldn’t that be a group like ACORN or perhaps, even I dunno…SEIU (but wait, Andy Stern, isn’t that you!?)?  And great concentations of wealth?  I believe that would be Dale and Wade Rathke, right?

Now, for the final link in the bow tie of the Van Jones relocation.  Jones, we believe, is now at the Center for American Progress working for John Podesta. CAP vehemently denies any ties, but huh…Van Jones just wrote an article for them 10 days ago.  John Podesta has worked closely with Obama and continues to work parallel to Andy Stern.  Andy Stern is, shall we say, BFF’s with Obama (Don’t believe me? Check this out - minute 3:00) and there you have it, the tangled web of the Obama elite.

Obama’s close group of allies, such as Van Jones, Reverend Wright, and Bill Ayers might appear to be disappearing, but these do-gooders are not going anywhere.  Like a groundhog who goes in one hole and comes out another, Obama’s Protection Program is in full swing.

-Lizzie

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Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize

In Alleigh, General on October 15, 2009 at 11:54 am

After hearing Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize, my initial gut reaction was shock. How did President Obama suddenly join the ranks among influencers like Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr?

I openly asked this question on my facebook page and was met with an answer that made me stop and think,
“..Martin Luther King Jr. won it before the civil rights bill was passed, Nelson Mandela won it before the end of apartheid, Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin won the peace prize before there was peace between the Israelis and Palestinians and there still isn’t peace between them…”

This response prompted further research about the Nobel Peace Prize, what it meant, how it was awarded, and some digging about previous winners and nominations.

Upon visiting NobelPrize.org – the first thing I noticed was the deadline for nominations, February. Barack Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States on January 20th, 2009. My friend’s comments about other’s receiving the prestigious award before their goals were met was still in the back of my mind, but…what could Obama have possibly done in 12 days to warrant being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize?

172 individuals were nominated for this year’s Peace Prize, the highest number of nominations ever. Among those “less deserving” nominees were a female doctor from Afghanistan who is outspoken for women’s rights and has been threatened for questioning Sharia law, as well as a Colombian politician who helped secure the release of 16 hostages and was kidnapped herself 10 years ago.

Anyone with a brain can see these acts are menial compared to Obama’s efforts to “strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people.” Riiiight.

So what did Obama do?

Many supporters rave about Obama’s ability to inject Americans with hope, to unite our country under the promise of progress. In my opinion, this reduces the public to the slowest possible movement toward social advancement. It pushes people to think that the US is in such turmoil that there is nothing tangible to hold onto, that we can only all be linked in ‘hoping’ that the situation can and will improve. It also provides no motivation. “If you can just hang in there, and have hope, the government will help you.” Well, I really hope to meet Santa this Christmas, to lose 5 pounds, and own a house  – but hope doesn’t bring things into existence. Hope doesn’t make things happen.

Change doesn’t come from words, or from hope. Change comes from action, tangible goals, and a leader who stands on a platform of experience. A leader with the knowledge that the people he leads have abilities much greater and far reaching than hope.

.Alleigh