NOVEMBER
27, 2005 --
LPR Urges
Bloggers to Join the Truth in Titles of Sunday Talk Shows Campaign …
Demand that NBC change "Meet
the Press" to "Meet Tim Russert."
Two more
comments on The Chamberlains …
Perhaps LPR wrong,
but it sensed that tv's newspeople seemed surprised to learn that the
family had no plan to sue the City of New York for that Times Square
parade mishap.
Was that a hint of disbelief LPR detected in reports a lawsuit was not forthcoming?
The New York Times reported November 26 that Sarah Chamberlain indicated she
would not mind getting a lifetime supply of M&Ms. That would be a nice
gesture
indeed -- but perhaps the possible tax consequences -- to Sarah -- should be
explored.
LPR Appeals
to U.S. Bloggers and Visitors …
The good-feeling
spirit of the Macy's parade is to be compared, among other things,
to the harsh reality of bullying credit card companies and elected
officials who ignore this bullying.
Lately, this writer has received phone calls and emails from people saying
that they represent companies that will get the high interest rates reduced.
Just what is going on? Are the very high interest rates intended to be both
punitive and job-creating via intervening companies?
LPR appeals to bloggers and visitors to take a stand against credit card bullying
and the politicians who are silent.
(Indeed, the oppression of credit card companies is one topic the voluble Senator
Charles Schumer ignores.)
No. 8 out
of 8,520,00 …
There are some 8,520,000
googles under Michael Sessions Democrat. The second listing is the
official website of Bushphobe Michael Moore. Only six googles down
is Lonely Pamphleteer Review. A huge Federalist 57 thank you to Google.
Just wondering …
If CBS didn't have
the Jerry Bruckheimer output and NBC didn't have Dick Wolf's
Law & Order and its progeny -- so much brutal contemporary crime there
-- would these networks call it a day?
"Threshold" seems kind of interesting. "Numbers," too.
Still, LPR argues that never in the history of television have so many people
made so much money by so underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
Unless, of course, the problem is the
intelligence--not of us wasteland nomads--but of the people who extend the
wasteland far wider that Newton Minow imagined it to be, some forty years ago.
Meet the
Press …
This program started
out many years ago with a panel of four journalists questioning a person
in the news, with Lawrence Spivack moderator.
LPR has suggested that the name be changed to Meet Tim Russert as he, now,
is the person who interviews the newsmakers.
The program does continue, from time to time, with a segment for a media panel
discussion with Mr. Russert.
On November 27, the press panel -- after
Mr. Russert interviewed Senators Biden and Warner (appearing together -- consisted
of David Gregory, NBC News, Judy Woodruff, and David Broder and Eugene Robinson,
both of The Washington Post.
If the name of the program is not to be changed to Meet Tim Russert, it might
be called "Meet Administration Adversaries."
(Has David Broder appeared on the program more times than any journalist?)
That's Rich …
Frank Rich, rushing
to denounce the Bush
administration in The New York Times, November 27 compared Vice President Cheney
to the fiictional banker Potter Frank Capra's movie, "It's a Wonderful
Life."
There is a scene in the movie where George Bailey suggests that Potter is a
slumlord, squeezing the people who "do most of the working and paying
and living and dying in this community," treating them as "cattle."
LPR does not object to Mr. Rich's criticism of this -- or any -- administration.
But he goes too far seeing the vice president as an"impersonation of the
misanthropic Mr. Potter."
We certainly have current Potter impersonations -- at the credit card companies
that hit ordinary people with crushing interest rates.
This is not to gainsay the possibility that columnist Rich cannot see our reality
for his political zeal. Nor that credit card officials cheer Potter every time
he comes on screen.
Note: The George Bailey quote appears at page 164 of Jeanine Basinger's "The
' It's a Wonderful Life ' Book." (Knopf paperback, 1986.)
NOTE
TO LPR CLICKSTERS:
If we don't speak out against economic
bullying by Oil, Credit Cards, Municipalities, WHO
WILL?
NOVEMBER
20, 2005 --
For Seinfeld
Fans …
"Festivus --
The Holiday for the Rest of Us" is now a book by Allen Salkin.
On the Seinfeld show, the holiday was created by Frank Costanza -- played by
Jerry Stiller, who joined Mr. Salkin for a reading at the Barnes and Noble
store, on 22nd Street in Manhattan, November 18. (Alas, LPR could not attend,
but assumes a good time was had by all.)
A more traditional holiday occurs this Thursday:
Happy
Thanksgiving to all.
Just Wondering …
Will
Manny Ramirez follow his own exhortation outside
Fenway Park and "KEEP THE FAITH" with
the Boston Red Sox?
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NOVEMBER
20, 2005 --
Federalist
57 …
Google "Federalist
57" and see what website is number nine out of about 683
thousand listings.
LPR remains convinced that the Bush presidency can turn poll claims around
by committing itself to the advice set forth in the first half of Federalist
57.
Senior Adviser to the President Karl Rove once described President Bush as
a "populist." If only that were the case.
A president in sympathy with the American people would not be silent when
banks hit credit card holders with interest rates no less obscene than the
gas prices of summer.
November
22, 2005 …
This is the
42nd anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy --
almost as many years have passed since his tragic death as his
age -- 43 -- when he was elected the youngest president in our
history. LPR believes we have yet to comprehend much of the impact
of November 22, 1963 -- on our politics and on our country.
Now
About LPR …
This writer
read, recently, that Michelle Malkin, a nationally-syndicated
columnist, has gotten her website placed with a website consortium.
The report said that Ms. Malkin's website receives some 100,000
visits a day.
LPR has gotten some 68,000 visits so
far -- this year. Perhaps as visitors see that LPR is committed to the populism
of Federalist 57 -- populism refers to government of, by and for the people
-- in
freedom, justice and equality; it is not another word for socialism bigotry
or demagoguery -- LPR will gain a few more visitors wondering if they are isolated
in their own populism. Assuredly, you are not.
...
And About the Mainstream
First: news
that Judith Miller left The New York Times.
It is not clear to LPR why Ms. Miller became so unpopular at the Times after
emerging from 85 days in jail for not divulging the name of the Administration
official who told her that Valerie Plame was with the CIA.
Perhaps Times-persons concluded Ms. Miller was too chummy with the Bush Administration.
Meanwhile, over at The Washington Post, Bob Woodward is now sorry that for
two years he did not tell his boss, Executive Editor Leonard Downie, Jr. that
an administration official told him that Ms. Plame was with the CIA.
The Washington Post front page, November 17, carries a photo of the indicted
I. Lewis Libby alongside the article by Howard Kurtz: "Woodward Apologizes
to Post For Silence on Role in Leak Case." It would seem to LPR a photo
of a somewhat chagrined Bob Woodward might have been more relevant.
Credit
Card Company
Correspondence …
From Chase
to this writer --
"[W]e value your business [but you are] not currently eligible for the terms
you requested."
Stated bluntly the forgoing would have said that Chase is going to maintain
its interest squeeze on this customer. Chase did, however, note that the account
has, among other things, "Travel Accident
Insurance" and "24-hour toll-free customer service." With 24
hour crushing interest rates close to 30% who can afford travel?
From Providian to this writer --
"We appreciate
your business and want your Providian card to be your card of
choice. That's why we're giving you the opportunity to add our
valuable Premium
Points rewards program to your account…"
Seems rather that this customer is being given the chance to carry Providian's
crushing interest rate on a higher balance.
NOTE
TO LPR CLICKSTERS:
If we don't speak out against
economic bullying by Oil, Credit Cards,
Municipalities, WHO
WILL?
NOVEMBER
13, 2005 --
Memo to GOP National Chairman Ken Mehlman …
Heard you suggest on Meet Tim Russert (a/k/a Meet the Press) that Democrats represent
the status quo and Republicans want to be the party of change.
From here, it seems that both Democrats and Republicans are simply the parties
of ambition -- for their own power and well-being.
Republicans should not be afraid to call for reform on the basis of the advice
given in the first half of Federalist 57.
Lincoln, after all, did not say at Gettysburg that ours is a government of the
insiders, by the insiders, for the insiders.
The more our government seems to lean to insiders, the more we seem to be
heading back to the form of government our Founders discarded in 1776.
LPR would suggest that we don't need change, just officials who stay close to
the people, and recognized that they are elected to serve, not rule.
In a free society, how can a political party remain popular if it sets itself
apart from the people?
P.S.
Surprise, Surprise …
A New York Times story, November 14, indicated that the Republican Party in
New York is in shambles. The article quotes upstate Republican congressman
John E. Sweeney as suggesting that
personality trumps beliefs when as Gov. Pataki and Gov. Cuomo before him, a
governor serves three terms.
LPR would strongly recommend the first half of Federalist 57 to Rep. Sweeney.
Republicans in New York would, LPR
thinks, be in better shape if they reaffirmed the populist legacy of our founding
generation that officials should represent and serve the people -- not
rule and control them.
NOTE
TO LPR CLICKSTERS:
If we don't speak out against economic bullying by Oil,
Credit Cards, Municipalities, WHO WILL?
|
NOVEMBER
6, 2005 --
Whither weather?
Just wondering -- what if -- it is not global
warming -- climate change -- we are experiencing, but, rather, a slight shift
in seasonal weather, so that for example, in the northeast, trees leaf a bit
later, autumn foliage appears a bit later, leaves fall a bit later than they
did
a century ago?
Copyright
Watch …
This writer has noticed that some LPR photos have been showing up on some websites;
quite a surprise to this picture taker. LPR here goes on record that at no
time has it waived any rights deriving under U.S. copyright protection.
Now, those of you who have glommed LPR cvopyrighted photos should know who
you are. Settlement discussions are invited.
Gas
Price Watch …
LPR was in Litchfield
County, in Connecticut, November 4, and noted happily a Mobil station
in Winsted with
regular at $2.30.9.
Prices were even lower at a Torrrington Citgo, where regular went for $2.23.9.
Prices were coming down even before the news of the huge profits oil companies
raked in over the summer. And perhaps prices won't go as low as they were a
year
ago -- but perhaps public reaction in a free society does have an impact on
prices--for the common good, with the common good served all the more when
the media stands with the people.
 |
The
Mobil Station in Winsted, CT, on November 4.
|
Farther than
father--from the media mainstream …
Chris Wallace interviewed Mike Wallace, his dad, November 7 and indicated that
the media is pressing the matter about Ambassador and Mrs. Wilson a bit harder
than if this were a Democratic administration.
Mike seemed shocked, shocked that his son could say something like that. (Still,
Mike remains LPR's choice as spokesperson for the forthcomiong campaign to
hire the unretired and keep us from starvation's door.)
No advice
now, Newt …
Former-- that is former -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned
on the George Stephanopoulos Hour, November 7, that
Republicans are in danger of losing their majority in Congress.
In truth, under Newt, after the initial revival of a Republican majority in
Congress, the GOP kept getting its House majority whittled down.
LPR does not recall hearing any top Republican in the House cite the first
half of Federalist 57 as the best guide we have to political reform. In a constitutional
democracy there is no substitute to sticking with the people -- not sticking
it to the people.
Well, how soon until Mike Bloomberg's massive re-election sparks speculation
about his seeking higher office--perhaps on a third party line.
NOTE
TO LPR CLICKSTERS:
If we don't speak out against economic bullying
by Oil, Credit Cards, Municipalities, WHO
WILL?
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