Disqus - Latest Comments for blueskye202

Re: The Most Important Television Show

theskyewire — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:57:27 -0000

free ticket to the show. don't worry, just getting warmed up. serious posts coming soon.

Re: How to Change a Culture: Question of Imperialists

theskyewire — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:07:48 -0000

A note from congressman Dennis Kucinich:

Dear Friends,

Tonight the President will announce an escalation of the war in Afghanistan. An additional 30,000 troops will bring the United States' total in Afghanistan to 100,000. Tomorrow I will offer an analysis of the President's plan.

The community I represent in Cleveland, Ohio, is suffering from massive unemployment, record home foreclosures, and small business failures. People are losing their jobs, their health care, their homes, their savings, their investments, and their retirement security. The middle class is gravely threatened. What is happening in Cleveland is occurring nationwide. Yet, Wall Street received over $13 trillion in bailouts, with untold millions for high salaries and bonuses, while Main Street loses its power through unemployment, reduced wages and benefits and little or no access to credit or investment capital. There is something fundamentally wrong with our economy which borrowing more money to spend on war cannot and will not cure. Perhaps nation building should begin at home.

An escalation of the war in Afghanistan at a time of such economic dislocation and hardship raises questions about America's priorities and whether or not we are losing our way as we attempt to stride aside the globe as some Colossus. Tomorrow we will begin anew the discussion.

Thank you,
Dennis Kucinich

Re: Time to Pressure Evan Bayh, Hoosiers!

theskyewire — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:57:11 -0000

Yeah Drew, looks like you're right. Thanks for keepin me on top of it (though I really liked that sentence!).

Maybe Birch should get in the game again... defeat the incumbent son!!!

Re: Welcome WMA Alumni!

theskyewire — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:51:38 -0000

Anyone can comment here!

Re: We Will Work Against You

theskyewire — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:49:59 -0000

I guess when I say that I am thinking more of origins of the country. We really were a revolutionary state in the sense that our democracy was quite unprecedented and was an inspiration throughout the world-- most immediately in France.

We should not be forcing our vision of freedom and morality around the world. Instead, if we proved that our system can fix itself and really does work for the people, it will show the world once again that the U.S. experiment is a successful one. Perhaps we need to update some of the framework though. How do we put people back in charge? ... that's the ultimate question and test.

Re: We Will Work Against You

theskyewire — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:45:22 -0000

Thanks for sharing, Mrs. Allen. We need to weed out these corporate Dems before they ruin our chances of bringing about real health reform.

I'm sorry about your nephew... people like Max Baucus and Republicans seem to forget that their decisions can make or break lives. Keep an eye on Evan Bayh...

Re: We Will Work Against You

theskyewire — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:34:44 -0000

Just looked it up... looks like you all are right.

Thanks a lot!

Re: We Will Work Against You

theskyewire — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:31:13 -0000

Ah, thanks for giving me the heads up... I had no idea. Really glad to know.

Re: Love The iPhone But…

theskyewire — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:31:04 -0000

perhaps the best way to answer that would be to list my top uses for the iphone:

1. news/browser/online apps/youtube (40%)
2. phone/text (35%)
3. ipod (10%)
4. calendar (10%)
5. camera (5%)

So, for me it would probably not be worth it. The ipod touch would be really handy for ical, ipod, and gaming, but besides that I would stick with a nano, which has video-- the touch does not (for now).

Re: Love The iPhone But…

theskyewire — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:03:23 -0000

The data usage of the iphone is absolutely absurd... it puts serious strain on the network and is probably a huge factor in the poor call quality and high drop rate. Furthermore, while the phone is an amazing piece of technology, Apple and ATT's business tactics are tricky and pretty upsetting at times. When people are putting so much money into these plans, they should at least get reliable networks.

Re: 10 Worst, 10 Best: Senator Max Baucus

theskyewire — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:36:44 -0000

NEWS UPDATE: It seems that key Dems are rejecting the Baucus bill http://blogs.abcnews.com/ge...

Re: The Time to Act has Come, Reaffirm Your Commitment

theskyewire — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:37:14 -0000

Karl, thank you for your interest in fighting for the change we voted for last November. Being outside of the country limits you in some respects, but that does not mean you cannot be a part of this movement. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, you are able to contribute to the dialogue just as much as anyone else!

For one, devote your Facebook to the cause... and talk about YOUR PERSONAL STORIES (your troubles with health care, your family's troubles, friends, etc...), because those are what change hearts and minds. Why must we change the system? because people are being hurt! ... and cost controls. If you'd like to guest blog on SkyeWire, I'd be honored!

Now, like any grassroots effort, money is always an issue. Donations are crucial to funding on-the-ground operations, as well as advertisements that will go after the congresspeople who are reluctant to challenge the status quo. Big Insurance has all the money in the world to lobby hard in Washington, so it's up to regular people like you n me to chip to stop them! Democracy for America is trying to rapidly raise funds to hit the status quo in the face! donate 5 bucks or more-- https://www.democracyforame...

We can do this. We are part of something bigger than ourselves, and it's growing every second. LETS GET IT DONE!

Re: The Time to Act has Come, Reaffirm Your Commitment

theskyewire — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:16:34 -0000

Chris, thank you for the thorough comments-- your thoughtfulness is much appreciated (have you seen some of the town hall craziness?). I plan to address your specific concerns in coming posts. Particularly on the idea of how the public option, along with other key reforms, will cut costs in the long run. It really has to do with price controls--which at present are determined by private insurance businesses. I will elaborate on these points and others soon.

Re: Wondering Where Your Democracy Went?

theskyewire — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:28:31 -0000

Organize.

Re: The Military-Industrial Complex: It's Real

theskyewire — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:00:41 -0000

And I just read a bit more of what Scahill had to say about the broader implications of the privatization of war:

"But what contractors also do is they take away, they chisel away at the democratic process in this country because if you can deploy 100,000 contractors, that’s 100,000 soldiers you don’t have to convince to enlist in your military. That’s 100,000 soldiers whose deaths aren’t going to be counted in the official toll. And what I think is one of the most disturbing realities of this privatized war is that an adventurous president like Bush can simply just purchase soldiers to wage these wars. You no longer have to go through the Congress, you no longer have to try to convince young people in this country to join the military in the same kinds of numbers. You can hire troops from the United States, Chile, Columbia, Bulgaria, Honduras, Nicaragua, you name it. It’s a total subversion of what should be a necessary resistance to offensive wars. "

Re: The Military-Industrial Complex: It's Real

theskyewire — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:18:20 -0000

When I use the word "mercenary" it does sound a bit barbaric, and that is certainly not my intention. Let me be clear: the soldiers have the most miserable job in world. They signed up to fight for their country, and trusted that the government would use their services responsibly and with compassion. Unfortunately, the politics of fear drove us into a pointless and illegal war, whch has cost the lives of thousands of Americans and even more Iraqis. It has devastated an entire country and tortured the minds of our servicemen and women.

So I do empathize with those soldiers who opt out of government service and join professional groups like Blackwater--groups that provide the armor, supplies, and pay that our warriors deserve.

However, I think the problem with groups like Blackwater (overwhelming the largest military contractor in Iraq) has more to do with the manner in which they are used than the quality of person who becomes an employee. What I am saying is that we should not be using private armies at all because it simply fuels our system of corporate war.

I am not saying that we ought to shame the Blackwater guys, but I am asking that we stop and think about this organization in the context of a grander picture. They are a part of a system of militant privatization. This War on Terror has benefited very few people, but those who have profited most are the CEOs of these very companies... Blackwater, Boeing, Haliburton, etc...

Look, the owners of these companies are big players in politics... they were major contributors to Bush and the Republicans, as well as to the Democratic presidential candidates. And let us be frank: they are not contributing mass sums of cash because they are patriotic; they invest in politicians with the goal of insuring future contracts.

Jeremy Scahill wrote a great investigative book on Blackwater, and sort of summarizes its relationship with the U.S. government in this interview excerpt:

"The mercenaries provide the Bush administration with the ability to bloat the occupation forces—effectively double the number of occupation personnel on the ground—and then in turn the Bush administration has given them almost total free-for-all environment where there’s no accountability, there’s no oversight, there’s no effective laws governing their presence there."

These soldiers are not bad guys. Actually, most of them probably believe that they are doing their duty for the country. But the reason I cry out is because they are being taken advantage of by a system that is no more human than a rock. The people in charge do not care about the lives of the young men and women whom they send to fight and die. They do not care because it is too profitable not to.

And the Dept of Defense knew that they wouldn't be able to maintain the occupation without immense support from the private sector. I'm not saying we don't need them to control Iraq, I'm saying that we should not be there at all.

Re: The Truth in Bulworth's Rhymes

theskyewire — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:29:07 -0000

I think you are right on the money when it comes to liberal ideology. Some people seem to believe that since the neocons had their day, it's time for a radical left wing administration. However, this will only further the divide that exists in America. Obama's administration is shaping up to be one very diverse and intellectual one that doesn't seem to discriminate based on politics.

This is not to say that progressive minded people should just let Obama do his thing. In fact, Obama has said time and time again that the change we need hinges on the activism of the many. There are many crucial reforms that must be aggressively pursued, and some will only come if the people push hard enough. The thing about Obama that makes him different from all the others is that he is a listener. He is calling on us to be a major part of his administration.

So I agree... let's hold off on the criticism and organize to advocate our most important causes.

If Obama really is a Bulworth, and we play our part, change is on the horizon.

Re: Eric Holder: Legit Attourney General for Once?

theskyewire — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:36:24 -0000

no offense, but that's probably because you are in canada!

.....or some unknown reason

Re: Next Steps: the November 5th Plan of Action!

theskyewire — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:26:16 -0000

Drew, thank you for addressing this point. You are correct that to be well-informed, all sides of issues must be thoroughly researched--and that means many sources ought to be used. It's interesting that I worded my criticism of CNN and FOX in such a dismissive way because I watch both of these networks frequently. While I value the Real News, it should be just as scrutinized as any other source. I will compile some recommended sources and post them tonight.

Re: Intellectual Elitism is Bad?

theskyewire — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:12:46 -0000

Well clearly he should not have said it, but people should have thought critically about the statement instead of acting so close-minded. I think most of the controversy had to do with the spin masters in the media, and the Clinton campaign who trumped up the statement and made it more than it really was. We are in the "sound bite" pop media culture, which diminishes any serious discussion on serious matters. The same thing happened to Reverend Wright.

Re: Intellectual Elitism is Bad?

theskyewire — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:56:46 -0000

Many great minds were self taught, including Lincoln who was an avid reader all his life, and became a lawyer. You can see it in his writings that he was an intuitive individual. Also, in this era of globalization, there is so much more that a leader must understand--not only current events, but also a solid grasp of history. Sarah Palin is surely an intelligent and talented woman, but from what I have seen, she has not had enough time to gain a deep understanding of international politics... and I've yet to see in her the kind of thoughtful, contemplative leader that we need.

Re: Information Overload!!

theskyewire — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:03:36 -0000

Very cool... this problem is widespread, and most people (at least the students I'm around) don't acknowledge it. It will be interesting to see how schools deal with this in the future as connectivity reaches people at younger ages.

Re: The Bailout Passed, but Check this Out!

theskyewire — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:47:09 -0000

Hey SkyeWire viewers, it's now much easier to add your comments! Now they will show up on the left side of the site, so people can be more interactive in discussion. You can do it anonymously if you want!

Re: My Thoughts on the Bailout

theskyewire — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:22:25 -0000

Test

Re: Discussing Michael Moore's SLACKER UPRISING

theskyewire — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:51:02 -0000

dig it: www.theskyewire.com