Unbiased is hard to find (maybe even here)
Unfortunately, these days you cannot get the news from the news. It is just a fashion show. There are no longer journalistic investigations being performed. They just repeat what each side wants us to hear in a two second sound bite. They will, however, follow mind numbing “movies of the week” stories such as the Runaway Bride forever. Who cares? I’m paying over $2 for gas! Where is the investigation into why oil companies are making a killing on oil that doesn’t cost anymore to pull out of the ground as it did 5 years ago? Are we not being price gouged??
News these days is seeing that Washington’s public safety policy for airplanes flying too close to the White House is telling people to ‘RUN!!!!!!!’ (If you didn’t watch the news this week, let me know and I’ll fill you in.) I guess it is as good as duct taping yourself with plastic (okay that is a jab at Homeland Security). It is comical and scary at the same time. Thus we watch it in a mind numbing way.
The only way to get information is by taking a precautious approach and digging for it on the internet or by watching Congress in action on CSPAN. From what I have seen, it appears that those in Congress only show who they truly are when they are in debates on the Senate floor or in subcommittee hearings. Also, the people who testify in front of these committees appear to tell the truth if they are asked a specific question. They usually don’t divulge on their own; but most of the time the Senators from both parties are good at asking the right questions.
The problem with the congressional debates and hearings are that most people don’t watch it. Then in the news, they take two sound bites from them that don’t paint the whole picture or don’t even tell us anything at all. We must find a way of getting informed in as unbiased way as possible. For now, we must take the time to make ourselves informed by getting information from multiple conventional and unconventional sources. More and more, we must get it from the unconventional sources. Unbiased is something that we seem to be missing these days.
Now for some facts:
Nomination of Judges:
- The Democrats have decided to let 4 of the 7 Judges come up for vote. Actually, one was approved today. One reason they were blocked was because these vacant seats were stopped from being filled during Clinton’s presidency. It was basically a retaliation situation.
- There is no constitutional requirement that Judges receive an up or down vote from the Full Senate. Even Senate Majority Leader Tom Frist conceded Thursday that there's no language in the constitution that requires the Senate to have confirmation votes. Many times (60 some judges under Clinton) the Judges get blocked or are evaluated at a snails pace or they don’t even get dealt with in Committee in order to kill the nomination. These judges never make it out to get up or down votes from the Full Senate. Some of Clinton’s nominations for judges were put on hold for 6 years without getting a vote. This is nothing new. This is the way the process has always been.
- This is Judge Priscilla Owens second time President Bush has put her up for nomination. The first time (I believe last year); the Democrats were the majority in the Committee for approving judges. They voted her down. This time with a Republican majority, the Republicans voted her through for Senate approval. One main reason for her being rejected by the Democrats is her extreme Pro-Business stance in cases. In Texas, judges are voted upon and raise money to get elected. In many cases, Judge Owens stayed on as the judge for cases that involved businesses that contributed to her reelection. Where are her morals on conflict of interest? Plus, (this is my opinion coming up) do we need any more “Activist” judges like the one who is allowing United Airlines to get out of their obligation to pay their retirees through the companies pension fund. I don’t want “Activist” judges undercutting the middle class I belong to.
The Filibuster
- The filibuster is a tool in the Senate (not the House) that gives the minority the ability to have a voice. As Senator Byrd from West Virginia said on the Congressional floor yesterday, (I am paraphrasing) “It forces those in Congress to work together to come up with solutions.” Remember, we are all part of at least some minority in this country. Maybe, it is your race or ethnic make up (German, Italian, French heritage). Maybe, it is your religious denomination that you belong to (remember there are many Christian sects/churches). Maybe, it is your health. Maybe, it is the size of the city you live in. Don’t give up your right to be protected from a small majority (less than 60 percent). 60 percent is what is needed to kill a filibuster. Even if you see yourself as part of the majority today, remember that things change. As Senator Byrd said to Senator Frist on the subject of changing the Filibuster rule: "Don't travel that path because the leader of his party may some day be executed on the same gallows.”
Okay. That is enough from me for now. If I annoy you too much, just let me know. Dialogue is the path to understanding one another.
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