Where’s the Outrage?

Bill Moyers continues to impress me. I will continue to sing his praises. I think that he is the premier thoughtful journalist in America. He is covering issues that others either gloss over or do not cover at all.

This week, he brought Melissa Harris-Lacewell, quickly becoming on of my favorite people, Princeton University Associate Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, back on the show to discuss Katrina. Bill Moyers adds Mike Tidwell, author of Bayou Farewell in 2003 and Ravaging Tide and environmental activist, to discuss Katrina 2 years later. This is an excellent discussion.

Here’s just a little piece -

BILL MOYERS: What have you learned, the two of you, about politics, American politics from the Katrina disaster?

MELISSA HARRIS-LACEWELL: Well, I often say that Hurricane Katrina and it’s political aftermath is the 2006 win of the democrats in the mid-term elections. And it–

BILL MOYERS: How so? [Read more →]

 

 BMJ - Katrina, part 1 [13:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 BMJ - Katrina, part 2 [12:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bill Moyers, Katrina by ecthompson
Comments Off

Asheville is a very nice community. The weather is nice. The mountains are beautiful. The politics lean toward the liberal side. So, I didn’t think any thing of a guy holding a sign on an overpass that read “IMPEACH BUSH”. (I guess I didn’t see or remember the Cheney portion of the sign). I honked my honk and didn’t think anything else about it as I continued on my way on I-240. Well, it turns out that the guy was arrested later for obstructing the sidewalk. How crazy was that?

It appears that some of the national progressive blogs have picked up the story.

———–

From ACT:

Police said Thursday that it would change charges against a man who held an “impeach Bush, Cheney” sign from a bridge over Interstate 240.

Jonas Phillips, a 35-year-old West Asheville resident, said he had recently taken up “highway blogging,” a protest practice of displaying signs of political discontent from highway overpasses.

Police cited him Wednesday for obstructing the sidewalk but said Thursday a N.C. Department of Transportation violation would be more fitting.

Phillips said he had the signed propped on the Haywood Road bridge railing over I-240. (more…)

Tags: Blogging issues, Bush Administration, Civil Rights by ecthompson
6 Comments »

With Hurricane Dean showing some slight movement towards Texas overnight, I’m hording food and arming myself.

I’ve got three cans of sardines that are good for at least another year. Though, I had been hoping to toss the sardines into the Houston Ship Channel to see if that water had the right mix of petrochemicals to reanimate the fish.

As for weapons, I’ve got some holiday scented room spray from Pier 1 that I’m hoping looters will mistake for pepper spray.

Actually, the wife and I went shopping for hurricane supplies a few weeks back. Click here for a list of things you’ll need if a hurricane comes your way. It is a serious matter.

Update:  I added some video now that it looks that Hurricane Dean is serious.  TL, friend and co-blogger, be safe!!

 

 Hurricane Dean [2:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Environment, General by Texas Liberal
7 Comments »

Of course, I know who Bill Graham is but I really didn’t appreciate how important he was until I saw the amount of resources mobilized by the hospital.

From AP wire:

Evangelist Billy Graham was in fair condition Saturday and resting comfortably in a hospital near his home after he was admitted for evaluation and treatment of an intestinal bleed, hospital officials said.

Graham, 88, was fully alert, and his doctors said his condition did not appear to be life-threatening, said his spokesman, Larry Ross.

Graham’s blood pressure was good and there were no signs of new bleeding Saturday evening, according to a statement released by Mission Health & Hospitals in Asheville.

The hospital said in a statement that Graham’s condition had stabilized following his admission, and a endoscopy and a bleeding scan found no areas of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

“It stopped as quickly as it began,” Ross said. (more…)

Tags: Religion by ecthompson
Comments Off

My oh my. This is a great speech. It is delivered perfectly. The speech is not given by Barack but instead it is given by Michelle. She is funny. She is honest. She is open. She hits the nail on the head. You can feel her passion.

I wish I could speak this well.

 

 Michelle Obama speaks the truth [7:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Election 2008 by ecthompson
3 Comments »

Enjoy watching and listening to a master at work.

 

 Max Roach Mix [3:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Music by ecthompson
4 Comments »