Man, oh man. Some days, I just feel helpless. There is no opposition party anymore. If I thought there was a "Great Democratic Hope" out there, I might not feel this way. Other than Sen. Byrd, no one else will speak up. Oh, maybe Henry Waxman. But until there is any kind of public outcry, all of this will just continue.

I have a friend who believes things just haven't gotten bad enough yet. He tells me that if Bush doesn't get the economy fixed before the next election he won't get reelected. He still believes elections are still free and fair. (Were they ever?) But my question to him is: how bad does it have to get? Big deficits (federal, state, county, city, school district), rising unemployment, schools and education falling apart, higher taxes for the middle class. How bad does it have to get?

As I was growing up, my dad drilled into me a few obsevations about taxes. One: there are no tax cuts, just tax shifts. Two: the rich won't pay taxes, the poor can't, so the middle class pays all taxes. Don't tell me I just got a tax cut. I'm not in the top 1%. Who is out there fighting for the middle class and the poor? They have no lobby. Where is the press?! They are owned by corporations. They will not tell stories that are bad for business.

One thing that needs to be understood is that the Democratic party was taken over by the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) wing of the party when Bill Clinton was elected. This esentially turned the party into Republican Lite. The liberal side of the Republican Party still believes in Social Security, just like the Republican Lites. That means they are not in opposition anymore. In the article about the DLC, you see that it is heavily tied to corporate dollars. Therefore, they--like the media--do not want to speak out against the corporations that pay for their campaigns (among other things). I believe that as the parties exist today, it is just the same corporate money pushing different people, no matter who is elected. (Consider the fact that most corporations give money to both candidates in the same election. Enron did it.) We are so close to facism it is scary. So with the media and the politicians owned by the same corporations, why should we expect news and politicians to say and do things to bite the hand that feeds them?

Now to the news:

This helps explain it: The bad weather over America.

An article about what possibly can be done: Strategy for a Democratic victory in 2004

A few new things on the Texas Democrats: Just what did DeLay know about the Dems’ Texas plane? He also has a site with quite a bit of info on this, Talking Points Memo. This one is good, Malfunction blamed for gap on DPS tape. And I just found this, Judge orders legislator to reveal `secret source'.

More lies: No Bunker where U.S. Bombs Targeted Saddam-CBS .

Miranda who? Ruling Favors Police In Interrogation Case.

How much is $1 trillion, much less 44: US 'faces future of chronic deficits'.

Wolfowitz clarifies the WMD debate, Iraqi Weapons Only One Reason for War-Wolfowitz. Read these quotes; they help clarify the situation even more.

For those interested in the Private Lynch saga here is the original LA Times story, the Pentagon rebuttal and--shock of all--a reporter stands up for himself.

Oh yeah, Blair is in trouble.
- posted by Mom/Dad @ 9:07 AM