Life and Life Only

Happy Independence Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA6Q5-Ap3o8

And then of course…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCEOgMAgmv4

Enjoy.

And may your 4th of July be a good one.

58 Comments

  • Happy 4th to all of the bloggers here. What a great day to reflect and be appreciative of our rights to free speech and press. Thank you Celeste for giving us the stories that the corporate media, like the LA Times, runs from. Without bloggers like you, the corporate media is all we would have. As a wise person once said, the truth will set us free. And you’re one of the Americans doing that on a daily basis, Celeste. Thank you and Happy 4th.

  • The great thing about this country is differing points of view. Some countries don’t allow it. And sadly, there are many here in America, mostly on the right, who wouldn’t allow it if it were up to them. (See 9/11). I too get irked by a lot of the false sense of nationalism this holiday seems to entail. That’s why I like to be specific about what I’m appreciative of. I really think free speech and free press are the real fruits of this country. Capitalism has only served a few (as evidenced since the crash of ’08). Some military conquests were necessary but sadly our military is also manipulated by corrupt leaders from time to time, the most blatant example being the Bush Administration. Of course we can scarf down more hot dogs than any other country. I guess we should be proud of that, too, even if obesity is a major problem in this country. Anyhow, as I said, all of the other accomplishments this country has made seem trivial to me when compared to free speech. It truly is what sets us above the rest.

  • Somebody better eduacte the millons of mexican immigrants how capitalism in the U.S. only serves a few.

    ***********************

    Many immigrants send remittances to their family left behind in their native countries. Remittances have become a considerable force in the economy of many countries. Among the countries that receive the most in remittances are Mexico, the Philippines and India. Last year Mexico received more than $17 billion in remittances. The amount of remittances in Mexico exceeds the amount of foreign direct investment in the country.

    http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/immigrants-send-money-home.html

  • You mean Mexicans are coming here for jobs? I thought they were coming here to kill white people and reclaim Aztlan? Good to see some of you righties are finally coming around to the common sense end of the immigration argument. Train departing Extreme Right, next stop, Compassionate Conservatism. All aboard!

  • And sadly, there are many here in America, mostly on the right, who wouldn’t allow it if it were up to them

    Easy now. It’s the left who is trying to quell the right wingers on talk radio with their implementation of the so called “Fairness Doctrine”. Once again, the corporate media has told you what to think and you have bought it hook line and sinker. The left leaning media tells you that the right would quell free speech if given the oppurtunity. While the left introduces bills like the Fairness Doctrine. It’s called a diversion. Some aren’t intelligent enough to recognize it.

  • ATQ – you’re making me laugh. The Tyranny of a decades-dead “Fairness Doctrine” is almost as hilarious as the evils of “Canadian Socialism.” This version of “conservatism” (hard crank Right) comes off like a bunch of hysterical, terrified, whining 12 year olds…on a good day.

  • It’s the left who is trying to quell the right wingers on talk radio with their implementation of the so called “Fairness Doctrine”.

    Proof?

  • From Wikipedia

    Some Democratic legislators have expressed interest in reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine,[21] although no one has introduced legislation to do so since 2005.
    In June 2007, Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) said, “It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine,” [22] an opinion shared by his Democratic colleague, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
    On June 24, 2008, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, California (who had been elected Speaker of the House in January 2007) told reporters that her fellow Democratic Representatives did not want to forbid reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine, adding “the interest in my caucus is the reverse.” When asked by John Gizzi of Human Events, “Do you personally support revival of the ‘Fairness Doctrine?'”, the Speaker replied “Yes.” [25]

    Maybe Wiki is lying.

  • I don’t think there’s a “left leaning media”. I keep hearing those growls and hisses from people on Fox News and some of the am radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh, and I think it’s nonsense. They have a childish habit of calling everything they disagree with “left wing”. I don’t think it’s based on anything scientific. I think they just walk around believing that anyone who doesn’t share their political views is left wing. They’re nothing more than entertainers to me.

  • Pelosi/Kerry/Durbin and “their democratic colleagues”….

    That proof enough for you?

  • Amazing how you recognize the existence of a right wing without acknowledging there is a left wing.
    Simply astounding.

  • How can their be a “right” wing……if there is no “left” wing???

  • I don’t know if you’re addressing me, or what, but I certainly acknowledge a left wing and a right wing. What I’m saying is that I don’t believe the media is left leaning. And, the only people I hear saying this are t.v. and radio hosts who are admittedly on the right. As far as I can see, they have no scientific data to back this up. They just say it’s so. Pretty stupid, if you ask me. But then again, I don’t watch Fox News nor listen to people like Rush Limbaugh for educational purposes, thank goodness. They’re just entertainment.

  • there….lol…still in utter amazement at your lack of acknowledgment of there being a left wing.

  • Are you addressing me? Because I certainly do acknowledge a left wing. Never said I didn’t, nor have I left a comment which indicated I didn’t. What I said is that the major media networks, ABC, CBS, CNN, FoxNews, ext, are NOT left leaning. They’re NOT. And there’s not a shred of anything remotely scientific that would suggest they are. Just some admittedly right wing t.v. and radio hosts saying they are. Forgive me for not taking Sean Hannity or Glen Beck’s word as scientific data, because they are the only types of people I hear saying that the media is “left leaning”.

  • Democrats asked MSNBC’s Ed Schultz to run for the Senate. Can you name me a self professed Republican that works for MSNBC….ABC…NBC…CBS?

    It would be interesting for you to name one.

  • So what if the Democrats asked Ed Shultz to run for senate? That’s not his fault. Also, I’ve never heard Shultz state his political affiliation. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that he said he’s a Democrat at some point if the Democratic party is asking him to run for office. But none of that means he or the network he works for his “left leaning”.

  • I don’t see what any Dan Rather fiasco has to do with the media being left leaning. So why don’t you explain it away.

  • Already did. That you refuse to acknowledge it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It means that you refuse to see the obvious.

  • I missed your explanation of the Dan Rather fiasco, and I’m not going to search the blog to find it, so guess we’ll move on from that. And, I refuse to see the obvious? Ha ha. The words of every conspiracy enthusiast.

  • Maybe Wiki is lying./i>

    Now, 2-3 year later makes it ancient history. As you have nothing recen to report, your point is irrelevant.

  • Letme dumb this down for your, ATQ: Do you have any proof, with everything else Congress has to deal with that there has been any effort to reestablish the Fairness Doctrine?

  • NewsBusters.orgJun 25, 2008 …
    Pelosi: I Want to Bring Back ‘Fairness Doctrine’ “Louise Slaughter has been active behind this [revival of the Fairness Doctrine] for a while now.” Pelosi pointed out that, after it returns …

    I guess you can ignore what they say and what they do. Your witticisms and sarcasm doesn’t preclude the fact that there is a movement afoot to bring back the Fairness Doctrine.
    P.S. It’s not by the right wingers.

  • Letme dumb this down for your, ATQ:

    LOL. Your so far behind in this race you actually think you’re winning.

  • “You mean Mexicans are coming here for jobs? I thought they were coming here to kill white people and reclaim Aztlan? ”

    ****************************
    http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7538605


    The second suspect in the fatal shooting of a 4-month-old boy in Van Nuys has been arrested nine months after the murder. A suspected gang member has been captured in Mexico, and he’s now in a Los Angeles jail, accused of the murder. Alfonso Landa, 17, was captured within days. But it took an international manhunt to track down his alleged accomplice. Ricardo Hernandez, 23, was arrested in Jalisco, Mexico, after an anonymous tipster called LAPD.

  • NewsBusters.orgJun 25, 2008 …

    Some Democratic legislators have expressed interest in reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine,[21] although no one has introduced legislation to do so since 2005.

    In June 2007, Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) said, “It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine,” [22] an opinion shared by his Democratic colleague, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
    On June 24, 2008, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, California (who had been elected Speaker of the House in January 2007) told reporters that her fellow Democratic Representatives did not want to forbid reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine,

    You do know this is 2010, don’t you? So again, I’ll type this slowly: do you have any proof that the Democratic-led Congress is actively involved in the reestablishment of the fairness doctrine? Is there any active legislation towards that end? is there anything other than two year old claims?

    Newsbusters? Why not quote Woody?

    You’re trying to punch above your weight. It ain’t working.

  • I’ll go really slow you can make up a couple of laps. I was responding to Rocky’s statement about Free Speech.

    Rocky G said:
    Some countries don’t allow it. And sadly, there are many here in America, mostly on the right, who wouldn’t allow it if it were up to them.

    My responses and statements since then pertain to the FACT that it’s the LEFT who WANTS to bring the Fairness Doctrine back. When you find ONE right winger who supports the Fairness Doctrine, then your argument has merit.
    Until then what your very witty but superflous comments show is that you have no reading retention.
    Perhaps you would be better served by paying attention to the context in which things are referenced to.

    Till then, your snark and sarcasm is no match for the strength of my argument.

  • Newsbusters? Why not quote Woody?

    Once again a nice attempt at a diversion and an attempt to change the subject when you are confronted with the proof that YOU asked for.

    Pelosi said it or she didn’t. Do you dispute that she said it?

  • My responses and statements since then pertain to the FACT that it’s the LEFT who WANTS to bring the Fairness Doctrine back. When you find ONE right winger who supports the Fairness Doctrine, then your argument has merit.

    Here’s your quote:

    Easy now. It’s the left who is trying to quell the right wingers on talk radio with their implementation of the so called “Fairness Doctrine”.

    You’re writing in the present tense, yet your “proof” is offering up a few stray comments from two or more years ago.

    I’m not the one with the piss-poor reading comprehension. You’ve got nothing.

  • Pelosi said it or she didn’t. Do you dispute that she said it?

    Ancient history. I’ll ask again: do you have any proof that the Democratic-led Congress is actively involved in the reestablishment of the fairness doctrine? Is there any active legislation towards that end? is there anything other than two year old claims?

    I see you ignored that comment.

  • We can stop all this back and forth banter with a very simple challenge.
    Find somebody, anybody, on the right who supports the Fairness Doctrine.

    You can’t do it. That proves my point.
    Case closed. Debate over.

  • You see, Rocky said:
    mostly on the right, who wouldn’t allow it if it were up to them.

    Special attn. to the words: “if it were up to them”.

    I’ve showed you several on the left who would reinstate it “if it were up to them”.

    You can’t give me one person on the right who supports it.

    That pretty much renders ALL your snarky comebacks and attempts at diversion moot.

  • And of course, that’s what the debate was about to begin with. WHO it is that WANTS to bring the Fairness Doctrine back.

    WHO would do it “if it were up to them”.

    But hey Randy, feel free to weigh in any time with your weak and inane attempts at diversion and attempts to change the subject.

  • And of course, my debate was with Rocky. But you just couldn’t resist weighing in. Then you end up looking foolish. Learn anything?

  • We’re not in any debate. What we’re doing here is you’re making one unfounded assertion after another, and I’m calling you on them. First off, the Fairness Doctrine does not silence anyone. It demands equal time. Many local t.v. stations already abide by it. Only you would think that a t.v. station not being allowed to cart out the Republican party’s agenda damn near word for word 24 hours a day is some kind of censorship. And, you never did provide any data to back up your point that the media is “left leaning”. Oh, wait, you did. You said it’s “obvious”, and that we can’t see it. LOL. Funny, people who’ve seen aliens have said the same thing of the non believers who can’t see the “obvious” signs. So I guess that is scientific proof in the same world where you got the ideas that the media is left leaning and that the Fairness Doctrine silences anyone, your imagination.

  • The “Fairness Doctrine” does not allow radio stations to air the programs they choose to. If the right wingers like Limbaugh and Hannity bring the bucks in because people want to listen to them, and that’s ALL the radio station wants to air it can’t.

    The Fairness Doctrine dictates that the station MUST give equal time to a radio program they MAY NOT WANT TO AIR.

    That is an infringement on free speech.

  • Imagine if the right wingers take the majority back in the House and start trying to push their agenda the same way?

    You THINK you like it because you don’t like Hannity or Limbaugh. What you fail to see is that it IS a violation of Free Speech…..and when we use it against them, they WILL turn around and use it on us when they get they get the chance.

  • And, you never did provide any data to back up your point that the media is “left leaning”. Oh, wait, you did. You said it’s “obvious”, and that we can’t see it. LOL.

    *******************

    ATQ,
    That’s like saying Celeste is “obviously left leaning” LOL.
    You need to provide “links” amd “proof” to make a comment, just like Rocky G. provided his proof and links that black and mexicans can’t receive a fair trail in AmeriKKKa. Rocky G. provided proof that white (aka xenophobes) jurors will automatically assume blacks and mexicans are guilty in criminal trials.

  • WTF, when you give them a link they just try and dismiss it by saying such clever things like: “Newsbusters? Why not quote Woody”?
    Give a link, they discount it.
    Divert, change the subject, be sarcastic. That’s their plan.
    Intellectual honesty isn’t in their game plan.

  • You brought up the Fairness Doctrine as evidence that Democrats are trying to silence people in the way the Republicans were trying to silence critics after 9/11. WRONG. Fairness Doctrine merely mandates equal time. Doesn’t silence anybody.

    You said the media is left of center. WRONG.

    Your evidence that the media is left of center? It’s “obvious”. ..lol. FAIL.

    But keep trying to lecture me if it makes you feel smart.

  • WTF, is Celeste left leaning? I haven’t read enough of her blog to make a determination. She seems pretty independent minded to me. Or do you also label everyone you disagree with as “left leaning”? There’s been no shortage of that in this thread.

  • Democrats are trying to silence people in the way the Republicans were trying to silence critics after 9/11.

    Exactly how did Republicans try to silence critics after 9/11?

  • By the way Rob, keep talikng smack and I’m going to prove you wrong again about the major network newscasters being left leaning. The numbers are out there available for anyone who knows where to look for them.

    Don’t you think I asked you to tell me ONE news commentator from a network other than FOX that is a confessed Republican for a reason?

    I noticed you avoided that like the plague. LOL.
    Look it up, it’s out there.

  • You can’t do it. That proves my point.
    Case closed. Debate over.

    Horseshit. Your point was that there were people “trying to [implement] the Fairness Docrine” and your support was quotes two to five years old. When I asked for evidence of any recent efforts to implement the Fairness Doctrine, you then started moving the goalposts. Saying debate over only shows your intellectual laziness and vacuity.

  • Wrong. I gave you the quote from Rocky. I told you what I was referencing it to. I told you what my point was.
    Yet you insist YOU know my point better than I do. What an overabundance of arrogance. But then again, we’ve come to expect that from you.

    The words are there up above. Your buddy Rocky fucked up and made a horseshit statement. I called him on it. In trying to get his back, you’ve cornered yourself into a battle you can’t win. I’m not moving any goal posts, you’re trying to set the goal post for me by trying to decide arbitrarily what my point was. WRONG.

    Rocky said the right would silence free speech if it were up to them. My point was that the opposite is true, it’s the left who would do it if it were up to them.

    I gave you links and quotes to prove it.

    The case is closed. Live with it. Perhaps next time you would be better served by not running to Rob’s defense so quickly. You’re only going to make yourself look foolish by trying to validate the bullshit he professes.

  • It’s the left who would institute gun control if it were up to them. They have intoduced bills trying to quell the right to bear arms. It’s not the right wingers, it’s the left.

    So by your logic, that statement would be wrong because they haven’t introduced any legislation lately.

    Again slowpoke, SPECIAL ATTN. to “If it were up to them”.

  • Rocky said:
    Republicans were trying to silence critics after 9/11

    Randy,
    Maybe you will think before trying to get his back on a horseshit statement like this. Of course, he flippantly made that statement about the right wanting to quell free speech also.

    You feel the need to get Rob’s back again on that statement up above?

    Lessons learned:
    #1. When you try and back up a guy who talks out of his ass because he hates Republicans, you’re walking into a trap.
    #2. You can’t cause me to stray off topic by trying to set the goalposts for me. You can’t change the argument to fit your statements.

  • How did Republicans try to silence people after 9/11? Gee, I dunno. Where do we start?

    How about right off the bat Bill Maher is removed from ABC for making a comment that was simply true. When then press secretary Ari Flescher was asked for his opinion on Maher’s situation, his response was, “People need to watch what they say”. This is someone in the Bush Administration, telling Americans to watch what they say? Nice endorsement for free speech there. You go ahead and name one Democratic incumbent or anyone in their administration or staff who ever said anything remotely as threatening as that regarding free speech. You won’t find one.

    And, yes, I STILL await your evidence that the media is left leaning. So far all we have is that it’s “obvious”. Funny, people who’ve seen Bigfoot say the same. So, yes, in order to remove yourself from tin foil hat wearing status, you’re going to have to furnish this evidence you have that the media is left leaning. It’s all that’s going to save your image at this point. Trying to sound smart and lecturing people while having no evidence to back up your points other than, “it’s obvious”, you guy’s “can’t see” it, is pretty embarrassing. But you’re still here and you’re still fighting, so for your own good, yes, please, can we see this evidence that the media is left leaning? Or are you going to continue to embarrass yourself?

  • And then, to dig your hole even further, you’re going to move on to Democrats wanting to take guns away. Again, another lie. Republicans have done more to remove guns from Americans than Democrats ever could. Do you even know why it’s illegal in the state of California to carry a weapon in public? I’ll bet you don’t even know. This should be fun. Let’s see if you know. I’ll await your answer.

  • Ha! I knew it. And let me tell you guys why he hasn’t answered. Because he did a google on it and found out that the reason you can’t have a concealed weapon outside of your home in the state of California has NOTHING to do with hippies and commies taking away your guns. It instead has to do with conservative Republicans in the ’60s implementing this gun law as part of their strategy to disband the Black Panther Party. Looks like facts got in the way of someone’s agenda.

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