Gerbil's Giant Gumball Gumbo

AARP v Accuracy In Media

Spy Blogs:

"And why not tap the brainpower of the blogosphere as well? The intelligence community does a terrible job of looking outside itself for information. From journalists to academics and even educated amateurs - there are thousands of people who would be interested and willing to help. Imagine how much traffic an official CIA Iraq blog would attract. If intelligence organizations built a collaborative environment through blogs, they could quickly identify credible sources, develop a deep backfield of contributing analysts, and engage the world as a whole. How cool would it be to gain 'trusted user' status on a CIA blog?"

The Online Beat:

"Thompson ran on what he and his backers dubbed the 'Freak Power' ticket, declaring in an advertisement in the Aspen Times that, '(In) 1970 Amerika a lot of people are beginning to understand that to be a freak is an honorable way to go. This is the real point: that we are not really freaks at all - not in the literal sense -- but the twisted realities of the world we are trying to live in have somehow combined to make us feel like freaks. We argue, we protest, we petition -- but nothing changes. So now, with the rest of the nation erupting in a firestorm of bombings and political killings, a handful of 'freaks' are running a final, perhaps atavistic experiment with the idea of forcing change by voting...'"

The Motorcycle Gangs: Losers and Outsiders | Hunter S. Thompson

Bush urges parental discretion | WORLD | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

Censorship of the Media Creating Insidious Chill on Free Expression on our Airwaves

Howard Dean: Now He Has the Power

Pressure Growing on Bush to Send Darfur Killings to The Hague

Calif. County Wants Pot Certified Organic

Democratic leadership joins call for Gannon inquiry; Whip calls on members to join push
Senator Durbin’s letter follows.

###

Dear Mr. President,

At a press conference in the White House on January 26, you stated that “there needs to be a nice, independent relationship between the White House and the press.” In that same press conference, you called on a reporter then known as Jeff Gannon, who worked for an organization called Talon News.

Since that time, the public has learned that the real name of that reporter is James Dale Guckert, not Jeff Gannon, and that he had regular access to the White House press facilities for more than a year. We have also learned that the questions he posed at White House press briefings and the stories he filed for Talon News frequently mirrored Republican Party talking points, that Talon News is a news organization in name only and that it has apparently close connections to the Republican party.

Given the unprecedented level of security in Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a non-journalist using a false name and working for a sham news organization could have gained regular access to the White House for such an extended period of time.

Another reason the Gannon/Guckert affair is disturbing is because of what we have recently learned about apparent efforts by some in your Administration to try to “buy” favorable news coverage. These other efforts include paying news personalities Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher large sums of money to promote your Administration’s education and marriage initiatives, and using tax payer dollars to produce video news releases promoting the new prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and other policies the Administration regards as accomplishments. A recent report by the General Accountability Office called such video news releases illegal uses of public funds. More recently, we have heard troubling reports that Social Security Administration officials may be using public funds and pressuring public employees to promote your goal of privatizing Social Security.

As you know, concerns that government officials may be trying to deceive the public by manipulating the media can be extremely corrosive to public trust. For that reason, we respectfully request that you order an immediate and thorough investigation into the Gannon/Guckert matter. How is it possible that a man using a fake name, with dubious journalism credentials, was able to clear the White House’s extensive security screening process and gain such close access to you and your staff for such an extended period of time? Have there been other, similar breaches of security and journalism standards?

We appreciate your prompt attention to this important matter. We urge you to order a full inquiry so that the American people know the facts.

Bush "Compliments" Saudis on Anti-Semitic Conference

About USA Next and their Smear Campaign

The Left Coaster: Democrats Should Not Let USA Next Get Away With Smearing The AARP

t r u t h o u t - William Rivers Pitt | HST and the Proverbial 'Live Boy'

RIP Hunter