• Kristol can’t understand why Democrats won’t trust Bush on FISA. Geez I wonder why, maybe because the USG was spying on US Citizens before 9/11?
• It’s been widley known that the FEMA trailers issued to Katrina victims were death traps. Now FEMA is finally relocating those occupants but without any financial assistance.
• Now that Obama has gained serious tracktion in the Democratic race, the MSM is now attacking the support of Obama as “cult-like“. I wonder if Regan was running like he did in 1980 that they would have drawn the  same conclusion?
• For those that feel McCain is still on the “straight talk express” let’s not forget he has flip-floped on tourture, Roe v. Wade, and Bush tax cuts to name a few.
• Why is it our so-called greatest democracy can’t even do a simple vote count correctly?
• Hillary has vowed to fight to the Democratic convention. Mind you she will need at least a 2:1 margin of victory to tie Obama but if she did win by 3:1 that would knock Obama out of contention.

Being a political junky I have been following the Democratic race closely. It’s refreshing that there is a battle going on for the primary instead of just having an anointed leader and it’s even more refreshing that the establishment candidate is struggling to keep up.

Obama v. Hillary, the epic struggle for the Democratic top spot has seen some of the best and worst come out of people. We see the best when energized crowds are flocking to Obama events, we see the worse when candidates are backed into the corner and they decide to mud sling to try to gain some ground. A perfect example is the time leading up to the SC primary and how negative the Clinton camp went to try to knock Obama down. I think we may have passed a threshold now where the general populace has gotten sick of the negativity and the divide that has been crippling our country for some years now.

The Clinton years in the White House were overall good years for the country. However if she were to win the primary and then the general we would have a dynasty of Bush-Clinton dating back to 1980 when Bush Sr. was the vice President. Our country is better than cycling through two powerful families for our leadership.

During this election period, people have falsely stated that Hillary and Barack are of equal agreements on all the positions. Hillary has made some significant choices as Senator to make me question if she would be a leader that would represent me, choices like:

• Support of the Iraq war before it became popular to dislike the war
• The Clinton/Liberman investigation of video games
• Her support that the Iran Revolutionary guard is a terrorist organization which is defacto support for military action against Iran

Obama has separated himself successfully as an elected official that wants to get the job done and in doing so that takes cooperation from both sites. I truly fear if Hillary is in office the great divide will continue.

Obama has been doing quite well as of late. The “Super Tuesday” primaries helped propel him to a very close race of delegates the “Chesapeake Primary” saw his victories reach 60% in MD, 64% in VA, and 75% in DC which gave Obama a nearly 100 delegates to Hillary’s 50 delegates and in doing so gained the title of front runner.

There is a still a ton of races coming up, including HI, WI, OH, RI, TX, VT, WY, MI, PA, GU, IN, NC, WV, KY, OR, MT, SD, and PR. Hillary has developed what the Main Stream Media has coined the “Giuliani Firewall” focusing her campaigns on the three big states of OH and TX and that test will come on March 4th. While Obama is enjoying leads in most of the states and territories mentioned Hillary still have leads in OH, TX, and PA. We have seen Hillary have big leads in states only to see them erode to very close wins or stunning defeats and I would not be surprised that if she does not win OH and TX by 60% margins the DNC and general public will be calling for her to step aside. If she does win then it will likely come to a battle of FL and MI unseated delegates which will bring a major set of headaches to the party.

Like I have been saying, this is one hell of an interesting race!

With all the renewed talk on anti-gay marriage thanks to the conservative power structure trying to rekindle a wedge issue to get representatives on record on how they would vote on the anti-gay amendment for the coming election cycle. While we know this amendment won’t pass this seems to be the only way for bigoted individuals to continuously force their religious beliefs on the masses. It is because it would probably not hold up to Supreme Court scrutiny even with the court tilted to the right now?

Let’s rewind time back to 1967 and look at Loving v. Virginia . For those not in the know, Virginia had a law that prevented marriage between non-similar races and this law violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 14th amendment.

Those of staunch religious beliefs call out on “Gods words” to condemn homosexuality and their wishes to be accepted under federal protection of marriage. This followed a similar path on Loving where a Virginia judge found the couple guilty and in that judge’s opinion:

“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”

Invoking God was this judge’s decision, and those for the argument against gay marriage do the same.

Bush spoke in his recent address saying that they must take action against “activist courts” like MA who decide that gay marriage should be a protected right. By his standards of “activist courts” Loving would have been vigorously fought and an amendment would have been pressed. I fail to see a difference. Both Loving and Gay Marriage are trying to go against the grain of many religious beliefs and in doing so upsets the even a majority at times (gay marriage is only now a 50/50 split in public acceptance).

I bring this discussion up since this last weekend I celebrated my second year of marriage, and by Virginia’s standards back then my wife and I would have been arrested since she is Black and I am White. I couldn’t imagine living in a time of such bigotry against my beliefs (not that it’s perfect, but at least there is no law against it) and I couldn’t imagine the hardships that loving gay couples are going through.

Over at Ars Technica a thread in the Battlefront has brought the argument of downloads, iTunes, p2p, and other mediums back into the sunlight. I used to be a DJ (radio, clubs) and own a lot of CDs. I have since ripped my entire collection. However I have not bought a phyical CD for myself since the summer of 1999 when Kozmo (the now defunct Blockbuster competitor) where I bought 4 new CDs for a $7.99 special.Personally I have purchased 20 songs off of iTunes. These songs were either remixes or hard to find songs. I found that the ease of use and instant access was paramount in purchasing these songs. I have never bought a full album.

Now I won’t lie. I have downloaded various albums that peeked my curiosity. Do I consider this a lost sale or “stealing”? No. Why? For starters I would have NEVER bought the album in the first place. Few new artists really hold my interest now, and I mostly play from my older collection. Did I “steal” their songs? Absolutely not. To steal is to deprive someone of a physical object. While you may argue that the physical object was money, it was never to be had in the first place. Again I would have never bought it in the first place.

What is funny is before 12/16/1997 the act of distributing music for free was perfectly legal in the US, but thanks to the NET ACT this made it illegal. Coupled with the seemingly endless copyright extensions and heavy handed RIAA pursuits this climate we see here today. What has lacked is serious debate about a number of topics in congress and because of that, things like the NET ACT and other favorable laws have crept into the system and has perverted this marketplace.

RIAA has always been an 800-lb gorilla anytime something changes their business model. Reel to reel tapes, 8 tracks, DAT, CDs, Mini Disc, iPods have all served as some form of catalyst for RIAA challenges. Must we forget when the Rio PMP 300 hit the market in 1998 RIAA tried to make it illegal or that when you purchased a cassette tape there was a tax built into it to compensate RIAA (but not the artists). And for those in previous pages that has been on this “illegal this” and “illegal that” tip, let’s remember RIAA has played a major role in illegal activities like price fixing in downloads and price fixing of CDs. RIAA has not allowed for real free market competition.

The time has come for real reform and a level playing field in the music industry. Let’s investigate copyright laws that reverts back to “limited” ownership. Let’s make works for hire illegal in the music industry so artists control their fate. Let’s make sure that music prices are fair and that all music is available for vendors like Apple.

As the story of the Cheney shooting episode unfolds a lot of the news outlets are of course trying to get to the bottom of the specifics of this event. And while there is a great importance to the specifics of this story, there is a greater underlying theme to this that is getting little media attention. That is how this Administration time and time again is making information opaque instead of transparent.

Over the past five-plus years, this Administration has decided to cherry pick or eliminates information to suit their needs, and this story is no different. The VP office decided to allow the property owner submit a statement to the local paper, but not to the White House press core. Secret Service put oppressive restrictions on the local Sherriff’s office to conduct their investigation and didn’t allow them to talk to Cheney till the next day. Imagine if alcohol played a part in this, we would never know and if alcohol didn’t play apart in this terrible situation it would have ruled this variable out. But instead the VP office decided on a course of obscurity and questions will be raised and scenarios will be talked out next to water coolers across America.

Like in the past, this Administration loves to keep quiet on the meat of a topic. When it came to energy policy they only included oil executives through closed door sessions. When it came to the Iraq war they were heard and heavy to go to war, but gave few details on the why and how (of course later on we know that the why was based on falsehoods and the how was never really planned out). Now we have this same broken record in a new topic.

It is time us as Americans demand transparency from our elected officials, be it local, state, or federal. It’s only with our vigilant oversight can we make sure politicians stay the course and properly conduct the people’s business. It’s clearly evident that this Administration shows what happens when a stranglehold on information happens from the top.

The Washington Post has reported that the 4th Circuit has come down on the side of the us.gov and agrees the president can indefinitely detain a U.S. citizen captured on U.S. soil in the absence of criminal charges. Let me reiterate in the strongest voice: Citizens of the United States of America can be detained indefinitely without the right to due process.This case is not just about Jose Padilla, but about EVERY Americans rights to due process. With the wave of a magic wand, the President can continue to legally declare anyone an Enemy Combatant, detain them without any charges or rights to a trial. Yes what Jose Padilla planned was detestable, but if they cannot bring criminal charges against him, he should be set free.

The ruling technically limits the president’s power to detain Padilla to the duration of hostilities against al Qaeda, but the Bush administration has said that war could go on indefinitely.

The framers of the Bill of Rights made sure that due process was guaranteed, but now in the coward ness under the veil of terrorism that right is no longer guaranteed. This is another sad day for rights and we continue to become that which we at one pointed vowed to fight against.

It has been all over the news this past week. Elliot Spitzer, currently New York State’s top cop and vying for the governors chair for the next election (a spot that will be vacated by Pataki), settled a deal with Sony/BMG for $10 Million in a massive payola uncovering. Many in the industry knew this was going on, time and time again artists music has been marginalized by the industry. But now this case of payola is about taking it to the next level, and against the radio stations, controlled mostly by Clear Channel, Radio One, and only a couple of other big names, and putting the final nail in the homogenization of public radio.The stage is set, Spitzer has handed crucial records over to the FCC. For 15+ years radio has been eaten up by the big radio conglomerates and force fed play lists, and now it has been proven that those play lists were tainted by promises of money, music tickets, equipment, hell the sky is the limit to the lengths that record companies went to get heave rotation of the best and worst artists.

Clear Channel has now been subpoenaed by Spitzer and one can only imagine what will be dug up (that is if there hasn’t been any evidence destroying). With the pressure that Spitzer is placing on radio and record companies, this could result in the breakup of radio as we know it. Once again real radio with real program directors could step to the stage and program their play lists without the payoffs. If not, more and more people will flock to digital radio (XM, Sirius) and abandon AM and FM.

The synopsis of the situation? Most people in the US are by definition centrist, and hold a combination of conservative and liberal beliefs. Unfortunately modern newscasts and other media and the insatiable thirst for dirt has given the opportunists on both sides of the fence an unjustified loud voice in their crusades.

The solution, the centrist majority needs to speak up, and take control of the country again. The problem, most centrists are uninterested in politics, and if they don’t rise to the occasion, the fundies on both sides will continue to rule the airwaves, and rule the law of the land.

I haven’t read John Avlon’s book yet (Independent Nation : How the Vital Center Is Changing American Politics), but from the 4/14/2005 interview with Jon Stewart I can only agree with his synopsis. People like GW Bush, Tom DeLay, Pat Robinson, Ted Kennedy, the list goes on, have a stranglehold on politics at the moment. I would consider Dean, McCain, JFK, Clinton, and Roosevelt middle of the road people, but the right and the left will continue to try to redefine what is conservative, what is liberal, and the masses get confused.

As I said in another post on the ArsTechnica forums, lately the Republican movement has successfully be able to alter the definition of the ‘L’ word, and now it seems to encompass the middle of the road ideals. Look at Rove in 2000, slinging a cornucopia of mud at McCain, probably one of the most level headed centrists on the hill right now. Look at 2004, where both the Democrats and the Republicans did everything in their power to destroy Dean.

It is thought that things will get worse before it gets better, and I have to agree. The insatiable appetite for news bits and dirt has this country distracted on the real issues at hand. Any time a hot topic comes out the spin machine goes into OD (Schaivo/”Culture of Life”, DeLay/”Democrats are the Devil”, Iraq War/”WMD”, etc…)

We as a people need to rise and demand better from our government, but alas we are not in a period of time that will allow that to happen, for many years to come there will be extreme views on a variety of issues (Patriot Act, Abortion, Judiciary) and extreme policy will probably be enacted, the question remains when will the straw break the camels back?

It seems like a wonderful opportunity. Live in an area with a cornucopia of employment opportunities, and establish roots in your community. But for the residents of Montgomery County, MD, the American dream to own a home is farther out of reach than one can imagine.Since 2002, property assessments have climbed an astonishing 65%. For current home owners this is a double edged sword, while they may be able to sell their home for significantly more than what they purchased it for, obtaining a better home can be out of reach. For those that like their home, the high property taxes can threaten short and long term financial outlooks.

At the end of 2004, the average price for a home in Montgomery County was $491,440. For a 30 year loan at 6% interest, with no down payment, which averages out to $2946.43 per month, plus if you have no money for a down payment, Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) will add another $425.00 per month. Even with a average income of $75,000 single, or $105,000 with children, a new home is virtually unattainable.

There is a rash of price increases on non detached homes. Town homes are becoming ubiquitous and luxurious, and condo owners are taking unheard of steps and buying two side-by-side units, and turning them from what was once a $300,000 - $400,000 unit into a near $1,000,000 prize.

Now the housing market in the Washington DC metropolitan area is quite unique when compared to the rest of the country. There are a number of professional jobs that pay very well; many of those are federal jobs which are typically more secure than their private sector counterparts. There is a large flux of commuters from as far as West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and even Delaware that make the long trip into the area, and public services are plentiful and are of very high quality.

For a newcomer into the market, home ownership is nearly unattainable. There are incentives available for lower income families (2+ kids) to reduce the cost of a new home, but for the majority of residents, if you did not get in before the 2000 boom, you are virtually out of luck.

Yes there are alternatives to Rockville MD in this region, but there are negatives to those alternatives. Moving as little at ten miles north of Rockville can add on 30+ minutes in a one-way drive. Commuters from 30+ miles can spend two to four hours a day in their car and that is without a major accident. The region is rated third-worst in the nation, and you can expect to see congestion on the roads for eight hours a day.

This all raises the question of livability in Montgomery County MD, Rockville in particular. While good money can be had (my household income is slightly above average for the area), the cost is the unattainable American dream. I can expect never to afford a new house unless the markets busts, and even with a small condo purchase equivalent to the size of my apartment (1300 square feet) would cost $2570, an increase of $700 from my rent. This is about the only achievable option that I could ever afford, even on my above average salary, and the likelihood to upgrade from that small condo would be difficult.

This is probably why I will leave the region when a good opportunity presents itself.

So President Bush has been sworn into for another four years in office. With 51% of the vote, Bush claims a mandate, and will certainly push his agendas forward with vigor. The questions remains, what will be pushed, and who will be caught in it’s wake?

Taxes

Bush has stated time and time again, he wants permanent tax cuts, and with the Republican led Congress and House, he will probably get what he wants. Never mind the real question of “where will we come up with the monies later on”, Bush is impervious to any negative feedback (on this and any other item, this is why he does not read/watch the news).

So what will this do for the future? Well if the Iraq war continues at its current pace, and any other conflicts come up, expect continuous debt laden request for more monies for those actions.

Social Security

The Democrats plan a direct stand against tampering with Social Security, and as long as the media helps them out on this one, it may be a battle won. A plethora of experts are warning against any current tampering, and even though Bush is not getting the picture, the issue might die out. I’d keep a close eye on this one.

Bush’s whole argument is Social Security is in dire straits, when in fact we are around 25-30 years before any preemptive action should be taken according to leading economists. This does not stop Bush’s fight, and as we all know now, shout something loud enough it must be true (e.g.: 71% of Americans thought Iraqi’s took part in 9/11, Bush’s flip-flop hoopla against Kerry, Swiftvet ads, etc.)

Covert Agencies

In the first term we had a pseudo-Ministry of Misinformation, now it seems that Donald Rumsfeld’s secret unit will get more powers. [MSNBC Article]. This unit is off of the Pentagon, and Rumsfeld alone has broad authority over clandestine operations. It seems that this secret agency is out of the control of the Congress, and is yet another example of the eroding freedoms and virtually non-existent checks and balances we now face.

Gay Marriage

Unquestionably, God Gays and Guns helped Bush claim victory in the swing states, but will he follow through. There are some in his inner circle that say Bush will let the issue die out, but bet your bottom dollar, the Religious Right in the country will fight tooth and nail to get it in the federal books as an Amendment. It looks like there is not enough support for this to ever made into law, but, it’s frightening to see the amount of bigotry and fright emanating from the right side of the aisle. If anyone thought that we were moving forward in the civil rights fight, you better recalculate your bearings, the right will make sure that we move backwards.

Abortion

I really wonder where GWB’s heart lies on this issue. Again, like Gay Marriage, the religious right wants to control the morality of the universe, but I think GWB will stay far enough away from abortion not to change Roe v. Wade directly. This is not to say that he won’t try to make smaller, incremental changes, but I think he feels that the party might suffer because of that.

War

Bush invaded Iraq on bad intelligence, but yet 51% of the country voted him back in, and with Bush’s stance that “accountability has passed”, [ArsTechnica Article] expect another invasion at some point. Possibly Cuba, Iran, Syria or some other countries that rub us the wrong way.

Summary

This will be a very interesting four years to come, not that I am personally looking forward to it, hopefully history will show that things were eventually corrected.