A Determined Voice Lost in the Wilderness

Excerpt:
How does a writer of best-selling books get classified as “censored?” The answer, according to PEN Oakland spokesperson Kim McMillon, has much to do with the state of U.S. media.

“The average American does not see the type of reporting that Greg Palast is doing,” McMillon said. “The average American gets their news from FOX, CNN and the talking heads at ABC, NBC and CBS. What has taken the place of real journalism is reporting that is safe and will keep the public calm.”

Jake Shimabukuro plays "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Because excellence should be shared
BB

"Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern

Glenn Greenwald
Friday December 7, 2007 04:42 EST
"Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern
The New York Times' revelation that "the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency's custody" conclusively demonstrates obstruction of justice which, if Michael Mukasey has an ounce of integrity or independence, will be the subject of a serious and immediate criminal investigation. While the revelation is obviously significant, it is also is part of a long-standing pattern of such obstruction.

Heckuv a job DHS

Feeding off the Pentagon

Another nepotistic contract deal from this Administration. Ahhhh the list goes on.
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How did a former Bush official win an $800 million Department of Defense contract for his healthcare firm? That's what government watchdogs want to know.

By Mark Benjamin

Dec. 4, 2007 | WASHINGTON -- In April 2007, William Winkenwerder Jr. retired from his position as assistant secretary for health affairs at the Department of Defense, where he had been in charge of all military healthcare. On June 1, he went to work for a Wisconsin-based private contractor named Logistics Health Inc., which hired him to serve on its board of directors and "advise and counsel LHI on business development," according to a company press release. It was a hire that seems to have paid quick dividends.

FEAR OF CHAVEZ IS FEAR OF DEMOCRACY

GOP panicked that counting votes in Venezuela will spread to Florida

by Greg Palast
Monday December 3, 2007

The Family Bush can fix Florida. They can fix Ohio. But it’s just driving them crazy that they can’t fix the vote in Venezuela.

[Note: Watch the reports taken from the Palast BBC investigations in Venezuela in the newly released DVD, “The Assassination of Hugo Chavez.“]

The Bush Administration and its press puppies - the same ones who couldn’t get enough of the purple thumbs of voters of Iraq - are absolutely livid that this weekend the electorate of Venezuela had the opportunity to vote.

FCC commissioner Michael Copps vs. "Big Media"

FCC chairman Kevin Martin wants to relax rules on how many media outlets one company can own in one market. Democratic commissioner Copps wants to rally the public to stop media consolidation.

By Louise Witt

Dec. 3, 2007 | Michael Copps doesn't want to be called a crusader. But as one of the two Democrats on the five-member Federal Communications Commission, he's not shy about sounding biblical. He says he's "blowing a loud trumpet" for a "call to battle" to stop the FCC from giving big media a generous Christmas present.