President-Elect Obama, Congratulations on your victory, on our victories.
Now the work begins. The first order of business will be to re-instate the "Fairness Doctrine" and reverse the policies that have proven so disastrous, even as President Bush rushes to cement his legacy by swinging what the NY Times calls a 'wrecking ball' aimed at destroying rules and regulations on the environment, civil liberties, abortion rights. These are described in detail on the editorial page of the NY Times, So Little Time, So Much Damage, The New York Times. on Election Day.
Call your friends and colleagues from the Obama campaign! Call your Representatives in the House and the Senate. If they are Republicans run against them! If they are Democrats without a spine run against them too! And call the Democrats in leadership positions. Contact Nancy Pelosi and contact Harry Reid. And Congressman Robert Wexler.
The Fairness Doctrine, summarized by Val E. Limburg, on the website of the Museum of Broadcast Communications
The policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission that became known as the "Fairness Doctrine" is an attempt to ensure that all coverage of controversial issues by a broadcast station be balanced and fair. The FCC took the view, in 1949, that station licensees were "public trustees," and as such had an obligation to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance. The Commission later held that stations were also obligated to actively seek out issues of importance to their community and air programming that addressed those issues. With the deregulation sweep of the Reagan Administration during the 1980s, the Commission dissolved the fairness doctrine.
The Bush Administration is doing it's best to cement it's legacy, as described in the NY Times editorial: So Little Time, So Much Damage (Copyright (c) 2008, The New York Times, Tues. Nov. 4, 2008)
While Americans eagerly vote for the next president, here’s a sobering reminder: As of Tuesday, George W. Bush still has 77 days left in the White House — and he’s not wasting a minute.
President Bush’s aides have been scrambling to change rules and regulations on the environment, civil liberties and abortion rights, among others — few for the good. Most presidents put on a last-minute policy stamp, but in Mr. Bush’s case it is more like a wrecking ball. ...
CIVIL LIBERTIES ... in the name of fighting terrorism ... Last month, Attorney General Michael Mukasey rushed out new guidelines for the F.B.I. that permit agents to use chillingly intrusive techniques to collect information on Americans even where there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
Agents will be allowed to use informants to infiltrate lawful groups, engage in prolonged physical surveillance and lie about their identity while questioning a subject’s neighbors, relatives, co-workers and friends. The changes also give the F.B.I. ... expanded latitude to use these techniques on people identified by racial, ethnic and religious background.
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THE ENVIRONMENT The administration has been ... busy weakening regulations that promote clean air and clean water and protect endangered species.
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They have had less success than we feared, but only because of the determined opposition of environmental groups, courageous members of Congress and protests from citizens. But the White House keeps trying.
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Interior also is awaiting E.P.A.’s concurrence on a proposal that would make it easier for mining companies to dump toxic mine wastes in valleys and streams.
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ABORTION RIGHTS Soon after the election, Michael Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, is expected to issue new regulations aimed at further limiting women’s access to abortion, contraceptives and information about their reproductive health care options.
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... Mr. Bush ... apparently has decided not to shut down the prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba — the most shameful symbol of his administration’s disdain for the rule of law.
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