This morning Jay Rosen called for the retirement of Michael Skube, an assistant professor of communications, whose opinion piece in the LA Times yesterday is full of factual errors and outright unprofessional conduct in critiquing blogs and internet reporting sites, without even consulting such sites before trashing them.

Mr. Rosen has now received an invitation to write a "blow-back" piece for the LA Times, rebutting the piece by Michael Skube.  Rosen's diary is here.  And it is to Mr. Rosen's diary that I am directing any readers.  Please spread the word and the link.

Because Mr. Rosen wants your help to write this piece.  He is specifically looking to document how news is at times broken by websites or bloggers.  He has some ideas already but is looking for assistance in documenting about 7-10 diverse ways in which blog site have done original reporting.
Once again, don't bother with this diary.  Please read Jay Rosen's diary, which explains what is needed from the dkos community, why it is needed, and how you can help.  Here.

Over at TPM Cafe, reader "mtg" has just located what appears to be Deep Modem's blog..  There is a HUGE amount of data on this blog, which, inexplicably, stops on April 13, 2007.  Look particularly at posts from 2006, where the writer "Constant's Pations" gives far more detail about topics posted at TPM Muckraker last month and before.

All of this is happening as a big controversy has broken out over whether Deep Modem is a computer geek or computer "crackpot" and whether there is any process that Deep Modem has provided - for others to follow "step-by-step" as Mrs Panstreppon would like.  TheraP at TPM Cafe is asking for your assistance in following up on these new writings and making a determination about whether it is possible to glean from them a process others can make use of:  legal; technical; auditing; or activist.

This is a very short diary and apologies for that.  But right now you can help by checking out the link to "Constants Pations's" blog and reading for further information.  Your assistance is much appreciated.

"Contemporary Lives of Moral Commitment"

It's a book on my bookshelf. Bought at a time of conscious commitment. When certain activities needed to be reported. That would affect our family, and our financial situation. And it did. The effects dragged on for a long time. And the book was comforting, probing "the mystery of unselfish action," not a "rational cognitive judgment," but rather "courage, commitment, and character."

Case studies are presented: "the beliefs, motivations, and actions of 23 extraordinary altruistic Americans."

I write this because someone, somewhere knows information that needs to come out. That person is perhaps struggling with how to do that. That person probably knows, better than the rest of us, what is at stake and what the risks are, the risks of not telling – and, the risks of telling. And I urge that one person to read the book. Or search your conscience. And find a way.

Today's NY Times:

Business Section: Full Page ad by Northrop Grumman

          **The Art of Information Warfare**

Title of the ad is set over a glaring face of Chinese Emperor Sun Tzu.

Includes this quote:

 "Nobody develops IT solutions that ensure mission success like Northrop Grumman."  Tied in with "superior information will lead to victory."

And this quote:

  "Our expansive range of solutions ... can be customized to government."

I'm not sure if there is another level of outrage and horror I could rise to here!!  The ultimate of the corporate state bragging about itself - bush and IT run amok!  "Victory" is now associated with victory over us! And they brag about it in speeches.  They brag about it in ads.

There is a little time and space left for ACLU ads (main section of NY Times today)  and our words here.

 BUT HOW LONG?

Here is something practical we can demand from Congress.  We should shout this from the rooftops, post it on telephone polls, demand it from our legislators, and send it everywhere on the internet:

    Until our Congress sentences itself to remaining in Washington and in session (through holidays if necessary!), until they have done everything to stop the current administration from writing more and more secret directives, which shred the Constitution and belittle the citizenry, we are under a de-facto dictatorship, with the willing participation of our elected representatives!

We must get all our representatives to understand that everything in congress must STOP and is meaningless until they turn their total attention to eradicating the current administration's ability to stay there for ONE MORE DAY!  Every day wasted is another day for them to plot and plan and make our voices mean nothing because we will be hearing them echo in lonely cells as one by one we lose all our liberties!  Right now, this is the ONE THING and the only thing that matters!

As long as bush is sitting in the White House it apparently makes no differerence what laws congress passes:  The bush white house believes it can govern via secretly signed presidential memos.  Thus we have no way of knowing what is really happening in the government.

No amount of anti-torture legislation will solve the problem.  No amount of anti-spying legislation will solve the problem.  No amount of legislation to prevent arrest and imprisonment without charge or trial will solve the problem.  Things will simply be done under cover to allow torture, spying, and imprisonment.  

We are at the point of having to do something to remove these guys from seats of power or the power to do so will evaporate - AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!

Liars have a certain "advantage" over truth-tellers.  When you tell the truth, you have only your one story.  Liars, on the other hand, have infinite variations of the "truth" and are always making up new lies and continually weaving them into the fabric of reality.

Maybe a "good lie" works because it uses many pieces of the truth and then distorts and up-ends other pieces.  It's possible that some people, hearing the many accurate facts, overlook the inaccuracies and downright distortions and, yes, lies.

...more pondering below...

bush's critics (OK, guilty as charged!) are accused of trying to "rewrite history."  So apparently it's now a war on history!  Double speak:  Reality based = rewriting history.

bush also vows:  "We will never back down.  We will never give in.  We will never accept anything less than complete victory."  It's obvious.  This man will never change!  And history must change instead.  

I'm expecting the new reason to fight on in Iraq will be to make sure that history records what bush needs it to:  The deaths of these soldiers must not be in vain.  They died to uphold "bush history."

We are now the enemy - we're trying to rewrite history folks!

As far is this battle is concerned, "Bring it on!"

Juan Cole coins a term:  "to libby."  "To libby" is a combination of:  "fib"  "lobby" and "libel."  

He explains this further:  "So the sense would be of lying for the purpose of convincing a large number of persons to adopt some policy that was bad for them. Thus, "the pitchman libbied his audience to buy snake oil as a way to treat their gout." Or, "the mole libbied the public on behalf of a foreign power." That could be definition 1 in those numbered entries at Merriam Webster."

To read the original, click on: http://www.juancole.com/  and scroll down to "New Word: to libby."

In essence "to frame" - with all the connotations that has, including "frame" as a political tool.  In fact, using the term "to libby" becomes an ideal frame in itself.  Use the term "to libby" to "frame" this administration's habitual use of lies and libel to lobby the public through the press.  It simply turns the tactic around on those who perfected it!

Harriet Miers, I honestly feel sorry for the lady.  

But this whole affair warrants a word being coined.  Some have said already she was "borked" by the right.  Actually, I suggest she was "miered," and by that I mean she was undone by her own over-reaching in the absense of competence.  That this person in charge of the nomination should allow her own name to be put forward is far worse than the bork fiasco, where he, at least, did not name himself.  But "miered" means a person lacks the good sense to even know how their position might be seen - until it's too late!

At this point we see many "miers in the White House - chief among them being "The Chief."  Will this man ever realize what he's wrought?  Will he, surrounded by sycophants and toadies, speaking only to groups that have been pre-screened or are sworn to salute, ever notice his "leadership" is evaporating?  

Miered.  That's a sad commentary on this whole administration.

As far as I'm concerned, if there is a competition going on as to who can pledge the most money to help tsunami survivors, then so be it!

If only our nation truly had the world's best interests at heart and used its wealth to assist: people, the environment, health, education, and so on.  If only instead of war and torture and oppression, we spent our energy and our citizenry to help others at home and abroad.  If only the desire for power and rampant consumerism were checked and we as a nation chose the path of peace and true compassion for our fellow persons and this planet.

We need a "competition" here regarding how much or in how many ways we are prepared to contribute, not just for disaster relief but for building a better world where equality, justice, compassion, peace, generosity, and a desire for each person to realize their own personal best in terms of giving and caring and contributing comes first.

Search your heart and pledge your commitment.  Find your way to contribute.  And do this for the rest of your life.

Today's NY Times reports further information on the scandal related to inclusion of language in the Omnibus Spending Bill, which would allow congressional leaders and their designees to have access to IRS tax records without penalty of law.

Nancy Pelosi has called this a "taxpayer persecution provision."

EVEN WORSE, the Times article also reports that such authority (to peruse private tax records) may already be granted to two congressional committees, one in the House, another in the Senate.

According to the Times, John D. Schofield, spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee, said that authority is already granted for some senior members and staff assistants of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finanace Committee "to have access to revenue service offices."

DOES THIS MEAN THAT ALREADY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR TAXPAYER PERSECUTION?

If anyone knows what authority these legislators actually possess, when it comes to private IRS tax records, please provide a link or the information itself.

After this weekend's last minute discovery of a clause in the Omnibus Spending Bill, which would allow for congressional leaders and their designees, without legal penalty, to review tax records held by the IRS, it is imperative that we find some "rapid response" method for quickly reading and devulging the contents of any bills sent, with little time to read them, for debate and voting.

Just as we had "election protection" for voting, I suggest there is a compelling and immediate need for volunteers to read legislation that comes up for the consideration of members of the House and the Senate.

I envision a list of volunteers, sufficiently large so that each would have no more than a page or two to read, for such a purpose.

Once the legislation is provided to the members of congress and their staffs, it should also be immediately available over the web and parcelled out to citizen readers, who can be on the lookout for any provisions that might infringe our civil rights and so on.

Have you noticed how Repubs are currently using the term "Democrat Party?"

Seems to me they want to eliminate "Democratic" from the lexicon, because it sounds more like "democracy."

For Republican Party, I suggest we begin using:  REPLUBLICULT!

For their edicts or explanations: POOPAGANDA!

Google cult or fascism if you need any proof.  The Republicult utilizes a type of incest, joining religion and politics, thus subverting the constitution.  Use of prayer groups and other means to circulate propaganda. Prayer groups all over the government. Strict enforcement of beliefs. Means testing for scientific postions:  "Does he or she support the president?" Use of code words.  No longer is the government offical sworn to "uphold the consitution," instead it is to "support the president." You can add to this list!

If we do nothing, soon our entire Republic will be the Republicult and 1984 will be a child's story in comparison.

Boycotting Christmas is the least we can do!

Republican Morality and Governance - for Dummies

*
Part 1 - First Principles:

    Apocryphal:  "I am Devine and you are de Branches."

    Gospel:  "By their fruits you shall know them."

*
Part 2 - Your Government - 3 Branches - Principals & Principles

    White House:  "Kissing" Cabinet

    Congress:  House - Justice "Delayed"

                    Senate - "Spectre" of Justice

    Supreme Court:  Promote "Porno Justice"

*
Part 3 - Take Action!

     True Blue Christmas - shop only for necessities from Thanksgiving through New Year

    (True Blue Christmas? See previous diaries)

Join the growing movement for a True Blue Christmas.

Refrain from shopping other than for essentials from Thanksgiving through New Year.

Wondering how you can celebrate Christmas without presents?

Think of how you celebrate Thanksgiving.  We don't need hype, commercialism.  We simply enjoy being with friends and family, having a celebratory meal together, relaxing.

Be stressfree over the holidays.  Reflect on what the Season means to you.  

Make use of your outrage and helplessness as this administration spins everything out of control.

TRUE BLUE CHRISTMAS - make it yours this year!

.. and join the Movement for a True Blue Christmas.

The CIA purge is just another example of "business as usual" in the bush administration.

Answer their purge with your purge!

Write your Christmas wish list.

 Then think about how bush is purging people in the CIA for speaking the truth.

 Strike items from your list one by one.

 Let each purged item stand for one more thing that irks you, things like:  untrammelled voter suppression/intimidation, illegal pre-emptive war, a newly re-ravaged environment, unacceptable deficits and tax-giveaways, as well as contempt for "family values"-- seniors' well-being, women's rights and our kids' education. Add your own. And strike that gift for each one.

SPEAK TRUTH WITH YOUR DOLLARS!!!!

More below:

Washington insiders today tipped this reporter off to the Bush Administration's answer to anticipated problems with Social Security when "too many Boomers" reach retirement age, as noted by Greenspan earlier this week.

Because they constitute too large a group for the Social Security System to cope with, Boomers will be getting a new program all to themselves. The transfer will automatically enroll all Boomers in Social In-Security as soon as they reach retirement age.

Social In-Security can never be in peril, says a Bush insider.  It turns Social Security inside out!  No need to spin gold from straw or sprinkle stardust and wish upon a star.  Simply get used to the insecurity!  There's more where that comes from!  There will never be an end to it!