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Serbian Prime Minister Assassinated
Russ reports in from Belgrade as the situation unfolds.
Hawks and doves
circle Washington:
Beyond the war against al
Qaeda, there's another anti-terror struggle being waged
within the U.S. foreign policy establishment itself. The
point of contention: To attack Iraq or not. The
combatants fall into two camps: the Saddam Hawks and the
Saddam Doves. On the outcome of their struggle may hang
the prospects for peace or war in the first decade of
the 21st century.
The Real
Mexico:
Fed up with Cancun? Russ escapes
the Planet Hollywood throngs and thongs for the colonial
elegance of the old Yucatan city of Merida.
President Bush brought Ken Tomlinson in as
his broadcasting czar with a mandate to rid
public airwaves of perceived liberal bias at
PBS, the home of Frontline, Sesame Street,
Nova, and (when Tomlinson came on board)
Bill Moyers. Now, having already been canned
for improprieties in that witch hunt, he is
under investigation for alleged misdoings
while holding a second administration post.
Among other things, he is being
investigated for using his office to oversee
a stable of racehorses named after Afghan
rebels, as well as more banal corruption and
self-dealing, including
improperly putting a friend on the payroll,
repeatedly tasking government employees to
run personal errands, and over-billing his
hours to the government. Due to a lack of
press coverage, few Americans know about any
of this – nor how it is part of a larger
pattern of cronyism, self-dealing and
flat-out madness in this administration. Though they publicly
bemoan the “culture of corruption,”
Democratic leaders and operatives privately
acknowledge that they see no means of
regaining power without cozying up to the
real “special interests.” And so, albeit to
a lesser extent than the republicans who now
control all branches of the federal
government, the would-be reformers find
themselves fighting the quicksand of
corporate entanglements. Though they profess a need
for campaign finance reform and other
policies that prioritize the common good,
many key figures in the Democratic pantheon
personally earn a living helping corporate
interests advance the very causes that their
party publicly deplores.
A new study by the Real News Project,
a nonprofit noncommercial investigative
reporting entity I founded, shows the extent
of the problem. Examining 25 key Democratic
consultants, advertising and public
relations execs and lobbyists, we discovered
a veritable witches’ brew of odious
agendas…….
When, oh when,
will the U.S. “mainstream media” finally stop
hemming and hawing, parsing and understating?
When will they simply go for the jugular to
confirm what any thoughtful American has already
learned from “less reputable” but increasingly
relevant alternative information sources: that
from the beginning of the Bush administration,
invading Iraq has always been as much an article
of faith for the president as, well, promoting
faith over reason?
This is no joke: The
president’s top domestic policy adviser, Claude
Allen, was arrested and charged with a scheme to
rip off retail stores by "returning" items for
refunds that he had not actually purchased.
Behind this sad incident lurk two interrelated
calamities of the Bush years: the continuing
placement of the dubiously-qualified in high
positions, and the use of people of color as
window dressing for policies that harm
communities of color.
Now that the press has come alive over the
hunting accident, will it investigate the bigger
scandals where Cheney plays a central role?
With all the
enduring
mysteries about the Bush Administration’s
doings, one looms as large any: Why was Michael
Brown in charge of protecting Americans when
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast? A new
investigation released earlier this week by Real
News reveals why Brown—a man
with virtually no experience in government or
management of any type, and no familiarity with
disaster response—secured the job of chief of
America’s disaster response.
To understand
the partisan nature of the Abramoff scandal,
look at who cared about tribal interests
before
they met Jack.
Whatever Bob Woodward
did or didn’t do
, should or shouldn’t have done, knew or didn’t
know, several lessons can be drawn from this latest
of media scandals—and none of them speak well of
journalism as it is practiced at elite levels today.
The
notorious Times
reporter is only a symptom of the disease affecting
political journalism.
The narrowness of the Scooter Libby indictment shows
again the limitations of “the system” in confronting
the sheer magnitude of an entire government
subverted, and with it a proud people, from all that
we once revered. For those disturbed by the deceit
and the intrigues, the reckless warmongering, the
wholesale looting of the common trust to benefit the
privileged, the clampdown on rights and liberties,
the unconscionable enthusiasm for torture, the
embracing of a Know-Nothing attitude toward science,
the hastening of environmental collapse, the buying
of the legislative process and the neutering of the
judicial one, waiting for indictments is no longer
sufficient.
Everyone with a vested interest in minimizing the
significance of any
Watch them cry and shout! With the colossal
screw-ups over Hurricane Katrina, even Fox News
Channel reporters were furious at the
administration. Read the amazing story of the
media’s late wake-up call on the Bush
Administration’s priorities and competencies. Also,
follow the links to watch STUNNING footage of
reporters gone wild!
The
real reason Bush wanted war with Iraq – his own
explanation….
New, by Russ Baker, on TomPaine.com
Well,
wasn’t that some excitement over the unmasking of Deep
Throat? Besides resolving a long-standing mystery, the
revelation came at an especially auspicious moment.
Investigative journalism desperately needs a boost right
about now. Here’s why – and how.
Were you inspired by Bill Moyers' recent speech about
media reform? Here's your users' guide to making it
happen.
Most of
us have an ethical and/or religious framework which
influences our beliefs about morally complex issues like
the right to die or abortion. For too long, the
religious right has dominated the discussion of these
issues. Now, besides the Schiavo
case, we have pharmacists getting in between doctors and
patients and refusing to honor prescriptions of which
they don’t approve. It’s time for the reasonable, the
balanced, and the fair to regain the upper hand. Here
are some ideas for achieving that.
January 28,
2005 - TomPaine.com
January 07,
2005 - TomPaine.com
April 22,
2004 - TomPaine.com
April 06,
2004 - Tompaine.com
March 22,
2004 - TomPaine.com
February 20,
2004 - TomPaine.com
February 13,
2004 - TomPaine.com
February 02,
2004 - TomPaine.com
January
30,
2004 - TomPaine.com
January
29,
2004 - TomPaine.com
January
22,
2004 - TomPaine.com
January
20,
2004 - TomPaine.com
January
09, 2004 - TomPaine.com
Traditional Values, My Wallet!
Heard of
the Traditional Values Coalition, the group trying to ban
federal funding of human sexuality studies, along with
legalized abortion and just about everything else? Russ did
a little digging into the organization’s cash flow – and
found one traditional value: nepotism.
Marshall
Plan for Revitalizing American Democracy
When will
we say ‘enough is enough’ to mediocre presidential
candidates and issue-lite
campaigns? Here’s a proposal for improving the quality of
the presidential field and raising the level of discourse.
The Unilateral Party's Over
Voters
traditionally consider Democrats less capable than
Republicans on foreign policy. But is that true? To test
that notion, compare Bush's go-it-alone war on Iraq and
Clinton's multilateralism in the Balkans.
Bush
Moves On
Thanks to
President Bush, we no longer have to wait for others to let
us off the hook. Now we can simply move ourselves on.
All Spin, All The Time
In the White House where nothing
matters but politics, no unfounded claim requires correction
or apology. Russ examines all the Weapons of Mass
Destruction claims that vanished like hot air.
News Without a Compass
What happens when ambition and
scoop-lust blinds top media? Russ looks at Judith Miller’s
bizarre Iraqi chemical weapon exclusive.
Passive And Mute?
Why are
those who opposed the war in Iraq left feeling like they
opposed freedom? Russ explains the White House tricks that
turned the tables on the real humanitarians, and what the
humanitarians should have done about it.
Dubya's
Profound Double Standard
Russ details the president’s resolute commitment to
hypocrisy.
QUESTIONS OF FAITH
A
long-time reporter has some questions for Mr. Bush,
including, "Can you explain, in your own words, the
concept of separation of church and state?"
'Lovely
Outrage'
Serbian journalists think
American media outlets are too provincial, nihilistic
and timid.
Belgrade: Iraq Through A Balkan Lens
Past
U.S. Efforts Shed Doubt On Post-War Rebuilding Of Iraq,
writes Russ from former Yugoslavia. "If this place is
indicative of the U.S. commitment after the bombs stop
falling, the future Iraq won't be a pretty picture."
The
Rogue Police Union:
Patrolman Phil Caruso and lawyer Richard Hartman
built the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association into an arrogant, insular,
and wealthy institution that stands above the law and beyond scrutiny.
Where is the $63 million a year in tax funds and union dues going? Only
their friends know for sure.
The Man Who Sold Out School District 12:
Kenneth Drummond redefined
“chutzpah.” How many school board officials and health
center presidents freely raid the till and put their
crack-addicted girlfriend on the payroll? Read Russ’ tale of
a man who couldn’t say no – and, for years, didn’t have to.
Putting the Cult Back In Culture
Breaking The Faith: - A Close Look at Covenant House:
The sexual abuse was one part of a
bigger story. Russ looks at the broader failures at this
famous home for runaways.
Card
Sharks: Low-Interest Credit Offers Can Bite Back:
A growing number of consumers are being financially squeezed
by what many contend to be the blatantly unfair and
misleading practices of the $1.2 trillion credit card
industry.
Washington
Monthly
Jan/Feb,
2004 -
The Washington Monthly
April 25,
2004 - Washington Post
Serbian Prime Minister Assassinated
Russ reports in from Belgrade as the situation unfolds. |
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