Younze

Local Politican takes money to cast favorable vote for a Comcast takeover of NBC.

If any of you out there is interested in getting any kind of legislation passed, we now know how to go about it. It may cost a little bit but it could be worth it. It seems to be worth it to ComCast. You see, they "contributed between $1000 and $25,000 to Congressmen to "buy" their votes to allow Comcast to merge or rather buy controlling interest in NBC, CNBC and MSNBC so they can decide what programming YOU can watch and what views only they want you to hear and see.
And guess who we all know locally is the beneficiary of a greased palm? Yep! You betcha! None other than our esteemed supporter of Big Business, Jason Altmire.

So it looks as though all anyone needs to do to get Altmire to vote a certain way is to give him some cash. But it needs to be at least $1000. It's amazing how he and 83 other members of Congress have prostituted themselves for cash over the desires of their constituents.

You can look at this in a really political way and just assume that Altmire was accepting a campaign contribution. Yet he signed a letter promising to support ComCast's buy out of NBC...and then he got money from Comcast. 1+1= a bought vote no matter how you cut it or how he tries to spin it.
Makes you wonder how much he got from the health care industry for voting against the healthcare bill (remember, Jason worked for UPMC and MAY still have ties to it!), you know, the one that helps out so many people...or rather so many big businesses.
Call him up and ask him why he supports the buyout when Comcast is owned and operated by an Ultra Right Wingnut Republican who wishes to have just Right Wing Propaganda broadcast...with no dissenting opinion - just like FOX. NBC is the only media network that presents opposing views to the Republican Party. If that goes away, we'll have a Right Wing State run news organization just like Germany of the 1930s.
And Altmire claims to be a Democrat. Sorry folks. He's a Blue Dog Democrat in case you didn't know. And they are worse than Republicans. Jason and they will lie to you about being moderate Democrats but vote with the Republicans the majority of the time against the wishes of their and his constituents. Of course I shouldn't say all his constituents. He votes the way the wealthy 3% of this district demands and claims the rest didn't come to his meetings to tell him how they feel. Of course, when they did show up and voiced opinions against his, he ignored them.

Hey jason, why don't you just do the right thing and "man-up" as your buddy Sharon Angel says and grow a set and become a member of the Republican Party you spend so much time emulating and defending?

There's another word for politicians like Altmire. Actually, there are many words to describe politicians like Altmire.

(in appropriate voices)
Late Night: December 24th, 2013: Washington D.C. The Oval Office: The White House

White House Chief of Staff John McCain briefing the President:
John McCain: I know it’s late and I’m sorry to interrupt your watching reruns of Dancing With the Stars. Our men at NORAD have confirmed a bogey flying south across the North Slope on a track heading toward the Aleutians then to Guam. I must emphasize, Madam President that we don’t know the intentions of this unidentified object or whether it is a potential threat.
President Palin: Thank you John. As you know, we can’t take any chances with possible unfriendlies. It’s possible this was a diversionary tactic from inside the Soviet Union with the intent of a surprise nukyular attack on America from Cuba.
John McCain: Russia! It’s now called Russia, Madam President.
President Palin: Since when did they change the name?
John McCain: It happened in the early 90s, Madam President.
President Palin: Why wasn’t I informed?
John McCain: It was in all the papers and on the news, Madam President. But of course that was before you became president.
President Palin: Is Russia part of the Old Soviet Union?
John McCain: (sigh) After the Berlin Wall fell, the Old Soviet Union ceased to exist and they unified into what is now present day Russia.
President Palin: Then that’s why I said that I could see Russia from my porch. Frank. See that explanation gets into our media so they understand I stay well informed. (Press Secretary Frank Luntz nearly trips over himself getting to a phone to have Roger Ailes set the story for National Fox News). Well, do we have any intel that it could be the Sovi—er, Russians?
John McCain: No, Madam President. All we know is an unidentified object is speeding south toward the Pacific.
President Palin: Well, that’s a frightening thought. Something like that could scare our Asian Allies and jeopardize the wonderful trade agreements President Obama set in motion. This could have a really bad effect on business!
John McCain: Madam President. I’ve already consulted with the CEOs of the corporations involved and may I tell you, they ARE concerned. This could affect their profits for days to come!
President Palin: Has there been any new information?
John McCain: Vice President Beck has just informed us that the object has passed over Japan and is heading for Australia via Southeast Asia.
President Palin: This is too serious. I think we need to go to Depcon 9.
John McCain: Madam President, it’s DEF-CON and they only go from 1 to 5.
President Palin: Gotcha. I knew that. I was just testing you. Who do you think you are, Katie Couric?
John McCain: No, Madam President.
President Palin: Well, we can’t have this…this intruder cause havoc to our business allies. Is our National Guard ready?
John McCain: For what, Madam President?
President Palin: To go into action to stop this obvious Rooski threat!
John McCain: We don’t know if it’s the Rooskis…er Russians, Madam President. No, the National Guard doesn’t handle this sort of thing. Besides, most of the Guard is still in Afghanistan, Yemen and South America following your orders.
President Palin: They would have when I was governor. Well, we can’t take a chance. Do we have any boats in the area that can intercept that thing?
John McCain: Ships, Madam President. We have the Pacific Fleet there as always and they are ready.
President Palin: That’s…good? Can you have the Yorktown or Lexington move into position? See? I can too speak about things I know.
John McCain: Madam President. The Yorktown and Lexington are no longer with us.
President Palin: What? Did that peace-nik Clinton decommission them?
John McCain: Madam President. The Yorktown and Lexington were sunk during World War II.
President Palin: I suppose that was in all the papers, too?
John McCain: Yes Madam President. Again, that was before your time. Probably why you don’t recall.
President Palin: Ok, then. So do we have anything newer that could handle this situation?
John McCain: I’m almost certain we have newer equipment to handle almost anything.
President Palin: Well, Ok then. It’s time for major decision making. That’s what American Business elected me for. Have this bogey brought down at all costs.
John McCain: Madam President, isn’t that a little drastic? We still don’t know its intentions. It could be a Sov- er, Russian aircraft with communication problems. We also…
President Palin: Don’t dally, Johnny Boy. We can’t take a chance on something this dangerous threatening this great nation. And after all, we ARE the only ones who care enough to protect the world.
John McCain: But Madam President…
President Palin: Not another word! I want this threat removed immediately. Shoot it down…NOW!
John McCain: (Sigh) Yes Madam President.
John leaves the Oval office and phones the Joint Chief of Staff:
John McCain: Rush, The President wants this unidentified thing shot down immediately.
Joint Chief of Staff Limbaugh: You got it.
Twenty minutes later, back in the Oval Office:
John McCain: Madam President, I’ve been informed that the unidentified object has been destroyed but…
President Palin: Great work John. See to it that everyone gets a bonus for this. Yep. You betcha. No one screws around and threatens good ol’ U.S. of A. business ventures and gets away with it.
John McCain: Madam President. The USS Nimitz found the wreckage scattered over a wide area of the Pacific and…
President Palin: Good! Is any of it identifiable?
John McCain: Madam President. I have the unfortunate duty to inform you that you just shot down Santa Claus! Toys and games destined for good little boys and girls all over the world are now heading to the bottom of the Pacific.
President Palin: (Stunned disbelief) You mean to tell me that there really is a Santa Claus? You mean the First Dude and I have been spending our own money to buy stuff for our own kids all these years? And it’s not a liberal conspiracy?
John McCain: Madam President. I mean to tell you there WAS a Santa Claus until you had him shot down and all the toys and gifts for everyone are now…gone.
An agonizing cry emanates from the couch in the oval office. Vice President Beck sits up and cries out,” What happened to the Gold Santa was bringing me?” and promptly faints.
President Palin slumps in her chair, head in hands, “My God. What have I done?”, she cries. "I understand a couple of Wolves from helicopters and maybe a Moose or two or even a Bear…but SANTA?"
John McCain:It’s ok Madam President. We’ll just claim it was a socialist plot by a gay man who lives and works with lots of small men year round to undermine the American Business System. They’ll believe that.
President Palin: Thank you John. I don’t, I don’t know what I’d do without you.

As John McCain leaves the Oval Office he mutters to himself, ”I should have voted for Obama!”

I’m not sure whether people are so misinformed, uninformed or just plain stupid about climate change. At a store over the weekend, I had the opportunity to overhear an exchange concerning climate change, or as they so archaic and eloquently and idiotically called it, “global warming” (a phrase used totally incorrectly by the morons who deliver you news by TV, radio and print).

These two were proud, self-proclaimed examples of the typical Fox News watcher. They were discussing the “hoax” of “global warming” and how it was a ploy to kill jobs and increase taxes. I couldn’t help myself, it was just too enticing. I asked them how they knew all this and wasn’t surprised when they told me that Beck and Gibson “learned them” all about it. So I asked what the facts were. They told me that hundreds (according to Beck) of scientists disputed global warming. When I asked them to name any one, they said that they couldn’t remember the names (because NONE was ever named by Beck) but had no trouble recalling the 20 minutes Beck ranted about it. I asked them how it would kill jobs. They told me that America would have to shut down electric companies because of the pollution requirements and that would cost jobs. I did ask if the companies polluted, wouldn’t it be better if we could stop the pollution and have the companies still produce electricity using cleaner methods? This caused some confusion.

They then told me that all I needed to see the proof of the hoax was to look at the “cold weather”; that shows there was no global warming. Imagine that! Cold weather in winter! Genius!

Rather than go into more idiotic arguments they had, I asked if they knew what happened when the air warmed, especially air above the Arctic. They looked at each other and said that the snow would melt…but that wasn’t happening, they said. And the pictures of the receding ice in the north and the glaciers in Antarctica were photo shopped and that was just propaganda. Wow! I was impressed!

When I asked them what happens when a mass of air is heated they decided it rises. Good for them. They actually got one right. So then, what happens to that air when it rises? Well, they thought and said it moves. Right again, guys, and when that air moves what happens to the other air around it? Something has to move in to take its place and that causes “wind.” That wind can move pretty fast, right, guys? They agreed. And when that other wind moves, what happens? Well, it takes air from other places. Right again! This was remarkable! Air starts moving all around because some air is heated.

So if that air moves that much, what happens to the weather where the air was? This was tougher. I told them that didn’t it seem logical that the stuff that moved had to be replaced by “other air?” Yeah. And when that other air moves doesn’t it set in motion other air, from other places; cold and hot places; mountains and deserts? Yeah.

So if a large amount of air is heated, rises and moves away and other air has to take its place, tell me about the other air. Is it warm? Not necessarily. Is it cold? Actually it is. When air moves, it cools. This confused them. So I told them to use the analogy of a fire at their hunting camp. It’s nice by the fire but doesn’t the air rushing into the fire and going “up” pull colder air in? Isn't that why your backs get cold but your front is nice and toasty? And don't you have to keep turning around to get warm all over?Well, yeah. Now do you see how air that was artificially warmed can cause changes in the weather? Not quite, they said.

After pulling some hair from my head, I continued. If it’s hotter over the northeast and the air moves and other air takes its place what happens? Oh! Different weather moves in from everywhere. And because it’s winter, that air from the north is colder, right? I didn’t want to go into too much discussion about moisture in the air from the warm waters of the south and how as it cooled (because it's winter and the sun is lower and thus provides less direct radiative heat) would help the air move faster and bring rain that would turn to snow up north.

I told them the same thing happens in the summer only in reverse. Hot air rises faster and pulls in more air. Because the sun is higher in the sky, the southern U.S. is warmer and that air is pulled north making it hotter here. And the hotter it gets, the more air rises and pulls more air from the hot south and we get hotter. Just the opposite of winter.
I could see a glimmer of understanding. It went on for a while. I explained how the air patterns could change the circulation all over the world because of heated air over other cities and countries.

I explained how the chemicals in the air trapped sunlight and therefore increased heat which caused the air to rise starting the process over and over. And if we dumped more chemicals into the air, the air would trap more heat and so on.

Then I really got them going when I explained how the changes in water temperature of the oceans could cause warmer or cooler air over the water and how it would affect that mass of air. It was becoming clearer to them.

The discussion went on for quite some time and they really appeared interested. However, they still clung to the notion that what they heard on TV was true. After all, why would TV (and Fox) lie? More hair removed! I gave them some sites to view and told them to just read the information with an open mind (right!) I then told them that it wasn’t “global warming” meaning everything would get hotter, but instead the warming caused the changes in weather patterns all over the earth, air and water circulation and that affected climate; that it was really “climate change.” Oh! They could understand “climate change”, but not what caused it. Now they had a better understanding of the reasons for the changes.

I told them lastly to listen the next time someone tells them it’s all a hoax. Did the person on Fox provide names, references or facts or just make unsubstantiated statements? Then I told them when they heard “scientists” talking about it to listen closely because those scientists would provide information these two could really check on.

It seemed I made some headway. They both agreed to look into the matter with a little less cynicism. Both told me they had never had it explained to them how this climate thing worked; they just accepted the comments made on Fox, which were offered without proof.
Maybe I helped in some way to quash some of the corporate bull that Fox has spewed. Maybe I instilled a bit of questioning in them so they don’t blindly accept everything anyone says, including me. I told them to get facts from other places and decide for themselves rather than just believing what they hear on TV. Baby steps.

Now, if they just would learn about how corporations and Republicans are using them to make the wealthy even richer… and as I walked away, I heard them discussing who was on WWE that night! Maybe it's not ALL Fox's fault!

Well, one thing at a time.