“Ask Gov. Scott! Anything!” (In 140 Characters Or Less, That Is)

"Ask Me Anything (In 140 characters or less)!"

Gov. Rick Scott claims that he wants to be open and transparent, in spite of criticism that he’s given very limited access to reporters, and in spite of the fact that he refused to talk to newspaper editorial boards during his campaign. Yesterday, when asked about that, he had this to say:

Scott shrugged off criticism from the media that his administration had ejected the press from public meetings, cherry-picked reporters from news organizations whose coverage he considers favorable and lagged in responses to public records requests.

On the campaign trail, Scott promised voters that his administration would be open and transparent, Orlando Sentinel editor Mark Russell reminded the new governor.

“What specifically is your plan to address this failure of a campaign promise?” Russell, speaking on behalf of the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, asked.

“I do press conferences. I do gaggles. Anybody can come to those so everybody has access,” Scott responded, adding that his office is processing 30 public records requests. “I feel very comfortable that we’re very open.”

As for his being “open” with voters concerns? Apparently Scott’s idea of being “open to the public” is by them asking him questions through Twitter. He plans to hold a “Twitter Town-Hall” tonight at 7:00 P.M, claiming he’ll answer as many questions as possible. So, providing that lots of questions don’t overload and crash Twitter (which often happens) this may be your only chance for an answer over your concerns.

Hey, it could be worse! This way you avoid those pesky velvet rope lines the reporters are subject to in those press conferences!

So by all means, ask away!

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“It’s Not What You Say That Matters, It’s What They Hear”

This is refreshing to read in a newspaper:

But as Republicans smelled serious opportunity in the midterm elections, they didn’t let facts get in the way of a great punchline. And few in the press challenged their frequent assertion that under Obama, the government was going to take over the health care industry.

That paragraph is from today’s St. Petersburg Times, and appears in their article PolitiFact’s Lie Of The Year. I think they deserve a great deal of credit for calling out their own.

The article is the kind of reporting the news media should do a lot more of. Facts are good things, and as the saying goes, knowledge is power. Had these facts come out a long time ago the health care reform law may have turned out quite differently.

The article illustrates how the Republican Party set out to sway the public against health care reform and attack President Obama. To do so they used self-proclaimed “Word Doctor” Frank Luntz, the consultant whose slogan is “It’s Not What You Say That Matters, It’s What They Hear,” which seems fitting as a motto for the Republican Party as well. The Republicans turned to Luntz for a similar “snow job” in an attempt to kill financial reform, and he also played a roll in Newt Gingrich’s “Contract For America.”

To construct the big lie for the GOP Luntz came up with the term “government takeover.”

“Takeovers are like coups,” Luntz wrote in a 28-page memo. “They both lead to dictators and a loss of freedom.”

The line stuck. By the time the health care bill was headed toward passage in early 2010, Obama and congressional Democrats had sanded down their program, dropping the “public option” concept that was derided as too much government intrusion. The law passed in March, with new regulations, but no government-run plan.

We’re still hearing the words “government takeover” and the Republicans like the term so much that it’s become interchangeable with just about every issue out there.

The lie worked, in that it got the health care bill watered down considerably.

But that’s not enough for the GOP. They’re working to kill it altogether. 20 states, with Florida in the lead, have filed a lawsuit claiming the law is unconstitutional. Earlier this week, a judge in Virginia actually did rule part of it unconstitutional, but that judge also owns between $15,000 and $50,000 in a GOP political consulting firm. No conflict THERE of course, right? Did someone say “Government takeover?”

No, the Party that’s willing to hold the poor and unemployed hostage, along with DADT, The DREAM Act and national security with the START Treaty in order to get more tax cuts for their rich friends and contributors (not to mention themselves) have no qualms about robbing you and those very same people of a chance at getting health care. So expect more of the same in the future.

In fact, they’ve already begun:

An influential Tea Party group is urging Congress to hold votes in January to repeal healthcare reform in its entirety, according to a confidential memo to congressional Republicans.

The FreedomWorks memo, obtained by The Hill, outlines a strategy that starts with holding a vote in January to repeal the entire law. The group, headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), said Congress should then hold repeal votes on certain provisions of the law, such as the individual mandate.

“Repeal is achievable, possibly sooner than many expect, because the American people clearly want and expect repeal, and because the law is vulnerable to effective repeal,” the memo said.

“Because the American people clearly want and expect repeal.” Do you want and expect repeal of the health care law? Because Dick Armey SAYS you do.

“It’s not what you say that matters, it’s what they hear.”

There’s also more to Congress than meets the eye. You see, you may think you know who you elected to go to Washington to fight for you, but you really elected “wordsmiths” and “blowhards” like Frank Luntz and Dick Armey. Those new Republican “leaders” come January who you see crying like babies who claim they’ve harnessed the American Dream are really just puppets who have sold out. They’ve sold you and the country out as well.

We need more exposure to the GOP’s “big lies” from the media. We can’t afford to let the truth get drowned out, or we’ll only “hear” from these guys.

The puppet-masters.

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Gift Ideas For The “Misinformed” In Your Life

Just a couple of questions:

1. Are you one of the struggling 98% in the country who aren’t millionaires or (insert pinky “Austin Powers” style here) billionaires and find yourself low on holiday gift funds, and

2. Are you wondering what to get for the person who has everything, but is a woefully misinformed FOX viewer?

If so, I have a suggestion, and it won’t cost you a dime:

WEAN THEM OFF FOX

I know, I know. You’re probably saying to yourself “easier said than done.” Sure, maybe. But hey, it’s worth a try, and if it works they’ll be forever grateful.

This item below isn’t news to many of us, but FOX watchers desperately in need of a “misinformation intervention” are only hurting themselves, and things are probably only going to get worse. A recent poll warns that greater exposure to FOX “News” leads to increased misinformation. Go figure.

From Think Progress:

Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe that:

– Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely) (91 percent of those who watch Fox News “almost every day”)

– Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points) (72 percent)

– The economy is getting worse (26 points) (72 percent)

– Most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring (30 points) (60 percent)

– The stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts (14 points) (63 percent)

– Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points) (49 percent)

– The auto bailout only occurred under Obama (13 points) (56 percent)

– When TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it(12 points) (38 percent)

– And that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States (31 points)(63 percent)

Why not give the gift of “sunshine” to a FOX viewer in your life? Unplug their television and try to reason with them. Show them the poll results. Tell them FOX viewing “leads to the stupid” and hurts all of us in the long run. Better yet lead them to a computer and point the browser to Media Matters For America for a real eye opener.

Do it for them, AND the rest of us.

Truly a gift that will keep on giving.

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Facts The Media Omits About The Health Care Reform Law

Here are just a couple of things you’ll see and hear very little about in the mainstream media about President Obama’s health care reform law:

On the ruling yesterday that PART of the health care reform bill is unconstitutional:

Henry E. Hudson, the federal judge in Virginia who just ruled health care reform unconstitutional, owns between $15,000 and $50,000 in a GOP political consulting firm that worked against health care reform.

Most of the reports I’ve read and heard on this are neglecting to mention Judge Henry E. Hudson’s ties to the GOP.

Then there’s this, which surprisingly many people are still unaware of:

Clients lobbying on H.R.3200

Just an FYI for those who actually believe that lawmakers have only the best interests of their constituents at heart.

As hard as it is to believe, there are those who actually do.

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Rachel Maddow Debunks The GOP Election Narrative

Rachel Maddow debunks the Republican’s election narratives one by one. Every argument they’re making is covered and Ms. Maddow does an excellent job of steering you through all the smoke and shattering every last mirror.

If you haven’t seen it by now, do yourself a favor and watch it.

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Scarborough Pot Calls McConnell “Pathetic”

For three solid hours this morning, Morning Joe was an anti-Obama, anti-Democrat propaganda machine. I know, that’s what it always is, but this morning it was turned up several notches. I know because I reluctantly endured most of it.

It was also like free advertising for FOXGOP-TV, and goodness knows THEY don’t get enough air time. Thanks to Joe, Mika and the gang of parrots at the regular round-table, they hit all the bases.

So pardon me if I don’t find this little bit of really bad play acting on Joe’s part believable. He calls Mitch McConnell “pathetic” for saying this:

“The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.“

Yes, I agree. It’s pathetic. But so were the other 179 minutes of Morning Joe (minus the ads) this morning. It always is. It’s about as close as you can get to FOXGOP-TV without actually being on FOX. I guess Joe is so bad they don’t even want him. Why MSNBC still does is beyond my comprehension. He’s an insult to those on the network who actually do the “real” news.

Of course, while Joe was busy playing Miss Scarlett without the fan, his “team” made up for it. Seriously, just look at the delight on Mika’s face along with the rest of the group.

Yes, it’s a pathetic statement. Almost as pathetic as Joe himself.

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Rick Scott: Hiding From Editorial Boards Now Too?

“One of the most important things in races is that people really know as much as they can about how somebody thinks.”

That’s a quote from Republican candidate for governor, Rick Scott. It’s also a pretty hypocritical one, coming from the candidate who:

• Refuses to release his tax returns
• Refuses to release a deposition in one case in spite of ONCE being urged to by members of his own party
• Escaped charges after running another that was fined for Medicare Fraud
• Runs from debates with opponents

Just to name a few.

The quote above was actually the answer RIck Scott gave when he was asked how important debates would be against his opponent in the race, Alex Sink:

Scott was asked how important the upcoming TV debates will be with Democratic opponent Alex Sink. “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before,” Scott said. “I take them seriously, and I think it’s a way for people to learn more about the candidates. One of the most important things in races is that people really know as much as they can about how somebody thinks.”

Seriously. He “doesn’t know.” But that’s not all.

One thing missing from my list of other things Rick Scott avoids is appearing before editorial boards as is customary for candidates before elections. Scott wouldn’t sit down with them during the primaries. The St. Petersburg Times asked Scott if he would meet with editorial boards this time around.

His answer:

“I don’t think we’ve made a decision on that. I’ve got to talk to Susie,” Scott said, referring to campaign manager Susie Wiles.

He hasn’t made that decision yet. But why?

Isn’t “one of the most important things in races is that people really know as much as they can about how somebody thinks” to quote Scott’s own words?

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USF: BP Less Than Cooperative With Undersea Oil Research

Researchers from The University of South Florida investigating the BP oil spill said today that BP isn’t cooperating fully with requests for oil samples in regard to testing undersea plumes.

“I’ve tried to get a piece of the oil from the BP representatives and it was met with some resistance,” said David Hollander, a chemical oceanographer at the university. “I was just taken aback by it. It was a little unsettling. I was hoping for a little more cooperation.

“There’s 50 million barrels in their reservoir,” Hollander added. “I’m sure they could spare one.”

The researchers are concerned that the dispersants used by BP are depriving sea life of oxygen at those depths.

“If we deplete oxygen to levels where you can’t sustain life, that’s a very big action,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, is planning to meet with David Nagel, an executive vice president for BP, on Wednesday in Washington.

“USF’s findings of deepwater oil plumes are of grave concern to the tourism and fishing industries, which rely on clean beaches and clean water for their livelihoods,” the congresswoman said today in a statement. “We must hold BP accountable for this environmental and economic disaster.”

Meanwhile the news media continues to focus on whether “Obama is angry enough” instead of focusing their attention where it should be: on the previous administration who play acted their way through the last eight years in front of the cameras, while working behind the scenes creating this mess in the first place.

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