I was reading the financial news this weekend and saw that Comcast’s “takeover” of NBC Universal (now NBCUniversal – to signify the “unity” between the two corporations) has been completed.  So, we now have an even more contracted “media” since Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  And, the “whimper” we heard for a day or so about Comcast FIRING Keith Olberman died as quickly as I’m sure the executives from both companies figured it would die.  And, “the beat goes on.”  They even did this in what has become the usual “way,” – by firing Olberman on Friday – he announced it himself on his show which airs at prime time on Friday evening – let me correct that – it aired – so one more notch has now been firmly established on the measuring stick of those who are attempting to facilitate the takeover of this nation by purely right wing corporate interests.  I’ve been watching this privitization for over 30 years – and, it’s getting to the point where I have to force myself to think about other things because I’m not seeing much of a clamoring by the American public about what is being lost.

The great irony to me is that the people behind this “takeover” – and, now I’m not talking about Comcast – specifically – but, the corporate execs who appear to be in cahoots to destroy this nation’s government as it evolved after the “crash” of 1929 – use the very principles they are attacking to defend their attack!  That is, they claim to be “taking our nation back” (whatever that means – or should I say, from whomever that means – very confusing to me) and fighting for the freedoms set forth by the founding fathers.  And, honestly, about the only freedom I can see them fighting for set forth by the “founding fathers” would be the right to own slaves – seriously, what else could they be talking about?  I mean, it can’t be freedom of speech – despite the willingness of those on the left to ignore the vitriol – this act by Comcast to fire Olberman is just one example in a long line of the “right wing” slowly gaining a STRANGLEHOLD on America’s media.  The results of the Olberman issue remains to be seen – that is, how it affects the content coming from others who are critical of this corporate vendetta on America’s government.  But, the sad reality is that right wing or right leaning corporations control essentially 90% or more of the media outlets in America.  Newspapers are dying, and the “4th estate” is getting to the point where it is so politicized that it’s important function as the watchdog of the government is fast becoming non-existent.  I mean, where was the media questioning Bush/Cheney during the ramping up of the Iraq invasion.  There was plenty of evidence showing the faulty intelligence – and plenty of people opposed to the invasion – but, the media was intimidated (or something) from reporting it.

Where was the media when Bush/Cheney abandoned the fight against Osama bin Laden and ACTUALLY allowed his escape from Tora Bora into Pakistan – in fact, I’ve read several accounts that claim the CIA actually helped facilitate bin Laden’s and his al Qaeda followers’ escape into Pakistan – with the blessing of Tommy Franks and the American military.  Why do we have to read this in books written by Pakistani journalists?  What has happened to America’s media?  And, what is to happen to America if this problem isn’t addressed?

If you’ve read anything about Karl Marx’s theories of “socialism” you might recognize that he predicts capitalism will essentially self destruct through GREED of the “bourgeoisie.”  There becomes more and more “proletariat” (poor people) as the “bourgeoisie” (rich people) gain more wealth and “The industrial and political supremacy of the bourgeoisie threatens it (capitalism – my insertion) with certain destruction” – “on the one hand through the concentration of capital and on the other through the rise of a revolutionary proletariat” (is anyone paying attention to what’s happening in Egypt?)  I read this with the understanding the working class (or people without employment) will only take the “crap” from the “bourgeoisie” for so long.  In the United States, for some reason, we’ve been almost encouraging a shifting UPWARD of wealth since the days of Ronald Reagan.  What is going to have to happen to wake up our “leaders?”

Corporate interests continue to conspire about ways in which they can gain even MORE control over the electorate in America.  As I’ve stated many times on this website, they are using the classic Goebbels propaganda techniques to FOOL working class Americans to vote for their own self destruction.  And, the reality is that the American workers, African Americans, Americans of Latino descent, and basically the unemployed and underemployed are only going to “take” so much.  That stands to reason.  Anyone who believes an uprising can’t take place in America is fooling him/herself.  Now, don’t get me wrong here – I believe we’re a long way from something such as what’s happening in Egypt – but, not necessarily that far from MAJOR unrest in America’s cities similar to the 1960’s.  There are a lot of people feeling a sense of frustration at what appears to be a hopeless situation regarding the “change we can believe in.”

We are now hearing many of the “progressive” voices in America speaking more “nicely” about our president than they were prior to the mid term election.  Do you wonder why that is?  I believe that there are many, such as myself, who continue to hope that President Obama will somehow morph into the progressive “champion” we thought we were voting for in 2008.  But, a close look at reality gives a much different view – and, I believe many people are no longer looking at him in that “light” but, instead, are comparing him to the alternative.  Because the reality of 2012 is going to be upon us before we know it.  My view of President Obama has evolved to thinking of him trying to be the democratic version of Ronald Reagan.  He seems to have an obsession with bridging the civility gap between the “right” and the “left.”  And, I’m not going to claim that isn’t something which is important.  However, I keep reminding myself of the saying “don’t put the cart before the horse.”  Some of the consequences of this obsession of his could prove to be immense – and, very difficult to recover from – for “we the people.”

First of all, and I won’t dwell on this anymore than I already have (check the archives if you’re interested) – the act of (for all intents and purposes) pardoning George W Bush and Dick Cheney from their illegal actions and those of their cohorts was UNTHINKABLE to me.  Not only did it send the WRONG message to everyone, especially the republicans, but I believe it has allowed people in Obama’s administration to feel comfortable in “crossing the lines” of civility themselves.  Take for example soldier Bradley Manning who was accused of turning over the classified information to “Wiki Leaks” which led to the disclosure of the TRUTH about American diplomacy around the world and other information.  For almost a year now he’s been held in conditions which can only be described as “cruel and unusual” and really amount to TORTURE.  So President Obama’s claim that we don’t “TORTURE” was simply more hot air coming from his mouth.  The “black hole” at Bagram Air base in Afghanistan is still alive and well and essentially taking the place of Guantanamo’s detention facility for U.S. “enemy combatants.”  And, interestingly (at least to me) the person the US is attempting to “broker” as the “interim” leader of Egypt’s “transition” to “democracy” (do you get my cynicism?) is the same person who was in charge of TORTURING all the “enemy combatants” who the United States transferred to Egypt under the “extraordinary rendition” policy of GW Bush – and, evidently a program continuing even today.

Further, after the cave-in on tax cuts the democrats were able to get some “token” legislation passed in the recently past “lame duck” congressional session – like the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military.  However, the price was HIGH and possibly much HIGHER than most people think.  We’ll find out a lot more about President Obama in the upcoming clashes, which are CERTAIN to happen, with the rejuvenated republicans in congress.  Start with the debt limit.  What is Obama going to give up in this next “compromise.”  Keep in mind the last “compromise” over the tax cuts ended with the repulbicans getting EVERYTHING they wanted and Obama and the democrats getting a few “scraps.”  (trust me, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’s” days were numbered either way – and the 13 month “extension” of unemployment benefits did nothing for the “99ers”).  What’s amazing to me is how the democrats always come away bragging about the “scraps.”  I’m honestly nervous about the next “compromise.”

In the process, President Obama came out of the “negotiations” claiming that these tax cuts were going to create “millions of jobs.”  Sound familiar, I still remember Reagan making that claim and at the same time saying he was going to “balance the budget.”  I’ve stopped wondering when the politicians will stop dreaming about this theory (“trickel down” or “supply side” if you will), I just keep wondering when the American public is going to come to their senses and are they going to do it before things get so bad for those at the “bottom” that we have our streets ablaze in violent reaction to greedy politics.  Why do these people keep getting voted into office?  Now, I realize I’m not the only one who was fooled by President Obama – but, to be honest about this, I still remember him drawing reference to Reagan at one of the debates so I shouldn’t be so surprised.  Democrats took offense to it at the time, but no one thought he was really thinking about being the democratic version of Reagan – at least I didn’t think that.  The other day I heard him tout the stock market’s recovery as a sign that the economy is “recovering.”  Well, to all my friends who are “99ers,” who are skilled workers, who’ve been members of the workforce for over 30 years, who WANT to work (sorry Sharron Angle and the other tea partiers – they’re not lazy), wall street’s success while, at the same time, they can’t even get an interview doesn’t cut it!  And, when we read that America’s corporations are sitting on TRILLIONS in cash reserves and are still not hiring people because, presumably, of a lack of demand – I hope you can see the problem here.

Obama and the democrats had the opportunity when he took office to REALLY change the environment in Washington DC.  Yes, they passed some legislation which was much different than what would have come from a republican administration and congress.  But, they did a HORRIBLE job of meeting the challenge of the “JUST SAY NO” republican senate.  The democrats in the senate not only couldn’t get good legislation through, they – in the process – undermined their supposed “colleagues” in the House – helping to dissuade the liberal “base” from voting in the mid-term elections and causing many members of the democratic caucus in the house (and some in the senate) to lose their seats.  The theory that came across – any legislation is better than nothing – allowed the republicans to TOTALLY manipulate the situation and now we’re stuck with a republican led House which is going to do everything it can to fulfill the wishes of Mitch McConnell, Rush Limbaugh, and John Boehner (among others on the “right”) and that is to make sure President Obama fails.

Additionally, what’s next on the horizon for these “right wingers?” I’m certain it’s Social Security!  Will they go after it as the price for an extension of the debt “ceiling?”  Will Obama “cave” again?  These are the questions I have for the almost immediate future.  I can say this – and I don’t get out of my corner of the nation much – but, I have friends who are surviving on Social Security and who are die hard right wingers who’ve bought the Limbaugh and Beck medicine and they will be very ANGRY if Social Security becomes the victim of today’s political “wars.”  I talked to a couple of them yesterday and even they can’t understand why the limit on income which is taxed isn’t raised to easily “fix” any potential problem that could occur in 30+ years.   So, President Obama will get another opportunity to make a stand, this time over Social Security.  The question becomes, will he cave and allow wall street to get their seemingly insastiable greedy hands on at least a portion of the trust fund (which republicans have already borrowed – ughhh!)  Without Keith Olberman, the number of “reporters” who will even dissect this issue has diminished to the point where if any “change” happens on a Friday – possibly the only people who will find out will be the ones looking at issues beyond what they see on Fox “news.”