The third and final year of Moyers & Company comes to an end on January 2 and I am writing to assure you that this time it’s the real deal. You may recall that we had originally raised the funds in 2011 for a two-year series but when I announced last fall that the end was near, thousands of you wrote imploring us to reconsider. My long-time funders came forward with a renewed commitment to a third year of support. How could I say no?

But as the end of the third year approaches it’s time finally to sign off.

I do so as the luckiest fellow in broadcast journalism for having been a part of public television for over half of my 80 years. I never expected such a full and satisfying run at work I could love so much, and I am deeply indebted to everyone with whom I have been associated on this long and rewarding journey.

As President Lyndon Johnson’s domestic policy assistant I was “present at the creation” when we held the first meeting at the Office of Education to discuss the potential of “educational television.” The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 became law the year I left the White House to return to journalism. I believe in our mission as strongly as ever, and if you want to be reminded of the importance of what public television does, watch the statement President Johnson made when he signed the Act.

http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/15/special-announcement-from-moyers-company/

It's been a good run. http://billmoyers.com/2014/09/29/good-run/

Nope, Mr. Moyers. It's been a great run. Thank you so much. I cannot imagine who can fill your shoes, but this country sure needs him or her.

To paraphrase Colbert, "It's not funny, 'cause it's true."

I usually LOL at the Daily Show. However, through no fault of the Daily Show, this is did not make me laugh.

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/

I don't know if any other network, besides the Comedy Network, is doing this story. If not, what a commentary/condemnation on our msm!

even if someone gave me one. Also, I am very clear that no one is going to give me one, let alone the exact pony that I would choose if I were the pony picker/breeder.


I know there will be deviations from what I would love to see happen in D.C. so I don't have a checklist that I place side by side with a list of anyone's votes and speeches and cross people off my list when I see variances.

Although I am always leery of kabuki, I believe that Elizabeth ia smart, hard-working and honestly gave her very best shot at making student loans more affordable. Additionally, she speaks for the 99% against big business often. For me, those things alone will take her a long way. (Perhaps that is more a sign of my resignation than it is of my realism. Fine line.)

I do wish that we did not have so many barcalounger warriors in D.C. I also wish that Democrats and Republicans did not seem so bent on filling Congress with veterans as seats in the House and Senate open up. But, it is what it is.

IOW, no, this vote alone does not turn me against Warren. On the other hand, if I ever smell a love of kabuki theater, or chronic insincerity, or corruption, she will be toast in my mind. So far, I don't.

Then again, I have never compared Hillary to him, either.

I would not even compare Dimson to his father or Reagan.

That fucker and that whole fucker of an administration was in a class by itself.

At least I hope and pray so. Never want to see their like again.

Fact is, you know squat about what people who post here do IRL, politically or otherwise.

Fact is, if they had succeeded, they would have faced here the same thing people who are urging Bernie to run as a Democrat in 2016 are getting now, and then some. All the bs about challenging an incumbent being certain to elect a Republican.

Also, please stop pretending that having a staff, all the political and politically inclined celebrities a call away, having billions of dollars lined up via donors, the media in your pocket and an already established organization is the same as being someone who is unhappy with the direction of the Democratic Party since it became the New Democrat Party.

You and those who pretend that same thing while knowing better. Please. Stop.

About every other other day, I read on DU how the population of DU does not reflect Democrats in general. So, I guess everyone Ed Shultz showed or interviewed on his show tonight must have been a DUer.

Let's start with Senator Harkin, who said that there is a general feeling that the "center" has moved too far to the right. Who knew he and all the people who gave him that general feeling post at DU? Wonder what his screen name is.

A few other Iowans, not famous (that I know of) who Ed interviewed said they wanted a real primary. One's face lit up when said he really wanted to hear more from Bernie Sanders (after Ed had named Biden and a few other Democrats). One said he wanted as many people as possible in the primary. Several said Hillary had to be taken left.

I don't know how Ed knew all of them were DUers. They weren't wearing signs or anything. They never said they were DUers. However, every single person Ed approached sounded just like the supposedly highly atypical population of DU. Ergo, they all just had to be DUers, right?

Some of the mixed reviews from Iowans can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/14/politics/hillary-clinton-iowa-hamby/

I want these things.


Drinkable water

Breathable air

Good health care that everyone who needs health care can access, including appropriate, humane care and facilities for segments of the population with special needs, like mental and emotional illness

Our Constitutional rights, no word games, just our rights

Clean elections

People in office, including in federal agencies, who actually represent voters and the general public, not lobbyists and big business

Peace

Jobs with safe working conditions and fairness to employees for everyone who wants a job

Protection from retaliation if we want to unionize

Affordable, safe housing and efforts to end homelessness

Affordable, good education

Safe cities and towns, safe from criminals and safe from rogue law enforcement

Did I mention jobs?

A fair, progressive system of taxation

An honest, reliable banking system

Maybe a couple of frills, like some safe, well maintained national parks and something like the BBC

Oh, and jobs.

What do you want from government?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025537798

(Thread in General Discussion).

As you all know, unions are among the strongest supporters of the Democratic Party, in both donations and person power. But this past Sunday alone, I saw on TV two pot shots against unions.

The first was in the MTP (NBC) interview of Senator Sanders by Chuck Toad. Perhaps less noticed than other things in that interview was Toad's attempt to get Sanders to disavow union support.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5534145

Shortly before I watched that video yesterday, I had watched an interview of Seth Moulton, who defeated long time U.S. Rep. Tierney (D. MA) in a Democratic primary. The Moulton interview was on a Boston station (same one that employed Scott Brown's wife before he ran for Kennedy's seat) that is an ABC affiliate. The hosts of that show also tried to get Moulton to discredit union donations and support.

Was that sheer coincidence, or is there a concerted effort to shame Democrats about accepting money and help from unions?

If so, how do they justify that in the wake of Citizens' United? It's okay for billionaires, American and not American, to spend whatever to buy elections and politicians, but not okay for US workers and their unions?

If it is some kind of concerted effort by the msm, I hope Dem candidates get some piercing answers ready.

https://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/encourage-senator-bernie-sanders-to-run-for-president-in-2016-as-a-democrat

It's a petition to encourage the Senator to run for President as a Democrat.


There is also a facebook link.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Senator-Bernie-Sanders-for-President-2016/253576231398947

From Senator Sanders' wiki:

Possible 2016 presidential run

In a March 6, 2014 interview with The Nation, Sanders stated that he is "prepared to run for President of the United States" in 2016[6] but did not officially announce a campaign. When pressed on the issue, Sanders said, "If the question is am I actively right now organizing and raising money and so forth for a campaign for president, I am not doing that. On the other hand, am I talking to people around the country? Yes, I am. Will I be doing some traveling around the country? Yes, I will be. But I think it’s premature to be talking about a campaign when we still have a 2014 congressional race in front of us."[6]

TheNutcracker started a thread today on Sanders' appearance on Meet the Press this morning.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5534033

On the thread, in addition to a lot of praise for Sen. Sanders, is a clip valerief was kind enough to post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5534145


Regardless of how you intend to vote in a primary, if you can watch that clip and be indifferent to having Sen. Sanders in the race, even if he loses, this post is not for you.


For everyone else, please show your interest by clicking on both of the links at the beginning of this post and show Senator Sanders and everyone else that we do not appreciate oligarchy.