LIBERADIO(!)

That’s Iran with an ‘n’ (Parts 1 & 2): The Bush administration is a leaky boat – slowly sinking. We now know who’s responsible for the leaks from the White House despite his assertions that “If somebody did leak classified information, I’d like to know it, and we’ll take the appropriate action.” The media is missing the boat on Iran. Except for Seymour Hersh who asks, “Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?” We read a good portion of his New Yorker article in all it’s surreal glory. Music provided by Matthew Grimm. (Part 1, 52:36 12MB)

Thanks to our guest, Donnie Safer, Chairman of the Board for the Tennessee Environmental Council. For more info go to www.tectn.org.

Jamie Kitman has an excellent piece in the NY Times about the new breed of hybrids and their technology called Lifein the Green Lane. Don’t let Big Auto co-op the concept.

Fairvote.org and instantrunoff.com have info about Instant Runoff voting, an excellent way to expand democracy and by making third party candidates viable.

The Compass III Conference is on Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29. Jim Hightower is the keynote speaker. For more info go to TennesseeAllianceforProgress.org.

Earth Day is this Saturday at Centennial Park.

Thanks also to Lonnie, who guest-hosted today and who has his own show on WRVU-FM, Mondays from 9 to 10am. He plays excellent offerings fromAlternative Radio.

The Tennessee Education Association sent out an alert recently that deserves everyone’s attention.

On Tuesday, April 11th, SJR 629, modeled on TABOR, the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, prevents state revenue collected in excess of a constitutional cap from being used to invest in public services without two-thirds support in the legislature for doing so, was passed out of the State Senate Judiciary Committee and is now on its way to the Senate Finance Committee where it could be heard as soon as Tuesday, April 18.

About SJR 629
SJR 629 is a proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim Bryson (R, Franklin) that will constitutionally cap public investments in education, health care, and other programs at their current level. By writing the limit into the constitution, it essentially uses the anti-tax sentiments of one generation to make decisions for generations that have not yet been born.

Since Tennessee is already at the bottom of most national rankings from education to home care for seniors, such an irresponsible cap will virtually assure Tennessee remains at the bottom for generations to come.

The bill is largely inspired by the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, that was enacted in Colorado in 1991. The bill there had such consequences over the years on health care, education, and other public servictes that voters rejected TABOR and voted last November to suspend key provisions of the amendment.

Contact the Senate Finance Committee prior to Tuesday morning, April 18. The message should be that SJR 629 would place a “straightjacket” on the funding of essential state services, including public education. It would tie the hands of future legislatures in attempting to address the changing needs of state government. Contact information for members of the Senate Finance Committee is listed below.

* Douglas Henry (D-21, Nashville), Chair -
615-741-3291 or douglas.henry@legislature.state.tn.us
* Randy McNally (R-5, Oak Ridge) Vice-Chair -
615-741-6806 or randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us
* Doug Jackson (D-25, Dickson), Secretary -
641-741-4499 or doug.jackson@legislature.state.tn.us
* Tim Burchett (R-7, Knoxville) -
615-741-1766 or tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us
* Ward Crutchfield (D-10, Chattanooga) -
615-741-6682 or ward.crutchfield@legislature.state.tn.us
* Joe Haynes (D-20, Nashville) -
615-741-6679 or joe.haynes@legislature.state.tn.us
* Rosalind Kurita (D-22, Clarksville) -
615-741-2374 or rosalind.kurita@legislature.state.tn.us
* Jim Kyle (D-28, Memphis) -
615-741-4167 or jim.kyle@legislature.state.tn.us
* Jeff Miller (R-9, Cleveland) -
615-741-3794 or jeff.miller@legislature.state.tn.us
* Ron Ramsey (R-2, Blountville) -
615-741-4524 or ron.ramsey@legislature.state.tn.us
* Mike Williams (R-4, Maynardsville) -
615-741-2061 or mike.williams@legislature.state.tn.us

(Hat tip: Mr. Barry @ PITW)

The Washington Post reports that the Bush administration pushed the notion that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction despite evidence to contrary.

No, no, no. This is a new report. As in, even more evidence that we were lied and manipulated into war where people are dying.

SJR 127 House Subcommitte Vote – Wednesday, April 12 – 11:00am in the House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee in Room 31 of Legislative Plaza. Please come if you can. Remember, SJR127 has already passed the Senate Floor by 24-9 vote. We need to stop it in the House Public Health Subcommittee.

Women’s Get Out the Vote Reception – Wednesday, April 12 – 4:30 – 7:30 P.M. – at the Nashville Children’s Theater, 724 Second Avenue South (directly behind Howard School ). Event is free to all women – take advantage of early voting at Howard School. RSVP to nwpc@nashvillewpc.com or 664-3382. For more information, visit www.nashvillewpc.com.

“The Iran Plans,” by Seymour M. Hersh (New Yorker). Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb? Step aside, Dr. Strangelove. If you read one story this week make it this one.

Media Matters: Media Left Unanswered Questions about NIE Leak Disclosure

Hilarious! According to GayCityUSA.com’s Hanky Codes, VolPac is gay!

Froomkin asking questions about Iran.

Crashing the Gate Book Signing sponsored by Drinking Liberally (turning a red state a gentle shade of purple), 6 pm on Thursday, April 27 at Mafiaoza’s. Jerome Armstrong of MyDD.com and Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos.com, signing THE must-read progressive book of the year, Crashing the Gate.

SJR127: Subcommittee Vote – Wednesday, April 12 at 11am. SJR127, the dangerous constitutional amendment which would amend the Tennessee Constitution and remove the right to abortion, will be heard on Wednesday, April 12 at 11:00 a.m. in the House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee in Room 31 of Legislative Plaza.

Judicial Candidates Forum. Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 pm – Sponsored by the League of Women Voters Nashville. A candidate forum for the upcoming May election. Howard School Auditorium.

Al Kamen picks up on some subtle signals sent out by VolPac as part of their invite to the “5th Annual VOLPAC ‘06 Weekend.” Who knew they were so progressive?

Seymour Hersh in this week’s New Yorker has the scoop on our rogue President’s plans for Iraq. Oops, I mean Iran.

Hersh writes: “A government consultant with close ties to the civilian leadership in the Pentagon said that Bush was “absolutely convinced that Iran is going to get the bomb” if it is not stopped. He said that the President believes that he must do “what no Democrat or Republican, if elected in the future, would have the courage to do,” and “that saving Iran is going to be his legacy.”

One former defense official, who still deals with sensitive issues for the Bush Administration, told me that the military planning was premised on a belief that “a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate the religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government.” He added, “I was shocked when I heard it, and asked myself, ‘What are they smoking?’”

And this: “One of the military’s initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites.”

This reminds me of the end of Dr. Strangelove. Read it in all it’s surreal, Groundhog Day glory here and start pressing the Democratic party leaders in your state to pass a motion like this one.

“President Bush and Vice-President Cheney should fully inform the American people of any role in allowing classified information to be leaked.” The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, said the news showed Mr Bush was willing to leak information for partisan gain, and could “no longer be trusted to keep America safe”.

It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. President Bush and Vice President Cheney were willing to leak classified information to justify their war. A war where several thousand Americans and countless Iraqis have died. A war with thousands of “tactical errors” and no clear exit strategy. A war that is the fountainhead of a bungled foreign policy.

Poll Prediction: Bush at 34% (35%, tops). Cheney in the single digits. Political Prediction: The President will distance himself from Cheney starting *looks at watch* now. Cheney will retire in June/July to “spend more time with his family.” McCain or Frist? McCain. Let the Scooter bashing begin…now!

Breaking News from The New York Times: “Rep. Tom DeLay will announce on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election and will leave Congress within months, according to congressional aides.”

THE ‘BLAME EVERYONE ELSE FIRST’ GAME: Tom Delay gave an interview to Fox News today. They asked him why he decided to give up his seat. His answer: “Why? Well, this campaign actually started over a year ago. It’s very nasty. Every leftist organization in America is down here in Houston. I just realized that my constituents don’t deserve this. They deserve a Republican.”

Now, I don’t like to revel in other people’s misfortunes but this answer is why I will be doing the Snoopy Dance when he’s forced, as part of his plea bargain, to give his mea culpa Duke Cunningham-style.

Party of Personal Responsiblity. yeah. uh-huh.