Create your own web pages the free and easy way!Tripod!: Become a member and create your own web pages!Links to my many essays revealing what the media avoids!Imladris!: An alternative to the spoon-fed media!In 1998 this web site was created!: The charter!
Great web pages by other people!Check it out!: 10/21/1998 I copied my bookmark.htm file and posted it to this web page so those of you interested in seeing what bookmarks I actually have marked can take a look!
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IMLADRISAn alternative to the Spoon Fed Media!
Caveat: Please forgive the loss of formatting of this article. Items have unintentionally been altered as paragraph headers have blended in with the body of the material in the tranference of this article. I nevertheless present it with introduced errors regardless as this article forwarded by Rich Slick is a liberty torch beaconing what the media could be. (Like Shakespear I take liberty making up words like beaconing). While I am the first to puke at the horrendous stupidity or evil of the spoon fed media, we do have hero's out there. One is Rich Slick who has the knack for collecting and presenting events and news relevent to all people regardless of partisan politics. If you believe in truth and justice I urge you to support the great efforts of Rich Slick. In this email from him, he includes an article by A.B. Stoddard of ABC news. The article is so intelligent and well written as well as free of the spoon fed media bias that Ms. Stoddard should be recognized for her excellence. If more media journalists had her brilliance I would have to stop calling the media spoon fed altogether (however Ms. Stoddard does stand alone in her excellence as I see it from here and my cool subtitle shall remain ... an alternative to the spoon fed media. Anyhow, read on if you would like to see that now and then there are good journalists in the media. Eoroneth From the Home of Rich & Peggy Martin Grand Prairie, TX 75050 RichSlick@aol.com It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice. _______________________________________ INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY Long time readers know how I feel about lifting the embargo on Cuba, and it's not because of any love for Fidel. He could probably beat Hillary out in the NY Democratic primary next week, but in Texas, he's the south end of a horse heading north. Communism is a proven failure as an economic theory---but it's still better than the Batista dictatorship that preceded it. But when people like the honorable Rush Limbaugh suspect Elian is being given drugs, I wonder if he knows about Ritalin in the public schools. Everyone thought it was cool when Elian was treated to Disney World, but show no remorse for cutting off the medicine and food he'll need to live a full life in Cuba. If it's immoral to return him to Cuba, shouldn't we also keep his 12 little classmates from returning to the land of their birth too. At least until their parents and all their relatives come the USA to insist on their return? A little common sense would go a long way. On the other hand, the same can be said for the deep hatred for Castro. Rich Martin Editor of Slick ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Trading With the Enemy? Movement to Lift Cuban Sanctions Gaining Momentum By A.B. Stoddard W A S H I N G T O N, May 26 After setting aside Chinas dismal human rights record this week in a historic vote to expand trade, Congress now finds itself divided by another bitter trade battle over a communist nation. But organized labor and big business, which fought to kill the China deal, can sit this one out. This showdown will be over Fidel Castro. The same Republican leaders who this week rallied support behind a bill to grant permanent normal trade relations to China are now trying to block moves to lift a ban on shipping food and medicine to Cuba. But as Castros foes struggle to block any thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations, they are finding that the Elian Gonzalez custody battle has become more of a hindrance than a help to their fight. The great value of the Elian Gonzalez episode was that it focused the attention of the American people on the way in which this aspect of our foreign policy is dominated by a small group of people, said Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., who helped write the legislation that would lift sanctions on Cuba as well as Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and North Korea. Unlike in past years, when the Cuban-American community was able to defeat such maneuvers, Hinchey said the Gonzalez case backfired on them, and hurt their cause. There has been a sea change and I think the majority of the people in this Congress have come to the very logical conclusion that maintaining these sanctions against Cuba no longer serves the interest of the United States, its clearly contrary to the interests of innocent civilians in Cuba and that our policy in Cuba has been dictated by a minority group of ex-patriots from Cuba. Stalling for Support Hinchey and others have attached their egislation to the annual agriculture- spending bill. For more than a week, the same House leaders who whipped up support for the China trade bill have delayed debate on the Cuban sanctions measure while trying to gather votes against it. But a House GOP leadership aide admitted it will be tough to hold a majority on the Cuba vote. Its a major issue. We think we can beat it back but it's a major issue. The aide agreed that the Gonzalez case hasn't helped, the anti-Castro cause and has provided the forces for warming relations with an opening. Over time they have gained more influence, he said. Missing the Boat Rep. George Nethercutt, the Republican sponsor for lifting the sanctions, is fighting his leadership to keep the measure on the final bill. Although his farmers in Washington State would like to sell their peas, lentils and wheat to Cuba, Nethercutt said money is not the bottom line. It's not just the agriculture side but the humanitarian side we Republicans and the national legislature is missing the boat on, he said. Why are we opening all trade barriers to China, but were not willing to provide food and medicine to Cuba? There's an inconsistency here. Unlike Nethercutt, who supports PNTR for China, Hinchey voted against the landmark trade bill. He said the situations are different, but that Cuba shouldn't have sanctions when China doesn't. There's a great deal of political hypocrisy here, he said. Old Battles The fight over Cuba sanctions, which have been in place for decades, is an old one. In fact, the same tussle took place last year on the same bill. While the House side didn't approve lifting sanctions, the Senate did by an overwhelming vote of 70-28. When a House-Senate conference met to reconcile the two bills, members of that panel had the votes for lifting the sanctions. Proponents say leaders intervened and hijacked the bill. This time, Nethercutt thinks he has the votes. Why do I think so? Because they wont let us take it up, he said, adding, we've got a lot of people supporting our position. Closer to ground zero in the struggle over Cuban relations, Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., is one of those members who once supported sanctions but has changed his mind. Boyd said he now believes the ability of Florida farmers to export its citrus and winter vegetables is more important than trying to starve out Castro. Having served with Cuban- Americans in the Florida Legislature including the two Cuban-Americans representing the state in the U.S. House Boyd once sided with Cuban-Americans on all their issues. Boyd now acknowledges that he did so, not understanding all the ramifications of Cuban politics. Therefore, he deferred to their beliefs. Boyd said he was shocked that the Miami relatives of Elian Gonzalez defied the law, the courts and the attorney general, insisting the young boy be removed by force. Boyd was further disappointed by the support such actions received from elected officials. As a result, he said, I began to rethink my deference. Clintons Objective? Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., a fierce Castro critic and possibly the most outspoken federal lawmaker on the Gonzalez case, admitted that the custody battle might have hurt his cause. Probably the way the case went, it could have emboldened the pro- Castro faction, he said. Smith complains that President Clintons goal all along has been to normalize relations with Cuba. Its because of the opening that Clinton saw here in the Gonzalez case to create a more amicable relationship. Castro will owe Clinton after this, said Smith, adding that Clintons influence could have an impact on the outcome of the sanctions vote in Congress. For some who are on the fence, he will be pressuring those people as he did on China, he said. With Congress on recess for Memorial Day, Sen. Blanche Lambert Lincoln and Rep. Marion Berry, both Democrats from Arkansas, are leading a delegation of Arkansas farmers to Cuba to assess the trading possibilities for themselves. Arkansas is the No. 1 rice-producing state in the nation. And being 90 miles from our border it certainly stands to be an excellent opportunity for us in trade, she said, adding, hopefully we can enhance the quality of life in Cuba. Lincoln predicted another overwhelming vote on the Senate side this summer. Powerful Tandem But a GOP source said another powerful lobbying group has joined the opposition: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which also opposes lifting sanctions on Iran and Iraq. AIPAC and the Cuban community are working hand in hand on this, he said. One ardent anti-Castro Democrat, Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, said he believes there is enough support among Republican leaders that even if the Senate votes overwhelmingly to lift the sanctions, the move could again be voided in a conference committee. It would be a tragedy if, in the face of Cuban intransigence, with no democratic reforms, a deteriorating human rights situation, the United States were to unilaterally change our policy, he said. It would be a confirmation to Castro that he never need modernize, never release people from jail and never respect any human rights. That's exactly how it would be interpreted. Nevertheless, proponents are confident they will soon see victory on the sanction fight. We are prevailing. Its just a matter of time, said Hinchey. Were banging on the door and its beginning to creak. You can see the splinters beginning to show. A.B. Stoddard covers Congress for ABCNEWS. Her column appears each Friday on ABCNEWS.com. This is a closed list, however, you are encouraged to respond to any message at Slick- D@egroups.com To have your address removed, send a blank email to SlickMisc-unsubscribe@egroups.com No muss, no fuss. What could be easier? Eoroneth
Eoroneth@hotmail.com
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