Associated Press: Karen Sloan: 'Liberal Alliance Beat Islamists in Libya Vote'

Source:Associated Press- interviewing a Libyan about their elections.

"Results from Libya's first national election after the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi put a liberal alliance ahead of Islamists, but both sides will woo independents to form a government." 

From the Associated Press

Anytime there is any sign of freedom and democracy breaking out anywhere in the Middle East and Saharan Africa, that's a good sign. This is a region that's been dominated by military dictators, Islamists, and monarchs, for most of its history. And what we might be seeing in Libya today is a sign that major coalition in that country wants to join the rest of the western developed world and not just taste freedom and democracy, but be able to live with it.

Brookings Institution: Robert Greenstein: 'Agreeing to a Budget Deal'

Source:Brookings Institution- Robert Greenstein is the head of the Progressive Washington think tank the Center On Budget & Policy Priorities.

"Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: The possibility that legislative inaction could lead the nation's economy back into a recession next year, could be the impetus to get both sides to agree to some sort of deal.

On July 16, 2012, the Budgeting for National Priorities project at Brookings hosted Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), member of the Senate Budget Committee, former chair of the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and a member of Senate Democratic leadership, for a conversation on the upcoming fiscal cliff, how she views the path to a balanced and bipartisan approach to avoiding it, and what steps she believes can be taken on the expiring Bush tax cuts and the scheduled sequestration. Following Senator Murray's keynote address, a panel of Brookings experts reflected on the current budget situation and prospects for a "grand bargain" to rein in the deficit and spur economic growth." 

From the Brookings Institution

The reason why we have a so-called fiscal cliff and sequester headed to the American economy and U.S. Government early next year, is because House Republicans wouldn't agree to any new revenue, including even cutting expensive tax loopholes, that only benefit investors and businesses,  in these deficit reduction talks. 

House Republicans idea of new revenue is for more economic growth. Their idea for more economic growth is cut more taxes and regulations on investors and businesses, without paying for them, saying that those cuts would lead to new economic growth and would pay for themselves. Which is what's known as supply-side-economics, also known as borrow and spend economics. 

Brookings Institution: Benjamin Wittes- Interviewing Ron Haskins: 'The Next President Needs to Focus on the Federal Budget'

Source:Brookings Institution- fellow Ron Haskins.

"The federal budget crisis is a key issue in the upcoming presidential election, with both parties unable to compromise thus far on government spending and tax reform. Ron Haskins and Campaign 2012 Project Director Benjamin Wittes discuss what the next president must do to address the nation's budget crisis during his term." 

From the Brookings Institution

I agree with Ron Haskins about the problem, as well as the size of the problem that the U.S. Government has and will have fiscally now and going forward. But I believe the Federal Government has simply taken on too much responsibility and doing things that it simply shouldn't be doing and not just as it relates to social policy and defense. And the revenue problem has to do with tax policy and the tax code which has things like corporate welfare in it and other wasteful tax loopholes. As well as too many people in poverty in America and an unemployment rate at around 8% doesn't help either. 

So for America to get it's fiscal house in order: 

the states need to take on more responsibility as it relates to social welfare and I even believe Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. And everyone whose on public assistance, should be working and going to school and get the childcare that they need while they're doing those things. 

The rest of the developed world needs to defend itself, instead of relying on America taxpayers to finance their national defense. 

And we need a tax code that encourages success and growth, that eliminates most of the loopholes on everyone, with low rates for everyone based on ability to pay taxes.

Focus on The Family: Dr. James Dobson-Ted Bundy 1989 Interview

Source:Confessions of a Bundy Phile- convicted serial murderer and rapist Theodore R. Bundy, being interviewed by Dr. James Dobson from Focus on The Family, days before he was executed in January, in 1989.

Source:The Daily Press

"I’m involved in an abusive relationship with a dead man. Metaphorically-speaking, of course. I am constantly thinking about, imagining, and reading about a violent serial killer. His ice blue eyes and wavy brown hair call forth feelings of both compassion and revulsion. I am both drawn to and repelled from this handsome charmer, moonlighting as a bloodthirsty necrophile. Ambivalence lingers as I contemplate the dirty deeds of Theodore Robert Bundy, even twenty-eight years since his execution in Florida’s electric chair at age 42.

Bundy Smile.jpg

What a smile!

As if we were lovers, my thoughts often turn to him as I imagine the things we share in common. We both grew up in the Methodist church, were involved in scouting activities, and we were withdrawn and shy in high school. Despite being raised on the opposite sides of the country (he in Washington state and me in North Carolina), I’ve always felt a connection to Ted’s family upbringing and working class family. His mother clearly loved him, as did mine, and his siblings looked up to him."

From Bundy Phile 

"Ted Bundy Interview"

Source:Focus On The Family- serial murderer Ted Bundy, being interviewed by Dr. James Dobson in 1989.

From Focus On The Family 

Source:Focus On The Family- Serial murderer and rapist Ted Bundy in 1989 

It wasn’t until the last few hours, days, weeks, months perhaps, that Ted Bundy finally admitted to the murders that he committed over a 3-4 years period in the mid and late 1970s. Because he knew what was coming his way and was scared for his life. He knew he was about to pay the ultimate price for the murders of all of these women and even offered to help law enforcement. And give them new supposed evidence of other murders that he committed. Ted Bundy and Henry Lucas are different serial murderers in this sense, well there are several reasons.

Ted Bundy being very intelligent and fairly well-educated and Henry Lucas not intelligent at all. But another reason that makes them different, was that Lucas at least had enough character to confess to the murders that he committed. And went even farther than that and admitted to committing murders that he couldn’t of possibly had committed. Having been somewhere else when those murders were committed to use as an example. Ted fought for his life as long as he possibly could, even representing himself in court during his murder trials. And only finally admitted to committing the murders that he did, when he knew he was out of hope of saving his life, when he was out of appeals.

That’s one of the reasons why he did these interviews with Dr. James Dobson one of the most influential leaders of the Religious-Right in America. He was trying to get Dr. Dobson to feel some feeling for what he did, even try bring him on his side, perhaps in hope of getting Dr. Dobson to perhaps help him out. And maybe get his life spared. Dr. Dobson was too smart to fall for this, but this was Ted’s hope and perhaps get Dr. Dobson’s followers behind him as well. And even take it to the point of trying to put some responsibility on his viewing of pornography for some of his murders. And even taking it to the point of blaming his drinking of alcohol on these murders as well.

Well again Ted was a very intelligent man and understood American politics well enough to know that pornography and alcohol were two of the biggest targets among the Religious-Right in America. All Ted Bundy was doing in these interviews with Dr. Dobson, was trying to save his life. Perhaps to get Dr. Dobson to do something for him That’s why he finally admitted to the murders of twenty plus women or so in the mid and late 1970s. Because he knew the gig was up and he was out of bullets he was headed for being executed and was scared to die and wanted someone to save his life.

Associated Press: President Obama: 'GOP 'Not Serious About Deficit Reduction'

Source:Associated Press- President Barack H. Obama (Democrat, Illinois) campaigning for reelection somewhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"President Obama called on Republicans to extend tax cuts for all Americans earning up to $250,000 a year. The President was campaigning in Virginia, a key swing state." 

From the Associated Press

Don't get me wrong, because I don't think Barack Obama has the best credibility and record when it comes to deficit reduction and fiscal policy. But he doesn't talk like a fiscal Conservative and then governs like a borrow and spender. He's a true Center-Left Progressive that believes that government can play a big role in helping people move forward with their own lives. 

President Obama is very different from today's Republican Party that talks like Barry Goldwater Conservatives, but then governs Jack Kemp supply-siders, who when they're actually being honest or are in private will tell you that deficits and debt doesn't matter. They only act like it matters when there's a Democratic President, especially a Progressive Democratic President. 

President Obama's basic point here is correct. If you think the deficit and debt is actually a big deal and real threat to the economy, but aren't willing to do anything about the trillions in tax cuts that only benefited the wealthy the last ten years, that were never paid for and I would add you think the military budget should be off table when it comes to deficit reduction, and no plan to reform entitlements to make them financially affordable for generations to come, then you are not serious about deficit reduction. 

Nancy Pelosi: 'Leader Pelosi on GOP Repeal of Patient Protections'

Source:House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi- (Democrat, California) speaking on the U.S. House floor about House Republicans plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"Leader Pelosi speaks on the House floor against the GOP repeal of patient protections." 

From Nancy Pelosi

The U.S. Supreme Court (thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts) just saved the Affordable Care Act, which gives President Barack Obama, as well as House Democrats (led by Nancy Pelosi) and Senate Democrats (led by Harry Reid) and every House and Senate Democratic candidate whose running for Congress this year, who needs Democratic votes to get elected to Congress this year, a huge political victory. 

The Supreme Court ruling in favor of the constitutionality of the ACA is a huge victory for national Democrats, not just because of the benefits that comes from the ACA (also known as ObamaCare) which are actually popular, but now this bill is officially constitutional. (According to the U.S. Supreme Court) 

House Republicans, especially the House Republican Leadership knows this and now knows that the ACA will be with us until Congress (House and Senate) and the President (Democratic or Republican) repeals the law. And now they're going to have to deal with questions on the campaign trail, as well as their Republican presidential nominee, who passes almost the exact same law in Massachusetts, when he was governor of that state, they're going to have to deal with questions like: "We know you are against the ACA, but what would you do instead?" knowing that they don't have an answer for that question.

The House Republican Leadership knows that their ObamaCare repeal with no replacement will pass in the House, with just Republican votes and that they may even lose some Republican votes and it will die in the Senate and perhaps not even come up for a vote, unless Senate Democrats led by Majority Leader Reid wants to use that vote against vulnerable Senate Republicans who are up for reelection this year. 

But House Republicans want to give their right-wing, Republican base something that says that they're trying to repeal ObamaCare, but simply don't have the power in Washington to do that right now. Their ObamaCare repeal attempt, is nothing but partisan, Washington politics.

Associated Press: Terry Caffey- 'New Show Recounts Crimes From Victim's View'

Source:The Associated Press- Terry Caffey, talking about his experiences as a crime victim.

Source:The Daily Press

"Terry Caffey of Texas shares the horrific story of his family's murder and how he came to forgive his daughter who helped plot the attack in the new ABC crime show 'Final Witness.' It tells true crime stories from the victim's perspective."

From The Associated Press

Discovery ID which is definitely one of my favorite cable networks, especially as a true crime junky. And for anyone who’s really into reality TV instead of celebrity TV, is a channel that anyone of this genre should checkout. Because they mostly cover stories that happened in real-life. Crimes that made the headlines, but also interesting stories that were either underplayed by the media, or have been forgotten, but are still very important. And they cover the people who made these stories either happen, like the criminals and victims and their friends and families.

But also the people who deal with the aftermath of these stories. Law enforcement, lawyers, the media and others, people who covered these stories. They cover murderers, especially serial murderers, rapists, gangsters and others and many times they even cover these stories from the vantage point of the offenders. Not to take their side, but just to hear what their side is, as well as cover the people who brought them justice. And many times what you hear from these offenders is a lot of truth. They admit to what they had done and layout, without getting themselves into further trouble with what they had done.

Discovery ID broadcasts a lot of programming from other media organizations. Like CBS News which has a lot of programming on DID, like 48 Hours. But also ABC News shows 20/20 on DID and NBC News shows Dateline on DID as well. But DID also produces a lot of their own programming. Like I Almost Got Away With It, one of my favorite shows on anywhere right now, that’s about criminals on the run, life on the run and cover criminals who’ve actually escaped from both prison and jail. And in sometimes from both.

DID has a show that covers mob wives, undercover cops, as well as people who have been stalked and many others. And now they are about to release a show that covers what life is like for people who are victims of crimes, how they have dealt with it, what it was like to go through the crimes that were committed against them. And how they are dealing with the aftermath of those crimes. So if you are actually interested in what happens in real-life, Discovery ID is a good channel for you. Especially if you’re also interested in true crime.

So if you are interested in shows like this and are convinced that there is nothing to watch anymore, or perhaps want a break from prime time talking heads, or celebrity TV, or whatever you might be looking for a break from, I suggest you checkout Discovery ID. You’ll find it interesting, you’ll learn about true stories you’ve never heard of, as well as learn new info about true stories, you might think you know everything about.