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Archive: September 2008

September 2008 - Back Issue

2008 Election
No Wolf Whistles for Sarah Palin’s Compassion
by Walter Brasch

Defibrillator usage increased last week after John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate and only a heartbeat from the presidency.

Tell Me This Is A Joke–Please!
by Dorothy Reilly
7 Comments

In a cynical and desperate attempt to boost a rudderless campaign, John McCain picks Sarah Palin as his choice for vice president. Is this putting Country First?

Jesus Was a Community Organizer
by Ron Stouffer and Rosie Skomitz
2 Comments

It’s time we call the Republican message what it really is - playing the race card.

Barack “On The Move” In Kutztown
by Chuck Brown
10 Comments

Whenever I have contact with the Obama campaign I am always so impressed. This was no exception. These volunteers handled themselves with class and dignity. They approached the voters with respect and friendliness.

No News is Bad News
by Rosemary & Walter Brasch

It was the television media that created the atmosphere that demanded “interesting visuals” and the seven-second sound bite; and now the media are upset that politicians, in their infomercial packaged conventions that play to the camera, have nothing to say.

Art & Culture
An Interview with a “Green Photographer”
by Thomas Reed

Tara Morrison, a local artist, specializes in photography of children - while doing whatever is needed, for every step, to enable her to produce her work in a completely eco-friendly manner. For a photographer to be so environmentally conscious is indeed a rare thing - working with children while doing what she can to preserve their earth.

The Walls of Oaxaca
by Kevin McCloskey
1 Comment

A gallery of powerful images from Oaxaca and the talented artists of the ASARO collective.

Book Reviews
The Door by Margaret Atwood
by James Patrick

Atwood’s Vision

Essays
DOGS WILL BE DOGS
by Jack Lindeman

She tried swimming towards the more solid ice still clinging to the bank but it was too slippery when she tried to use her front legs to hoist herself out of the water. She started barking and then in desperation, yelping, which was a signal that she was in trouble.

Food
Riding Shotgun with Tim Stark
by Kevin McCloskey
2 Comments

“I hate it when it rains on Saturday,” he says, “especially these next two Saturdays, the big ones. I don’t mind if it rains all day on Thursday or a little bit Friday, but I hate it when it rains on Wednesday.” Then through clenched teeth, ” I really, really hate it when it rains on Wednesday AND Saturday.”
I’m scribbling away as if conscientious note-taking will help. (I forget if he likes or hates rain on Mondays, but his feelings on daily precipitation are clearly extreme.)

Green-ology
Growing the Solutions: 2008 PA Energyfest
by Pat Brown

The 4th annual PENNSYLVANIA RENEWABLE ENERGY & SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL will take place on Fri., Sat., & Sun., September 19, 20 & 21, 2008 on 66 acres in a beautiful rural setting: The Kempton Community Center, Kempton, PA.
Be a Part of the Solution!

Health Care: News & Notes
Single-Payer Surges Onward!
by Ron Stouffer and Rosie Skomitz

Progressives for Pennsylvania Presents—
Single-Payer, Guaranteed Healthcare for All
A Mainstream Solution!

Humor
The Sarah Palin Gender Card
by CommonSense2 Editor

John Stewart on Sarah Palin

It’s Time For Some Campaignin’
by CommonSense2 Editor

The latest entry from JibJab!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Labor
Labor Pains
by Walter Brasch

Meanwhile, corporate executives are taking multi-million dollar bonuses for improving the “cash flow.” Even if executive management makes a few mistakes along the way, and the “return on investment” isn’t what the Board of Directors expects, almost all CEOs and their immediate underlings have the “golden parachute” that allows a soft drop from employment, yielding termination packages that amount to millions of dollars and considerable benefits that no working class person will ever receive.

Media
Downsizing the News
by Walter Brasch

During the past few years, newspaper owners demanded and were getting at 20-40 percent profit, among the highest for any industry–and that includes Big Oil. With newsrooms and the news product already lean, the owners kept taking and taking.

Other Topics
Happy Anniversary CS2!
by Pat Brown
1 Comment

Vision, courage, tenacity and a touch of creative insanity have carried us to this watermark for CS2…our First Anniversary Issue!

Poetry
Ways Across the Mountain
by Jack Romig

A new poem by CS2’s poetry editor.

Heaven, Inc. (a subsidiary of Rove Enterprises)
by Gil Allen

What’s next for the Bush league when this administration finally ends.

Why
by Jack Lindeman

A poet’s take on what it means to be American.

Politics: Local
Slacker Uprising!
by Karen Feridun
Politics: National
October Surprise!! Plus Some Advice For Barack
by Chuck Brown
3 Comments

Our political history is rich with the nefarious ways that unscrupulous politicians, presidents and their minions, will stoop to the lowest common denominator in order to change the outcomes of presidential elections

Americans Need to Tear Down This Wall
by Walter Brasch

Like the great Wall, the Maginot Line, the Berlin Wall, and the levees, this wall will also fail, as persons desperate to enter the U.S. will find many other ways to cross the border. But, Americans will have spent more than $2 billion for that lesson.

Politics: State
Jim Rhoades and PHEAA
by Dante Picciano

On November 4, 2008, you will have a chance to let Senator Rhoades know what you think of his representation of the people. You can tell him what you think about his supervision of PHEAA, about the legislation that he has introduced and about the pay raise that he gave himself. It is up to you to VOTE.

Short Story
Confrontation
by Lora Williams

“Did you love her?”
At this question Basral looked away. “I learned fear for her. She was the only person I have ever prayed for.”

September 2008 - Back Issue Columns

Mid-Month Supplemental
Keeping you up to date with late breaking news and issues along with previews and other items of interest.
Mid-Month Features and Oct. CS2 Specials

Election Analysis, Bob Roggio, John Morgan and Jesus.

This Issue & Site News
Everything CS2 site related: article info, site developments, coming attractions.
September 2008 CS2 1st Anniversary Issue

Well, folks, we made it to our first anniversary issue. To quote Curits Mayfield, “We’ve Only Just Begun.” A year of antagonizing Republicans, Conservatives and Blue Dogs—Come on—it doesn’t get any better than that!! We’re happy to be here—and we’re happy that you, dear reader, have stuck with us. And you have, [...]

Editorials
Opinions, rants, confessions and predictions appear in this monthly commentary.
What Set of Circumstances Are Needed?

Is anybody home here?

Democrats vs. Republicans: What's It About?
3 Comments

They're playing hardball. We're playing wiffleball.

Unsung Heroes
People who work tirelessly for progressive change in our community and state
John Scott: A Progressive Speaks Out

Local activist and progressive, John Scott, discusses energy, Iraq, signing statements and more.

To Your Health
Ron Stouffer and Rosie Skomitz have been waging battles in the health care wars for 15 years. Check back every month for views, opinions and information vital to you and To Your Health
Pharma's Market(ing)
2 Comments

Maybe you've seen them in a doctor's office - fashion plates in professional attire, impeccably groomed, bearing gifts and data.

The Keystone Scorecard
Sylvia Baylor chronicles the absurdities of Harrisburg and our State Legislature. Occasionally The Keystone Scorecard will feature guest authors.
THE KLEPTOCRACY TAKES A HOLIDAY (no pun intended)

kleptocracy (klep'-toc-racy) n. 1. government run by thieves. 2. The Pennsylvania General Assembly

The Road Less Traveled
I’ve known Kathleen Welch for 35 years. I’ve learned to respect and admire her resilience and her refusal to buckle under to conventional wisdom. As you get to know her through these columns I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
The Zen of Suffering

In fact, they tell us that each of us harbors within, the basest and most sublime, no exceptions; that the most heinous criminal is no more than our yesterday, and the noblest and most exalted among us is no less than our tomorrow

The Dark Visions of Sheldon Kaplan
Sheldon Kaplan explores and brings a world into focus that is unseen to most of us
POP GOES THE.....?

It's strange living in two worlds. Most people live in the MAIN STREAM MEDIA world where our information is homogenized, strained, mashed, julienned, stir-fried, sliced and diced so we find our world palatable.

That Woman!!
Dorothy Reilly - You may love her, you may hate her, but you’ll never be confused about where That Woman!! stands.
Dems Fiddle While Rome Burns
1 Comment

While we are complacently watching days and days of the same speech repeated over and over by different people at the Democratic Convention, a new Justice Department plan will decimate the Fourth Amendment by loosening restrictions on the FBI to allow agents to open a national security or criminal investigation (conduct surveillance, pry into private records and take other investigative steps) of Americans without any clear basis for suspicion.