August 13, 2023
It has been rainy and foggy here for most of the summer, but Buddy caught this clear early morning a few weeks ago.
He captioned it “Headed out to the gold fields,” which seems to me to work in this beautiful spot even for those of us who don’t fish for a living.
I’m taking an early night. Will be back at it tomorrow. Once again, it bids fair to be a busy week.
[Photo by Buddy Poland.]
Thank you so much for your time, your insight, your scholarship educating us mortal souls!
Buddy, thank you for this exquisite photograph. The reflection on the water and the lively sky seem to dance together at the start of day. HCR, your stronger than ever focus in the last few weeks has spelled the edge upon which our democracy has moved. My gratitude to you.
Freedom of the press stood out in your Letter today.
'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. First Amendment to the United States Constitution (1791).'
July 19, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to pass Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Kevin Kiley’s (R-CA) Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act. The PRESS Act would establish a federal statutory privilege to protect journalists from being compelled to reveal their sources and prevent federal law enforcement from abusing subpoena power. The legislation would be the first federal press shield law of its kind.
“In a giant step forward for press freedom in America, the House Judiciary Committee passed our PRESS Act with unanimous bipartisan support,” said Rep. Raskin. “The Constitution promises that no law shall abridge the freedom of the press and instructs us to protect journalists from government overreach and abuse of power, and today this committee has made good on that promise. I’m thankful to my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for unanimously supporting the PRESS Act, and I look forward to seizing this momentum to pass it into law.” (JamieRaskin, Serving Maryland’s Eighth District) See link below.
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Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.
Benjamin Franklin
The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
James Madison
Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.
Hugo Black
Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.
Walter Cronkite
The ability of a free and independent press to hold political leaders accountable is what makes open government possible—it is the heartbeat of democracy. Trump is intent on stilling, or slowing down, that heartbeat. This is a gift to dictators, and coming from a chief executive of the United States, cause for shame.
Madeleine K. Albright, Fascism: A Warning
https://raskin.house.gov/2023/7/rep-raskin-s-press-act-passes-judiciary-committee-with-unanimous-bipartisan-support