Fracking, Gun-toting, Lamestreaming, Pederasting

Thu. April 12, 2012:

I.  Quote of the day, from Thomas Friedman's persuasive bipartisan critique of Democratic & Republican budget proposals ["I'm Not Mitt Romney," page A21, NYT, Wed. April 11, 2012]":
"Sure, Ryan makes deep spending cuts to balance the budget in the long term.  If I cut off both my thumbs, I'd also lose weight.  But I'd also have a hard time getting another job."

II.  At least 3 U.S. organizations need to step up their effort:
           1.  The Frackers:  Drillers with high-pressure water -- and their opponents -- need to persuade us citizens how safe or dangerous this is.  One Hollywooder claims fracking will cause nearby tap water to explode into flames.  On the other hand, Drill-baby Republicans, including even moderate columnist David Brooks, say fracking will bring a lucrative bonanza to America "if done responsibly."
The devil is in the details.  So, where are the DETAILS?
           2.  Media Lamestreamers:
When will you clarify this fracking issue for U.S. citizenry with a factual presentation?
Ditto about DETAILS in re:  Congress's arrival at "individual mandates" in the legislative process?
Ditto about DETAILS, in explaining what "Single Payer" really means, and whether it is odious?
Ditto about DETAILS, about Cap & Trade?
           3.  Gun-toters:  Ditto, about the origin of Stand Your Ground laws, born of hurricanes and the truly corrosive & murderous power of the National Rifle Association?
           4.  Pederasters:  Recent testimony in a Philadelphia case demonstrates, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the Roman Catholic priesthood & its superiors have been an astounding disgrace to decent Roman Catholic believers all over the world.  Talk about "abuse of power"!  Unless history itself is covered up, it will register this travesty as epic.

IV.  Letter of the day, from John E. Colbert of Chicago, on page A22 of NYT, Thu. April 12, 2012:
     "Whether it's Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich or Rick Perry, whether it's packaged as a return to "values," a call for "fiscal discipline," or a restoring of America's "peace in the world," it's the same product under a recognizable Republican brand:  merchandise that promises tax cuts for everyone, especially the rich; deregulation for business, belt-tightening for every else; and war or the threat of war all over the world.
     "In other words the Republican nominee, whoever he is, advocates a return to the policies of 2001 to 2008 [sic: Why not add, the 1920's?] that got us into this mess, one from which President Obama has been extracting the nation.  All of these Republicans present a distorted picture of the president and his record of achievement against impossible odds these last three years."
       [Mr. Colbert's letter could add:
His phrase"impossible odds" refers to a totally obstructionist Congress, led by the likes of saboteurs Mitch McConnell & Jim DeMint who patriotically announced soon after Obama's inauguration that their 1st legislative priority was to make Obama a 1-term president -- and yet they blame him for not achieving anything!  Will U.S. voters fall for this Alice in Wonderland logic?]