A giant of journalism is stepping down tonight, but it’s not getting that much attention.  PBS has announced that tonight will be the last episode of Bill Moyers’ Journal, as well as NOW, another PBS public affairs show started by  Moyers during the George W. Bush Administration.

Moyers is a national treasure, a reporter who has always treated his fellow citizens as adults who can understand nuanced arguments and multi-syllabic words.  In an era of soundbites, blatant lies, and superficiality, he is a thoughtful, probing critic who exposes the abuses of the powerful and espouses a brand of populism that honors the dignity of every person, regardless of their class, race, citizenship, religion, or gender.  He has taken on oil companies, tobacco companies, the chemical industry, mining companies, polluters, agri-business exploitation of undocumented farm workers, union-busters, the Iran-Contra scandal, and the corporate media’s complicity in the lead-up to the Iraq War, just to name a few.  As a result, he has been a lightning rod for many conservatives, most recently when George W. Bush’s appointee to Chair the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth Tomlison, engaged in a secret inquiry into Moyers’ alleged left-wing bias.

Charlie Rose says of Moyers:  “He is, I’ve always believed, a true son of Texas and like the best Texans he drew from the land his poetry, his politics, his populism, his spirituality and yes, his instinct for power.”

This is my tribute to an American and Texan treasure.

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Since the Stinque Department of Lady-Bits promised Nojo that there’d be a Jon Hamm posting to counter every Stormy posting, here is today’s counter-programming to Bloggie’s post.

I couldn’t find a photo of him riding a horse like Stormy was in her photo, this was the closest I could get.

It’s semi-NSFW, depending upon your office seating situation.

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When reading the article in The Oregonian linked to Nojo’s post about Talibunny’s visit to The People’s Republic of Eugene, I stumbled upon this gem of a photo of some of the tchotchkes for sale outside the Eugene Hilton.

It begs for an open caption contest. Pour yourself your cocktail of choice and let the creative juices flow!

[Photo by Thomas Boyd, The Oregonian]

Archie Comics announced Thursday that in an issue out September 1, the long-running comic will introduce its first “openly gay” character, Kevin Keller.  The strapping blond will defeat Jughead in a burger eating contest, win the affection of Veronica and wrestle over how to gently rebuff her flirtations.

AP

15,000 plus attend the International Cannabis and Hemp Expo at the Cow Palace [home of many a great Dead show, as Messrs. SFL, baked & Cynica could tell you ad nauseum] in Ess Eff to discuss hydroponics, portable grow-trailers, medical marijuana, and the proposal to raise $2 billion/year by legalizing the green weed by voter initiative.

Around 10,000 attend Orly-free Tax Day Teabagger gathering in Pleasanton at government-owned fairgrounds to hear Carly Fiorina and the Teabagger Rapper bitch about the Socialist Kenyan Mooslem.

Score 1 for the Stoners.

/exhale

RNC Chairman Michael Steele, stating the obvious:

Q:  Why should an African-American vote Republican?

“You really don’t have a reason to, to be honest — we haven’t done a very good job of really giving you one. True? True.”

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and today is the National Day of Action to raise awareness about sexual assault.

So today’s story is from New Hampshire, where teabagger and GOP candidate for Governor Jack Kimball did his part on Tax Day to raise awareness of sexual assault and rape, as he joked to a crowd:

In Concord, gubernatorial candidate Jack Kimball drew cheers with an anti-tax message. He decried the state’s taxation of business while criticizing its relatively low level of services.

“I don’t mind paying my fair share, folks,” he said. “I don’t think any of us do. But I do mind when I’m raped. It’s awful.”

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