Please try to see the repeat of the repeat on Smithsonian if you have

[peacetalksforall]

time - about the attempt to slip the Smithsonian to Showtime - a commercial endeavor and you know what that means. Profit in the pockets for someone and a per cent to the Republican dirty tricks machine.

It is an outrage on appearance - because we know how this administration operates, but the House panel on this is stymied because no one has yet read the octupus reaching contract, unbid gift to Shotime.

[NYC]

1. The Smithsonian could be privatized?

There will be nothing left of this country.

[PublicWrath]

2. Is this the arrangement that will prevent independent filmmakers from

using Smithsonian footage?

[peacetalksforall]

4. I listened for a couple of hours and I don't think anyone knows what is

going on except the traitors who signed this contract. The way it is posed, it sounds like it is a done deal, but the words from our Representatives sound like they are continuing to investigate it. One Rep asked them to annul the contract.

The defenders of the deal said that they were surprised by the uproar. Sound familiar? - port deal?

It sound as if PBS or Sundance would not have to go through Showtime if they didn't want to. But the traitor Smithsonian representative tried to sell it as a savings to the Smithsonian in their ability to route filming requests through an outsider. If independents choose to go direct and not through Showtime as is their option according to what was said - where is the savings?

This is a big money maker for a few. It sounds like they concocted a scheme rather than respond to a need and sold our stuff.

The horror of it is that no one knows what's in the contract - A 30 YEAR CONTERACT.

And I heard no words to the effect that Congress can reverse anything.

What good does it do to even have an election if the Smithsonian is not responsible to the people?

What good does it do to think you have a superior collection of our country - and let these criminals in this administration do this to us.

Another project - find out who is on the Board - there must be one or more who have a vested interest in Showtime.

30 YEARS!
And this is after PBS has sold out to the right wing in many ways. They can't do anything right.

I think it is all about owning everything that involves history so that it can privtely altered to make the legacy of the Republicans shine like gold and make money at the same time.

I am really worked up. Sorry.

[PublicWrath]

6. When bushco is finished there won't be a single unbiased source of

information, -scientific, historical or otherwise, that isn't in some way subverted, enslaved or muzzled. According to an article I just read, if Showtime claims it has plans to use any particular archival footage at some point in the future, it can block other filmmakers' access to the material. This has tremendous potential to result in censorship. I don't think we can live with this one.

[izzie]

3. Guess it goes with the selling of the WH

I saw that and it of course made me mad but then I get wild if I just see Bush now. And of course if Showtime takes over you can be sure they will not want any one to see anything free but that they will get a cut. All these things that tax payers did for this once great country and Bush and the GOP are selling it off to their friends so we can repay for it . I can hardly stand it. We are going to end up like England and so many countries with a few rich that have it all while we sweep the cross walk like poor Joe.:banghead:

[peacetalksforall]

5. Yes - the have-mores and the serf-flaves who never dissent, but who

keep paying for everything.