This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mike Papantonio and David Bender:
Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern
This week on Ring of Fire, America’s favorite populist Jim Hightower will be joining us to talk about the growing racist tones that are taking over politics in Texas, as well as the rampant racism in the tea party movement.
Former Mother Jones publisher Jay Harris will stop by to tell us what’s gone wrong with the American media, and where we can turn to still get rational, meaningful news.
Seth Shostak, Chief astronomer from the SETI institute, will be here to tell us about the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence in the universe, and you might be surprised by what he’s found…
Congressman Chris Van Hollen will be here to tell us how he and Senator Chuck Schumer are working to undo the devastating effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United case, which allows corporations to pour as much money into political campaigns as they would like.
Attorney Aaron Watson will be here to tell us about the dangers of supposedly non-lethal Taser stun guns, and we’ll take a look at the police officers who are abusing them.
And as always, we’ll be looking at all the news that the corporate-controlled media refuses to cover.
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I found an interesting comment on my blog this morning. Am posting it here because you might find it interesting also. I am truly worried about the future of this nation. Whatever happens I am at peace because I know that I tried to do the right thing and that the people who didn’t want the truth to come out were more poewerful, but it didn’t stop me from trying my best to stop them.
Hard,
I posted your comment.
” Most people that think Vdare is some kind of hate site have never actually spent time reading their articles. It’s just word of mouth bashing. ” ( Hard said)
You would be surprised at how many people who are against your American brand of White Nationalist patriotism have been to Vdare and other sites and have read what is written there. It is true that we do have people who do not take the time to do their own research and try to talk to the people for themselves before making up their own minds; and only make their decision about something by what they are told and repeat like little parrots. Yet, your side has it parrots too, who only get to hear one side of the story and don’t ever hear the real Progressive message. The media today is not Progressive media it is corporate media.
There are some of us that have taken the time to research White Nationalism. I have an open mind or at least I try to see and hear from all sides before forming an opinion. To some of us the hate just spews out of your mouths and there is no denying it exists. What is sometimes overlooked is that hate can be found on both sides. Both sides don’t really listen to what the other side is saying with an open mind. Both sides have parrots who only repeat what is being told them because they didn’t take the time to do their own research to find the truth.
” The liberals are managing to cut off Vdare’s funding. It’s much easier to win debates by chopping dissenters heads off then having to come up with logical arguments. ” (Hard said)
If we Liberals are cutting off your funding than that must mean that the American people are starting to see things our way. White Nationalists like to claim we liberals are lemmings who are traitors to our White race because we believe in the Consitution and the Principles this nation was founded on. You guys have the internet. You have an avenue to get your message out to the whole world. If your funding is down it is because American people don’t like what they read and hear from your side. The economy also has something to do with your funds being down. Progressive media is short of money as well. I think the real reason that people aren’t giving as much is because of the economy and they can’t afford to give the way they used to give.
You guys are good at getting hard working people to give money to you. The use of guilt works wonderful. Making people feel like if they don’t give to White Nationalist media,groups, and leaders that they are not dedicated to the survival of the White race. Yet, time and time it comes out later that the money sent was used on women, gambling, and other personal pleasures like trips to Europe and nude calendars of women. Maybe people realized that they were being lied too and decided that they weren’t going to give their money to people, media, and causes that were anti American? Maybe people like me with my blog, OPP, and SPLC are doing our jobs of getting the truth out? I would like to think it is the last reason because that would mean that I am doing what I set out to do and expose your White Nationalist views as actually working against the very country that you guys pretend you love by wrapping yourself around the flag, baseball and apple pie. You are effective with your use of old American symbols, but isn’t it sad that you are so deluded that many of you think your government is zog(zionist occupied government) and that it is being an American Patriot to work to bring about our very destruction. You are not American Patriots but traitors. You pretned to be great Americans who love this country but you hate and are working to destroy your own government so to me you are traitors.
There are a lot of problems in this country. We are in quick sand and if we are not able to find a way out we will die. Our political process has been corrupted, our elected officials have lost contact with what is really going on in America and don’t even want to know what the American people they are supposed to represent think. Both parties are to blame and the solution will not come from either the Democrats or the Republicans. The American people are angry and boy do we have reason to be angry. This daughter of the American Revolution is very angry and has been for years. I understand the anger people feel, because I feel it too.
One of the problems we are facing as a country is that your White Nationalist message is not the truth. You give people hope because you provide solutions and people want change. But the problem is that your solution is a lie and in the end will destroy the United States as founded by our ancestors. We Progressives have got to do better and really join the fight to save this country. They must listen with an open mind and together we brainstorm and come up with a battle plan. Progressives are going to have to eat some humble pie. I believe there is still time to save this country, but time is running out. With each passing day the odds go against those of us who have a duty to this great nation that was founded on the principles of freedom, each person having certain rights bestowed upon him by the Lord Almighty which included life, liberaty, and equality. That country is dying and is on life support. If this country has any chance of survival than we have got to come together and roll up our sleeves and fight together as one team.
You talk about how Progressives aren’t able to debate the issues. I think you are wrong there. I know a few Progressives that I would love to see debate David Duke in a real debate. My money is on the Progressive that I think has what it takes to beat David Duke. Your side could cheer on David Duke your hero. Do you think David Duke would agree to a debate with a Progressive? I am talking about a real debate and not a fake debate.
” Whatever you think if Vdare what is happening is very bad for free speech on the internet. You liberals think you can laugh now — but what if someone to the right of David Duke gets elected next president. Will you be laughing and celebrating when the extremist go after you?” (Hard said)
You are right in the statement that to many Progressives are laughing and do not know what is really happening in this country and are underestimating you guys. It gets frustrating for me because I can’t seem to wake up Progressive American men in this country to the danger so that they would join the fight. Their attitude of ” IT IS NOT MY PROBELM” is one reason why you could see a David Duke or someone like him as President of the United States someday.
David Duke is only 60 this July. He is not to old to be President so I don’t think he has given up his dream of being President, even though he may deny he is not interested anymore. His actions speak that he does still dream of being President. He is a teacher and is teaching the youth today who will be future leaders of Russia, Europe and America. David Duke is very smart and knows politics.
You asked how will Progressives and Liberals feel if someone like David Duke was to become our leader of the United States. I would hope they would feel some guilt because a girl who only wanted to do the right thing because she is a daughter of the American Revolution is told by someone in the Congress the last time I asked for help that ” it wasn’t my problem”. He didn’t even take the time and talk to me or ask me questions while looking into my eyes. I would never look someone in the eyes and lie to them. I was told by his wife that he didn’t even decide for himself how he voted but voted as he was told. My heart was broken and it still is. But now that I know that David Duke and White Nationalists in America are talking to radical muslims who share the goal of destroying the United States and Israel, I am trying one last time. If I fail this time in waking Progressive men up to the truth so that they will fight to save this nation, then this country is toast. So yes, I have some anger but the love is stronger than the anger so I will try one last time to do the right thing and hope that this time they will finally see the truth and see I am not this terrible evil person they think I am but just an abused girl with PTSD who is trying to do the right thing because the DAR taught her God, Country, Family and I meant my oath in DAR meetings when we looked to the flag and swore to protect the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. I felt that this daughter had to act in a political arena and try and stop you guys for destroying this nation that I love so much as a Daughter. The NSDAR didn’t understand so I have started my own group now called PDAR(Political Daughters of the American Revolution) for us daughters who feel that we as Daughters must fight to save this country and that we can at least do our research and get the information needed so our men can fight with knowledge. I personally will be at peace because I did the right thing as a Daughter of the American Revolution in trying to wake people up to the truth.
Yes, you guys are in a strong position, but hope is not lost on my part. I like to believe in happy endings. So in my heart I like to think that our Progressive men will wake up to the truth and start listening with an open mind and together we come up with a battle plan to stop you guys from achieving your goals of a White Nationalist America.
Remember Pride comes before fall. If false pride has been the problem with Progressives so they make jokes about you guys and don’t take you seriously; than be careful that your side doesn’t get that same false pride and you think that you have already won. I think the time is coming when Progressives will know I am telling the truth and will join the fight.
This week’s show sounds good! I mentioned under the Hightower thread I can’t wait to hear him and I’ll want to hear what this Aaron Watson says about Taser stun guns.
I doubt the US Constitution would permit the police to attempt this kind of tasering mentioned, since it is really cruel and unusual punishment. But, I wonder if they would rephrase this tasering as “enhanced electrification modifying” – LOL (but not really)!
I’m honestly not sure how to think about Sen. Chuck Schumer, as I have just read Glenn Greenwald’s words on Schumer. Here are some highlights of what Greenwald (a guest of last week’s RoF) has to say:
“(Schumer) is one of the most Party-loyal Democrats in Congress. So extreme is his loyalty that The New York Times notes with surprise that he has, for the first time ever, temporarily abandoned his role as Prime Defender of Wall Street — “long [] one of Wall Street’s best friends on Capitol Hill” and “a go-to guy for the elite of high finance,” as the article puts it — in order not to impede the White House’s financial reform package.”
(So, it sounds like Schumer can’t show enough Love to Wall St. That doesn’t sound good)!
Greenwald next talks about how Schumer went into attack mode on Obama, who dared to criticize Israel apparently (and, apparently, according to Greenwald, the one thing that Schumer is even More intense about than the Dems is Israel):
“Of course. Schumer also spouted numerous ugly platitudes about the Palestinians, including expressing support for the despicable, inhumane blockade of Gaza on the ground that “when they vote for Hamas they are going to have to suffer the consequences.”
(That sounds…..quite wretched. I remember being upset w/Rep. Alan Grayson, when he voted Against support for the Goldstone Report. I don’t want to offend anyone – including NR, for I like NR and would be feel to do that – but, still, I must ask: when are politicians going to get over being afraid to criticize Israel? It shouldn’t be seen as anti-semitic, if done w/respect, not ugliness. And, furthermore, it seems to me that Israel has, in common w/the US, some Very undesirable traits, such as violence and bullying and being extremely war-prone).
As Greenwald writes, of Dems who criticize Obama over Israel:
“These Democrats won’t utter a peep as Obama adopts one Bush/Cheney civil-liberties-destroying policy after the next — ones they claimed to find oh-so-upsetting and radical when doing so provided them partisan advantage against the GOP — but they suddenly find their “independent,” Obama-criticizing voices when it comes to Israel.”
(In light of all this, the interview w/Chuck Schumer is going to be difficult for me to listen to).
NR – I am NOT against Israel, nor, for that matter, America. But, I feel we must be critical, when and where it is necessary.
Otherwise, peace to everyone. I can agree to disagree….
Here is the Glenn Greenwald link:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/
I really hope that RoF has Glenn Greenwald on, again. I guess he might seem very to the Left, but that’s okay w/me!!!!
Mike has *Go Left* TV. Well, I am Still in the process of going…..
Here’s Another way Grayson has voted, that I don’t like (he’s in good company, of course):
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll219.xml
Now, Rep. Dennis Kucinich explains why supporting the “Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act” is NOT a good idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMQjS4J_pKQ
It sounds to me like a buildup to war w/Iran.
It also sounds punitive to the innocent people of Iran.
I like Rep. Alan Grayson A Lot, and I’m glad I donated to him, but I think any more donations I can scrounge up are going to Rep. Kucinich.
I don’t care if he doesn’t have star-power or much in the ways of looks or lacks for glamour.
I don’t care if he’s seen as a nut.
He’s the real deal. He’s got my support.
Mara,
I’m not in the mood to hear Schumer, either. Wall Street whore!
Here’s an interesting link.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/goldman-sachs-was-top-obama-donor
Of course, Kucinich is a Vegan.
Vegan’s always make me nervous. I feel so terribly guilty around them.
I HATE that animals suffer, but….is it wrong to eat meat???
Sad to say, if I were to go on attraction, alone, Grayson wins, hands down, over Kucinich, but Kucinich managed to get himself a really Hot wife who is 30 years Younger than himself!!!!
(Plus, Kucinich looks like an Elf)!!!
That didn’t stop Elizabeth Kucinich from signing on!
http://www.walkblackforest.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Dennis_Elizabeth-jpg.jpg
(so, maybe there really IS something to this veganism)…..
Colleen,
Your link is interesting. So, is it saying that Goldman Sachs is NOT getting what it paid for, in Obama? Or that it IS? I couldn’t tell.
Pondering if I should go vegan???
I think it’s more expensive.
It’s a shame that meat is so tasty.
Elizabeth Kucinich went Vegan after marrying Dennis.
Of course she did.
And anyone who hitches up w/Sir Paul is going to have to forgo meat, too.
That is ONE difference that marriage can just Not tolerate: meat eaters and Non meat-eaters….
I look forward to hearing what Seth Shostak has to say.
I hope the aliens, when they finally appear to save us all, will be interesting and not Too menacing.
And, smarter than This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_trSIBCgF0
and here’s a great GWTW parody I should have posted, before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQNmq3jxL3c&feature=channel
(please note: no fake pig puppet was harmed in the making of that video)….
Rep. Dennis Kucinich actually saw a UFP that “touched him in his heart” (there’s a Shirley McLaine family connection) –
But his wife, Elizabeth, has some rather quite interesting words on what would probably happen, were we to know, w/certainty, that aliens actually existed. I think I agree w/her take on how the human race would behave:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yRi9apivIw&feature=related
I meant to say: Rep. Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO, (not UFP), but maybe that works, too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Federation_of_Planets
And then, there is always the lighter side of things….
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/pto0011l.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/carolinoinga/far-side-aliens.jpg
I meant to say: Rep. Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO, (not UFP), but maybe that works, too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Federation_of_Planets
Mara,
What the link I left is saying is that Obama is a friend of Wall Street.
Colleen,
I think it was the opening line that confused me, then. Of course, that makes sense. We know, by now, how cozy Obama is w/Wall St.
Sometimes one hears about “financial regulations” for the banks/wall st. from Obama, and then I wonder: is it for real? Or just more show?
Colleen,
Jim Hightower, in the Hightower Lowdown, has some (sort of) words of praise for Sen. Chuck Schumer (Hightower is talking about all the excessive fees that rapacious airlines add to every damn thing, including charging a fee for carrying on one, small bag, per passenger):
“This is such a rude reach for our wallets that even the corporate-hugging Sen. Chuck Schumer has recoiled. The New York Democrat is demanding that airline regulators rule that your carry-on bags be fee-free, because that’s were people’s medicines and other necessities are stashed.”
There, now. See? Even someone like Schumer can sometimes take the correct position on something, and I guess if he is helping to fight this Corporatist agenda-loving coup, delivered from the Supreme Court, he can’t be All Bad….one hopes.
So, I look forward to the interview w/as open a mind as I can endeavor to have.
I also like that Jim HighTower (I really Really want to capitalize that T in his last name) quoted Lily Tomlin (I think her words will be my official motto):
“No matter How cyncial you get, it’s almost Impossible to keep up.”
-Lily Tomlin
(I LOVE IT)!!!!
In terms of our food sources, Ring of Fire just had info on all the pesticides in our produce (plus, let’s not forget about all the genetically engineered crap).
So, it’s very confusing. Meat is filled w/hormones, steroids and other, abysmal things. Plus, the terrible suffering to the animals. It literally weighs down my spirits, to know that animals suffer so terribly in factory farming.
I remember when RFK Jr. interviewed someone on this show about meat that does not come from factory farming methods – meat that is from humane methods.
I remember feeling very distressed, because this sort of meat is so difficult to obtain if you don’t have the money for it (and if you Do have the money for it, then I think you Should get this kind of meat, if you eat meat, since it’s healthier, and so much less cruel to the animals).
I deeply love animals and it saddens me terribly to be part of the agony they go through.
I’m sure I’m not the only meat-eater who feels this way, either.
What to do? There is no Whole Foods nearby, and prices on everything are very expensive, esp. organic produce and meats. It’s been shown that eating healthy is actually more expensive, than eating less healthy (at least in terms of outright dollars and cents. Obviously it’s much more beneficial to eat healthy).
But what does that mean, anymore?
Sorry to go off on a tangent, but I do worry over this. I feel pain for the animals, but I also think humans have the right to consume animals – but only in the most humane ways possible to the animals.
Some traditions of hunters apparently honor the animals they slay by saying special prayers and even placing special objects near the recently fallen creature.
We’ve come so far from that. It’s truly tormenting. Meat is a wonderfully sustaining food and I feel better when I have some meat in my diet, but to know that the meat comes from such practices – that cause so much terrible pain and fear to animals – is very painful to me.
Yet, to go vegetarian or vegan, I might not be anymore healthier, unless I had lots of money to spend on only the very best produce, plus high-quality supplements, and I also remember hearing that Kucinich got help w/Chinese herbs, as well.
That all takes money – to see special practitioners who can guide a person.
It’s very difficult, when one is basically going from paycheck to paycheck, more or less (as so many of us are – those of us lucky enough to even have jobs).
People shouldn’t judge another’s way of eating until they understand what that person is up against, financially, and health-wise.
So, I guess I will muddle through, as best I can and Not become a Vegan Or even a Vegetarian, but it wouldn’t hurt me to go a day w/o meat, so today will be that day (I need cream in my coffee, though). Sorry!
Restraint. Not one of my more notable attributes.
Okay, bottom line: if RoF decides to have any more guests on to talk about food, our environment and so forth, I’d be more than happy to listen, but I hope the financial realities that people go through get taken into consideration.
It’s said that the people who are the fattest are also, on average, the poorest, and that’s not even taking into consideration how people struggle w/weight and health issues in higher income brackets than outright being poor.
I think it’s all connected to how our society is run. Profit being the Only motive, our health and our food get badly compromised. Let’s stop scape-goating fat people (who, like poor people are so often Blamed for “driving up costs” even while govt. gives trillions to Wall St) and really Think about why people (and animals) suffer so much, when so much of this cruelty might be prevented.
Mara,
Hightower is classic! I agree with Jim there, he had to give credit where credit is due re:Schumer and carry-on fees.
The Lily Tomlin quote is great…and so true!
PS..click where ROF has highlighted Jim’s name. It tells the cheap cost of Hightower’s newsletter…it’s worth it!
Mara,
In reguards to your post that just came up…..I recorded the movie “Food Inc.” on PBS. Scott and I will watch it this weekend. Then I’ll leave my comments. The movie deals with what your are speaking of.
If there is a farmer’s market near you, you can buy the fruits and vegetables really cheap plus helping out your local farmer.
Ronald Reagan was 70 and 74 years old when he ran for President. John McCain was 72 when he ran for President. If David Duke was 70, 72, or 74, the White Nationalist would not hestitate to back him for running for President.
Here is an article about putting Reagan on the 50 dollar bill http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j13-JP_1oxAgbZQAft37BxjRf6LwD9F90L7O4. When Ross Perot was running for President, he stated that the purchasing power of the dollar was only 12 cents. If the dollar is only worth 10 cents today, maybe we should put Reagan’s face on the 10 cent Dime to remind us how much the purchasing power of the dollar is worth these days thanks to Reagan. Maybe we should put FDR’s face on the One Dollar Bill to remind us how much the dollar was worth from 1933 to about 1980 thanks to Roosevelt’s economic policies.
G, your point about David Duke is a valid point. His followers work like busy bees following his instructions in getting their message out.
I was trolling on David Duke’s site and posted his message to the tea parties and here as I think it is important.
/23/2010
David Duke Speaks to the Tea Party!
Posted under:General— @ 5:32 am
David Duke Speaks to the Tea Party!
Dr. David Duke speaks straight to the Tea Party Movement about keeping it true to the ideals of our American forefathers and not the values of the New World Order and Hollywood.
David Duke says:
The Tea Party Movement is called racist for being overwhelmingly comprised of European Americans. There is nothing wrong with that! There is no apology for the fact that 99 percent of Blacks voted for Obama and that overwhelming percentages of Mexicans and Jews also voted for Obama.
Most Tea Party people oppose affirmative action and diversity programs that are nothing more than racial discrimination against White people.
Most Tea Party supporters are stopping the massive immigration that is turning America into a Third World Nation.
Most Tea Party supporters oppose the International Bankers such as Goldman Sachs and the Federal Reserve that is ripping off hard working Americans.
Most Tea Party people despise Hollywood and the Mass Media that continue to promote values that are destroying our people and nation.
Most Tea Party people believe that our Government should put America first over any other foreign power or Government.
But Jewish extremists are trying to subvert the Tea Party Movement to sacrifice American Independence to the power of International Zionism.
True patriots will oppose the control over our foreign policy by Zionists who have loyalty to Israel over America!
True Americans believe as George Washington did, that we must stay out of other people’s wars around the world!
The real threat to America is not in the deserts of Afghanistan but from the bosses of Hollywood and the Media that are destroying our heritage and our fundamental values.
Real Tea Party advocates believe that our troops should not be in Afghanistan protecting their borders, but they should be home protecting our own Mexican-American border.
Help inform Tea Party proponents about this video as it is essential to keeping the Tea Party from being subverted by the real enemies of America!-David Duke-
He has told his followers to get his message out and of course the Conservatives deny that they are White Nationalists.
I am listening to the show right now and find it very educational and informative.
I forgot to say that I am willing to look at what I have been doing in my fight and what I could do that would be more effective in the fight. The important thing to me is to get the truth out so that Americans will fight against their HATE against Jews, Blacks, Catholics, Progressives, Mexicans etc.. I have faith that most Americans do not share this vision for America. Yet, I just don’t think we can take the right wing for granted.
They are motivated, dedicated, and willing to do what they have to do to win.
I’m not too surprised that Obama has collected a lot of contributions from Wall Street (or am I?). How much more is Wall Street giving him than Bush? This also reminds me that Organizing for America put out an e-mail today urging Republicans to stop kneeling to Wall Street CEO thugs, and although I signed the letter to Mitch McConnell, it seems quite hypocritical of Obama. How do we know if he’s with us or Wall St. even though in his speeches he speaks out against Wall St. At best, I could imagine that Obama could use the money Wall St. gave him to work against them.
G, I liked that article on those in Ohio who are fighting to maintain Grant’s picture on the $50 bill since he is more of a hero than Reagan (and Bush, Jr.) ever was.
Also, with the new $100 bill about to come out, despite the efforts to counter counterfeiters, how could most of us obtain this bill since we’re still in a recession with little or no money for the rest of us? Over the past couple of years, American currency has been ridiculed as Monopoly money since it’s hardly backed by anything with barely/hardly China supporting it.
Mara, since Israel is an area where we seem to disagree, all I really have to say is that Israel faces a lot of criticism from both the left and right. The left in recent years has been quite critical of Israel, while (some of) the right wants to see the elimination of Israel and the Jewish people. On the whole, for sure, there are plenty of decent Jews out there who have helped make a lot of medical advances in medicine such as the polio vaccine and the pace maker. But, I understand that you are not trying to be anti-Semitic or even against Israel. In a way, Israel is kind of a bridge between the eastern and western hemisphere of the world. As for the Palestinians, while it seems easy for the left to blame and criticize “the occupation” and blockades in Gaza as the root of the problem, one thing that gets overlooked too often of what could more likely be the root of the conflict is that the Palestinians continually say “no” to any/all peace deals and have done so over a dozen times since Israel’s inception in 1948. There was recently an interesting interview on MSNBC with Alan Derschewitz, and if I find the link to that video I’ll post it to ROFR when I can. I like how Alan Derschewitz sounds like a good voice of reason regarding the Israel/Palestinian conflict.
…On the whole on which nation owns America, it appears that China owns America a lot more than Israel does since we owe China trillions of dollars – far more than what money is sent to Israel from the US (Israel may be getting money more in the billions than the trillions).
Also, another thing about the Palestinians is that since they continually say “no” to any/all peace deals Israel offers, they seem similar to the Republicans here in the US. The Republicans are the party of “No” in America as Hamas is the party of “no” in Israel.
…On another subject, Bill Maher called Obama “one of the few moderate Republicans”. Even though Obama wants to hear from everyone including the Republicans, Bill Maher also mentioned that “the Republicans aren’t that into you, Obama.”
G,
Thanks for the link about Ohio fighting to keep Grant on the $50 bill! Nice pics of Grant’s birth place, too. Grant helped preserve the Union while Reagan started our economy on it’s downward slide and participated in Iran Contra. I think the choice is easy! Keep up the good fight, Ohio!
NR,
I saw Bill Maher last night too. That’s what Obama is–a moderate Republican. He still hasn’t learned about “Republicans aren’t that into you” thing.
You can watch “Food Inc.” online for free here:
http://www.pbs.org/
Colleen,
Thanks for link to food, Inc. I will watch it as soon as I can, although I’m not really able to watch videos of animals suffering or being put to death in those factory farms. I’ve tried, because, as a meat-eater I should face this, even though, were it MY choice, animals would NEVER be treated that way!
Animals might not like to die (they are “sentient beings”, after all), but Surely, there are much better, much more humane ways to kill them.
G – I just went to one of those places yesterday, and stocked up on a lot of fruits and vegetables.
NR, you write: “There was recently an interesting interview on MSNBC with Alan Derschewitz, and if I find the link to that video I’ll post it to ROFR when I can. I like how Alan Derschewitz sounds like a good voice of reason regarding the Israel/Palestinian conflict.”
Very good, NR. If you find that link, I will be more than happy to listen to it w/as open a mind as possible. No, I am not anti-semitic, so far as I know. I was reading Chaim Potok in my teens, as well as studying up on the Holocaust. One of my favorite artists is Marc Chagall. I find Jewish culture (what little I know of it) to be very compelling.
But, we all have blind sides to our nature. In truth, there is much I do not understand about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I’m sure that both sides have valid points, just like w/any conflict.
In my early 20′s I met up w/some Palestinians, and they were the nicest (and bravest) people I had ever met. I think it must be deeply painful to have another group come to your land and start to live there and call it theirs (no matter how Valid the claims).
Still, there is much for me to learn. So, please, post that link, by all means. I apologize, as well, for writing anything that might offend or cause you pain, but I respect your approach to all this. It’s very civilized, and that means a lot to me.
Podcast Hour 1
The political system has been set up the same way gangsterism flourished for years. Instead of approaching this as a political issue (Blankenshit and others of his ilk)it should be treated for what it is …organized crime.
Chris Van Hollen—good luck– because there is never enough teeth in the legislation to keep these corporate criminals from controling the political process. Why is that? Because most politicians are on their payroll. The penalties will never be high enough to deter them from persuing their bottom line.
One more thin about DeLay and how the unemployed are lazy….that really describes Sarah Palin. As Susan Eisenhower said on Realtime with Bill Maher…”She’s the American dream of quit your job, write a best selling book because you’ve been pit on the national stage and laugh all the way to the bank.” Far from what the American Dream used to be…you know, where you had to work for it. WE have so many reasons to despise John Mccain forever giving this bitch that platform. Nobody would’ve ever even known who she was if it hadn’t of been for him….thanks McCain!
Mara, this might be the link with the Alan Dershowitz interview I saw on MSNBC the other day (which appears to be about him on Justice Stevens retiring):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36321270#36321270
Podcast Hour 2
Jim Hightower. The bright spot of the show. Always the rational voice of reason in Texas– or anywhere for that matter. He knows we need a true populist movement that has to rise up from the people and who has to get the Democratic party to embrace a true populist agenda or start a new party who will. People understand populist goals when it’s explained to them. They just don’t always know that’s what populism is. I hope Jim has a great time next weekend as he’s being honored.
Jay Harris
I get Mother Jones magazine and I love it!!! Great journalism. Jay has the right idea in regards to today’s media. What is missing from the news are the facts. People watch news for 2 reasons these days–1. Entertainment and 2. some mouthpiece that will tell them what they want to hear weather it’s factual or not. If it’s what they want to hear their certainly not going to find out if it’s the truth or not. They just want their preconceived notions justified. Like good propaganda, the more you say something, the more it becomes the undisputed truth with people who don’t do their homework. I also like Jay’s take on what NY state is doing in regards to a truely grassroots third party movement. The name alone–Working Families Party–says what their about. To help real people. Nothing vague or decietful.
Hour 1 of the Podcast:
RFK Jr. reminds everyone that Don Blankenship is not only the ceo of massey coal, but Also a board member of the us chamber of commerce.
Blankenship, Bobby tells us, has helped allocate over 50 mill to elect right wing judges across the country (this is also what Mike often talks about and this was the subject of the Pap Attack, last week, I believe).
We also learn, through Bobby, that Blankenship has poured over 3 mill of his own $$$ to overthrow the chief justice of of the West Virginia Supreme Court who ruled against him. As David added, it was $$$ well spent for Blankenship, (and one more blow against any true justice in this country).
RFK Jr. talked about the *largest man made disaster in the US*: the Martin County Coal Spill – Bobby told us that the spilled coal slurry was much larger in scope than the horror that Exxon Valdez. I went to Wikipedia and looked up *Martin County Sludge Spill” and found a few, horrible facts:
“The spill was over five feet deep in places and covered nearby residents’ yards.”
“The water supply for over 27,000 residents was contaminated, and all aquatic life in Coldwater Fork and Wolf Creek was killed.”
“The spill was 30 times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill (12 million gallons)…”
Wikipedia also echoes everything Bobby says, in the aftermath of this horrible disaster:
The Labor Secretary for George Bush was Elaine Chao, who oversaw the disaster, and decided that a staffer of her husband’s – one Mitch McConnell – would be in charge, which ensured that Massey would get off easy.
Btw – I really Enjoyed David’s “Follow the Marriage” (good take on Mike’s “Follow the Money”) comment! David is so quick w/the quips! Good one, David!!!
David added that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is in the business of undermining every initiative of the Obama admin.
RFK Jr. then brought up Frank Luntz – who he called a “Demon of Deception”, as well as a “professional liar” (which we could also say about many if not most politicians, esp. those of the right).
Frank Luntz, says Bobby, knows that the only way the regulatory reform of wall st can be killed is by lying about it, as evryone likes and wants wall st. to be reformed – even the damn tea baggers – therefore, egregious lies are necessary, and we all know how easily the tea bag set Loves to listen to the lies of the right!
Bobby’s additional comments had me thinking about what I call the *Funhouse Mirror of Far Right Politics* – how the right accuses of the Left of doing Everything that They, in Fact, carry out – for instance, as RFK Jr. mentioned, Mitch McConnell is telling all and sundry that Obama’s regulatory reform is nothing of the sort, but rather: it’s to make *permanent *the big bailout of the banks –
RFK Jr insists that the entire purpose of reform is to make sure we never have to bail out the banks again.
(I agree! But, well, I hope Obama REALLY means to do just That – enact Real Reform – and Not do what McConnell and His party actually Want, themsevles, ie: Permanent Bailouts of the Big Banks)!!!!
RFK Jr. next brought up the Kerry/Lieberman/Graham bill – and, I was pleased to note, mentioned that the Worst part of it is that is deprives the EPA the right to regulate carbon (and our waters, I think). I had read that, as well. Maybe I am wrong?
RFK Jr. also said that this bill gives 8 mill for a nuke plant to be built, 100% funded by the taxpayer (how Nice! Buying the very thing that will probably KILL US) – AND – we Also have to fund the waste disposal – (for 30,000 years)!
And then there is offshore oil drilling, which, RFK Jr. said, is another giveaway.
Bobby said that they “Give away the whole store, upfront.” (I agree)!
“They don’t need this bill”, says RFK Jr.
(So, what’s going on??? Personally, I agree w/David’s assessment that this “giving away the store” is Exactly Similar to the Health Care Reform giveaways, RIGHT from the get-go)!!!!
RFK Jr. tells us that China is going full steam ahead w/green tech
And will spend 7 trillion over the next 5 years (!!!)
Bobby told us that China is “going to spend more on wind and solar than on their military.”
RFK Jr. brought out some more, startling figures:
The Waxman/Markey Bill will increase wind power by 37% by 2012
BUT – the Chinese will increase wind power by 20,000% by 2012!!!!!
Bobby told us that a syndicate “in Texas about to build the largest wind farm in history” -
Unfortunately, China is providing all the technology for this, by underbidding everyone.
3000 jobs will be created, says Bobby -
– 2600 of them in China.
RFK Jr.: “That’s what Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman are doing to this country and that’s what the Obama Admin. is letting them get away with.”
(Exactly. And let’s not forget that John Kerry is Also sponsoring this bill. WTF)????
RFK Jr. says that the EPA can regulate carbon and put taxes on carbon – “we don’t need to go to the republicans.”
(Ah, but if Obama and his admin. are more like the republicans than we realize, the very Same words, hold true. We DON’T need to “go” to them – they are already Here, infiltrated in the Democratic Party)!!!!
This is where Daivd observes that this bill of Kerry, Lieberman and Graham is doing the same thing that happened w/healthcare, bargaining away, from the outset, vital properties.
RFK Jr. said, no, not exactly, because to make an enemy of Big Pharma means that healthcare reform would be defeated. I guess this makes sense and is a politically realistic conclusion to come to, but it still makes me mad. Oh well.
Here are some more startling and wretched facts, that Bobby informs us of, concerning the Big Corporations of America:
Exxon – paid zero in us taxes last year. Yet – claimed 156 mil in tax *deductions*.
the Same w/Gen Eletric, Chevron, Bank of America – zero in US taxes. 63% of American Corp pay no taxes, says Bobby.
Here’s a GREAT Quote from Bobby:
“These are the guys who wear the American Flag lapel pins, that’s how you’ll recognize them; they pay to other countries, (in taxes) not to US”
!!!!!!(BRILLIANT)!!!!!!
RFK Jr. was really Wonderful to listen to, particularly on yesterday’s show!!!!!
He really nailed it! He has so many facts and figures at the ready, and his ability to analyze what Truly is patriotic and what is Not (but tries to masquerade as such) never fails to impress me, and he Really did a GREAT JOB of this, on yesterday’s show!!!!!!!!
David, as always, has so much insight and brilliance, as well.
I miss Mike, but, well, there’s no solar eclipse on the horizon, as of yet, so….
NR, I just listened to Alan Dershowitz on the Supreme Court choices, and he makes much good sense!!! He mentions the need for trial lawyers w/authentic experience (see? Mike would be GREAT on the Supreme Court, but I don’t want him to go there; he needs to keep doing this Wonderful and Important show)!!!
So, anyway, I will try to find that interview you mentioned, that Dershowitz does on the issues we’ve been discussing. I’d really like to hear it!!!
Podcast Hour 3
The segment with Aaron Watson was excellent. I’m glad that ROF finally discussed this issue of police abuses of the taser. Police forces all over the country are committing these abuses and I think that it goes further than a lack of sufficient training. Many cops have psychological issues that spill over into their job performance. Many of these cops are on a serious power trip and the taser is just one more weapon for them to inflict as much pain and to flex their control muscle over, in many instances, individuals that they already have a physical advantage over. This supposedly “non-lethal” weapon in the hands of cops is just another example of the growing police state that has taken over this country. It is as much of a psychological weapon as one of physical force. I hope ROF does a follow-up on the end result of this case and let us know if justice is truly served. Lethal force was not required, and this was one of the most obvious abuse of power ever acted out by any police force. A 17 year old who didn’t have a tail light is no cause for this kind of behavior from someone the public is supposed to trust to “serve and protect” not to “maim and/or kill”.
The segment with Seth Shostak simply proves to me that any expending of 6 billion dollars on this rather than to help our domestic woes at this time is absurd. As Bill Maher said in his show Friday night, “Let’s send a manned mission to Detroit.” My sentiments exactly. For anyone who hasn’t seen the TZ episode starring Agnes Moorehaed entitled “The Invaders”, Rod Serling’s and Richard Matheson’s opinion of the space program is eloquently expressed without a single word of dialogue, except for Rod’s ending narrative. Check it out if you can.
Colleen, for sure we need to send manned trips to Detroit – it’s continually a dying city (like Utica, NY). Can the motor city really revive itself? At least GM may be making a comeback to some degree, after Toyota has incurred all their problems with defective breaks and accelerators.
Hour 2 of the Podcast:
Jim Hightower – says he keeps finding “ordinary folks doing the most extraordinary things”. Very interesting.
I liked David’s comment: “there’s no medication for that” in terms of the depression that comes from listening to mainstream media. Ain’t that the truth!
Hightower sees the divide in the country not so much between left and right, but rather: a top and bottom divide. I guess this is true. I’m on the bottom, but I do not have the sensibility of such, and I don’t know if that’s false pride, or what, but my politics are much more those of the upwardly mobile!
Still, when Jim Hightower says: “the vast majority of folks know they’re not even within shouting distance, anymore” of the power at the top, this makes much sense, and people like to demonize Both parties – but many of them:
STILL SWING FAR RIGHT!!!
That is my observation and also what I have learned, through this fine show.
I’m actually glad that David Bender brought up John Edwards, who spoke about the “two Americas”. (Just because someone has fallen, doesn’t mean he or she never had anything meaningful to say about this country, and I hate it when people get so judgmental of sexual issues that they cannot see Anything but the sex. That’s ridiculous, and America needs to overcome this lamentable tendency).
I like Hightower’s response: “of course they can” to David’s question of wanting to know if Politicians can make the concept of two Americas “understandable to people who often vote against their own economic interest.”
(Getting hung up on a $300 haircut – that’s another diversion. If someone can afford the best $$ can buy, and also uses his or her money and skills to Help this country, so be it).
“Those candidates tend to win” says Hightower (the ones that can use a populist message to reach out – and down to, I might add – the people that are ordinary “working stiffs”). Too often, though, the republicans do that by appealing to the Worst traits in regular people, such as greed, fear of outsiders and the horror of having to help anyone but him or herself.
Hightower: “People didn’t hear themselves in the political message” of the Democrats.
“The Democrats stopped being Democrats”, says Hightower. Exactly. Can they EVER become themselves again?
David mentions a Great quote: “If the people are given a choice between voting for a Republican or a republican, they’ll always vote for the Republican every time” – Harry Truman
“The Republicans have become so nutball”, though, says Hightower (but NOT nutball enough to Not appeal to the tea set, I will add).
Hightower on Rick Perry – “this is the guy who puts the goober in gubernatorial”
Good One!!!!!
Here’s what I think:
Palin is a faux populist
the tea party is a faux populist movement.
Yet, as Hightower says, within that faux movement are some people w/REAL concerns (too bad that they are mostly incredibly ignorant, even so).
Ignorant enough to not question Fox News, for instance.
Hightower says: to get to those in the tea party who can be reached by a populist candidate – those people in the tea party who are truly are concerned w/corporate power – reach out to them. Try to talk to them.
(Good luck on that! But, I see Hightower’s point. Although, as Bobby says, about Fox News….FDR didn’t have to deal w/it, and neither do the Republicans, who use Fox to “reach out” to the tea party people, to great effect).
HIghttower gives us some good facts:
The 1st tea party rally was created & funded by the koch foundation, which is the largest oil gas private corporation.
The koch brothers have 14 billion apiece.
They have also funded and created the kato, the heritage foundation, and their Dad created the john birch society. (How touching, this family business of creating destructive societies to ruin and rape America).
So, what needs to be done by the Dems, according to Hightower? He says that a politician must:
Carry a populist message and then, once in office:
DELIVERING ON THAT
(Here! Here!)!!!!!!
(Seems so easy, really. Or, maybe not)…..
Obama is forgetting the 2nd part of that recipe, I fear.
When David asks Jim Hightower if a 3rd party candidate is where it’s at, Hightower humbly responds:
“I’m not smart enough to figure that out.”
Hightower is very smart, and very insightful, but maybe that IS too difficult to know. Splits occur all the time, in all kinds of ways, including politics.
Wait a minute, though. David has just said something that I find appalling. Okay, well, at the Very Least, upsetting. Here it is:
David says: “when you see the outrageous, extremist behavior of the bush cheney admin of the last 8 years and then you hear people comparing Barack Obama to That, you wonder what planet they’re living on.”
David, those are very upsetting words to hear from you. It’s like you are trying to censure people who see a connection between what happened under Bush and what Obama appears to be *continuing*.
Doesn’t Mike, himself, often speak on this very same connection, when he mentions how Obama has surrounded himself w/all the people from wall st, & from goldman sachs, from the big banks, like geithner and so forth????
And didn’t Mike also have that Pap Attack, wherein he called Obama:
*Bush Lite*
He certainly Did! I know Mike goes on Fox to defend Obama – because, let’s face it: the tea people (and their mentality, which Fox is all about) IS Crazy.
That does not mean that Obama is Not going to go in directions as worrisome and downRIGHT awful as Bush did.
Surely, we will get more good, w/Obama, but does that Negate the bad????
You may call it a “circular firing squad” but may I remind everyone that those who seem to draw the most intense fire are the ones who Do compare Obama to Bush. It’s almost sacrilegious to many on the left, plus, if you do this, you might be accused of racism, which is understandable, but wrong, if levied at a person who is upset that Obama is carrying on many of the policies that Bush started.
This is what I read from Glenn Greenwald, a guest who was on RoF last week. Is He wrong?????
Please do Not insult people by implying they haven’t a clue, by saying “what planet are they living on” when we are worried about justifiable trends in the Obama admin. that sound and seem an awful lot like Bush & Co.
That’s not fair!!! I know that Matt Filipowicz, from comments he’s made on this show, also sees this.
I want to be an optimist, but not at the expense of my ability to see the sh*t and call it as it is. Power loves power, and this is seen w/Obama, sadly.
David Bender is a very insightful man, and I am sure I often sound too arrogant for my own good, but I did not appreciate that comment of his very much!
Thx for the science segment. More please. Also, consider interviewing lead organizer for Stopcrush.org. podcast of goveganradio.com is available 4/25/2010 to bring anyone up to speed. It would be another way to mobilize en mass against the Supreme Court who virtually ruled animal cruelty is not only okay, but legal to make a profit off of. Even Sotomayor voted for it is my understanding in an 8:1 ruling, the one being a right wing wacko. Well maybe this makes me a right wing wacko- but St Francis would not stand by idly on this pathetic ruling. Persons from around the world are contacting animal groups here and supporting them in stopping the torture culture of Big America.
Hour 2 of the Podcast:
Jay Harris is:
“Frustrated w/the pace of change. Can we drive Progressive change faster into this stupid culture”, he asks.
“We’ve seen huge diminution of reporting resources in the mainstream” –
Mike talks about this all the time.
David speaks on the need for “solid reporting”, and mentions the Wash. Post as doing this, w/the new governor of Virginia.
However, too often “reporting” is just:
“Fact and opinion blurred to the point of non-existence” says David. I agree!
Jay Harris makes an interesting observation:
“If you give people homework, that’s a barrier that most people, in the context of busy lives, (and they) don’t take that step. They don’t arm themselves as citizens. I think that’s a very big problem in the culture.”
Agreed. It’s not easy to be diligent and do the “homework”, Especially when it’s not in front of our faces, on the tube (although MSNBC is pretty liberal, I guess).
But are non-liberals listening to MSNBC? Probably not, just Liberals are not listening to Fox and all the rest of the schlock so beloved of the tea set, and so much the mainstream voice of American media.
Jay Harris mentions some things badly needed in our government:
“Public financing of our elections”
David asks a GREAT question about Citizens United and publicly funded campaigns – will public financing really matter, if corporations can outspend Everyone????
Jay Harris speaks of creating a “floor underneath” candidates “who could run an effective campaign w/o needing to go on bended knee to the fat cats.”
“Working Families Party” is something Jay Harris says to check out.
I can see, already, a tee-shirt I admire, from the Working Families Party:
https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1306/t/4418/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=3443&tag=mtashirt
Jay Harris says the Republicans have always been about a free market ideology, a projection of unilateral american force and a consumer oriented economy.
The Dems, say Harris, don’t pose a “coherent alternative”.
That might be because they are covertly just as much about those things that Harris says the Republicans are about: giving money to the rich, having ongoing wars for profit and getting people to spend $$$ on cr@p they don’t need, but: God forbid we try to create a world where those who struggle can be helped.
KMH,
I am with you on the ruling of animal cruelty. These horrible videos of small animals being crushed by women’s heels for some sicko’s sexual gratification is OK with the Supreme Court? Says something about who our top judges are. Scary!
NR,
I hope GM is making a comeback to some degree because of Toyota’s problems.
Hour 3 of the Podcast:
This is so horrible.
These taser guns are supposedly Non-lethal – but as Mike says, they are “quickly becoming very very lethal.
Kids as young as six have been tasered, says Mike’s guest, lawyer Aaron Watson. Pregnant women. Old people. People having seizures. People w/severe mental handicaps.
Sh#t. Is there any segment of the population that police Haven’t tasered???? I guess babies will be Next.
I mean, as INSANE as that sounds, the way cops are behaving w/these guns merits such a reaction from us.
Mike says that the cops are untrained on how to use the stun guns, they are abusing them and “basically making things out there look like the wild, wild west”
A child was killed in the most brutal, obscene fashion. Aaron Watson tells us about the 17 boy riding a bike, when a cop tried to get him to stop. The cop then tails him w/his vehicle (this kid is on a BIKE)!!!!!
Crazy!!!!
The Officer drives into incoming traffic, and while cars are driving by, “fires a taser at Victor, and eventually runs over him and kills him” says Aaron Watson.
He fires at the child, and runs over him, dragging his body 35 feet. The way that cop behaved was INSANE. But I hope he doesn’t get off on an insanity plea, because cops have to learn to respect the law -
THEMSELVES!!!!!!!
Even if that kid was the biggest kid criminal in the World, there can be No Justification for how that cop behaved. But, this young boy was innocent, in fact.
Tasers sound extremely wretched to me! Electricity is a Nasty Nasty thing when used as a weapon.
It’s defined as a “non-lethal weapon” says Watson.
I think a redefinition is needed:
TORTURE
“It’s not non-lethal”, says Watson. Aaron Watson tells us that the cops Don’t ask: are you pregnant, do you have mental problems, a heart condition, are you using drugs, on medication, etc.
350 people have Already killed – and 90% of those people who Died were unarmed, according to Amnesty International!!!!
If shot in the head or chest, a stun gun can kill you, says Aaron Watson. (The horror – I just can’t overstate my visceral reaction to the hideous abuses of this disgusting weapon).
I Really Like Aaron Watson’s Passion agasint these hellish weapons!!!!
He’s not being detached about what he feels, at ALL!!! Bravo to that! Excellent!!!!
Every cop who uses these guns engages in an experiment, says Watson.
The cops, say Aaron Watson, should just use their guns, if they are going to use lethal force, since the taser gun can give out lethal force, as well, and then the cops might think:
do I Really want to kill a kid, because his tail light on his Bike is out????
I agree!!! Jesus!!! These cops are NUTS!!!!!!!!
Even if your friggin tail light on your car is out, big friggin deal!!!!!
They are not supposed to use these hideous things for more than 5 seconds, but they overuse it, turn it higher, and it shocks the people and it stops their hearts, says Aaron Watson.
My own heart is breaking, over this. I am just….I can’t even write how awful this is.
Electricity is a blessing, true. There can be no denying that, but electricity is also the most hideous EVIL. If used this way – to shock people – it’s Truly an EVIL!!!!!
Training is good, but such abuse is also attributable the arrogance of cops.
Cops, my god, if you even ask them a question, they get all bent out of shape. They are trained to be supreme rulers, basically, when they should remember that their most noble cause is to *serve the public* NOT
f#cking stun and kill them to death!!!!!!
50,000 volts of electricity is what these guns deliver.
Cops so often don’t give a sh*t about mental issues, either. They think: hey, this person is Resisting me! NOT: maybe this person has a legitimate concern. Maybe I should try to De-Escalate the situation, NOT blow it out of the water!!!!
Aaron Watson has a client whose bike light was out.
Wow. What the F*CK is going on?????
I think if I was tasered, I’d die on the spot (or close to it).
Take a look at the hideous Taser website, and click on the info for consumers, and then see an image of this hideous gun face YOU!!!!
http://www.taser.com/pages/default.aspx
Aaron Watson also brought up another client of his – a doctor driving his car had the deep misfortune to experience a seizure while doing so.
You’d think such an ordeal would be Lethal Enough. Seizures kill people.
But NO, that’s not enough for this man to suffer. An officer pulls him over and the doctor is tasered 5 Times!!!
50,000 volts of electricity going into this doctor, FIVE TiMES!!!!
When pulled over: “You have to pray that this officer has received top-notch training” says Aaron Watson.
Cops: Soldiers in a war against citizens.
This is an EXCELLENT interview, and it’s so good to hear Mike!!!!!! Aaron Watson is a very ethical, courageous lawyer and I truly wish him the BEST!!!
I will get to Part 3, the SETI interview, tomorrow. I’m a little drained from learning about these hideous tasers.
Guess what? As the link I provided shows, they are next going to be marketed to citizens.
How lovely. The next time a burglar breaks into your home, he can taser you, if you have the great misfortune to be home.
And women get have a taser gun fired at them, as well as get raped.
Yup. A GREAT THING, putting this monstrous weapon into the hands of the public.
Let’s arm every damn tea bag jerk w/one. Maybe, at the rallies, they can use them on themselves.
I don’t really mean that. No one should use these guns in a malicious way, like the cops are doing.
When I went to the Taser International site, I half expected my keyboard or screen to suddenly shoot out electricity from the site, so hideous does this all strike me.
Mara,
That was quite a Taser web site you left….horrible!
Just finished watching “Food Inc.” a little while ago. Good movie. Not much gore. Very informative. You learn exactly where our food comes from and it’s big business. You’ll find that Monsanto is the equivalent of an organized crime ring. Bobby has mentioned Monsanto here on ROF. You also learn more on how the FDA has been gutted and it’s consequnces.
Final part of Hour 3 of the Podcast:
The SETI interivew -
This is a very entertaining interview – and really welcome after that hideous (but extremely important, as well as extremely interesting) taser ordeal of an interview.
Seth Shostak is a very good speaker! He’s quite funny!
Climate Change, Evolution – no problem! I believe in those things.
Ghosts, the paranormal, Outer-Space Visitors – well, I like to keep an open mind. It’s more fun, that way. The world is more interesting to me, w/such possibilities afoot, however seemingly improbable.
I appreciate David’s observations on religion, re: “The Chosen One”. Good point, David!!!! I have always thought this, myself: each religion propagates the idea that IT is the Chosen, Bonafide (no, Really, it’s US!) religion. That’s rather silly, as well as disturbing, in that people are incited to Holy Wars, at one extreme, and just, very annoying smugness at the other, lesser end of things (atheists can also be quite smug).
Better to say: many paths, one source. Or, whatever. Something like that….
Seth Shostak wants to know if our planet is THE miracle – “Or is life just an infection; it’s all over the place.”
Oh, brother! That’s funny!!!
Still, I hope, if life is found elsewhere, it does not negate the miraculousness of being alive. Such as it is.
Life sucks, but I still want it to have meaning. So: sue me!
“It’s in our DNA”, says Seth Shostak, the Need to Explore Space!!!
(Hey: It’s Not in my DNA! I don’t like the idea of outer space exploration. I feel sad that people can’t just look at the moon anymore and enjoy it, and think it’s lovely and see it in poetic terms, and fancy they can see a “man in the moon” face and so forth. And pray to the spirit of the moon, if so moved. Now, we look at the moon, and we analyze it like it’s a lab rat in a maze. Shame. That’s all I’m saying).
Of course, I am Not anti-science, and I don’t want to be lumped in w/the tea set dopes, but science Does have a tendency to sort of take over, in that it’s seen as the ONLY way to see things, and maybe, just maybe, some people don’t like to be confined to Just “facts”…..
(I know that’s akin to heresy around these parts, to admit as much; well, I’m sure I’m seen as a loon, anyway, so: what the heck)!
“Usually they come with bad intentions”, says Seth Shostak, of the aliens of the movies.
All I know, is, I hope they will be interesting and (Oh, Improbable Miracle), I also hope that they are Not wanting to dominate every friggin thing. Like we do! We have Enough of that kind of destructive attitude on Earth, thank you very much!
Of course, if they are too passive, they will be enslaved by us, I suppose. Either they kill US or we Kill them, in the movies, or, every so often, you get a “cute” alien like ET.
I, personally, have NEVER seen an outer space alien, nor a ghost. I would be more disappointed, were I not so inclined to intense fear, in general. So, it’s just as well.
Ring of Fire: Please have more guests on like Seth Shostak – people who are not going to talk about corruption or Only corruption.
I LIKE all the corruption – don’t get me wrong! (If *Like* is the term to use). But, perhaps it’s good to mix it up a bit, from time to time.
Just my opinion! I LOVE this show, regardless!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfYHGjy_G-0
(Colleen, thanks for posting the link to Food, Inc. When it comes to animals, I can’t take ANY gore, so I will skip this movie, at least for now).
“…rampant racism in the Tea Party movement…”
Lie. Hightower and the Ring In The Bathtub crew are lying about the Tea Party movement. They are patriots. Period.