Mike Papantonio appears on The Randi Rhodes Show (with guest host Nicole Sandler), to discuss some of the most recent developments in the BP oil spill, including the new revelations that reporters could be fined as much as $40,000 and face a Class D felony for getting too close to oil workers.
Part 1
Part 2
I’ll view these videos sometime soon this evening. On the header of this ROFR thread, it makes me think that the $20 billion escrow fund being a sham is a lot like how the public option got knocked down last year by the right and the health insurance lobby. “Justice for all” nowadays, seems like such a crock for the 95-99% of us! Obama really does need to turn his back on such corporate cronies that are at the root of all America’s injustice. He needs to not worry about making nice to them. FDR certainly didn’t make nice to corporations and the police as he favored the factory workers that demonstrated against unfair labor. $$$$ by corporate special interests must stop trumping everything and anything productive!
This was an excellent interview!!!
I guess at least one of the 3 ROF guys have taken off the gloves when it comes to this f**ked up administration. Obama and his men are the same kind of corporate thugs as the Bush/Cheney regime was. Their not in it for us! That supposed 20 billion dollar deal was Obama running cover for BP! And we’re SICK of it! Let’s hope Bender and Bobby wake the f**k up and start telling it like is too and stop worring about the mid terms and 2012. Know what I heard? That BP will have the leak contained by Monday! Yeah right. Go to this new web site http://bpmakesmesick.com/ Do your part! I did.
Also, I agree, where ARE our young people? We protested in the 60′s and 70′s. We didn’t have cell phones, computers, twitter etc. We got organized without those things! To the young people–this is your country and planet—get involved!
What a crying shame that a person like Diane Wilson went to jail for speaking the truth and showing her pain about the BP oil disaster and an asshole like Hayward walks…..DISGUSTING!
NR, your a nice young person—can you get a group of friends together and other people and get on out there with signs and show your rage against BP? If I lived near you, I’d be the first to join!
Colleen, I guess finding the time to protest with a group behind me at a local BP station would be a start. Although, I doubt anyone would go in there anyway after knowing how badly that oil is managed and delivered.
Although most of us in America are complacent with what we see on the news, we are certainly NOT out of touch like corporate execs and bought-off politicians are.
Thank God for Mike Papantonio…..
Please keep these links coming….this is how we will fight this. I am sending this to eveyone I know. Between Mike Papantonio and James Carvill…thanks for the only ones who are speaking up.
The next wave will be the cancer that ensues from the dispersant (which is nothing more than agent orange)
How do you sue when 6 million people from Texas to the Keys gets cancer….?
NR,
Sadly, your probably right about not being able to get a group to go to a BP station….but they had success with that very thing in New York. A group of people stood outside a BP station and demanded a boycott and accountability. No, WE are not out of touch.
Paul….welcome to Ring of Fire! You make excellent points!
This looks like something to look forward to, this interview!!!!
I’m going to watch it tomorrow.
I just heard this interview.
It was Excellent.
I know this story is much more than just BP. I think the Stockholm Syndrome that Mike referenced is not just happening to the coast guard people – I think, at this point – the Entire Country is in thrall to it, and has been, since the 60′s flamed up and than flared out. Or was Stamped out, more like it, by corporate control.
All those people who protested in the 60′s and 70′s – they did the Noble Thing and it Mattered – yet still, we end up as we are now, a country under siege from corporate power.
What does that tell people about how effective protesting can be? It’s an honest question, but it might be enraging for others to read. I apologize.
My fears: I don’t want to get hurt by cops. I don’t want to be mocked by people or thrown in jail. I don’t want to be the victim of any form of brutality.
Maybe young people, on average, can take it better than old(er) people, which is why Mike asks where they all are? But no one wants to bear the brunt of corporate controlled thugs (the cops).
I wish I could protest with words, not my presence at some courtroom or on a street. I don’t want sound cannons and other nasty stuff thrown at me.
Even so, I care very deeply about all that Mike speaks of. Mike looked VERY sad in these 2 videos. VERY sad. He strikes me as being in an Immense amount of pain. I hope he is taking care to have enough time for rest and for enjoyment. He Deserves that. That is what I see, in these videos: Mike’s exhaustion and pain (Not defeat, though. That is Not what I’m saying). This is a terrible ordeal to go through.
Paul, GREAT points!!!!
I’m going to keep listening to this show and commenting, and I hope that many others will, too!!! New commenters who have something intelligent, real and Important to communicate – c’mon back! Don’t be shy! Make yourself at home, here, Jon in MD, Paul and others, and Comment!!!!
And to people who CARE that the Gulf Region is suffering badly and that our Entire Country is in thrall to a Corporate takeover of massive proportions – come here and Express your views! Don’t be shy. We need to drown out the haters and Fact-Deniers and Ignoramuses who sometimes come here and make asses of themselves and spew out stupid shit.
To all, here is an epic clip montage from what Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko said in the movie “Wall Street” showing images of Bush, Obama, the US Federal Reserve Building, etc.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mWAxHpeew&feature=related
Colleen writes:
“Let’s hope Bender and Bobby wake the f**k up and start telling it like is too and stop worring about the mid terms and 2012.”
I don’t hope they wake up. They ARE awake – Wide Awake – as far as I am concerned, Colleen. RFK Jr., along w/Mike, is bringing that RICO civil case against BP.
David is a person who, I know, started out his political life by volunteering for the 1968 Presidential campaign of Bobby’s father, Robert F. Kennedy. He was also, I believe, at the very Hotel the night Bobby’s father was killed.
Please. We don’t have to agree w/anyone on this show. I’m not about marching in lock-step. Anyone who knows me knows That.
But I show respect where it’s earned and both David Bender and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have Earned our respect a thousand times over.
Continue to disagree and Fight, Colleen. You are a true fighter and warrior. I honor That, too. But let us not attack the ones who are on Our Side. Even when we don’t agree w/them.
ESPECIALLY THEN. They are people who fight for all of US. They are out on the public airwaves being attacked constantly. We can agree w/o being disagreeable. We can disagree Strongly and still show respect. They’ve EARNED IT, regardless of what you think of their opinions.
Also: I don’t think I can agree, much if at all, with David’s or Bobby’s opinions, at least when it comes to Obama. I am Much more on your side of this, Colleen. I deeply respect Your intelligence, passion and conviction, too! I also respect your courage and your integrity.
NR – Very chilling, the Wall St. clip.
Since I am a new comer to this circle..I hope every one will view online the Canadian film, “The Corporation”. (23 videos online) The telling history how corporations got started and their giggling of the laws to get what they want. BP & others falls right into what this films says. Go to Youtube.
davidperi,
Thanks for the recommendation. That is a film I have long wanted to see.
Colleen – as regards your comment re: “Bender and Bobby”, it wouldn’t have upset me if you had left out the f*ck word. I agree w/the sentiment – just not how you expressed it.
The sentence, w/o that f-word is entirely appropriate. I frequently sprinkle my comments w/curses and such – so it’s more a question of How you used it in that, particular sentence, not that you used it, per se.
No doubt you will hate all that I write and feel very offended and might even stay away from Rof.
I hope you won’t! You’re a Great writer!!! I LOVE your response to that rank idiot, that sh*thead, BP, under the thread about the phone call.
*Brilliant*!!!!
Here’s a really strange, clever, funny video that left me befuddled, as to what its true target is – maybe the very last guy is a clue to that – and, hey, it seems to tie in with Everything Mike says in this clip (I…think). Watch it; judge for yourself (it’s called Barack Obama’s BBQ):
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1938115
NR,
Excellent clip!!! That movie was made in the ’80′s and it seems like it was made yesterday. But it’s the truth.
davidperi,
Welcome to ROF and thank you for mentioning “The Corporation”! I have heard of the film and I do want to see it. There is also another film to watch online called “The Money Masters.” It also deals with the banks and corporations. Go to Youtube.
Mara,
In regards to your chastisizing of me over my use of the “F” word, I do choose to disagree with your view of my show of emotion. It was Bobby and David who threw the first stone at people like me for being in disagreement and then vocally expressing it over the major disappointments of Obama, going as far as to take the uncalled for extreme of lumping us in with the same ilk as Joe Barton, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. A sleight that they never felt a need to apologize to us for. From that moment is where my anger flows and I will always feel justified in feeling that way. When they can so hurtfully call us out for speaking truth to power, the gloves come off in my opinion when it comes to pointing out what I feel to be a stance that is very counter-productive in achieving positive change from this president. I never used the term in direct reference to either of these men and don’t feel that I treated them with any less respect than they had already done to me. I simply stated a point that they need to stop being Obama cheerleaders, taking this stance that we shouldn’t publicly call him out just so the do-nothing Dems stay in power and don’t speak the reality of the situation that Mike is doing right now. I will never apologize for that. Mike in this video shows the outrage and pain that EVERYONE should be feeling and VOCALIZING. I’ve never felt that Mike has lumped me into a disrespectful group. When he felt that he had inadvertently offended us in his PAP Attack entitled “Boomers Don’t Matter Anymore” he came on air to apologize directly to us for any pain he may have caused by a misunderstanding of his words. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Colleen,
You write:
“It was Bobby and David who threw the first stone at people like me for being in disagreement and then vocally expressing it over the major disappointments of Obama, going as far as to take the uncalled for extreme of lumping us in with the same ilk as Joe Barton, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.”
(I don’t think they see us in that way, at ALL. I know, in the heat of the moment, I wrote that they did, but that was then, when I felt upset – this is now. As David wrote, in a rather lengthy blog comment to both of us, they respect and appreciate the insight and passion we bring to this blog and to these topics. I also don’t think they need to apologize for disagreeing w/us, just as we don’t need to apologize, for disagreeing w/them).
“When they can so hurtfully call us out for speaking truth to power, the gloves come off in my opinion when it comes to pointing out what I feel to be a stance that is very counter-productive in achieving positive change from this president.”
(Very well, that is your choice. It’s not for me to censure you. That is wrong, period. This is not my blog, and I was not trying to shut you down, but I can see how it came across that way. I apologize. At any rate, it’s not What you said, but How it was said – or written – that upset me).
I never used the term in direct reference to either of these men and don’t feel that I treated them with any less respect than they had already done to me.
(I think we will have to disagree, here. You are very honest, and so am I).
I simply stated a point that they need to stop being Obama cheerleaders, taking this stance that we shouldn’t publicly call him out just so the do-nothing Dems stay in power and don’t speak the reality of the situation that Mike is doing right now. I will never apologize for that.
(But, no one is requiring you to apologize for that. I never did. As I point out, numerous times, such sentiments are not only valid, but I share them, to a large extent).
Mike in this video shows the outrage and pain that EVERYONE should be feeling and VOCALIZING. I’ve never felt that Mike has lumped me into a disrespectful group. When he felt that he had inadvertently offended us in his PAP Attack entitled “Boomers Don’t Matter Anymore” he came on air to apologize directly to us for any pain he may have caused by a misunderstanding of his words. It doesn’t get any better than that.
(That was Wonderful, what Mike did, but Bobby, as you recall, also had kind words for us on that show – which I Wish I still had the podcast for. That was before Air America shut down. At any rate, Mike apologized, I think, because he wanted to show us that not only did he Not mean to insult us, but that we misinterpreted his words. Of course, I still persist in thinking Mike Was rather needlessly sweeping in his statements. No need to indict All old people – even old Fat Bald people. The question is what people believe, within. Pretty people can have hideous views. We all know that. I also think Mike’s anger Is good, as he explained to us, on the show).
OK Mara. Maybe we weren’t being lumped in with that ilk but we sure were being compared to them. It was a suggestion that saying anything said directly against this president was being disloyal. You can take it whatever way you want but that’s how I took it. In regards to David’s lengthy blog comments about how he respected our opinions, that took place before the comparison to Barton, Limbaugh and Palin. What seemed to be said was, you have the right to take an opposing view on calling out Obama, but we’ll still assail you for it, for not being “a part of the team” like the philosophy of the right wing, “right or wrong we’ll back you 100%.” F**k that! I’m no dittohead. I guess we just have a different approach to expressing our ideals….which we have a right to do.
Colleen,
the Daily Beast had a recent article by your favorite author and mine (he was on this very show, I believe) John Avalon, who has written “Wingnuts”. I haven’t the book. I just find Avalon to be a mite too conservative for my taste.
He writes of the war in the Dem party, between the moderates and the “far left” (guess which side comes off as the unhinged loonies)???
Still, here’s a Great quote from the article:
“The only cold comfort that might be found, at this particular moment, comes in the form of an old quote from a long-gone Main Street liberal era: “I am not a member of any organized political party,” famously proclaimed Will Rogers. “I am a Democrat.”
Anyway, I also re-listened to the June 26th Ring of Fire podcast, Hour 1 – the show we are discussing on this thread.
In a cooler and calmer light, I can definitely attest to the fact that David and Bobby did Not compare us – or others who criticize Obama – to the likes of Limbaugh and Joe Barton.
That was My mistake, to view their comments in that way.
They Did mention that Obama is under extreme criticism from the Right – whereas when Bush was in office, Republicans either stay quiet or – um – well, they stay quiet. They don’t chip away at their leader.
So, I guess that is what got us going.
I dunno. It’s a damn tough call for me.
The author I mention is John Avlon, NOT John Avalon.
So, anyway, this all makes me think of the unbearably annoying argument I found myself in, w/another stupid relative of mine, just yesterday.
so, we Both agree that Both parties are corrupt -but, guess what? He would vote for Palin over Obama.
That’s the problem w/agreeing w/the average fool that both parties are corrupt. They side w/you until they show their true, tea baggy colors. It ain’t pretty.
So, I have to still respectfully disagree w/Bobby and David on this, but I also think they made EXCELLENT points, and I anguish over all this. Their points are fair and valid, about the way the right is tearing apart Obama, whereas the Reagans and Bushes always get a “free pass”.
Um, *stumped*. I will have to listen to today’s show. Maybe I will get mad – but I will be respectful, too, because Mike, Bobby and David how some really powerful arguments on their side and I want to keep learning from them.
That said, the fact that we, you and I, Colleen – can agree to disagree – and still hold respect for each other – only says good things about *us*. I would just like to also do this for the men of RoF, too. I feel they deeply Deserve that. I admire them!!!!
The essential problem, as I see it – which I don’t think Bobby or Mike or David has answered – is what do you do when you want to support your side – but you also feel deep dismay over many of the things the Obama admin. is doing?
What do you do? Is it Really legitimate just to keep silent? Yet, at the same time, being critical of Obama Does give the far right plenty of fodder to work with. But, so too, when Obama sides w/Their m.o. Isn’t what Michael Steele said part of that? He was criticizing Obama over having the Same policy in Afghanistan as Bush did (I think).
I would like the men of RoF to address this, at some point. Even if I can’t disagree, inquiring Liberals Want to Know!
After all, Tim Dickinson wrote that Rolling Stone article that is critical of the Obma admin. And Dickinson is on today’s show!
So I’m going to leave this thread and go listen to that. I’m eager to hear the interview!!!!
Oh crappola! I Meant to write: even if I can’t agree – NOT disagree! I Can disagree. Also, I probably meant to write have, not has, in 1st sentence. I think. Never mind. I’m going to have some protein. Blood sugar. Must. Keep. Steady.
Colleen and To all,
There is a sequel to the movie Wall Street coming out sometime soon. Here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=873PrTZkLsI
I want to REALLY EMPHASIZE that I Deeply Respect and Deeply Admire all Three Men of Ring of Fire: RFK Jr., Mike Papantonio and David Bender.
That, for me, is the true Bottom line here.
I want to write one more thing about this notion – that I previously believed, sad to say – that we were compared to the ilk of Beck, Limbaugh, etc, by Bobby and David.
RFK Jr. and David did NOT compare either one of us – or other left-wing critics of the Obama admin – to any of those far right haters.
What was said was that criticism toward Obama is Expected from such people as Barton, Limbaugh and Palin.
What’s unexpected (Bobby and David went on to say) is that now strong criticism is *also* coming from the Left, for Obama.
In My Mind, that is Not comparing us to those 3 horrible people or Any far righter. That is just noting that criticism is now coming from many sources – even very extremely Divergent sources, such as the right and the left – for Obama.
So: end of story for me. I have worked this out in my mind, as to what the truth of the matter is.
NR,
Thanks for the Wall Street 2 clip! I remember seeing the first one. I had No idea, at the time, what all of that would come to mean, to me, and to this country.
I did not care for Gordon Gekko, of course. That whole “greed is good” is the mantra of the far right, so it should be interesting to see what Oliver Stone does w/this theme, in the new movie.
Vanity Fair had an interesting article about the movie, both original and sequel.
Mara,
The podcast where Bobby K, Jr had kind words for you and Mike apologized for offending you in the “teabaggers and boomers don’t matter anymore” was from Nov 28, 2009. You are correct that the show was before Air Amer shut down Jan 21, 2010 the day of the corporate Citizens United v FEC decision. I still have the podcast, and enough others I bought an external hard drive ($120 for 320GB in Mar 2008) to save them on and listened to it again just before writing this. The external drive has about 214 GB left available now after starting with 297 GB when I first bought it.
I couldn’t find that week’s hr 1 buried news on youtube.com/golefttv page of ROFR videos. Maybe the ROF site administrators like Farron would arrange a private email exchange enabling me to send you my copy of the podcast if both parties request it.
But I’m glad you later worked out for yourself what Bobby K, Jr and David B. meant in comparing liberal and conservative criticism of Pres Obama. Thom Hartmann recommends that progressives who haven’t given up on the Democratic party join their local party club and advocate for more progressive ideas there. If you go that route I hope your local party club or central committee is receptive. pdamerica.org can help at least by reading their site.
NR,
Thanks for the clip of the sequel to Wall Street. What this points out is that Gordon Gekko was sent to prison for what hundreds of Gordon Gekko’s are now doing legally with the U.S. government running cover for them. Why? Because Tim Geithner is one of them.
To Jon in MD,
In all due respect, unforunately I’ve been a part of these local party clubs on more than one occasion. The best description of them ever put down on paper was written by Matt Taibbi in Chapters 10 and 12 of his great book, “The Great Derangement.” He concentrated on the Peace Movement and 911 Truth groups, but most are similar regardless of their core goals. What these groups so frequently devolve into are self-centered power struggles between the “leaders” trying to put forth their own personal agendas and ego fulfillment. I would hope that there are legitimate groups out there, but from my experience they are mostly just blowing smoke. And when it comes to the party organizations, they all too frequently want to toe the party line and don’t make waves, just “support our leaders in the party.” Elected politicians don’t listen to progressive group voices. Just like the impeachment group I was a part of during the fruitless Bush years protests. We have an administration whose Chief of Staff Rahm Emauel refers to progressive activists as RETARDS. I can’t repeat that line enough. We thought we had elected a president who would truly listen to our concerns and all he has done is sell us out to the right and triangulate, triangulate, triangulate. That should have been his campaign slogan, not YES WE CAN. This presidency has killed the drive of so many true progressives, a few that have posted here and voiced their total disillusionment before they departed and who can blame them? Many of us worked hard to get this president elected and we were rewarded with sucker punches. The political system is so broken and corrupted and Obama has just shed a bright, bright light on that fact because we believed in his message of change so passionately. And now we are expected to just accept the weak gestures of his supposed “better than McCain” presidency and fight hard to get him re-elected along with his do-nothing Dem cohorts. What this country needs is a total dismantling of this corrupt system, but the moneyed interests have seized so much power that the average citizen will be drowned out every time. What will it take? Something from outside of this current system and nobody knows what it is yet. There will be a tip of the iceberg moment at some point in time, but it will come, because we can’t go on like we are.
Jon in MD -
Wow, you are a Great fan of this Fine Show! EXCELLENT!!!!
“Maybe the ROF site administrators like Farron would arrange a private email exchange enabling me to send you my copy of the podcast if both parties request it.”
That would be Cool!!! Farron? If you’re reading any of this, let us know!!! Or, maybe I will email the show w/the request. I Would like to have that. I should think Colleen might, too, since *she* is also a big part of Mike’s and Bobby’s words of kindness!!!!
Jon in MD, I know what you are saying. You Did say – if they are “receptive” – those local political parties (which Bore me, by the very sound of them, to be frank). So, we shall see. Certainly – and surprisingly – I’ve become Way Way WAY more interested in politics than I EVER thought was Possible!!!
But I don’t like going the traditional route of things. I get too bored, too easily, which is the God’s Honest Truth. If I don’t Have to be bored – such as at work – then I opt out of something pretty Quickly!!!
People who know me in my earlier years would, if they even thought about my views at ALL – describe me as *apolitical*. But. I was Always a Progressive Waiting to Happen, I think. Even in those years.
I Love this show. And Jon in MD I love that you are now commenting more often. Please keep on doing that!!! We need New Blood here, w/the commenters (and that’s NO Diss on us Loyal Regulars: Colleen, Myself and NR)!!!!
Colleen writes:
“The political system is so broken and corrupted and Obama has just shed a bright, bright light on that fact because we believed in his message of change so passionately. And now we are expected to just accept the weak gestures of his supposed “better than McCain” presidency and fight hard to get him re-elected along with his do-nothing Dem cohorts. What this country needs is a total dismantling of this corrupt system, but the moneyed interests have seized so much power that the average citizen will be drowned out every time. What will it take? Something from outside of this current system and nobody knows what it is yet.”
Yes, I agree w/those entire comments from Colleen. And yet, I Also am trying to see the other p.o.v., as well – David’s and what Jon is getting at. That’s all.
There is No denying that David and other more moderates love this country as much as we do and are grieved as much as we are, at all the abuses. At least, for me, there is no doubt. None at All. But I also see and agree w/Colleen’s p.o.v.
Here’s a quote from my Favorite author – it looks like he is no Obama supporter. He actually makes a play on the name – calling the prez: “Our Bomber”. Michael Parenti doesn’t pull any punches, but his writing is so elegant and powerful, at once.
Guess I will have to keep on *respectufully* disagreeing w/the ones Colleen calls the “Obama Cheerleaders” – Not because I don’t want Pres. Obama to succeed – I DO!
And he Is succeeding, it looks like – in carrying out Bush’s 3rd term. I Hate to write that, but read what Michael Parenti says, in this brief excerpt:
“This is another thing that empires do which too often goes unmentioned in the historical and political literature of countries like the United States, Britain, and France. Empires impoverish whole populations and kill lots and lots of innocent people. As I write this, President Obama and the national security state for which he works are waging two and a half wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan), and leveling military threats against Yemen, Iran, and, on a slow day, North Korea. Instead of sending medical and rescue aid to Haiti, Our Bomber sent in the Marines, the same Marines who engaged in years of repression and killings in Haiti decades ago and supported more recent massacres by proxy forces.”
“The purpose of all this killing is to prevent alternative, independent, self-defining nations from emerging. So the empire uses its state power to gather private wealth for its investor class. And it uses its public wealth to shore up its state power and prevent other nations from self-developing.”
from the article “What Do Empires Do?” – Michael Parenti, 2010
My problem seems to be – if I can’t admire it under Bush, I can’t seem to change all that and start admiring it under Obama.
Still, I’ll keep listening to the political commentary of this show – to David, RFK Jr. and Mike. But Listening doesn’t automatically mean Agreeing.
I can listen and respectfully disagree. My fear is that, at some point, I’ll have to make a choice. Do I keep staying w/the more moderate voices of change – or do I truly go over to the radical side of things? This is a very hard decision. Trying to figure out where to stand on issues is painful.
This is So Funny!!!
I was just listening to Norman Goldman (who’s Definitely Liberal) who said that Whenever he criticizes Obama – and this has been happening for the last ten months – half the audience gets *really mad* and half the audience says: Go Get ‘Em!
Mara,
Very good post and so honest…Bravo! I happen to agree with Michael Parenti. This is what our country has been doing for years. This is what Empires do.
Empires also collapse, too, Colleen. They are never Too Big To Fail.
I glad they apologies to Mara; however, I wish they had put it on their website. It not our fault that after one or two years, we started to critizes our president way earlier than Mike, Bobby, or David because he failed to deliver on what he had promise to do. And I do resent the fact that Chief of Staff Rahm Emauel refers to progressive activists as RETARDS. How would he like it if people called him a communist because 80 to 100 years ago, people were hysteria about Jews and Communists conspiring to take over the world
I did see the movie Corporation at a movie theater a few years ago and I did see the clip from Wall Street.
G,
As regarding the “apology” – that was to Colleen and myself, out of the goodness of Mike’s heart. He Wasn’t apologizing for what he Said – but he Did clear up what he Meant to us – on the show that Jon in MD mentions.
It was a really fun, nice gesture on Mike’s part (and Farron’s for arranging the whole deal, I guess) – and it showed me what a Great, Stand-up, Wonderful, Good-hearted person Mike Papantonio is!!! (RFK Jr. also had some funny and kind words to say, as he was co-hosting w/Mike that day).
Colleen and I got a *leetle* hot under the collar, as we thought – mistakenly – that Mike was making fun of ALL old people.
He Wasn’t!!!!
JUST the teabaggers!!! (and That’s what the “apology” was all about – Mike explaining to us what he Really meant, and also, as I recall, Mike saying that “my anger is good for the Progressive movement.”
Amen to THAT. I sure didn’t really understand, at the time, like I do, Now, just exactly what Mike’s words might refer to.
People are legitimately angry at the compromises of the Obama admin. It’s NOT about racial prejudice, god Forbid. Not w/Me, anyway, and I think (and hope) scores of other disappointed and angry voters. That said, racism is Real and still exists, very much so.
I don’t care that Rahm Emanuel called us “Retards”. He’s looking at all this from a p.o.v. that I can’t share. I only know what it’s like “on the ground” so to speak. And from my perspective, He’s a corrupt idiot. So, given the choice of what I’d rather be, I’d rather be a “retard”. Horrible expression, but I think it’s come to be divorced from targeting people w/mental disabilities – and means, today, people who are just very stupid (in the mind of the accuser).
G,
Excellent points. It’s not our fault that Obama has not delivered on his promises. I’m with you as far as Rahm Emanuel calling progresssives “retards.” I will mention that in my posts EVERY chance I get. That’s a fact that can not be ignored.
Mara,
I see your humor as far as “I’d rather be a retard than a corrupt idiot.” But I take Rahm’s words as an insult and I have to use that phrase to get my point across. That we have a president that has a White House Chief of Staff that calls progressives “retards” just shows what kind of person Obama is. Remember, and this goes for all of us on this earth, who you surround yourself with says alot about you.
Mara wrote:
“Empires also collapse, too, Colleen. They are never Too Big To Fail.”
Very true. America is in it’s last days. We are collapsing already.
Mara and Colleen,
Try to find an organization where you live that works on an issue you care about whose work isn’t as affected by needing to work with the local political parties. Direct services to homeless people that tries to empower them by teaching some skill to improve their socioeconomic status. If simply helping with a free meals program try to expand it (if another program doesn’t exist) to help with finding jobs by serving as a phone or email access point. Or work with a community land trust to preserve open space or develop it sustainably with mixed income transit oriented character.
After W Bush stole the 2000 election I paid more attention to local political activity where I live mostly an organization that tries to improve public transit and land use planning (actfortransit.org). I also continued as a volunteer in a sports program for children through young adults with disabilities. I wasn’t very active in helping Obama get elected (had an opportunity there was a campaign office walking distance from where I live and they called me 3 times to volunteer) but did vote for him because he was more likely to complement local public transit systems and land use changes to support it with the greater tax base. Dropping out in disgust allows Rethuglicans to take over again and sets back what little progress was made requiring ‘reinventing the wheel’ to get someone else elected nationally.
Jon in MD,
I can’t deny that those are Really Excellent points you make. Especially you very last sentence (although All of what you say is important). I Admire your attitude!
Most certainly I will probably vote Dem….
(How’s That for a Definitive statement) – but I do believe, unlike the Wonderfully astute and just Wonderful David Bender – and in kind w/talk show host Norman Goldman – that criticizing Pres. Obama is not wrong.
However, and this is important – I DO intend to keep listening to what Mike, Bobby and David have to say about all this, too. Because This show and Those men are my FAVES!!!
Despite all my exclamation points, I know that none of this is easy to figure out. I Really appreciate your feedback and insight. That much is true!
I REALLY like what Rep. Barney Frank is saying, these days, that’s for sure!!!!
Let’s have the first Openly Gay President!!!!
To Jon in MD,
We already have a president who is controlled by the equivalent of a Rethuglican. His name is Rahm Emanuel. Even Mike P. believes Emanuel is trying to morph the Democratic party into the GOP.
Let’s hope REmanuel decides to leave the administration after November. He is rumored to want to run for Chicago mayor if R Daley retires.
I have been thinking again of how to not drop out of national political process participation as internet commenter, small donor and high info voter with what I heard Mike Malloy call anticipointment last August when he made an appearance in a panel discussion to promote a progressive talk station in Seattle KPTK.
This is a copy and paste of a reply to Malloy’s June 29 program I heard and heard again by podcast. I hope it’s ok to mention other programs here if they discuss similar issues. Mike Malloy’s program is represented to advertisers and stations by the same people as Ring of Fire and Mike Papantonio talked about the underwater oil gusher well blowout on Mike’s April 30 program.
Why Pres Obama no public projects like WPA June 29, 2010 podcast 26-29 mins
Mike asked on his June 29, 2010 program (26-29 minutes into mp3 podcast) why Pres Obama (Bohica) isn’t trying to have a large public works program beyond the ARRA (stimulus bill) with funding redirected (I suggest) from war supplemental bills or defense appropriations bills. The House of Reps passed $33 billion for Afghanistan occupation for TAPI pipeline July 2. Watch Senate Rethuglican obstructionism temporarily collapse.
Unfortunately I think a tragic effect of Glenn Beck caricatures of Peace Corps, ACORN and Sarah Palin’s negative references and contexts assigned to the term ‘community organizer’” has been to make working class people hate what is in their best interests out of exaggerated fears. G Beck has also, since his Feb 2010 CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) speech calling progressives a cancer, been trying to make ‘progressive’ as dirty and politically unviable a word as ‘liberal’ was made in 1988 by the HW Bush campaign. HW Bush called M Dukakis ‘too liberal’ enough times the corporate MSM called ‘liberal’ the L-word.
Corporatists preemptively caricatured ideas like, ‘government should spend more in bad business cycles including extend UI to help people take risks and improve the economy,’ that they opposed instead of criticizing it rationally. It started with Rick Santelli’s CNBC rant about needing a ‘tea party’ to protest the recently passed ARRA (stimulus bill). And they did it by sponsoring, or tolerating ad sale losses in Beck’s case, conservative radio shows that, as Mike puts it, suck the brains out of their listeners.
At least progressives pushed back against Sarah ‘miss unqualified’ Palin with the email chain message “Jesus was a community organizer Pontius Pilate was a governor.” I call Glenn Beck CG Dreck for Clear Channel-given Dreck after his Clear Channel-sponsored 2002 Rallies for America to support Bush plans to attack Iraq.
For a liberal/progressive push-back against the tragic caricatures of CG Dreck hear the May 13, 2010 episode of Nicole Sandler’s program from radioornot.com about 1 hr and 14 minutes into that day’s podcast where she replayed a Lewis Black comedy routine about G Beck having ‘nazi tourette’s.’ Randi Rhodes also played part of the routine (originally heard on The Daily Show) in the first hour of her May 13, 2010 program.