Highlights on the Show...February 1 - 5, 2010

Thom, I don’t usually get the impulse to write because I agree with everything you say, however the other day when you were making the suggestion that Chavez or Castro begin affecting policy to the far left here in the US (in reference to the Supreme Court decision), I took objection. Not because I don’t think this country could use a hard swing to the left to at least get it to center, but because both Chavez and Castro are not the ideal Leftist they claim to be. My family is Venezuelan so I hear and see a lot about what goes on down there and though I don’t share many of their hysterical “Commie” fears about Chavez I do recognize that all is not what it seems with him. Just like Castro and many so-called Leftists that have taken power in volatile Latin countries, Chavez has merely seized upon the political climate of Venezuela to divide and conquer the country. He’s ascended to power by offering the poor an extra grain of rice just so they can say they’re better off and at the same time turned around and behind their backs used the country’s wealth to lavish himself and maintain power. No doubt he’s done some good things both in Venezuela and around the world but in the end they’re more marketing ploys than they are real gestures of idealism. And for every one good thing he does, he neglects to do countless others.
You mentioned that he’s a democratically elected leader but that’s no more true than it is to say GWB was democratically elected in 2000. Chavez may have been his first time around, on a wave of justified populist rage, but since he’s not only left doubts about the authenticity of his subsequent elections, he’s also taken a page right out of the Dick Armey playbook and staged rallies where he offers food and alcohol to the people in the slums and buses them in in huge caravans to scream for his support.
So while I don’t side with most of those opposed to Chavez I’ve seen and heard enough of the many travesties his so-called democratic regime have perpetrated to know that he’s not who or what he claims to be.
Just a note of caution from an avid listener.

Thom was trying to get the Right Wingers to realize that people that they disagree with like Chavez or Castro could now influence American elections. He was not advocating for either man. He's merely pointing out the Supreme Court decision has opened our election up to foreign interest and that can work both ways.

As a Cuban American I would not be listening to Thom Hartman if he was cheer leading for Fidel Castro. He's taken a rational, well balanced approach to both men.

Forbes titled his book "How Capitalism Will Save Us". Somehow, I am skeptical he means 'us' as in mainstreet folks. If 'us' means his crowd of wealthy capitalists, that I would believe.

Somebody please correct Thom and say that it was Carly Fiorina who, while CEO of HP, outsourced the jobs to China - and is running for the gop nomination to face Barbara Boxer. Meg Whitman, on the the other hand, was the CEO Ebay.

Here I thought the economy was supposed to work for us ALL. How stupid of me!! Thanks, Wayne Root, for explaining that it's really all about YOU!!

If the Wayne Roots of the world who steered our economy into a ditch had been taxed at 74% and so discouraged that they didn't create bubble economies ... we'd all be better off!

Each day a bunch of good people come together to contribute their time, effort, and intellect to make a live blog interesting and to debate the issues before all of us. For the past week or so this has been more difficult because the site seems to go live at varying times. What gives ? Daily topics Live Blog for Tuesday Feb. 2, where is it? We are almost a half hour into the show.

DDay- I hear you.

I seem to remember the right complaining how unfair it was that a union's political beliefs are not necessarily the same as the members. How come the Corporate folk now assume I politically agree with the companies that I invest in?

I hope the Church Lady gets on Thom's and the webmaster's case. I guess this puts to question whether Thom really reads this blog much. If he did, wouldn't he have caught it? I guess it really is groundhog day around here. Different day...same results. Get'em Church Lady!

Is Thom on the road today? I think that the days that the Live Blog doesn't go up also tend to be the days when Thom is not at the home base, co-ordinating all the facets of the show.

But hey - it IS up ... here -

http://www.thomhartmann.com/2010/02/02/daily-topics-%E2%80%93-tuesday-fe...