Tuesday - September 8th 2009

cult imagesFriday - Sep 11 - 2pm Pacific/4pm Central - "The Great Health Care Debate!" Thom debates conservative Michael Medved on Chicago's Progressive Talk station WCPT AM & FM...details at www.chicagoprogressivetalk.com

"The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to."
— Thomas Jefferson

Hour One: "With the scalping of Van Jones should we now consider Glen Beck a cult leader?! Thom confronts conservative 'cult expert' David Conn

Hour Two: Did the photo of the dead Marine show a Heroic act or senseless sacrifice? Photo of Marine

Hour Three: Why does America have the most sick & twisted healthcare system in the developed world?

Comments

Mark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#1

Should we have low expectations in advance of the specifics of President Obama’s speech on Wednesday, just so that we won’t be “disappointed,” in order to permit ourselves to be pleasantly “heartened” if he decides to be the president who defies the political winds and tells the American people in no uncertain terms what needs to be done on health care? To lay out the issues unambiguously, and throw down the gauntlet and do battle with the forces of ignorance and reaction?

Will Obama finally announce that “I’ve heard what the Republicans have say, and beyond than fear-mongering, deception and falsity, they have brought absolutely nothing to the table. I have compromised my own principles repeatedly in order to satisfy them, and in return they offer nothing—nothing but more stonewalling and inaction. It is now time to put away childish things, and tell the American people straight and clear that the necessary steps needed to reform health care will come with some cost, because it requires us to do something. It is a cruel fallacy to suggest that doing nothing at all comes without cost; it only insures that the cost will be even greater in the future.

“I have heard the arguments against a public option; I have waited in vain for the health insurance industry and its political backers propose a plan that will insure universal coverage at affordable cost. I have not heard another plan that will lower costs while insuring necessary care for all. I have not heard another plan that will insure that people will not be forced into bankruptcy or lose their homes the first time they get sick. I have not heard another plan that will insure that people will not be denied coverage for pre-existing or post-conditions. The fact that the health insurance industry and its backers have all but stated their opposition to the concept of universal coverage, and prefer to keep a third of the population uninsured or underinsured, requires that someone else must make the moral choice. Since the insurance industry and its backers refuse to make that moral choice, the federal government by default has the responsibility to make that choice. I will make that moral choice by demanding a comprehensive public health insurance option that refuses no one care, and I enjoin Congress to follow me in making this critical moral choice.”

Am I dreaming? Is this fantasy? Should I even bother wondering?

Mark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#2

The fact that these right-wingers are completely blind to the crimes committed by the Bush/Cheney administration gives a whole new meaning to the concept of "cult" leadership. And that goes doubly for the Reagan "cult." How can you deal with one of the nation's most despised enemies, keeping U.S. citizens imprisoned in exchange for political considerations and weaponry, breaking U.S. law by using money from the sale of those weapons to illegally support a corrupt right-wing regime in Central America--and not call it treason? The cult of Reagan is also blind to his failure to support U.S. domestic manufacturing and labor, or the fact that this failure led to an irreversible decline in manufacturing and middle-class jobs--which hurt African-Americans disproportionately, perhaps deliberately; while white unemployment finally began to decline in 1983, black unemployment continued to rise to over 21 percent. The "cult" of Reagan also apparently approves of the destructive policies that of his criminal Interior Department, which set back environmental and energy restructuring with an eye to future problems at least 30 years.

Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#3

I hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Labor Day. Remember labor creates wealth and the wealthy horde the money!

You must go to antiwar.com and read two articles. These articles are in the antiwar.com website for September 8, 2009. One article is written by Andrew Bacevich and the second article is written by Fred Reed.

For eight years under Bush II and now for Obama we face everyday as a BOHICA day. Bend over here it comes again!!!!!

Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#4

Progessive radio is very important for our mind and brain to grow. The brain is a muscle. You must use it or you will lose it. Serious issues must be discussed seriously and comical issues can be a comedy act to lighter our day.

Thom, Ed, and Stephanie

In Detroit we have progressive radio on 1310 AM, Stephanie Miller from 9 AM to 12 Noon, Thom Hartmann from 12 Noon to 3 PM, and Ed Schultz from 3 PM to 6 PM.

I can listen to Thom for three hours. I will listen to Ed for about the first 30 minutes. After that time period I have other things to do. I watch the Ed Show on MSNBC at 6 PM. I seldom listen to Stephanie. I have listened to her but her three hours is more like a comedy act. She may know the issues but with verbal interruptions from her team and laughter I have difficulty following her.

I do not oppose comedy because laughter and a sense of humor are important. After awhile one person does not know what are the serious issues that Stephanie is discussing or is everything a comical act? Serious discussions of the issues are imperative.

I did email Ed and I asked him to have Thom on his television show to discuss Thom’s ideas on health care reform. Egos will interfere in the process. Similar to the politicians but money is also a factor in the fact that the politicians seem to have been bought for their no vote on health care reform. Some things will never change in a cesspool that is named Washington, D.C.

In listening to Thom he talked about Lewis Powell and his Memo prior to becoming a U.S. Supreme Court justice. The Nazi Party is following many of his ideas to indoctrinate adults and students. In Clinical Psychology there is a belief that people who criticize someone about indoctrination are themselves involved in the practice of indoctrination. This indoctrination by the Nazi Party has been effect since 1971.

Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#5

Here is the article by Andrew Bacevich.

http://freedomsyndicate.com/fair0000/latimes00000.html

Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#6
Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#7

Here is the last paragraph of Fred Reed's article.

Julie Jacobson sounds like that modern-day rarity, a reporter, as distinguished from a volunteer flack. Bless her. I used to wonder whether women could hack it as combat correspondents. I no longer do. (There are lots of them.) I used to refer to smarmy, over-groomed, bloodthirsty office warts as p*ssies, saying that they lacked balls. The anatomical reference no longer works. I note that Jacobson has more combat time than the aggregate for Bush II, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Obama, Biden, Gonzales, Clinton, Perle, Abrams, Kristol, Feith, Podhoretz, Krauthammer, George Will, Dershowitz, and Gates. These men, if the word is appropriate, killed that kid. Jacobson just caught them in the act.

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#8

is the christian right a cult?

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#9

regarding the photo of the marine ,we do not see the horrors of war anymore in the news. as a people and our youth we must see the horrors of war for us to be truly human to wake ourselves up. to say no more wars. i remember as a kid during the viet nam war seeing the horrors of war on my tv during dinner time. as people of our nation we need to see and know everything that's happening in war time. we as a people are all interconnected. what happens in Iraq and afghanistan affects us also its not just that marine and his family hardship. it is also our hardship enough of this bullshit of war the peace movement was based because we seen the horrors of war.

Gerald Socha (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#10

Wars are outmoded creating more problems than resolving them. At 70 years of age I have finally resolved in my mind the essence of the country and world we live in. You only need to read three articles to know the essence of life in fascist Nazi America. Stephan Lendman's article, "A Culture of Violence," Ray McGovern's article, "Christians largely mum on torture," and Doug Soderstrom's letter to his son on war!!!

David Ulrich (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#11

Hi Brian, Yes the Christian rite is a cult, but so is most of what is called Christianity today. When the Christian church was taken over by Rome around 300 AD. It was turned into a death cult, with Jesus at the center as a sort of get out of hell free card.
On the other hand the teachings of Jesus are powerful and life giving. As he said "my words are life" Also if you compare the teachings of Jesus to those of the Buddha and other enlightened masters, you will find that they all were saying the same things.

Any spiritual discipline which does not teach that Love and Compassion are the way to life abundant is a cult. As Jesus said I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say "don't worry about a thing, in a little while my father in heaven is going to off me and send me to hell, so after that you can be as evil and rotten as you want as long as you believe that God offed me for you, you can have a great life after you die"

Quark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#12

brian a. hayes,

Yes, it's very sad that the American people are only fed "weak broth" by our corporate government. The "meat and potatoes" (the REAL unemployment numbers, the REAL war --- both in pictures and in numbers, the REAL news in general, etc.) are hidden so we don't hinder the REAL agenda!

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#13

Guess what is being advertized on the bottom of the live stream window of The President's speech- who just finished now--

Retire Harry Reid
Stand Against a Second "Stimulus" Text "RetireReid" to 466772
www.nrsc.org

No kidding!

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#14

Glenn Beck is Joe McCarthy

if capitalism means no food no shelter no healthcare no safe or clean environment and socialism does, give me the latter

David Con is a Con!

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#15

So...is there a law against being a communist/ socialist/ fascist in America?

Better yet, is there a dictionary in which defines the combination of all 3 of them as they are being used by the teabaggers?

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#16

Thom- caller is full of baloney, these were older kids.

Rasta (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#17

Speaking of CULTS.......More of the Israeli 'SUPER RACE' Fascist cult of supremacy and their supporter Thom Hartmann

Israeli Government Ads Warn Against Marrying Non-Jews

World: Israel has launched an advertising campaign urging Israelis to inform on Jewish friends and relatives abroad who may be in danger of marrying non-Jews.

straaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaight out of Hitler's playbook

http://www.alternet.org/world/142478/israeli_government_ads_warn_against...

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#18

Something creepy...on a conference call with Organizing For America, Barack's grassroots team, Mary Jane Stevenson kept placating an organizer who was asking why we weren't more able on comebacks in the media. Out it came, she had been a member of the cable news network for years and years -- have they infiltrated the OFA? Are they keeping or advising the Obama camp wrong?

Quark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#19

BTW, does anyone else find it completely disgusting that so many Americans had to work on LABOR DAY?

lore (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#20

President Obama has to appear on maintime tv because the media is corporate owned and anti-democratic. there is no discussion. no explanation. no insight. just anti-democratic, anti-american propaganda.

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#21

thom where can i get the recordings of FDR speeches?. we need to have everyone listen what FDR said about corporate america.

Marty (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#22

Rasta, have you figured out yet that your postings are actually repelling those who would be flocking more to your side? The way your wording these posts, you're no better than Beck, or the rest of Fox Noise.

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#23

The President also said Do not let your failures define you, it just means you should learn have your failures teach you.

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#24

food facist------ joe mccarty was the poster boy for the right.

truesue (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#25

These right-wing nuts are teaching their children not to respect the Office of the President -- How American of them. We are in the throes of a Fascist take over of our government and there isn't anyone, in or out of government, who has the "brass" to say it out loud. These people have been plotting and planning this coup for 60 years. They are more patient than Al Queda and the rest of us behave like "Good Germans".

It's frightening, sad and disgusting that the best hope of the world is failing and falling and we're ready to let it happen as long as we have our "American Idol" show to watch.

I've been around for 70 years, marched for Civil Rights, against the Vietnam War, etc. I can't for the life of me figure out why our "progressives/liberals" can't muster the courage to march for health insurance/care reform. My parents generation and my generation were willing to take the "hit" for our beliefs--where the hell are the people of this generation. Too afraid of not being liked? Too afraid of not being "politically correct"? Or just too damned lazy? There are some who have organized online and helped Obama get elected, but you can't get the marjority of them out from behind their computers. As long as we are unwilling to put our bodies on the line, we will lose everything this country has ever stood for.

I'm not young enough to start organizing (besides I'm retired and still have to work full time), but if MoveOn.org or Democracy for American could muster the courage to organize a march on Washington, I'd use what little savings I have to get there.

Who else is willing to push for this!

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#26

Machine Gunner Joe McCarthy was a poster boy for lots of bad things: Red baiting, Black listing, Jingoism, Bullying, and Alcoholism. A phony patriot, and a headline seeking Republican who went down in flames. Unfortunately it took a moderate and decent Republican to finally stand up to him and expose him along with the help of a courageous journalist. That McCarthys still walk the Earth is obvious. What is less certain is if there are any moderate or decent Repubs or any Edward R. Murrows around.

Kim Wilson (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#27

Protest sign seen at Obama speech: Pay attention to God, not the President...So, grow your hair long, drop out of school, give away all your money, wear sandals and roam around the country talking about peace and living off the charity of others...Kool...KC

MahatmaKaneJeeves (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#28

Thom, glad you pointed out that Landover Baptist is a parody.

It is awfully close to reality though.

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#29

OMG Alan Colmes at http://www.alan.com/ is becoming the Progressive Talk Radio Host Champion of Twitter. More Thom Tweets would be a healthy competition. Beck seemed to say in a recent broadcast to discourage use of the web as us progressives are knocking down these bizarre flying monkey right misgivings and tweeting links to progressive radio shows.

Alan has on his blog today @angrytownhall on twitter that Thom did talk about. Also on Alan's blog today is that Mark Foley may be considered for a radio talk show!

Michael Hood at Blather Watch reports that former sexcapader Mark Foley may have found a home on Talk Radio. WSVU in Palm Beach will present “Inside the Mind of Mark Foley” which “will expose the inner workings of Washington DC.

Listen online to Alan 7-10PM PST http://www.foxnews.com/radio/alancolmes/index.html

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#30

Boy oh Boy do I like truesue. I would say ditto, but, Tush Limpbone uses that phrase. Just an idea, rather than first marching on Washington, maybe we should try to organize a European style work stoppage for a day. Hit them in their pocketbooks and your message will reach DC with greater speed and force without all the carbon load.

Loretta (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#31

Thom,

We have been distracted from talking about and protesting the war in Afghanistan while fighting for health care. Was the long break before the vote partly intended to distract us in just that way? We could all write to the AP and say we support their decision to publish the photo, and that we believe Americans need to know the cost of war through honest visual images.

Such a letter would be as important as writing to our senators if it will help convince journalists that honest reporting about the cost of war, even against the governments wishes, is essential to not turning Afghanistan into another Vietnam.

rak (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#32
Loretta (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#33

Here's a link to the AP's statements regarding their photo. The bottom of the page has a link to other statements including one from the reporter.

http://www.ap.org/fallen_marine/

Also, I think we could write a letter of support for publishing the photo to this address: info@ap.org

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#34

Brian Hayes

Check out the FDR Economic Royalist speech here. If you find the I welcome their hate speech, please post that link pls. I am multi tasking and do not quite have time to research more.

http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3305

eDebbie (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#35

As an aside to the topic of the hour about being honest about the cost of war (which I agree with), I just wanted to say that the AP is no hero in this scenario. They are shills for the right-wing. Where were they during the 8 years of the Bush-Cheney administration? They were brainlessly and obediently complying with Bush-Cheney order to censor all such truth.

I also can't forget Rachel Maddow's reporting about the AP event last year to which they invited John McCain. I think the event was post-primary so I believe that it was known that Obama was the Democratic candidate for president but I don't think Obama was invited to this thing, only McCain. And the thing that our brain-dead media played up was that the AP staff presented McCain with a cup of coffee just the way he likes it and his favorite type of donut, one with sprinkles. Ringing any bells with anyone? Well, Rachel reported, correctly, that this was an entirely inappropriate thing for a news organization to do. How can we really believe that the AP will report on McCain's contradictions and hypocrisies, which were numerous during the campaign, when they're his pal?? So the AP has revealed itself to be compromised and unethical in its reporting, and I hope liberals aren't clapping them on the back as friends of the left.

I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly 'got religion' about reporting the truth about the horror of war just to give Obama another headache or to try to turn public opinion against him in another arena besides healthcare reform.

Loretta (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#36

eDebbie,

You are right in saying that the AP is no hero, BUT that means we need to speak up even louder to encourage them to publish more photos and honest reports of war.

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#37

Tomorrow night there will be a watershed event. I noticed that the date will be 09/09/09. We are told by the White House that the president will "draw a line in the sand". Not only will we learn where that line is drawn but in subsequent days, we will find out if that sand shifts. Then we will discover, not only if that line falls before us, or behind our backs, but also where he, (Obama) , really stands. Anything less than a strong public choice, will be a betrayal, by my measure. I believe Thom has also drawn that same line. We will also finally find out if we have been watching checkers or chess being played. I may pop some popcorn!

Quark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#38

I could tell things were going sour regarding healthcare reform when David Axelrod (one of the major behind-the-scenes advisors on the issue) would not say anything clearly and plainly regarding the inclusion of a real public option on "Meet the Press" Sunday:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

After 5 minutes of his obfuscation and prevarication, I turned the T.V. off.

kas (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#39

Listen. I don’t want to be negative, but if Barack delivers the kind of health care reform speech that I expect him to, I have a proposal. I live just outside of the San Francisco County Line. Everybody is invited to my house. I will provide many, many bottles of Veronique’s organic wine. If you’re not a wino, BYOB. We will wave our white flag to Corporate America with a special single-finger salute to the health insurance industry. We will play drunken monopoly and donate the properties to non profits.

Cuz folks, dats da name of dat tune.
This is the only victory possible in modern day America.

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#40

That's darn generous of you kas. I wished I still resided in the Bay area, because I;d bring some homemade Eau de Vie that was smuggled in from France. It removes all memory or pain for a while.

Loretta (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#41

I wish I could come too kas, but I'll be waving my flag and saluting right along with you from here. Can you fed ex me a shot of Eau de Vie, DDay? just in case:-)

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#42

food facist------------ thanks for FDR link

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#43

food facist------------ thanks for FDR link

brian a. hayes (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#44

food facist------------ thanks for FDR link

Quark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#45
kas (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#46

FDR
Remove the pain? Can I order a case to go?

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#47

Sure my dear Loretta! I'll take a shot of my few bottles with my trusty digital camera and email them to you. Oh....wait.... you meant the other kinda shot....didn't you? :-) I'll bring some when I visit Portland next.

Food Fascist (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#48

Quark! - THX- for the I welcome their hate -

Rock on Brian- put it to good use - Twitter it!

DDay (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#49

Hey kas,
I get to S.F fairly often. Are you a little north or a little south of the county line? I usually hang with friends in Marin. I might be able to share some 'recipe" if you are around. and ye it doe's remove pain but as in all things there is a flip side the next morn. :-(

Quark (not verified) 13 years 38 weeks ago
#50

Food Fascist,

My pleasure!

BTW, I sent the link to Pres. Obama plus each of the "Gang of Six:"

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/the_health_care_gang...

Thom's Blog Is On the Move

Hello All

Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.

Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.

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