Daily Topics - February 18th 2010 "Live" from the Conservative Political Action Conference
By Louise
Live from CPAC
Quote: “A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy" Theodore Roosevelt
Hour One - 14 year old - Jonathan Krohn definingconservatismbook.com "Defining Conservatism: The Principles That Will Bring Our Country Back"
Plus Ken Hoagland www.fairtax.org "Fair Tax" - Time for a second tax revolt
Hour Two - John Felmy chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute (API) www.api.org
Hour Three - David Bossie President of Citizens United and Citizens United Productions www.citizensunited.org Supreme Court decision in their favor give personhood to corporations
Plus...Ryan Hecker, Houston, Texas grassroots activist, a National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots, and the developer of the Contract from America initiative www.contractfromamerica.com Their new "Contract FROM America"
Upcoming Events with Thom Hartmann:
Friday, March 5th - 6 to 8pm, Denver, CO - AM 760 presents Thom and David Sirota taking opposite sides "Is it Time to Abandon the Democratic Party?" Event is sold out but you can still enter to win tickets!! Visit AM760.net for details.
Comments
#2
I was reading a story in the local paper about the “lessons” that were allegedly learned during the recent H1N1 “pandemic.” There were supposed lessons in timely responsiveness to a sudden deadly outbreak of flu, and developing enough vaccine quickly and in enough quantity. But these “lessons” were learned during the 1975 “pandemic,” and the country forgot another lesson from that episode: about how easily people can be driven into a panic by media-driven agitation and official over-excitement. After all the initial excitement, the virus took its time to develop into a full-blown load of nothing, giving scientists plenty of time to develop a vaccine that proved so effective that people started to wonder what the fuss was about (in fact the swine flu virus has been deemed no more dangerous a strain than typical). Even the WHO’s irresponsible altering of its pandemic “standard” started to look suspiciously like the Bush administration’s use of terror alert status hues to fit a particular political need of the moment.
No one really knows the precise origin of the swine flu, but the American media and then the world was quick to demonize anyone who looked Mexican. Mexican nationals were quarantined by countries like China (which has peculiar notions about race; many couldn’t believe a black man was president, because they thought black people were all janitors). In this country, it was all part and parcel of the current anti-immigrant hysteria, fueled by people like Lou Dobbs and Michelle Malkin who likened “Mexicans” as disease-carrying animals.
The newspaper story made mention of the so-called “Spanish” influenza following WWI, perhaps to remind people of the “origin” of the current “pandemic.” Spain was actually one of the last countries that the pandemic visited; it is believed that the flu became dangerous when it infected the suppressed immune systems of soldiers who had lived in fetid conditions in the trenches, and spread when they returned home. Spain was a neutral country and had stayed out of the war. But the U.S. and other European governments and press suppressed information about the spread and strength of the flu, and it was the Spanish press that gave the lie to the official censorship—which it could hardly do otherwise, since the country’s king had taken seriously ill with it. Since Spain was the first country to acknowledge the existence of the flu, it was given the “honor” of giving its name to it.
#3
Jonathan's voice has dropped since last year! Congratulations!
#4
Johnathan Krohn: a 14 year old with all the answers. He certainly has all the conservative hot buttons down. I thought blaming Carter and the CRA had been abandoned since the CRA affected local banks issuing loans in the neighborhoods they took deposits from. Ironically, the local banks under CRA are the ones that are not at risk.
#5
Right-wing attacks on the Community Reinvestment Act is a veiled effort to blame our economic difficulties on minorities and the working poor rather than banksters. The Act was passed because of evidence of deliberate redlining of minority neighborhoods by banks, refusing to loan money to anyone within that “redline.” It was the Bush administration that unleashed banks to make “predatory” loans to people who did not have the means to make their payments. These loans were in fact profitable in the long run, because not only did banks seize control of foreclosed property, they managed to get the government to cover their “losses” while they waited to sell these properties.
#6
"Libertarianism: A simple minded right wing ideology ideally suited to those unable or unwilling to see past their own sociopathic self-regard." Iain Banks . I agree that this pretty well sums up the fact that it is a wide spread patnology .
#7
Could someone help me out with this Two Santa Claus Theory? Why do we call it two Santa Clauses.
Is one Santa Clause the Republican like Reagan that borrows and spends, but he doesnt really have the money?
Is the other Santa Clause the Democrat who would have had the money had the Republicans not borrowed us into debt?
#8
@Mark K - Follow the money. Always follow the money. The swine flu was a hoax. WHO would not back down from its hysterical claims so Big Pharma could recoup its investment to develop a vaccine. Many of the chain pharmacy/convenience stores in my area still have banners hanging out front offering swine flu vaccination.
#9
That kid was beyond annoying. I was wishing for fingernails on a blackboard to drown him out. I would also say that, wherever he goes to school, they aren't doing a very good job teaching him critical thinking skills, although, as Thom said, he gets points for having read the original discussion of the constitution, even if he didn't seem to get it.
#10
@KHM - They are both Repubs. I believe the first SC offers the gift of tax cuts. The second SC borrows money to maintain services.
#11
That kid is home schooled. So you can imagine what is influencing his education.
#12
Obama is tapping Alan Simpson (R-WY) to help lead a debt commission. Here's the best quote from Simpson about today's so-called Republicans....
"Republicans never vetoed a single bill in six and a half years. How is that for cutting spending?" - former Republican Senator Alan Simpson (WY
#13
That kid seriously creeps me out. He comes from a VERY wealthy family and has no idea what middle-class Americans struggle with, nor does he have a clue about issues surrounding the poor.
#14
@Charles thx and okay- so are both Republican Santa Clauses the same president in the same term? For example, Reagan gave tax cuts and spent us into debt? But at least he had the decency to eventually raise taxes?
#15
@Cambridge
re: "That kid.."
Too bad we can't count on him joining the military in a few years and getting a first hand look at the consequences of war.
"The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for entrepreneur." - George W. Bush
#16
Did you know that the mate of a snorer wakes up an average of 27 times a night? The answer is a .38 Special!
#17
Harry Ashburn, do the other soldiers really deserve to have Private Krohn endangering their lives? Somehow I don't imagine he'd have a Private Benjamin conversion. Perhaps he could annoy the "enemy" to death.
#18
@KHM - Same people at the same time. Its easy to promise something for nothing, and as long as Congress and the Administration can borrow, that promise can be delivered. The promise only lasts as long as borrowing is allowed.
Where Dems fail in the message is they promise and explain how the promise will be paid for, or pay as you go. No Santa Claus.
#19
@CambridgeKnitter: I assumed he would be in charge.
#20
@KHM - Article by Thom on the Two Santa Claus theory:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
#21
@ harry - Thanks for reminding me how stupid W is.
#22
Darkth Cheney--
Protect yourself! Pray! We are praying!
#23
@Charles THX tax cuts and borrow I think I will just call it 'tax cuts and borrow' Calling it Two Santa Clauses is confusing and requires an explanation.
#24
I love how China is held up as a bogyman every time a guest wants to scare us. But where is the outrage over the fact that China has been the largest benefactor of our diminishing manufacturing jobs?
#25
The premise is that we have to power the 20 million cars here with a 20 yer span? How about Flex car? That's what I think I am going towards. Why own a damn car. Cheaper to share for errands. Then rent for trips. I am lucky though. I telecommute.
#26
Citizens arrest!
#27
Good job! Thom! API.org
#28
Thom! Now's your chance. Did you bring a big stake with you?
#29
How 'bout a remote control- turn that 'heart' us tax payers have paid for how many times- oiff.
#30
The majority of suburban driving is within a few miles of home. I am turning in my lease car in a few months and considering purchasing a battery powered golf cart to run errands.
#31
A small plane just crashed into an IRS building in Austin, Tx.
#32
Thom,
I am thinking it might be easier to infiltrate the Republican Party.
#33
These people are speaking sense to their target audience. If you totally abandon your responsibility to the greater good of society and direct all your efforts to personal gain you would get the message.
#34
@ harry - Let's hope the pilot is not Arabic or Persian or African or ... I guess what I'm saying is I hope the pilot is white.
#35
@Charles: my first guess would be a rich, white, racist Texan. (And PLEASE don't say that's redundant!)
#36
@ harry - My thoughts exactly. Taking back his country.
#37
BREAKING NEWS: Note posted by man linked to plane crash shows anger at IRS - from Austin American-Statesman
#38
Is the FBI going to raid his home for TEA Party literature?
#39
Health care interview: These are questions our founders decided when they fought the British. It has been decided that we will have a government. Google is made up of people. The government is made up of _________ martians?
#40
All these interviewees have multiple fora and chances to be heard on corporate media. I have no interest in listening to what they have to say, having been deluged with propaganda from these types, so am tuning out as soon as I finish this message. I assume one of Thom's goals in attending these cult meetings is to let them know at least one person disagrees with them, but for what change or gain?
#41
Wow- that is ballsy flying a plane into the IRS. I wonder if he had his middle finger up when he made impact.
#42
re: plane crash: this is my last post on this topic.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/e...
#43
The guy set his house on fire and stole the plane.
#44
@Bobbee Thom is exposing the ugliness of these people to us. Democrats need to learn to identify these people and model confronting them. He is doing what Gandhi did. Eventually, they will see what pricks they are themselves. It's one strategy. Surely there are more.
#45
Wonder how much money this Texan made?
#46
@KMH: he obviously wasn't rich; he stole the plane, besides, i don't think the IRS goes after the rich.
#47
I had an accountant one year do my taxes for me. He was not sure how to handle a 1099 from me as having served as a contractor. At the end of the year, sure enough the IRS came. I called them to ask for a payment plan. The lady was so friendly. Sure! she said. You can pay 50% this month and 50% next month............... those were two tough months I tell you.
#48
Did the building remain standing or did it collapse like a pancake.
#49
@KMH: yes and no.
#50
Bro- (guy Thom is interviewing)
The issue is that the Supreme Court ruled on something other than your question. They ruled that Corporations now own the government, Corporations now own the people > slavery.
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