Daily Topics - Wednesday August 11th, 2010
By shawnt56
Quote of the Day: Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. -- Erich Fromm
Hour One: Elections results and Gibbs hit on the "professional left" - Author/Columnist David Sirota, Host of the David Sirota Show on AM 760 Colorado's Progressive Talk, will be here www.davidsirota.com
Hour Two: "Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil" - Investigative journalist/author Peter Maass talks to Thom, www.petermaass.com
Hour Three: Bush tax cuts...Why do Republicans keep making the case for "greed is good"? Thom has a rumble with Bob Adams, Executive Director-League of American Voters, http://leagueofamericanvoters.com; Plus, the latest on the death of Senator Ted Stevens - Shannyn Moore, host of The Shannyn Moore Show on KUDO in Anchorage will be here www.shannynmoore.com
Comments
#2
As Will Rodgers once said... "I am a member of no organized party, I'm a Democrat." Lately I’ve been feeling that way more then ever. It’s not clear who Mr. Gibbs had in mind the other day when he denounced President Obama's critics in “the professional left." Frankly, the term sounds about as oxymoronic to me as "jumbo shrimp" or "military intelligence." It is a nonsensical signifier for a nonexistent category.
What I do know is that the oldest rule in politics is that you are supposed to “dance with the one who brung you." For Mr. Obama that would be his progressive base, who are after all the ones who went out there and walked the precincts, made the phone calls, and pooled our Saturday night fun money to get him elected. Unfortunately, it seems that Mr. Obama never got that memo about how to fill his dance card once he got to D.C.
Since the election, we progressives have watched our president dance with everyone in Washington except us. Obama has danced with the Wall Street bankers and the wealthy tax shirkers. He's danced with big pharma and the insurance companies. He's danced with the military contractors, profiteers and war criminals. He's danced with the planet wrecking oil, gas and coal industries. And he's even danced with the gay haters and race baiters of the rightwing media.
Now, after ignoring us for the past year and a half, Mr. Obama and the Democrats are coming back to their progressive base to demand that we feed the election juke box with some more of our hard earned coin so that they can go on dancing with their new friends and suitors. If that were not nervy enough, then Mr. Gibbs has the gall to come over to the dark corner where his boss parked us at the start of the dance and slap us in the face just to make sure that we progressives know just how low we are regarded by the "leadership" of our party.
It really makes me wonder, how do these guys think they are going to get reelected? They don’t seem to think that they need us that’s for sure.
DancingBear
(aka Ed in Redondo Beach)
#3
In our name!
#4
The rich will never suffer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/us/politics/11tax.html?_r=2
#5
T. Boone Pickens branched out to build a pipeline from his ranch to Dallas, TX. The pipe is big enough to drive a small car through. The line is intended to carry water.
Can anyone envision and hear a sucking sound as with a straw at the bottom of a glass? The "law of the biggest pump" will have serious implications for everyone who depends upon aquifers such as the Oglala.
#6
Dear Thom,
August 11, 2010
I will start this open letter for you and at some point I will dovetail it into words for your listeners.
We should not pray to be successful; we should pray to be faithful in what we are called to do. – Father Frank
Thom, you have been very successful as the number one progressive radio show host in the world. But, you have been unfaithful in what you have been called to do. You hesitate to lay all the facts on the table regarding Obama. Thom, I voted for Obama and he has brought me frustration and pain. It hurts me to say that he is not a leader. I see him as a weak person who lacks the moral courage to do what is right.
Thom, I sense your anguish whenever you must criticize Obama. You believe in him and you are reluctant to be critical of him. By not being critical you are not being true to your listeners. I can accept that possibility. But, Thom you must be true to yourself. There is a saying, “To Thy Own Self Be True.” Please do not remain dishonest with yourself!
To your listeners I will share an experience. I was listening to Catholic television and the head of the office that reviews the files on possible sainthood candidates was asked the question, “Why are so few Americans not considered for sainthood?” His answer was that Americans have the good life and they do not know a difficult life. When I was on retreat, the retreat master said that The Vatican does not understand America and Americans and the lives they endure in the United States. Let me share with you American Life. We live in a morass of shit that needs to be shaken from our bodies on an hourly basis. We live in an environment where filth and garbage are thrown at us every hour from the media that attempts to contaminate our minds with nonsense. We also live in an environment where mortal sin is a constant sin in our lives because every hour we commit mortal sins by breaking the fifth, seventh, eighth, and tenth commandments. We live a heartbeat away from eternal damnation in hell. And, The Vatican says Americans have the good life. Presently, Americans are living in a natural hell as preparation for the supernatural hell that awaits them. I am not seeing average Americans leading a good life with jobs, a livable wage, a decent home, good health care, and a safe environment. Americans are living in a hell hole called the United States of Hell. Any American who remains true to his God is a saint.
Sincerely, Gerald
#7
OK Russia is ablaze, literally the whole western section of it is in a record breaking heat wave and experiencing thousands (Yeah, no flurking schnit, THOUSANDS) of wild fires. I'm only hearing snips and pieces on the radio about it, and I listen to progressive radio throughout most of the work day. What the hell, why is this story not getting traction (good lord can't be the lack of pretty pictures of fire, the Internet is littered with good video), can't be the lack of major imminent danger, areas of Chernobyl are burning and releasing radioactive particulates into the air, can't be lack of death, several have died already. So why, why is there nothing on programs like this one talking about it. Seems to be a catastrophe in proportion that compares to the Gulf Oil Spew, and for much the same reason, lack of following standard regulations (on a grand scale). Moscow looks like geralds' fantasies of hell, even their subway systems are inundated with smoke.
Anyone else here aware of this, and so, is it just me, or does it seem like there is no coverage of this?
N
#8
Re: Gibbs
So, if Obama is surrounding himself with these kind of people, what does that say about Obama?
#9
Gibbs gots to go! Thx for keeping this story alive. I am tired of being told I am mentally retarded and a drug user. I put hours and hours and hours of volunteer time on the Obama campaign. My cat even sat at home with a nasty foxglove behind her eye while I finished my phone bank duty one particular day. [We originally thought the cat had an infection and so were tending to it, but had the scheduling with the vet-- oh its complicated]. I spent my own money promoting him. I educated persons, I was on the phone calling around the nation the night of the election up to 40 minutes before the polls closed. No one from the Obama camp ever even came on progressive radio to thank us. They certainly used us though when they needed to get their campaigns started. This is our chance to unify as the class war we are really having. It is all of us against the 'leadership' inside the golden belt way. We have brilliance on our side, educated, persons. We should not be so disrespected. Love Howard Dean- could not agree with Thom more here.
#10
@Maxrot- Chernobyl burning- that is a scary thought.....
#11
@ DRichards, if Obama is surrounding himself with these guys, what does that say about the people in Washington that are available.
Though I suppose Obama's greatest strength in his campaign was to be as vague as possible, and on top of that, to have the political knack of ignoring campaign promises as the issue may warrant.
I figure that Obama's strongest desire is to be PResident, no matter what. However, he seems to be doing a piss poor job at pleasing his base. Complaining that the base doesn't support you, says more about you're PResidency than it does about the base though. Playing your supporters for fools, then getting frustrated when they turn on you (or basically just don't bother to support you anymore, not necessarily working against you) is "retarded" (as Rahm would say).
N
#12
Correction Thom, Conservatives are concerned about what Democrats are doing in private. They couldn't care less what fellow conservatives are doing, in fact they'll give their prostitute visiting colleagues standing ovations.
N
#13
Could you please post a link to the piece on Gibbs and Americans for Jobs and Healthcare re the 2002 sabotage of Howard Dean?
Thanks.
#14
The missionaries were captured by savages. They were given two options: Bunga or Death. The leader of the missionaries watched as his flock was taken to the public square and sodomized relentlessly. The leader's turn came. He could not imagine going through such abuse and humiliation, so he chose Death. The crowd cheered, and the chief of the savages replied, "Death, by Bunga!"
#15
Maxrot
It sure appears that Obama and his friends are doing their best to assure a republican presidency during the next cycle. It's hard for me accept that these folks are as clueless and spineless as they come across, rather than being two sides of the same coin. Perhaps it's time we take off our rose colored classes?
#16
I don't know about Obama following in Bush's footsteps, but he sure in the hell is following in Clintons. That being the case, we should have voted in Hillary, this is exactly what I expected from her. I didn't expect much better from Obama, but I did expect better.
Oh well, didn't have much choice anyway.
N
#17
Oil industry executives have projected perhaps 40 more years of oil remaining on which to base a hydrocarbon economy say Peter Davies, chief economist at BP (Conway, 2004).
References:
Conway, E. (June 15, 2004). The Energy Bulletin. Post Carbon Institute, re-printed from The Telegraph. Retrieved August 10, 2010 from energybulletin.net/node/659.
Read more at Suite101: Activists Endorse Global Sexual Reproductive Health Act of 2010 http://activism.suite101.com/article.cfm/activists-endorse-global-sexual-reproductive-health-act-of-2010#ixzz0wJnUpBdH
#18
re: #7: don' worry, the flood waters in Pakistan will soon extinguish the russian fires....
#19
@DRichards, don't underestimate the stupifying effect of being in power. Time and again PResidents get into office thinking they got there because they know best, and therefore whatever they do will be best and will be viewed as such. To be PResident you have to have an ego and arrogance that few can even understand, and ego and arrogance goes hand in hand with being foolish. Obama seems to have a stupendous ego to me. He actually believes he'll be able to unite Americans, that there are no Red States and Blue States, and perhaps there isn't states that are one or the other, but I guarantee you, there are dyed in the wool Red and Blue people that are polar opposites, and no flowery speech will change that (but I'm sure Obama would disagree with me there).
N
#20
I think Gibbs was a complete moron to blame the professional left (for whatever). Because now everyone who considers themselves a professional left personality has taken it personally, and they all have a mic (and some have camera's) to shout back with. Stoopid move, stoopid move.
N
#21
re; #2: Dear Dancing Bear: the democrats are just the b-team for the ruling elite. Progressives wouldn't have gotten the chance to vote for Obama without the stamp of approval of our masters. Obama would have suffered the same fate as Kucinich and Howard Dean.
#22
@harry re#18, ha ha. for that clever comment I'm sending you a Newt Gingrich fathead. He'll be dressed in women's lacy black lingerie with garter belt, fishnet stockings and black stilettos. He's holding the contract on America in one hand and holding his hand over a bible with the other taking the PResidential oath.
N
#23
The Formula
I am giving you a formula that I believe will bring about justice and peace. Actually, God has given me these ideas directly for a better world. You can accept what I say through Divine Providence or reject what I say. We are all given a free choice. The decision is yours alone.
Shalom translated means peace but it is more than peace. Shalom is God’s vision of the world. It is God’s dream that Shalom comes only to the inclusive embracing community that excludes no one.
In each of us there is a Jesus and a Hitler. We should always strive to bring out the Jesus in us.
1. Love is wanting the best for another person or persons.
2. Try to emulate Mother Teresa who saw in each human being the face of Jesus.
3. War is outmoded; no normal person chooses war over peace.
4. From James in the New Testament – Faith without deeds is worth nothing.
5. Practice your faith that believes in the true God. God wants us to love one another.
6. Read the Bible because it is God’s love letter to us.
7. Read Mattie Stepanek’s books on Heartsongs.
8. John Kerry says that it is not important for God to be on our side, what is important are we on God’s side?
9. Read Matthew 25:31-46! When you do it to the least of my brethren, you do it for me.
10. Read Matthew 5:1-12! The beatitudes!
11. Read Luke 10:25-37! Who is my neighbor?
12. Read Luke 12:13-21! These verses warn us against greed.
13. Be aware of the Just War Theory! Are we in imminent danger?
14. Practice being a Conscientious Objector!
15. St. Ambrose says, “I shall pass this way but once, any good that I can do let me do it now, because I shall not pass this way again.”
16. Totus Tuus means all yours. We are all God’s children.
17. Paul Wellstone says that politics is not about power. Politics is not only about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people’s lives. It is about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and in the world. Politics is about doing well for people.
18. Mr. Bourn who built the Filoli Home and Gardens that is south of San Francisco says that we must fight for a just cause; we must love our fellow man; and we must live a good life.
19. When we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we are acknowledging that God is the Father and we are all brothers and sisters.
20. The Cross is a sign of contradiction. It is not about death and hatred; it is about life and love.
21. St. Irenaeus says, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Man can only be fully alive when he loves God with his whole mind, body, and soul. And, when he loves his neighbor, as he loves himself.
22. Read the Psalms in the Bible because they offer us hope.
23. Love the poor and your life will be filled with sunlight and you will not fear the hour of death. St. Vincent DePaul, the first social worker
24. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Mother Teresa! We must always remember that we belong to each other.
Many persons will have and will offer various formulas for justice and peace. The end result will center on whether or not we have love and mercy in our hearts. Justice and peace can never move forward unless we have a conversion of the heart.
Leo Buscaglia reminds us that the heart sees what the eyes fail to see. In life we may be called upon to see with our hearts. Our hearts must be filled with love and mercy.
#24
Salem' Childrens Village $ What's up with the audience here Thom regarding donations. Want to know what I think? I think that more of your listeners are not savvy on the computer as we would expect. I wonder what would happen if you gave out a phone number instead and took charge card numbers over the phone. This is pathetic and scary. I know I am absolutely frightened over my own sitation but did send in a little. I felt bad in fact when I recieved a hand-wrtitten art piece from Natalie there at Salem because I want to give so much more, but am so maxed out here myself.
I am sponsoring Diana Leafe Christian who travels the world building ecovillages, here in Sacramento in order to help the homeless we have here. The Mayor and a number of architects are trying to help the homeless by constructing a green campground/ villlage for them. Many others are on the brink and ready to become the next homeless, so my thoughts are, lets make everyone as comfortable as possible while homeless, and these shanty towns may be the next new normal for all I know- especially if our karma comes back to us as a nation and we are the targets of Afghan weaponry, or the Whitehouse tracking down the professional left. Sorry about that rant, but Diana could be a great guest for the show! More about her here: http://exm.nr/cxYmoC -
#25
Would it be inappropriate to arrange several Alaskan fishing trips for the Right wing members of the court? I'll chip in some money to help pay for the plane tickets (but lets keep the prices cheap).
N
#26
That the trial against a person who was a 15 year old and critically wounded at the time of his capture and was undeniably tortured is proceeding is the perfect example of why Gibbs is dead wrong. Those of us who are horrified at the monster and mockery of justice that Cheney/Bush/Rove created rejoiced at the promise of Change. That the injustice continues is not cause for silence; it is time to raise our voices louder still....
From an OP ED at TruthOut by Lisa Hajjat, Associate Professor at the Unversity of California-Santa Barbara concerning the torture this 15 year old endured at our hands, in our custody and under what duress he was forced to sign a confession:
"When Khadr was captured on July 27, 2002, following a firefight in the Afghan village of Ayub Kheyl, he was blinded in one eye, shot twice in the chest and buried under rubble. The critically injured 15-year-old was airlifted to the Bagram air base where he was interrogated for three months, starting as soon as he regained consciousness while strapped to a hospital gurney. In September, Khadr turned 16, and, in October, he was shipped to Guantánamo, where he - like all prisoners - was held incommunicado for years and interrogated dozens of times.
Khadr was assumed to be a treasure trove of intelligence about al-Qaeda.(2) At Bagram, he was beaten; threatened with rape and snarling dogs; hung by his wrists for hours, which exacerbated the pain of his injuries; and hooded and soaked with water until he began to suffocate. His captors also shined bright lights into his eyes, which had been damaged by shrapnel. At Guantánamo, Khadr was again beaten and threatened with rape and dogs, had his hair pulled out, was subjected to protracted sleep deprivation under the "frequent flyer program" and was doused with a pine-scented cleaner and used as a "human mop" on the floor where he urinated after being denied access to a toilet. He was sequestered in isolation for protracted periods, and force fed after he joined the prisoners' hunger strike."
Lisa Hajjar is an associate professor of sociology at the University of California-Santa Barbara. A longer version of this article, which discusses other convictions in the military commissions, was published by the Middle East Research and Information Project.
http://www.truth-out.org/omar-khadr-and-still-black-hole-guant%C3%A1namo...
The Change we need is sweeping -- and only truly bold and agressive courage will bring it -- that is what we are calling for....
#27
do I hear foot-tapping coming from Ted Steven's coffin?
#28
Re: ...That the injustice continues is not cause for silence; it is time to raise our voices louder still....
I am beginning to understand the German people's complacency when Hitler came into power. Do we fault them? If so, then what does that say about us? I imagine our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves.
#29
DRichards -- my point exactly. Thank you. The only way to end a nightmare is to wake up.
#30
Thom your missing the point- its Bob Adams planet, we just happen to be here. [snarky comment]
#31
Arrgg. I agree with Tom. Why is that much greed still called good? How many pools and mansions can one person buy?
Arrg. The Bush Tax Cuts don't effect Small Business!
#32
ASSHAT ALERT:
If the Baby Bush Deficit Enhancers worked to stimulate the farging economy, why are not doing it right farging now?
Any argument from the recessivist right that does not address that single, simple question is happy horse hockey.
#33
Newt Gingrich, noted wife-recycler and infamous slimy amphibian impersonator . . .
#34
Re: Greed
When is enough enough? Never, that is the problem with greed, it can never be satisfied.
What does the religious right have to say concerning Jesus' comment "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.."?
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. - Mahatma Gandhi
#35
I can't understand why anyone would promote (let alone believe in) the Trickle Down theory of economics. If you chop taxes on the wealthy, you've effectively made it easier for them to invest, that's true, but they don't invest in companies, they invest in commodities, bonds, stocks, precious gems, rare metals etc... and by chopping capital gains taxes, you encourage that behavior.
I guess PT Barnum was correct.
N
#36
Re: j.sea
#26 "The Change we need is sweeping -- and only truly bold and agressive courage will bring it -- that is what we are calling for...."
Your words were encouragement for me. To be silent is immoral. I for one, will not be silent.
Thank you!
#37
Caller Anthony if you could get laid, perhaps you might actually re-think you're breeding policy. However, keep up the attitude, sooner or later it will no longer matter to you or your family.
N
#38
re: #34: Sharper Image sells a needle with an eye 10' by 4'. If you can afford it...
#39
Thank you DRichards -- just please put two "g"s in aggressive for me before you make it a mantra -- thanks, good buddy. (re #26 & #36)
"Silence is Betrayal" -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (He said that regarding the Vietman War when his allies said he ought not to take up the call to end that unjust war, as it might dilute the civil rights movement.)
#40
When the republicans attack, Obama fires. (Fire first, ask questions later) I wonder if Obama will consider firing Gibbs.
#41
I'd be happy with Kucinich too, as well as turning the Pentagon into a library as it should have been over 60 years ago. Just because its not a reality I can expect, it sure in the hell doesn't mean I can't keep pushing for it.
N
#42
with google and verizon teaming up, it also seems to be a plot to raise profits by eliminating unlimited data packages on smart phones, and charging per data while Google does things like change thier image search to create an infinite scroll of images that will that will continually download data.
#43
Louise, please pass along this article to Thom!
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/reagan-insider-gop-destroyed-us-economy-2010-08-10?pagenumber=1
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