Daily Topics - Thursday February 3rd, 2011
By shawnt56
Truthout is proud to bring you an exclusive series from America's No. 1 progressive radio host, Thom Hartmann. We'll be publishing weekly installments, "Rebooting the American Dream."
Hour One: What makes a safe society...guns for all or guns for none? Gun rights advocate Dr. John Lott - http://johnrlott.blogspot.com
Hour Two: Why is the lobbying industry experiencing a recession...?!
Hour Three: What does Reaganomics have to do with MTV's "Repo Men?" Dan Gainor, Business and Media Institute - www.businessandmedia.org
Comments
#2
I've been seeing that square "anglicized" as "Tahrir". Hope that helps.
#3
Thom - that would be Richard Engel
#4
So Dick Morris was on Faux News complaining about President Obama's stance on Egypt. Basically what he was clearly saying is that we should stand behind Mubarak, totally at odds with what the people in Egypt want. Why does he want us to step in? It’s very simple, money. He does not care about the people of Egypt; he only is concerned that rich Americans might get their property/business's seized. This is very typical of our foreign policy and conservatives. We love dictators, the more ruthless the better because ultimately we can control business interests and resources. We don't care about spreading Democracy, never have. We only care about protecting business interests overseas. Obama is in a very tough spot here and I think he is right to stand back and let the Egyptians decide for themselves what they want, just as they did in Tunisia. I find it odd that conservatives always want government out of their life but when it comes to us sticking our nose in sovereign nations business, they are all for it.
#5
And another thing...
With the arguable exception of President Obama and a handful of other Democrats - NOBODY in public life right now is truly a "conservative" by any rational definition of that word. Let's stop playing along with the right-wing's rhetorical games... they're NOT conservatives - they're right-wing RADICALS and I say we should use that terminology almost exclusively, other than in the exceedingly rare instances in which a specific exception would be genuinely warranted!
"Conservative" sounds too safe - the everyday sheeple/low-information voters in our country should be rhetorically reminded at every opportunity of the threat to our nation that these radicals represent!
#6
Morris is a toe-sucking tool. There's no good reason to pay any attention to anything he says about any subject.
This reminds me of what Jim Cramer said on Morning Joke yesterday - asked specifically about the current unrest in Egypt, he said, "All I'm thinking about is the Suez Canal and the stoppage of oil...". Really? Really Jim? Tens of thousands of ordinary citizens take to the streets to put their own bodies and lives on the line for their freedom, and that's all that's on your mind? You make it easy to understand why Jon Stewart apparently thinks you're a #$%^%&!
Edit (1:07 pm EST): forgot to add the link for the Cramer quip, in case anyone's stomach is strong enough:
http://www.clicker.com/tv/morning-joe/cramer-on-egypt-economy-1327055/
#7
Thanks, Pretzelogic, it is Tahrir. So one of my guesses was actually pretty close.
#8
Thom, you should find a song by Arrogant Worms called "Wouldn't It Be Great If Everybody Had a Gun". It's very humorous and to the point.
#9
If "mandatory" insurance purchases are unConstitutional, then a lot of folks in those "red" states need to plan on NOT whining when their homes get washed away after they don't participate in the apparently formerly mandatory Federal Flood Insurance program:
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2954
/end sarcasm
#10
For that matter, Social Security itself is, literally, compulsory, mandatory, INSURANCE against old age, death and disability... is that now "unConstitutional"? Knuckleheads!
#11
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster contends that pirates are actually nice people who have been defamed in historical records. And these modern pirates don't dress or talk like pirates, do they? So they're not real pirates, and that's why Global Warming continues.
See? Religion can rationalize it's way out of anything.
#12
As a DC Native I can tell you that if you've lived in DC for more than 20 years then you still refer to National Airport as "National Airport." It's Not Regan National!!! Re-naming things after Regan is crap.
#13
February 3, 2011
When John Kennedy married Jackie they danced to I Married an Angel. I have been unable to find the lyrics and music for the song. Here is Nat Adderley’s jazz interpretation of the song.
http://www.chrislaich.com/music_services/tag/first-dance/
Whenever I think of the song, I Married an Angel, it reminds me that I married an angel.
You will need to scroll down the page to Nat Adderley on his trumpet.
#14
February 3, 2011
Here is the Republican’s Golden Rule! “HE WHO HAS THE GOLD – RULES!”
The Republicans will never let the working class or the middle class rule because the crazies consider these classes as CANNON FODDER in the United States of Mortal Sin. CANNON FODDER is used to fight the crazies’ wars that will protect their Golden Rule and their gold.
#15
Today is February 3 and in three days it will be February 6. Since our invasion into Iraq, I have spent Super Bowl Sundays praying, reading the Holy Bible, meditating, center praying, and specifically avoiding television and the Super Bowl Game. Our stadiums and coliseums are reminding me of the Roman Empire era and her fall. Empires do fall and the United States of Mortal Sin is ripe for a fall.
#16
I would not sleep with Mr Speaker for any money. I would help his wife "get even" in a what's good for the goose is for the gander sort of way.
To answer the two questions that John Lott could not. The first question both Lott and Thom are mistaken. Thom was mistaken and Lott is just Lott. They both got caught in the Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc trap. The reason for the different crime problems is all about culture, history and inequality of wealth. The statistics were basically the same when parts of the US (mostly in the south) had stricter gun laws than anywere in Europe. For example, although handguns in Canada required a license since 1934 not other firearm (machine guns registration started in the 1950s, was otherwise easy to legally buy) was regulated on the federal level until the 1970s. Did Toronto or Windsor ever look like Chicago in the 1920s? No. The 2.5 million defensive gun uses that the NRA uses come from peer reviewed research by this guy. I believe that defense, including lethal force, is an inalienable right.
On the second part, Thom was right. If the protesters were to open fire (pistols against machine guns and tanks? You go Mr. Nugent.) the soldiers would return fire to defend themselves and not the state.
#17
"Sheep Go To Heaven" - by Cake. I've heard Thom mention this bible quote more than once this week and every time I think of this funny song.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
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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From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann is a creative thinker and committed small-d democrat. He has dealt with a wide range of topics throughout his life, and this book provides an excellent cross section. The Thom Hartmann Reader will make people both angry and motivated to act."
Thom, what is the name of this square in Egypt you keep mentioning? Is it "Tarir", "Tadeusz"? I can't understand you, because you're using non-English phonemes. Please, feel free to anglicize the pronunciation.