what was worse than bush tonight? seattle talk radio

Local talk radio coverage of the State of the Union address was, not unlike the speech itself, sadder than usual this year. Noteworthy were those missing from the broadcast night- those experienced voices we've always heard in past après le bain discussions.

Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson hosted from live remotes at dueling Ruth Crist's Steakhouses in Bellevue and downtown. Sizzling platters could be heard passing by as the KVI choir sucked up the lipids and shouted the hosannas for their President and baked potatoes with sour cream & chives.

Sheriff Rep. Dave Reichert phoned it in sounding like a little duck, but otherwise it was just the quacking of the main KVI hosts, Wilson and Carlbur. Fortunately, we didn't hear much of this, but we did listen long enough to hear the Quote Of The Night: "Hillary," Kirby Wilbur said, "looked to me like The Anti-Christ."

(Which would, if true, be great for Democrats. The Anti-Christ, according to the Revelations myth, will rule the entire world for quite a while, which ain't bad, except the R's are way ahead of us on the take-over-the-world track. And besides, Kirby's wrong- most Biblical scholars today believe David Hasselhoff is The Anti-Christ). 

A meme of all the right-wing talk hosts was how bitchy and mean Hillary Clinton looked and  in general is. Liberals may be mad at her, but the neocons are after her but good. Wilbur and Carlson tried to hook Sen. Maria Cantwell onto the Hillary Bitch Wagon, saying she looked glum and snarly during the speech. (Bitchifying female Democratic politicians is Republican "Swift-Boating for the Gals").

Dumb & Meaner (Boze & Sytman) double-handedly spread the Republican mudhoney on KTTH. We have T-shirts older than these two, and though energetic like jackrabbits, they coulda used some help. The fired KTTH talker Mike Siegel whose age would have given him more credibility by default could have helped ground these gleeful, jeering, quick studies reeking of The Gap and eau de National Review.

It woulda been loverly to have had somebody else sharing the mic- preferably someone who's been voting longer than The Simpsons have been on the air. And we're loath to say this, but Michael Medved would have lent gravitas and credibility to this night down at the KTTH Korral. (OK- it woulda all been neocon bullshit, but at least it would've had some depth- which is why we always wear boots down at the Korral).

KIRO's coverage was anchored, hosted by, (can you believe it?) New York Hock Hokey Hawk Vinnie who, for some reason, is broadcasting from Detroit. The full-time help, Dave Ross, Dori Monson, Lou Pate (that's all that're left!) were MIA. Where was the 2nd string, the full-time fill-ins like Procaccino or Shiers, Ryder or even the pitiful Ron & Bomb? We would've welcomed any one of them.

We were even praying that gardening guru Ciscoe Morris or super chef Tom Douglas might be called in to hold forth on the Bush speech (Ciscoe says he loves bushes, Douglas says he's more interested in the State of the Onion).

But no.

We got Vinnie and Vinnie got Carl Jeffers on the phone from wherever the hell he lives, and sweet Jesus if Vinnie didn't get Jeffers (on this political night of nights) to start talking sports. These two master bloviators, jockeying for words edgewise, addressed the vitally significant issue: why are professional athletes more likely to be Republicans? They analyzed down the jock socioeconomic scale; from PGA golfers sitting on corporate boards to basketball ball players come up from the ghetto who are now Bush Pioneers. It was riveting. (no, it wasn't)

Another bust of a night on Seattle radio. We shoulda stood in bed.

Comments

[Brian]

Well guess what????? Iam thinkin stock yard Vinnie he going to talk football tonight , and I dont even have the radio on try some good english !

[Seabeck]

What I enjoyed most about last night was our power went down at 5pm for 3 hours.

My wife and I enjoyed wine by candlelight, listening to the police scanner - not the SOTUS.

Honestly, did I miss anything?

[sparky]

Yes, Seabeck, you did! You missed it when Bush complained that Congress had not passed his Social Security ideas and the Democrats stood and applauded, and Bush got a realllll pissy look on his face. It was the best part of the whole speech, with the possible exception of Cheney looking like he was in the movie " Weekend at Bernie's" and Hastert looked like he was suffering from gas cramps.
By the way, for anyone who might want actual facts:
Cindy Sheehan did not bring a protest banner with her into the Chambers. She was escorted to her seat ( she was given a ticket to attend) by a police officer, who took one look at her shirt ( it has the number of soldiers killed on it) and accused her of planning to protest during the speech ( she wasnt) and hauled her out BEFORE she could put her coat back on to hide her shirt. She had no intention of creating any kind of scene, diversion, incident or
uproar, but had planned on taking notes so she could write an article about the speech and how it related to her cause of being against the war in Iraq.
The freedom to just sit and listen is going to be carefully measured by this government, especially if you are known for having a dissenting view.

[Lump]

Sparky sez, " The freedom to just sit and listen is going to be carefully measured by this government, especially if you are known for having a dissenting view."

Sparky, have you forgotten that the same thing happened during President Clinton's SOTU speech when a man wearing a T-shirt with some dig at Clinton was removed from the gallery? Or, did you just conveniently forget that?

[sparky]

where did you get that information Lump? Never heard about that incident. If it did happen, then it is just as wrong as this time.

[sparky]

Also, a little-reported fact is a new item in the Patriot Act that Bush wants to become permanent, says that if you are out protesting--an activity protected by several amendments--and you stray from the physical perameters the government establishes, you will be arrested.

Peaceful demonstrations have been the cornerstone of any civil rights legislation in this country. Contrary to what the media loves to portray, most protestors are not unwashed old hippies--they are grandmothers, mom's pushing strollers, kids, Dads, accountants, teachers, plumbers, retired folks, etc. King George can't tolerate a difference of opinion and if you have a dissenting point of view, your world changed dramatically yesterday.

[JDB]

While probably a good fundraiser for someone, having Kirby and John at soires took away any good commentary, since they obviously were not going to be critical. The two of them in studio would have been much better. Poor Sheriff Dave seemed embarrassed by the constant bad jokes at the expense of Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, but Kirby and John had to play to their wingnut base who were, after all, armed with sharp knifes.

Sytman & Boze were Sytman & Boze. Boze is good, but does better when playing off someone more experienced (Peter Weisbach, our lonely eyes turn to you), while Sytman continued to prove that while perhaps a great producer, he just doesn't have the chops to be on air talent (Example: Introducing to Gov. Kaine's speech with "And now lets listen to the Democrats' lies." Sytman needs a better writer, and somone needs to do something about his whiny voice. Boze's voice is not perfect (a little mushy) but at least he doesn't cause the cat to run and hide under the bed)).

I didn't even think of turning on KIRO, and it looks like if I want to keep good memories of KIRO that was smart. New York Vinnie?

Did Air America even do anything?

But you know it was a bad speech overall for several reasons. One, the obvious laugh line on human/animal hybrid. Apparently this government's policy is being set by bad Rob Schneider movies. I would guess we will have a policy against manwhores next.

Two: Switchgrass? Can the presidents policy be summed up as "Gas, Ass or Grass, no one rides for free"?

Third, the morning after. You know the GOP thinks they did poorly if they have to send Cheney out to Rush's show to hold the base. Not a good sign.

[chucks]

Do not suppose anyone noticed that Beverly Young, wife of Rep Bill Young of FL was also booted. Her crime was wearing a "Support the Troops -Defending Freedom" shirt. Or
that some other clown was removed for some anti Clinton garb. Guess free expression or protest is denied to all sides.
Chuck S.

[audioslave]

Sparky's post:

"Also, a little-reported fact is a new item in the Patriot Act that Bush wants to become permanent, says that if you are out protesting--an activity protected by several amendments--and you stray from the physical perameters the government establishes, you will be arrested."

I believe this is a synopsis of an addition to the act:

The bill adds language prohibiting people from "willfully and knowingly" entering a restricted area "where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting."

I don't think it means ANY demonstration, but the ACLU is fighting it, and their is a bi-partisan panel looking at it also. Nothing has been passed or approved.

[ExDem]

I actually listened to NY Vinnie for a few minutes after the SOTU. He was definitely out of his element.

The coverage on KTTH was fine, although it wasn't very dignified to refer to the Democratic response as "lies".

The coverage on KVI was OK, but they've done better in that type of forum before (e.g., on election nights).

The speech was fine also. Nothing too memorable in the long run. It was good that he kept it at about 45 minutes. Those long, drawn out SOTU speeches are the worst.

[Lump]

Sparky sez, "where did you get that information Lump? Never heard about that incident. If it did happen, then it is just as wrong as this time."

I watched it on TV. And T-shirts and any clothing with stuff on them are banned. They are also banned within the Congress. It has nothing to do with free speech, but is the protocol of the body and a dress code is enforced. Free speech doesn't mean you can do and say whenever you please.

[sparky]

then you will LOVE this, Lump!

The wife of Republican Rep. C.W. Bill Young said she was ejected during President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing a T-shirt that said, "Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom," a newspaper reported Wednesday.
Beverly Young said she was sitting in the front row of the House gallery Tuesday night when she was approached by someone who told her she needed to leave, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
After reluctantly agreeing, she said, she argued with several officers in an outside hallway.
"They said I was protesting," she said in a telephone interview with the newspaper Tuesday. "I said, 'Read my shirt, it is not a protest.' They said, 'We consider that a protest.' I said, 'Then you are an idiot.'"

.....Ah yes, the land of the FREE and the hoooome of the Braaaaave!

[sparky]

In Bynum v. U.S. Capitol Police Bd. (Dist. D.C. 1997) (.pdf), the District Court found the regulations applying 140 U.S.C. § 193 -- the section of the U.S. code restricting activities inside the Capitol -- to be unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. Bynum involved a Reverend who was threatened with arrest by Capitol Police while leading a small group in prayer inside the Capitol. The Capitol Police issued that threat on the ground that the praying constituted a "demonstration."

[sparky]

Chucks..sorry to double post your comment..I didnt see it before I hit "post" :-)

[sparky]

ah why not...while Im being a legal wonkette, let me post this last bit from the LA TIMES:

Defending the surveillance program as crucial in a time of war, Bush said that "previous presidents have used the same constitutional authority" that he did. "And," he added, "federal courts have approved the use of that authority." [...]
However, warrantless surveillance within the United States for national security purposes was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 -- long after Lincoln, Wilson and Roosevelt stopped issuing orders. That led to the 1978 passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that Bush essentially bypassed in authorizing the program after the Sept. 11 attacks. [...]
Bush's historical reference on domestic spying marked one of several points in his speech in which he backed up assertions with selective uses of fact, or seemed to place a positive spin on his own interpretation. [...]
The president also seemed to ignore Supreme Court precedent when he called for Congress to give him the "line item veto." But Congress did that once, in 1996, and it was used once, by former President Clinton. But in 1998, a federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional. That was affirmed by a 6-3 decision of the Supreme Court.

oops!

[Joe]

Man I missed most of it but I heard that Cindy Sheehan was spirited off by men in black and loaded into a black helicopter, or something like that. Seriously, how stupid was the person who got her the seat, not to have informed Sheehan that you can't wear political slogans or unfurl banners? This is one of the reasons that the left so hard to take seriously, regardless of the shortcomings on the right.

[audioslave]

Sparky said:

The president also seemed to ignore Supreme Court precedent when he called for Congress to give him the "line item veto." But Congress did that once, in 1996, and it was used once, by former President Clinton. But in 1998, a federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional. That was affirmed by a 6-3 decision of the Supreme Court.

oops!"

Isn't that where it would logically start, in congress, as an amendmentto the constitution, then approved by the states? I think even a dummy like President Bush probably knows that.

[chunkstyle]

Joe, that stupid person was Rep. Lynn Woolsley D-CA. Undoubtedly, she was involved in the scheme. Sheehan wants to take on Diane Feinstein for Senate, so maybe she's found a patron currently serving.

[windie]

its a plot?

*boggle*

[joanie]

I watched it on CSpan and kept going "eew" every two minutes cause I can't stand to watch GWB or hear him even.

But, while watching, I was listening to pre-stuff on KUOW. I think they do a good job. Much better than any AM talk jock.

After CSpan, they had the usual open-phone lines: democratic, republican, independent. Interestingly enough, there were quite a few republican callers who were more negative towards Bush and his speech than I've heard previously. So, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. We can only hope.

[Andrew]

Why would anybody watch the SOTU? We don't learn anything from it. Bush is required to do it and news is required to cover it but it doesn't come as the result of a change or a new event. TV Guide is more relevant than the SOTU speech.

OK I admit I'd love to see a video clip of the Dems applauding when he mentions the failure of his social security plan.

[joanie]

Actually, Andrew, I watch it just because I have such a penchant for being informed. I watched Sheila Jackson Lee fall all over herself trying to get Bush's attention as he walked down the aisle. I watch to see how many and which of the democrats do the same and what their demeanor is. I like to see what they applaud and how much. I like to see who's there. I like to hear for myself the words so when I hear other people discuss them, I know what is true and what isn't.

I want a new party. I can't stand the democrats anymore.

Briefly, I watch to do what I keep asking everyone to do: inform themselves.

[ExDem]

I know we disagree on plenty of things Joanie, but I appreciate your candor.

[blathering michael]

Joanie: you're not gettin' a new party- it's not going to happen- so if you want changes, get involved with the Democrats...unless, of course, you wanna be a Republican...this two party system is here to stay at least in our lifetimes...look what those Greens did to the country in 2000, enough already w/3rd parties- it's just a way to marginalize ourselves.

[sparky]

Yes Audio...even a dummy like Bush..
Joe, the Supremes also ruled that you CAN wear a tshirt with a dissenting message inside the capitol.... and this breaking news:

WASHINGTON - Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday and apologized for ejecting her and a congressman's wife from President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages. "The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol," Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement.
And, Andrew, obviously you have never heard of the State of The Union Speech Drinking Game! Puts a whole new perspective on the word "Freedom!" :-)

And now you've heard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the REST of the story.

[Lump]

Sparky sez, ""The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol,"

Turns out you're right on this one as the SOTU is the only venue that does not publish a dress code. However, there is a dress code for the galleries of the Senate and the House. Still it was nice to see the loonie dingbat booted.

[joanie]

I am informed enough to know when I can leave the fold and when I can't. Yes, I voted for Nader in 1996 because Clinton wasn't doing the job.

I voted democrat in 2000 because Bush scared me to death. And I was shocked at the republican landslide in 2002 so had every expectation that Bush would win in 2004.

Absolutely, I can wish for and even work for a third party. It is entirely possible, given the direction in which this country is headed, that a third party could become viable.

The naysayers impede progress - it will take a long time. But, it is possible.

Even the blindest Americans will eventually see how much an arm of corporations our government really is. I am cynical. I think I have reason to be. You may disagree; but, that's my view.

While I work for change - I was a delegrate for Kucinich and voted for Kerry - I still make intelligent (hopefully) and informed decisions at the ballot box.

Idealist? I hope so. I want something better.

[joanie]

"Still it was nice to see the loonie dingbat booted."

I'm disappointed in you, Lump. :(

[chris]

Lumps sez: "Still it was nice to see the loonie dingbat booted."

Uhh.. which one Lumps, the one on the right or the left--you can't have it both ways

[joanie]

". . .if you want changes, get involved with the Democrats..."

So, I told you what I did lately. What've you done lately?

[Lump]

joanie sez, ""Still it was nice to see the loonie dingbat booted."

I'm disappointed in you, Lump. :(

Chris sez, "Lumps sez: "Still it was nice to see the loonie dingbat booted."

Uhh.. which one Lumps, the one on the right or the left--you can't have it both ways"

Well, there's only one loonie here gang and it's Cindy babe. You know, the one who was arm in arm with Chavez in Venezuela last week crapping all over her country. You know the one that's trying her best to imitate Jane Fonda. The loonie whom her husband booted for being a whack job. The one who lost custody of her son and was raised by his father because his mother was a moonbat. The poor woman who needs some serious medical help. That's who.

[blathering michael]

I can't be very specific, here; but I've worked for candidates- speech writing, plotting. I haven't worked in politics openly in recent years because of my job (which is political writer and reporter). I write this blog.

[Andrew]

The Daily Show on Comedy Central had the clip of Dems aplauding Bush's mention of failure. The will show a repeat of it tomorow at 8 o'clock also.

Mission: accomplished.

[Nate]

SOTU. YAAAAAWN!

Here, I'll sum it up for you: Teleprompter "yadda yadda" *Applause* (repeat ad nauseum)...

Poor helpless Dubya had to suffer through a few scowls? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Wanna see some real political cohones? Do yourself a favor: Set the TiVo for C-Span every Sunday night 8:58 EST - British House of Commons. Compare & contrast.

[audioslave]

Joanie says:

"Absolutely, I can wish for and even work for a third party. It is entirely possible, given the direction in which this country is headed, that a third party could become viable."

While I don't think it will happen, in my opinion, the best chance of it happening, albeit a slim one, is the splitting of the Democrat party. That would take some extremely big balls on the part of some notables on the far left for it to happen,like Kerry, Kennedy, Boxer, maybe even Hillary, but she's not that far left. They could call themselves the "New Demorcrats". If they could get total support from the Greens, Socialists, and even the Communist parties in the U.S., they might have a chance. But thats alot of "if's".

[audioslave]

Sparky, I just heard Stephanie Miller read your quote, word for word:

The president also seemed to ignore Supreme Court precedent when he called for Congress to give him the "line item veto." But Congress did that once, in 1996, and it was used once, by former President Clinton. But in 1998, a federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional. That was affirmed by a 6-3 decision of the Supreme Court.

Very impressive.

[joanie]

Michael, so you make money by speech writing. Big deal. Doesn't mean you can't get involved . . .

Audioslave, I agree, lots of ifs but that's how changes arrive: over time with small incremental shifts. Also, I do agree that it will probably derive from what is now the democratic party. I see the parties as having changed demonstratby already. The very far right; the moderate right which could evelve into what is now a Clinton-right group of democrats. Then the democrats of old who are considered far left today. How that will play out, I don't know. I think eventually the smallest group will be the far right believe it or not.

So, maybe the Clinton-dems and moderate rights will form a base and the far lefties another base. I can't see the extreme right winning over the extreme left. But, I do see a day when the extreme left could become viable because we are much more socialist and in every other country with a similar standard of living the citizenry have opted for a more socialist agenda.

I know, I know, many of you hate that. But, there is a shift going on - slight and slow. I think it is happening. As the consequences for the average person of the movement to the right becomes less and less comfortable, I think it is a no brainer. But, over a very long time. We will experience a lot of strife in the meantime.

JMHO!

This was written fast so don't hold me to to many illogical thoughts or mistakes, please! Love you all!

[chris]

Gawd Lump, you sounds as outraged as O'Reilly when he tries to take on Olbermann after Keith has read his own quotes on the air. Once again, two people were ejected from the SOTU, both are from different points of view, but like O Lieley, you choose the playbook of mis-information, so here it is again on who else was ejected.

The wife of Republican Rep. C.W. Bill Young said she was ejected during President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing a T-shirt that said, "Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom," a newspaper reported Wednesday.
Beverly Young said she was sitting in the front row of the House gallery Tuesday night when she was approached by someone who told her she needed to leave, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

I'm so sorry that once again, the gals out there give you so much to worry about.

[joanie]

One more thing . . . I do enjoy watching Parliament and seeing Tony Blair actually thinking on his feet! But, don't you think that has also evolved into a bit of a show? I do and I still love it. Talk about having to explain yourself!

[Critter]

Sorry to change the subject but did anyone listen to Lou Pate last night (Wednesday)?

Lou, Gary (his producer) AND the callers spent at least 2 1/2 hours knocking Bryan Styble! They wouldn't even use his name; Lou kept saying: "The B word" instead of Bryan.

Bryan ticked Gary off when he was subbing for Lou, and apparently Gary told Lou about it and that started the ball rolling. What a show! I couldn't believe the childishness of it.

It just proves what I've said all along; what a jerka$$ Lou Pate is. I almost felt sorry for Bryan. I hope he wasn't listening because nobody deserves that kind of humiliation.

I can't believe they got rid of Erin Hart, who talked about the issues, and kept Lou Pate who talks about nothing but HIMSELF. I just can't wrap my brain around that.

Lou also said he's the only good talk show host left in talk radio and that Air America will be in the toilet by summer.

I bet if the manager of KIRO ever stops real fast, they'll be six months diggin' Lou out of his a$$. Lou knows how to keep a job!

[ExDem]

I don't see this country evolving into the type of socialist states similar to Europe. Here's 3 reasons why I believe that:

1. It's not in the DNA of our citizens. The great thing about this country is that it was formed by people who collectively chose to come here, and to establish their own country. The traditional nation states in the rest of world evolved from groups of people that just happened to coexist geographically - they weren't self-selected. The USA is significantly different in that regard. It is true to this day as we have always welcomed a transfusion of immigrants from other lands that come here seeking the opportunity and freedom of the USA - we continue to be a people of self-selection.

2. The European nations are living in fear for the future of their economies. Their birth rates have dropped below sustainment, so they are faced with an aging, shrinking, indiginous population. The economic burden of caring for them is not sustainable with less workers to replace those that are aging. The USA sees this and is seeking to avoid falling into the same dilemma. That's why Bush bothered to face up to the looming Social Security crisis. That's why companies have moved away from "defined benefit" pension plans to "defined contribution" plans over the past 3 decades, lest they all go broke.

3. The social movement toward the left in the 50s - 80s has definitely moved back toward the right. Think about this - when the Civil Rights Act was voted on by the Senate, there were something like 67 Democratic senators and I think a majority of about 100 seats in the House of Representatives for Democrats. Now we have Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, and Republicans have the majority of Governorships and State Legislatures. It's a complex set of variables, and this is only one sign - but it is a very significant one. The fact that people choose to elect the conservative party to run their state and to run the country probably is more meaningful than the myriad of polls we could examine that gauge public opinion on social issues, religion, law and order, etc.

[audioslave]

From Ex-Dem's post:

"The European nations are living in fear for the future of their economies. Their birth rates have dropped below sustainment, so they are faced with an aging, shrinking, indiginous population. The economic burden of caring for them is not sustainable with less workers to replace those that are aging. The USA sees this and is seeking to avoid falling into the same dilemma. That's why Bush bothered to face up to the looming Social Security crisis."

This is one of the major reasons I support the encouragement of marriage and families in the U.S.

The rate of working population to retired workers after social security was formed was something like 15 to 1. Today it is down to 3 workers for every retired person. The system will fail unless there is reform.

[sparky]

Stephanie Miller obviously reads the LA Times, as I do...

[A Mike Webb Fan]

Since everybody is talking about how lousy SOTUS night radio coverage was -- as far as I’m concerned, if you wanted to hear coverage from a progressive point of view, you all should have been listening to Mike Webb’s internet stream. It was excellent.

Mike started his show early at 6p in order to carry the speech live. After the speech, Mike, of course, offered his own commentary, along with guests' commentary and analysis. Let’s see ....

-- Very soon after GW’s speech was over, JIM McDERMOTT was on the line with Mike for about 10 minutes offering his “inside the beltway” perspective and analysis. Jim was terrific, as always.

-- Mike BROKE THE STORY on the airwaves about CINDY SHEEHAN’S ARREST. By the time CNN started reporting it, Mike had already been discussing it for 20 minutes. Why? Because Cindy had been scheduled to be on Mike’s show, but she was still being held at the police station. So before the story even hit the networks, Mike was interviewing Cindy’s colleague Jodie Evans (Code Pink co-founder) who had been with Cindy all day and told Mike’s listeners about what was REALLY going on with the arrest. Once the networks got a hold of the story, they got it wrong, erroneously reporting that Sheehan had been arrested for unfurling a banner and causing a disturbance (this was retracted the next day in the news, along with a too-late apology from the Capitol police).

-- Mike also had a guest on to discuss Iran and the “nuclear threat” drum Bush is once again beating (and sounding so much like the rhetoric before the US invaded Iraq). The guest is the director of Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy in NY. My impression was his group tries to persuade the US to interact more sanely with the international diplomatic community in seeking solutions to nuclear proliferation – as opposed to Bush’s perpetual posturing and bullying. It was a very interesting and PROGRESSIVE analysis.

Well, that’s what comes to mind for starters. It was terrific coverage. So as far as I’m concerned, if you thought coverage was abysmal, you missed out. You should have been listening to Mike Webb’s internet show.

Am I biased? Yeah, I sure am. I look forward to Mike finding a new radio home. But in the meantime, his internet show (9-11p M-F) is where I’ll be. www.mikewebb.org

TECHNICAL NOTE: If you have trouble getting the stream, it may be because his first stream channel is full. Listenership is growing and he’s had to add an extra channel. If it’s breaking up or you can’t get on, try going to his AUDIO page and at the bottom of that page you’ll find his Channel 2 for times when channel 1 is full.

[ExDem]

Thank you Mike Webb. Er, I mean "A Mike Webb Fan".....

[joanie]

Hey Mike Webb Fan, I never thought of tuning into Mike. Wish I had.

I did like hearing the CSpan callers, however, because I get a sense of national perspectives. As I said earlier, the tone of republican callers is changing.

ExDem, I can't/don't want to correct so many incorrect points but let's just say that I disagree with just about every one. Okay? :)

[ExDem]

Joanie,

You're free to disagree. I figured you probably would. I'm not sure why you label the points as "incorrect".

Point # 1 is an opinion, so I guess there's plenty of room to disagree with my opinion. I guess I wouldn't label an opinion that I disagreed with as "incorrect" - I reserve that label for factual errors (e.g., Chile's economy is bigger than the America's) or conclusions that don't match the data provided (e.g., the House of Representatives is run by Democrats).

Point # 2 is part opinion (that Europe fears for their economic future) and part observation based on data (defined benefit pension plans are going away).

Point # 3 is mostly just observation based on data (Democrats in office have shrunk considerably in the last 30 years).

This might be instructive - what parts of my post do you believe are incorrect?

[joanie]

I only meant ExDem that I believe there are facts that conflict with your opinions. I think your opinions are fine and if and when I call you on them, I will and should state facts.

It has been a very stressful and long day. . . I have the desire to debate but not the energy.

Still friends?

J

[ExDem]

Of course, my electronic pen pal!

[Tommy008]

I turned off Lou Pate right after he purposefully dissed Styble by laboriously thanking everyone BUT Bryan for covering his show while he was away. I had no idea he would stoop to 2 and a half hours more of that crap. Pate appears to have been threatened by Bryan Styble for some time, because months ago he was ridiculing him for things he said on the air. Truly disgusting. A cowardly bully/braggart type like Pate probably deep down knows he sucks as a broadcaster and is easily jealous of and threatened by his colleagues. I've heard him mock Frank Shiers, in a completely gratuitous cheap shot. This is where you obviously need management to step in when a host violates basic rules by nightly trashing the city that feeds the station, trashing the station itself, and especially trashing fellow talkshow hosts at the station, which is a famous nono among broadcasters. Pate is the only talkhost who I've heard violate that "code of honor" rule like this. Any decent station manager or PD who had any integrity and balls would tell him to knock it off. That's why I believe the station manager is either intimidated by him, or having sex with him.