We like Rick Steves.
He hosts NPR Travel with Rick Steves (KUOW Saturdays, 2-4p) and is the writer, host and producer of PBS's Rick Steves' Europe.
Steves is a wildly successful capitalist and entrepreneur who's made a darn good business writing all those downscale/upconscience guide books, selling tours, luggage, backpacks, and money belts.
What's more, he's richer than God, lives in Edmonds, and is very out about the very liberal perspective he's gained from all that traveling.
This weekend he's stirring up the msm biddies by addressing Hempfest, the wacko tobacco celebration held annually at Myrtle Edwards Park. Hempfest is a smoke binge tolerated by Seattle law enforcement, and is ostensibly a political rally for reforming pot laws.
Steves is no hippy, but he's been a member of NORML for years, and stands steadfast for the legalization of marijuana.
He told the Seattle Times Nicole Brodeur last year: "Nobody should think that Europe is down on hard drugs," Steves said. "They just don't clog their legal system with a lot of innocent pot smokers. Our program is so laughable, wasteful and counterproductive."
"I'm not going to sit at (Edmonds') Fifth and Main streets and smoke a joint," Steves said, in an interview last week with the P-I's Susan Paynter, "but 800,000 people in the U.S. were arrested last year for marijuana while in Berne (Switzerland) they're in public, smoking and playing backgammon and not bothering anyone. It (criminal prosecution) forces people into the street to deal with scary people. It's just so wrong."
But that's not the only thing he stands up for. He spoke out against the Iraqi war, and stuck his neck out way before it turned into the reviled conflagration it is today. He wrote local and national op-eds and dared face the right-wing xenophobes with John Carlson on KVI.
It's time for patriots to stand up to fear-mongering and broaden our definition of "sanctity of life" and "homeland security." It's time for some courage and eloquence on the left. And it's time for our electorate to wake up and see the real threats to our for-the-time-being-still-great nation. If we rose to this challenge, I think we could report that "the state of our union is strong" — and it would be true.
What we like is that he dares speak out despite he's in retail. He has a high national profile with a clientele who could very well be run off by his well-publicized, well-articulated, outspoken and decidedly progressive views.
Business people are usually known for being so risk averse that their toilet habits would be more likely uttered in public than their politics.
Steves told Paynter that even though being anti-war and legalization isn''t easy: "... I won't be quiet because it's better for business. Why would I compromise my ideals just to make more? I marvel at those who are 10 times as wealthy as me who don't speak out because they want to make even more. I'm having too much fun with my work to worry if a few people wonder, 'Can I trust this pot head?'
When we hear Michael Medved say he hates to travel outside the U.S.; that he despises the very idea of Europe, and refuses to leave the homeland, we begin to understand how his neoconservativism could have come to be.
Seeing ourselves through the eyes of others or from an off-shore vantage is life-changing. One of the most attractive things about Barack Obama is his realistic international perspectives gained by growing up outside the continental U.S.
There's a realistic patriotism to Steves that we also gained after spending time outside the country. Steves says: "I have many friends in Europe named 'Frankie' or 'Johnny' who were born in the late 1940s. Every time I see them, I'm reminded that there was a time when our allies in Europe gave their children Yankee names in gratitude for what America meant to them. This can happen once again across the world: America can become a superpower in a positive sense — so appreciated that other nations would fund their militaries to protect us.
Bla'M said:
"...with a clientele who could very well run off by his well-publicized, well-articulated, outspoken and decidedly progressive views."
I dont think I agree with that statement. The righteous richie-rich are not likely to hunker down in a somewhat stinky hostel while visiting a tiny fishing village somewhere. The times I have been to his store in Edmonds, the clientel look, at the very least, like Rick's views fall quite closely in line with theirs (ours).
Rick is about respecting and honoring people all over the world for who they are, and appreciating the cultures without Americanizing them. His idea of staying with locals and getting to know them as real people apparently is repulsive to the Michael Medveds of the world, so I think his livelihood is quite safe.
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Sparky: I wasn't really talking about the richie-rich (who probably don't do tours). I was talking about middle class people who'd be turned off by pot, or war protest back in 2003-4 when Rick started to speak out. These aren't really rightwingers, or particularly political people- just folks who don't like stuff that seems too far out of what they consider normal (not NORML). He makes people like this stretch a little with his kind of conscious travel- his politics might have scared some of them off.
Posted by: blathering michael | August 18, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Our esteemed President could have learned much from Rick. Had he hunkered down in a cave and had a joint with OBL and got to understand his culture may be this crazy war would have been avoided. I may be naive, but for the life of me I can't understand why we humans can't check our ego's and communicate better. :o)
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 11:07 AM
doubt if Osama smokes pot. nobody who gets anything done has anything much invested the drug. smoking it is the pastime of slackers.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 11:30 AM
...change it to 'a cup of tea' then; my point stands
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 11:34 AM
ok Bla'M..I see your point now.
I went to England in 1996 and as I walked toward my B&B, I noticed several other people headed my way with the same little overnight bag on wheels..turns out we were all headed for the same B&B as recommended by Rick...and we were all from the Seattle area.
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 11:38 AM
sparks, I thought you lived in Vancouver?
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 11:41 AM
duffman, would that beggars would ride. you are just silly.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Smacks of a typical G Bush response...much like 'victory'.
did you ever consider the possibility that 'beggars' might really be the 'only' one's riding? :o) always two sides, grasshopper...
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 11:55 AM
silly teenage girls, not wise men use :0) when they are trying to communicate.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Geeeze,
sparks, err I mean 'sarge' - there might be a back-sided compliment coded therein?Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I never said where I live. In 1996 I lived in Snohomish county but have since left that traffic mess you all call home.
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Steves and Bill Maher are well organized and literate as purveyors of weed. Can't imagine O'Reiley or Pills Limbaugh doing anything that would be considered cool, they have to do their drugs in the crawl space.
Posted by: coiler | August 18, 2007 at 01:24 PM
The problem with the weed "issue" is that it is so a hard for people to distinguish between stoners and the people with real medical needs, or others with serious arguments. Mixing them all together at Hempfest every year just makes them all look like stoners no matter how serious the speakers and advocates are.
We pushed its criminalization down the throats of the whole world which makes it extremely difficult for us to now legalize it. Gays will be able to marry long before spliff is legal.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 01:54 PM
As an aside, I wish I could stand Rick Steves, especially after reading this.... He just comes across as so.. smarmy on his NPR (or PRI) show.
Posted by: John Eddy | August 18, 2007 at 03:06 PM
"Our esteemed President could have learned much from Rick. Had he hunkered down in a cave and had a joint with OBL and got to understand his culture may be this crazy war would have been avoided." Duffman
While our current C-in-C is an imcompetent arrogant ass, no amount of mj would bridge the gap to t hate-filled nutter like UBL.
Posted by: mark | August 18, 2007 at 03:20 PM
John, Rick is not smarmy...he is just Lutheran!
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 03:31 PM
"John, Rick is not smarmy...he is just Lutheran!"
I just lold all over myself. Thanks =)
Posted by: John Eddy | August 18, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Besides, there are shades of smarmy. I prefer Rick Steves/Lutheran smarmy to Frank Shiers smarmy.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Duffy
I have been looking at what you posted earlier about smoking pot with OBL in a cave.
That is about the dumbest thing that you have written since you or I have been here. You can not negotiate with a psychopath or sociopath.
You pretty much have to lock them away or kill them. In his case, the latter is preferred.
Posted by: chucks | August 18, 2007 at 04:56 PM
chucks: sorry you obviously missed my unlerlying focus. I'm not saying 'negotiate' necessarily but I do think that we could meet anyone and try our best to understand them and what drives them. What is the harm in getting to know someone and trying to get a better understanding of the whole picture. That's all I'm saying. I don't believe our President did/does this.
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 05:18 PM
Well, when the attack on the WTC on 9-11 was taking place, Poppy Bush was meeting with OBL's brother in a restaurant....would have liked to hear that conversation.
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 05:56 PM
Maybe Steves wants to get stoned more often, then create a tourist package to travel to Pakistan and meet with OBL. Any takers ?
Posted by: KS | August 18, 2007 at 06:01 PM
I think having Duffs' smoke out with OBL might actually work--they could then work on the hit record. Kinda like Bowie and Bing Crosby doing Little Drummer Boy.
Posted by: coiler | August 18, 2007 at 06:03 PM
"Well, when the attack on the WTC on 9-11 was taking place, Poppy Bush was meeting with OBL's brother in a restaurant....would have liked to hear that conversation."
those bush people get around. didn't hear that one before. could you direct me to where i could find that one.
talk about coincidence. it reminds me of the story that neil bush -brother of W- . had made dinner plans with scott hinkley, brother of john hinkley, for the night after reagan was shot. those of course were cancelled.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 18, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Oh that's a good one recoil; sometimes you're so very funny...you have this quick witted way of putting ol Duff in his place; I'm sure everyone admires you.
Posted by: Duffman | August 18, 2007 at 06:09 PM
why would Steves want to do that, KS? He's a travel guide and Pakistan is no fun and OBL is as sour as Stefan Sharkansky. And btw, why didn't Bush follow OBL into Pakistan and cap his ass? Inquiring minds need to know.
Posted by: sarge | August 18, 2007 at 06:09 PM
[Fortune, 3/18/2002] Following 9/11, news reports revealed that Carlyle had a business relationship with Osama bin Laden’s family. According to a Carlyle executive, in 1995 the bin Ladens invested $2 million in the Carlyle Partners II fund, which includes various defense holdings. This was a fairly small amount considering the entire fund is worth $1.3 billion. However, a foreign financier with ties to the bin Ladens claimed their overall investment with Carlyle was much larger. [Wall Street Journal, 9/27/2001; London Times, 5/8/2003] Shafig bin Laden, one of Osama’s brothers, had actually been in Washington, DC, on the morning of 9/11, attending the Carlyle Group’s annual investor conference there (see (9:00 a.m.) September 11, 2001). Former President George H. W. Bush, who is senior adviser to Carlyle Group’s Asian Partners fund,twice met with the bin Laden family on behalf of the company. On this day though, the Carlyle Group ends its relationship with the bin Ladens, and gives them back their investment.
Posted by: sparky | August 18, 2007 at 06:23 PM
"why didn't Bush follow OBL into Pakistan and cap his ass? Inquiring minds need to know".
Because he was ineffectual. next question; Why did Bush want to leave the borders open - while repeatedly trumpeting the war on terror ?"
It is conceivable that Steves would want to believe that he can make a difference in the world - perfectly logical if you are in a stupid state from toking the hemp. He is on the record for saying that we need to establish a dialogue with this enemy..look it up. Do I think he is delusional ? Uh-huh. A good tour guide ? Sure.
Posted by: KS | August 18, 2007 at 06:30 PM
"why didn't Bush follow OBL into Pakistan and cap his ass? Inquiring minds need to know".
Because he was ineffectual. next question; Why did Bush want to leave the borders open - while repeatedly trumpeting the war on terror ?"
It is conceivable that Steves would want to believe that he can make a difference in the world - perfectly logical if you are in a stupid state from toking the hemp. He is on the record for saying that we need to establish a dialogue with this enemy..look it up. Do I think he is delusional ? Uh-huh. A good tour guide ? Sure.
Posted by: KS | August 18, 2007 at 06:31 PM
Funny coincidence that Pops Bushler chose to give them back their investment. Prescott would of vetoed that.
Posted by: coiler | August 18, 2007 at 06:32 PM
thanks for the story source.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 18, 2007 at 06:43 PM
I love to travel. I've been all over the world and have lived in 3 countries outside the U.S. I can speak 3 foreign languages with some proficiency. I love Europe and have been there more times than I can count on two hands.
The most profoundly pro-capitalist eye-opening experience was the time I spent in post-Communist Russia, Hungary and (then) Czechosolovakia.
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky | August 18, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Czechoslovakia, excuse me.
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky | August 18, 2007 at 09:16 PM
H.W.Bush gave them Bin Laden fellers back their investment after 911? You mean Ray Taliaferro is off base when he keps ranting about Pappy Bush and little Bush being in bed with the Bin Laden's? Ray said the PNAC fellers neededed a "new Pearl Harbor" to launch their evil schemes. I guess Ray is implying that them PNAC fellers orchestrated 911? but he never really says.... now Ray doesn't seem like my personal God of truth anymore... not so much.....
Posted by: Tommy008 | August 18, 2007 at 09:59 PM
Damn!Monson is still on now after 10pm bleating and yapping about the Seahawks with his crew and taking calls from morons. I thought Carl Jeffers would be on. Isn't two hours of rehashing a freaking preseason game enough? By the way Dori, you sound like a pipsqueak on that show-like a squirrel.
Posted by: Tommy008 | August 18, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Thanks for the travelogue, Stefan- appropriate to what I haven't the foggiest- but you must come over and bring your slides...
Posted by: blathering michael | August 19, 2007 at 12:42 AM
Tommy008--the squirrel is one of the cutest, cleverest, & toughest creatures on gods green earth. You just paid Monson the supreme compliment.
Posted by: wutitiz | August 19, 2007 at 01:52 PM
True..a squirrel can never find its nuts either..
Posted by: sparky | August 19, 2007 at 02:26 PM
Correction sparks:
"True..a 'female' squirrel can never find its nuts either.."
Posted by: Duffman | August 19, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Shark Chum:
I love to travel. I've been all over the world and have lived in 3 countries outside the U.S. I can speak 3 foreign languages with some proficiency. I love Europe and have been there more times than I can count on two hands.
Nate looks into crystal ball:
I see SS using "world travelings" as his shit-poor excuse for being the NW's worse tipper (10%). Did you bring your scion (ie "The Monster") with you in your travels?
Yes Micheal, Nate gained some divine scuddlebutt over the weekend. More to come, stay tuned.
Posted by: mercifurious | August 20, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Sparky, it doesn't say they were having breakfast together on 9/11. Did you just make that up. And did you know that former President Carter accepted 200K from 10 of Osama's brother. Could there be a conspiracy there to.
Posted by: nevets | August 20, 2007 at 09:49 AM
And is D&D starting to sound like "Jimmy" from the "Sienfeld" comedy.
Posted by: nevets | August 20, 2007 at 09:52 AM
The only good thing I seen in Karachi, Pakistan when I was there in 1989 was good deals on both brass, teak, and onyx goods. The only fun you could have there was to haggle the merchants down and then say no deal after they agreed to your price. Not a place I wanted to go back to and have not since.
Posted by: nevets | August 20, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Poppy Bush must have twin out there Sparky, cause how can he be in two places at the same time. The first place is the one you said, in a D.C. restaurant eating breakfast with a menber of the Bin Laden familiy or in the second place, on a private jet with his Barbara heading for Minnisota and then after hearing of the WTC attacks being diverted to Milwaukee. Its okay to admit you lied Sparky.
Posted by: nevets | August 20, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Wow, MF! I heard about about Shark's frugal tipping, too! His comment "I love Europe and have been there more times than I can count on two hands." indicates that he CAN count...he probably uses his hands to calculate his pitiful tips! It's scandalous!
Posted by: Fremont | August 20, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Oh Steve, I can never put anything over on you, you manly soldier man. Yes, I will tell you now, all of us here on Blatherwatch make everything up just for you. I lied. I made the whole thing up. Everything. Every word I write on here is just a bunch of poo. I hope you wont be a stranger, though, now that I have let the cat out of the bag. We would miss your witty, albeit misspelled wisdom.
As for my post, CNN, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and CBS are in on the lie as well. They are the ones that wrote that information, not me. But wait, maybe that was a lie too? I can't remember. Or maybe I'm lying about forgetting...
Please just dont believe anything I post on here, 'k?
Posted by: sparky | August 20, 2007 at 11:59 AM
I thought The Shark moved so much to skip the rent? ( Maybe it was a lie, Freemont!?)
Posted by: sparky | August 20, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Damn, Sparks! I'm anguished and horrified by your confession...it's all a lie?? No, Please...
BTW, anyone a fan of Showtime's fab series, "Weeds?"
Posted by: Fremont | August 20, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Fremont,
I blitzed through Weeds via netflix and loved it. Esp Kevin Nealon's character ("I'm fucked-up on cornbread!").
Edge of your seat about Sharkgate 2007? I'll be interviewing my Deep Throat soon - today or tomorrow. Apparently he is so bad (and a regular!), she posted about it on bitterwaitress.com - said she'd feed me that link later. But the big dirt was about Shark, Jr. (ie, "The Monster"). heheheheh
Posted by: mercifurious | August 20, 2007 at 01:17 PM