Excellent Week In Review Discussion from NPR

Hear On Point's week in review discussion from this weekend. Panel included Trudy Rubin, Clarence Page, and Jack Beatty.

They covered just about everything... including Obama's falling support, the death of Healthcare Reform, the gridlocked and completely dysfunctional Congress, and the public's misplaced anger. They didn't go far enough though...they seemed scared to say that the Country is screwed. With voters set to return Republicans to power, America's decline will continue.

Weekly Roundup Discussion from NPR

Another great On Point discussion from last week.

NPR Discussion on Healthcare & Race

Hear NPR's On Point discussion from last week... (from the weekly roundup).

Great commentary about the influence of race in our current politics, and how Obama should have been more aggressive on Healthcare (I didn't think it was a good idea to try reform right now....but if he's going to do it, he should have called all hands on deck and been a lot more aggressive and should have taken on opponents earlier). The panel echoes what I have been saying for months.

And on race...I loved how President Carter told the truth. He knew he would be criticized...but he told the truth anyway. Although he was pointing out the obvious.... the media and people of authority in American society have been late (or entirely unwilling) when it comes to telling the truth about how race is influencing the tone of the political debate in the Country.

It's been interesting to see how the GOP immediately dispatched their #1 & #2 firemen on racism (Michael Steele and Ron Christie). As if their Black skin is able to wipe away history and sugar coat the current state of race in America. I was amused to see how they immediately dismissed Carters comments.... same with FAUX news.... as if they have better collective and cumulative insight than this 85 year old white man from the South....not to mention a former President.

Of course the Obama Administration distanced itself from Carter... (Carter is probably not surprised). The Obama Administration HAS to do this.... we know that! I completely understand why Obama has to publicly come out against folks stating the obvious on this issue. Politically he can't afford to make race a big deal... at least he knows it can't come from The White House or anyone from his camp. But Carter and the rest of us can say what Obama can't say.

A Discussion about Dick Cheney and His Efforts to Make Obama The Fall Guy

NPR had a great discussion about Tricky Dick II last week and his efforts to turn the tables in the torture debate. Dick Cheney has been on a media blitz lately on behalf of the Republican Party (and in an effort to cover his own rear end). His aim seems to be to argue that tough interrogation techniques (torture) worked and therefore were justified. He is also attempting to use fear (although I don't think it's working this time) to support his argument. He keeps repeating the argument that getting rid of "enhanced interrogation techniques" will put the U.S. at serious risk of another terrorist attack. Although none of the top experts and national security officials (National Security Adviser Jones, DNI Blair, the CIA Director, nor the Joint Chiefs Chairman) believe that changing the interrogation process will increase the risk of another 9/11. Even if there were another attack...it isn't even remotely likely that it could be tied to the change in interrogation rules. But by using this argument, Cheney's goal seems to be to set Obama up for blame if another terrorist attack takes place under the new Administration. In other words... he is hoping to use another terrorist attack as a way to breathe new life into the Republican Party. Sickening stuff!

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Daschle, Taxes, and the Washington DC Culture

NPR's On Point Radio had a great discussion this week on Daschle and the chorus of other Obama Cabinet choices who have run into Tax problems or are having other ethical issues. The panel talks about the culture of Washington elitism and corruption...and how entrenched money and lobbying have become.

They basically support what I stated earlier in comments regarding Daschle and Obama's decision to choose these familiar faces. Several of Obama's Cabinet choices don't quite fit with the message of "change". Since many of these people are DC and Wall Street insiders, Obama should not have been surprised about these kinds of issues popping up. Even more annoying is that Daschle apparently knew about the Tax issue for a while. Perhaps he failed to disclose everything...or perhaps Obama was "hoping" that Daschle would be confirmed anyway.

This gives the impression that Obama is o.k. with the double standard - one set of rules for ordinary folks, and a separate set of rules for the rich and powerful. Obama had to have known about some of these issues before he even nominated Geithner and Daschle.

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