Hurrah for Air America Radio

[A bunch of us are upset with Air America Radio because they have cancelled Sam Seder and Marc Maron's weekday videocast of Break Room Live -- it exists on YouTube and elsewhere and you can follow where Sam and Marc land by checking out SamSederShow.com -- but even as I am miffed I am going to look at the silver lining of the cloud. Think about it, and please join all of us Sederistas and Maronites in changing the world into a better place. Thanks! What follows showed up at Sam's site.]

Hey, I am going to accentuate the positive and say I am glad that Air America exists even if I don't like this latest turn BUT perhaps without them I might never have found people like Sam Seder and Marc Maron and Thom Hartmann (with Senator Bernie Sanders) and Lizz Winstead and Rachel Maddow and Al Franken (more of a liberal now than what he was before, I think) without Air America. Okay, they/Air America are not perfect, but I am glad they exist, even as I continue to support Thom Hartmann apart from them and Sam Seder and Marc Maron wherever they land and Lizz and Rachel ALWAYS, and Kent Jones and the great Laura Flanders and of course Janeane.... So yeah, let's get upset, but let's move forward and insist our guys (and gals, if you don't think guys is gender neutral) end up economically and psychologically WELL and HAPPY. Let's push them, their video, their books, their body of work, wherever we go.

And another thing, I likely would have never met YOU Guys without THEM: MaggiesBoy, Fernando, Nefferkitti, Nightbird,ToniD, Kat-in-Manhattan...., all of YOU -- and you guys are GREAT!! So, yes, it isn't fair but it is what it is, and it sure is better than Right Wing America.

So kisses and Peace Hugs from NYC and know that it works out OKAY: together we will help heal the world and make it transform. Got to get Thom's newest book [Threshold] because it talks about our being at the crossroads. We are. It is tough times. But we are together going to do what we can. Pray God that it is enough.

Love you -- Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Listen: State of Belief

Love this show!

"Religion and radio done differently" - Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy of The Interfaith Alliance presents a progressive, informative and entertaining show. Individual shows here [scroll through the descriptions!] or subscribe via iTunes. 

Their blurb reads:

State of Belief explores the intersection of religion with politics, culture, media, and activism, and promotes diverse religious voices in a religiously pluralistic world.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

To Read: Legacy of Secrecy

Mark, Lamar, Joe Friendly

Thanks to daughter Kat reminding me of my tentative evening plans, I made a mad dash down to McNally Jackson Books at 52 Prince Street in NYC to hear author Lamar Waldron discuss his book Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination and now have some 771 more pages to read, not including photos, documents, notes and index. (Add that to the pile! :-) I have heard Lamar speak several times on Thom Hartmann's radio show so I knew that despite his protestations to the contrary the man can talk, oh can he talk. His subject dealt with the Mafia's assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy: obviously very riveting. He made his points and the book provides the documentation. When will history openly acknowledge it? Time will tell. 

I also want to thank author and NYU professor Mark Crispin Miller [featured at various times in this blog and on my bookshelf] for playing a part in getting Lamar to speak. Despite the stormy NYC weather, there was a decent turnout and I had some interesting conversations with folks, both pre and post talk. Guy Ventresca was kind enough to take a picture of me and Lamar [and I had never heard that Ike had his own cover-up of a snafu in a pre-D-Day dry run -- hmmmm]. More pix of the book talk on Flickr -- my Christmas pix may get there yet, non Facebook friends! (And I wonder just how much of the book Thom wrote to justify his "with Thom Hartmann" cover credit.)

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Kate Anne and Lamar

Hartmann: Where's the News?

While the net bloggers are digging deep into her history, Sarah Palin needs to be vetted (and reported on) by the corporate media that she's decrying. Air America Radio's Thom Hartmann posted on his web site some of the items they should be considering. I've printed it here in its entirety because of its importance.

Where’s the News?

As I could have predicted, the corporate mainstream media is falling all over themselves to congratulate Sarah Palin on her speech. The well known truth is that Palin's speech has galvanized the conservative base. The media is not and most likely will not ask the tough questions like…

--Why does Sarah Palin continue to lie unchallenged by the media about her support of the “Bridge to Nowhere?”

--Why did Wasilla rarely received few any earmarks before Palin became mayor? She actively sought federal funds and hired a lobbyist with close ties to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who made funneling money to Alaska his hallmark.

--Why did Sarah Palin not walk out of her church when just two weeks ago, she sat there while her pastor gave a anti-Jewish sermon?

--While the McCain campaign has stressed her command of the National Guard – Why has Sarah Palin has never issued a single order to them?

--How do the American people sit with Palin’s claims that American soldiers have been sent to Iraq "on a task that is from God?"

--Why is Sarah Palin involved with AIP? Several days ago the chair of the AIP, a secessionist party, said that Palin attending the 1994 convention. “she was there.”

From www.mediamatters.org:

Neither ABC nor CBS aired analysis from Democrats, Democratic strategists, or progressive media figures during their live coverage of the second day of the Republican National Convention on September 2 (the first day of the networks' live coverage of the convention). By contrast, both networks aired analysis from Republicans and conservatives, as well as from Democrats and progressives, during coverage of the second day of the Democratic National Convention on August 26.

Let the media know we’re sick and tired of the corporate and “conservative” bias that doesn’t serve, “We the People.”

Thom Hartmann

Hey, Corporate Media, surprise Thom and me and do your job! And let us Democrats and rational independents follow Thom's advice and tell the corporate media that we are sick of their bias toward the Republicans. (Would that we find out that Sarah Palin successfully shot herself in the foot last night and that the press are on it! A few of them maybe??)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Mark Crispin Miller gave a stunning interview to Thom Hartmann yesterday about election fraud and the stealing of the 2000 and 2004 elections, heavily orchestrated by Bush thug Karl Rove. The show crashed the site it mentioned folks should go to for more information and action ideas, the Velvet Revolution's www.rovecybergate.com

Tell Congress to investigate Karl Rove’s cyber strategy to illegally manipulate elections. Click here to send an email to your Congress Members demanding immediate public hearings on whistleblower allegations that Rove architected and directed illegal attacks on Democrat candidates through the improper use of corporate funds channeled through fake Web-based front organizations, the improper political use of the Justice Department to prosecute opposition candidates, and the use of Internet based IT networks to alter election results. MORE

We can't let it happen again. Act now to protect Election 2008. (Go to AAR and listen to Hartmann's Tuesday August 19, 2008 show for this and great stuff on healthcare and energy -- one of the best of the best Hartmann shows.)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

John McCain: The Candidate We Still Don't Know

In his New York Times column this weekend, Frank Rich ponders the picture the press paints of Obama vs press favorite McCain.

As I went on vacation at the end of July, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by three to four percentage points in national polls. When I returned last week he still was. But lo and behold, a whole new plot twist had rolled off the bloviation assembly line in those intervening two weeks: Obama had lost the election!

The poor guy should be winning in a landslide against the despised party of Bush-Cheney, and he’s not. He should be passing the 50 percent mark in polls, and he’s not. He’s been done in by that ad with Britney and Paris and by a new international crisis that allows McCain to again flex his Manchurian Candidate military cred. Let the neocons identify a new battleground for igniting World War III, whether Baghdad or Tehran or Moscow, and McCain gets with the program as if Angela Lansbury has just dealt him the Queen of Hearts....MORE

When is the press corps going to follow the lead of a few insightful (and liberal) NYTimes columnists and start reporting on The Real McCain(s)? (Rich also discusses coverage of Michelle vs. Cindy. Puhlease.)

Finally, however, the Obama campaign must press the press to push the differences between the candidates. Bottom line, if the public were to hear more of the truth including the many covered-up gaffes, the cavorting with lobbyists (including his chief foreign policy advisor Randy Scheunemann having lobbied for the Georgian government until VERY recently!!), the cowtowing to the wealthy, and the many contradictions of John McCain, Obama would be the shoe-in he should be. [For more on how McCain is covered and how he is campaigning listen to AAR's Rachel Maddow's commentary, for example.] The Obama campaign must also give more play to such ads as the radio ad run in York, Pennsylvania [thanks, again, to TRMS], concerning McCain's telling Harley motorcycle enthusiasts that he enjoys the sound of the roar of American-made Harley's even as he opposed a law requiring the government to buy American made motorcycles, just one symptom of McCain's condoning American jobs being shipped overseas. McCain is the wrong choice if Americans care about the economy, jobs, and healthcare.

Keep on keeping on --

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

FreeRice.com: Play and feed the hungry

Thom Hartmann was interviewing someone at the United Nations this week who mentioned a learning/food giving site associated with Poverty.com called aptly FreeRice.com. It is vocabulary building for child, student, adult, and senior, and it will automatically set and adjust your level by how you answer or you can manually adjust the settings.

You are given a word and four definitions. If you are correct, 20 grains of rice are donated by the sponsors whose banners are displayed. (You see the rice mount up.) There is a little speaker which will pronounce the word if you click it, helpful. (I've been mispronouncing or perhaps alternatively pronouncing some words: AARgh!) I keep a running list of missed words or words I want to check further. The FAQ says the highest level is 60 but most don't get past 50. So far my best level has been 48 -- but I've only been playing two days. More important, I've help donate over 4000 grains of rice! Beat me!

I've added a smaller button to my side bar for your/my ease when this post gets buried, but try it now:



Let me know how you do and what you think of it. (My kids, Audient and Kat, generally ask me for a handicap when playing word games -- will they fare better with this? And how will my writer daughter-in-law Gina do?) Also spread the news. The playing number go way down on weekends, fyi, so play today to make the numbers jump!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

June is busting out all over!

Just as I am missing my son Audient's blog -- it has gone on hiatus -- as I can't easily catch up with what he's up to, I realize that I've been so busy that I have in essence been on hiatus too. Okay, you may know that you can check out my Quick TAKES and Tasty Tidbits blog for current little facts, snippets, recipes, and pictures, as well as my Flickr.com photo page(s). But I've been quiet with my online peace hugging. High time to give a quick run down of life since the Shad Fest. Here goes.

Last week I saw John Cussack's excellent satire War, Inc. (see it!). Linda Rousseau invited me to join some of her friends in seeing the Iraq based play, Betrayed, which focuses on the plight of Iraqis hired by the US. Saturday, I did computer research and played in the evening with Joan by going out to dinner at Bliss Bistro and then sharing the fun chick flick, Sex and the City right here in Sunnyside at Centre rather than in Manhattan for half again as much. Sunday I blogged with my Sam Seder friends on the occasion of his last (for now?) Air America Radio show. Then on Monday I went to Red Sky on 29th Street to see Sam interviewing author David Sirota live. David autographed my copy of The Uprising but I am kicking myself for not having Sam autograph it too, though I did shake his hand and get pictures. It was a good night as I also got to meet two delightful Sederistas Kat-in-Manhattan and Lucille.

Then there were some June birthdays. I took Sam Oast out to Pescatore on Tuesday (as I had my hair appointment with incomparable Anca on Wednesday) and joined Sue Bovet, Joanell Meringolo, and Sue Larkin in feting Lillian Heckler on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Pictures from both events will be posted soon. (Coming up are the long distance birthdays of Aunt Betty Murphy, Cousin Patrick Coyne, and Geneva friend Carol Robertson -- stocking up on cards and stamps!)

I got home last night to divide up the CSA share of organic food which Jean Ann picked up from the Sunnyside CSA we joined together: our first pick-up so heavy on the greens! But we're trying to live healthy and locally.

Next week is the Songs FOR peace meeting and the Children of Abraham Peace Walk in Brooklyn. And I have to find time to do some housework. Yes, I need to find a little personal peace by tidying up the environs. Need help from FlyLady! Meanwhile, I am reading David Sirota's great new book, The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington. You should, too, as he writes as good as he looks (see picture below :-).

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


Kate Anne and author David Sirota

Hugs to Teddy, Hi to Bobby: a Kennedy reflection

My heart and healing hugs go out to Teddy Kennedy at this challenging time. In truth, though, he has had my heart since my baby boomer childhood. I look back at it all and ponder. The Kennedy family was charmed, even as they were punched time and time again, yet came back for more: to serve, to be challenged, to survive (or not), and to serve again -- or send another family member to continue the tradition. Yes, they weren't perfect. Not all their choices were good ones, but they tried and they did a lot of things positive. And they impacted and inspired several generations. When my first boy friend Ray Hauser helped me win three teddy bears, I called them The Kennerts -- and named them Tedward, Bobbert, and Jackit. But I/we knew who they were named after.

Bobby Kennedy Jr.

I recently took the opportunity (perhaps a little gracelessly) to say hi to Teddy's nephew Bobby Kennedy Jr., at the 19th annual Riverkeeper Shad Fest held at Boscobel [see my earlier post and Flickr pictures]. I had seen and heard him once in person at an event in Astoria but hadn't gotten very close. And it was before Ring of Fire. But at the Shad Fest Bobby was walking amidst the guests and I just had to say a brief, "Hi, Bobby -- I just love Ring of Fire." Then I realized I had interrupted him talking to some others and felt a little awkward, but Bobby generously offered me his hand and gave me a big warm smile before turning back to his party. And all was great. He hadn't held my little faux paux against me. Now that is charm and class.

So now the family gathers around Teddy. Lets keep them in our prayers. Send healing to Teddy. And in his environmental and on-line effort, go, Bobby, go!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

What a hat! No wonder Bobby smiled! (Yes, that's Kevin Bacon.)

Enough, Hillary / Enough Hillary

After hearing Rachel Maddow's rant from last night on podcast, I went to Hillary Clinton's website and left this suggestion on their contact form (which I duly signed with my full contact information to validate):

I am a woman. I am a feminist. I am a New Yorker. I am a peace and justice activist. Please get out of the campaign. You have lost unless you steal it.

My daughter-in-law abhors you and will not vote for you. I used to like you until you voted for Bush's illegal invasion (and before I realized what a corporatist you have been).

Enough, get out. Now.

Thank you.

Rachel contends that Clinton's decision to take it to the convention will cause the Democratic presidential candidate to lose. I will add that Clinton first and foremost believes in the divine right of Hillary. The party bigwigs have got to sit on her and set her straight. She is not helping women. She is not helping families. She is not helping our country or our world. She is being self-serving. Time, past time, for her to get out. If she won't leave graciously, then the Democratic Party must take action along the lines that Rachel Maddow suggests: They must get 90 super delegates to move right now to Obama to deflect her position about Florida and Michigan and make the subject of these two states moot.

Ah, the ego..... Talk about it. Contact her campaign. Contact any Dems who can help. (And then we will take up how Obama has to get real with his energy policy. There is no such things as good affordable nuclear energy or clean coal -- but that's another post.)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

A Peaceful Move and Peace to Air America Radio

Peace and justice activists have to make money and my job in corporate America is hectic right now due to a move to a different building. I didn't leave until 1 AM!!! I'm off to work now to do MORE toward Friday's move BUT I wanted to post what I just posted on Air America Radio's website, following the Randi Rhodes mess. (Anyone who reads my blog knows I feel similarly about Hillary Clinton but I try to be positive and upbeat -- it is a challenge.) Anyway, Richard Belzer is guest hosting in Randi's time slot this week, and I wrote this:

Like Richard B esp. with Laura and Kent -- but MISS SAM!

I love AAR and the lineup EXCEPT Lionel (sorry!!) and the fact I don't get enough Laura and Sam and I miss Kent Jones. That is ONE reason Richard Belzer got extra points. He's not Sam but good none-the-less.

Randi may be the Goddess of Radio, but I can live without her. Sometimes she gets rude with fans -- very cutting -- and she's dissed Mark Green too who really IS good with Seven Days in America. (I've been listening to him from his stint with David Bender, another good host!)

Love Thom. Love Rachel. Enjoy Richard Greene and Jon Elliott when I can. Find Marc Sussman's Money Message VERY helpful. Love State of Believe with Rev. C. Welton Gaddy (sp!) Mike Papantonio and Bobby Kennedy Jr. are great too.

MY BEEF IS that there is NOT enough Sam Seder and NOT enough Laura Flanders -- and I want Kent Jones back and some Marc Maron. (Miss Lizz Winstead too, but I can catch her in NYC. Oh, yeah, miss Rev. Jim Forbes: what a sweety.)

I have listened from DAY ONE and I am a THIRD YEAR PREMIUM MEMBER. I like most of your line-up and LOVE some of it.

I am a PROUD AIR AMERICAN.

BUT please MORE SAM, MORE LAURA, and bring back KENT JONES. (He was great with Rachel.)

In the meantime, I will enjoy Richard Belzer and cheer you on! My love to Mark Green from Sunnyside, Queens.

Peace Hugs,

Kate Anne

~~

"The God of Peace is never glorified
by human violence." -- Thomas Merton

PS FYI -- I podcast -- I cannot hear it all but I trust I hear what I should. Wish AAR could get Bob McChesney's Media Matters -- I didn't say that and should have. Another time, perhaps.

4000 U.S. Dead -- Search FOR Peace

More demos -- Monday evening, I joined with the Grandmothers at Rockefeller Plaza to mourn the 4000 U.S. dead as well as all the Iraqi dead (and 5 million Iraqi children made orphans). I stood by Lillian who ended up holding my sign, the front page of The NY Daily News [with the Spitzer stuff cut off] when I went for my candle. Fine. I didn't need to hold both. And next to her was Arlene to whom I gave my extra large plastic cup to shield her candle from the wind. I didn't get the name of the woman on my right but her positive energy warmed me, too. I only got a demo photo as I was leaving -- but others noted we were there. And that is fine and the photo I got was poignant. This little one didn't get to be an orphan for long, if at all.



Tuesday night then I made it down late (after sending out a report) to Union Square for the UFPJ demo. My friend the Button Buddha a/k/a Ruth Klein reported that there were a couple of hundred people there. I got there just as they were winding down but stayed to speak to a few folks, one a 70 year old woman, another a 43 year old woman and all three of us saying, it isn't the country we knew as we were growing up. God forgive us, but America has lost our balance. America is Number One in war, in prisons, and in per capita energy usage. While we were standing there, Kathy Lawrence arrived even later than I -- she had been teaching. We connected and we reassured her that people had been there and some press had been there. Of course, it should have been more people and more press, but this is corporate America and it is hard to get our message out quickly as this demo demanded. But of course, demos are only one part of peace work. I spoke to one person on Saturday that peace isn't just for demos it is an everyday thing. We must become the peace we seek and go about our personal lives peacefully -- it has to be part of our every day routine, not just something for occasional demonstrations. Be kind and loving every day to those whose lives we touch, contributing therefore to peace.

I wear peace on my sleeve, or perhaps more graphically on my chest, thanks to Ruth's buttons. We decided to leave together and catch up. She had some great stories to tell about reuniting with some old Girl Scout buddies. (They are planning a summer reunion in the Bear Mountain New York area where their old Girl Scout camp had been. Some thirty women hope to attend!!) We ended up at Tasty Thai in Sunnyside and shared more stories and positive energy, contributing to peace, too, no doubt. She drove me home and I gifted her with some Girl Scout cookies. Ruth in turn gave me a belated birthday gift of some great buttons. I didn't tell her this, but just the other day I was wondering if I could find an old Girl Scout badge sash somewhere to make button-wearing easier for demo days. Still, I will have to take turns wearing them and some of her other truly awesome buttons. To get these or arrange to buy other terrific ones, write Ruth as buttonbuddha (at) gmail.com. [Double click it to enlarge the picture.]

Ruth's Gift

In the meantime, please contact the White House comment line (202-456-1111) and your Congressmembers (202-224-3121) to demand "No war on Iran!". I called today (politely) after hearing Thom Hartmann speaking that it had been reported in Germany and in Saudia Arabia that the Saudis were preparing for protecting people from nuclear radiation, this immediately after Dick Cheney left there. Darth Cheney is up to no good. No wonder that my two demo friends this evening voiced what I was feeling about our country. We want our country back! (I am sure they noted that Kathy Lawrence had aptly been wearing a Bush is a War Criminal pin -- she told me that someone had called HER a traitor for wearing it. This, when BUSH is the war criminal AND traitor!)

It was a day of work, a day of activism, a day of fellowship, a day of balance. I seek to be the change I wish to see in the world. I seek balance and love and justice for one and all. With God's help (or whatever YOU want to call God), I will succeed. Join me in doing what you can. Please call, act, be -- let's live peacefully and give peace to each other. We can and must create a better world.

Thank you for whatever you do for peace and justice. (And I will be posting more pix soon at my Flickr.com page.)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Spitzer's Ousting Adds Fuel to Impeachment

How refreshing to hear Republicans talking impeachment! How like them, however, to want to impeach someone guilty of illicit sex rather than those guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors! Matthew 7:3 comes to mind: "Why seest thou a mote in thy brother's eye, and perceivest not the beam that is in thine?" [Modern: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"] I am SO furious, thus causing me to join more fervently in the efforts to impeach the son of a Bush -- and Cheney too, as per Democrats.com's email requesting impeachment petition signatures, which had me typing THIS add-on message to my Senators and Congressmember:

The Republicans wanted to impeach Gov. Spitzer because of sexual peccadillos, thus forcing his resignation, even as they ignore the many sins of Bush and Cheney who are sooooo guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. Why do we allow this corrupt administration to do more and more harm to our country, even as they attack strong Democratic leaders and destroy the rule of law? I do not care whether or not you succeed in getting a conviction, go for the impeachment, just like they did for Eliot Spitzer. And if you haven't already read their game plan, read Naomi Wolf's book, The END of AMERICA -- Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot.

The time has come, ENOUGH, impeach them!!!

Join me in signing the petition, which elaborates the crimes list that Democrats.com posted in their email:

"16 months ago, we posted a petition listing 10 High Crimes which justified their impeachment:
(1) Starting a "war of aggression" (2) torture (3) arbitrary detention (4) war crimes (5) warrantless wiretapping (6) signing statements (7) election fraud (8) outing a covert CIA operative (9) the "unitary executive" (10) gross negligence for Katrina and global warming."

In his show last night, Richard Greene of Air America Radio's CLOUT, added more to the Bush crime list, paraphrased here, including: 11) war profiteering; 12) Fraud -- 950-something lies to get us into an illegal war where thousands died; 13) Conspiracy to commit a felony; 14) Violation of the Felony Murder rule -- numerous felonies to get us into Iraq and over 4000 of our soldiers have died there plus hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; 14) Criminal negligence about 9-11 (at the very least); 15) Treason; 16) Destruction of the reputation of the United States of America and the gutting of our economy via their policies and huge deficits; 17) Violation of their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States -- They are wrecking separation of powers via signing statements and federal attorney scandal; 18) Lying -- they won't go under oath so they can't commit perjury; 19) Theft of God knows how many elections; 20) Violations of environmental laws all over the country....

Oh my God, help us and forgive us for not doing more sooner. They believe in the Bible? Please, let us give back to the Republicans in kind: "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." They wanted impeachment, let's give them impeachment.


FOLLOW-UP -- Let's call our congressional representatives and Rep. John Conyers and his committee, too: 202 224 3121.

There is so much to do for peace and justice, but surely impeachment should be one of those things. No justice, no peace. Know justice, know peace.....

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Edwards' Endorsement in the Offing?

Air America Radio's Rachel Maddow and David Bender have just been discussing the rumor of John Edwards endorsing someone, and possibly Hillary Clinton because she is viewed as tougher. It is Valentines Day and I do not wish to face such betrayal. I just went to JohnEdwards.com and left this on the Contact page:
 

Message for John Edwards:

There is rumor you plan to endorse. As someone who donated a lot (for me) to your presidential campaign, blogged and talked about it, and also collected petition signatures in New York City, I am begging you:

PLEASE do NOT endorse Hillary Clinton -- she has been a corporatist and has not listened to her peace and justice constitutents.

She gets big money from the ARMAMENT industry and the Big Pharma. A Hillary Clinton endorsement would be a SLAP in the FACE of anyone who worked for YOU.

Please do NOT make of your campaign a MOCKERY.

Thank you.

====

Will it make a difference? If enough of us do similarly, maybe. And perhaps Rachel and David are wrong about the endorsement. Rachel would prefer him not endorsing anyone. I'm with her -- especially if her endorsement is Clinton.

 

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

MLK, 935 and an Anniversary

Long week -- Martin Luther King Jr. continues to touch my heart, even though I holed up on MLK Day instead of finding a memorial service. With a bit of a bug, I did not belong out in the cold amidst people. That said, I have been playing clips of MLK speeches and listening to Civil Rights music on my iPod. MLK, Jr. deserves to be celebrated not by a few words on one day but through our impacting the world with positive contributions for peace and justice in his memory. At the end of his shortened life, Brother Martin was working on issues involving peace and poverty -- against the military-industrial complex which is ruining the United States of America. It transcends race.

A week ago Friday, my paid work place honored me for 20 years of service. Oh my! This peace and justice worker was none-the-less happy to receive matching Eternal Circle sterling silver earrings and necklace from Tiffany's. Crass? No, pretty. It feeds my spirit and gives me more energy to do my p& j work.

This week an online database was announced which documents the falsehoods of the Bush-Cheney regime during the two years following 9-11. They categorized at least 532 occasions on which the regime gave 935 false statements [Read: LIES] leading up to the illegal invasion of Iraq. AAR's Rachel Maddow says this information should/could be used toward Cheney and Bush's impeachment. Check it out at The Center for Public Integrity.

Right now, however, I am working on preventing telecom's from getting immunity from being complicit with the Republican Administration in spying on God knows whom in an illegal power grabbing extension of the FISA law. Hold them accountable. The good news is that Senator Schumer is with Senator Dodd on this, but can the Democrats hold a filibuster? If they let the telecoms off the hook they will likely be letting off the Republican criminals complicit in the spying, too. And on whom, really, have they been spying? Not just terror subjects, but probably me, you and Democratic politicians.

Then last Sunday the West Queens Independent Democratic Club held a good meeting at our president Jimmy Van Bramer's home to celebrate the beginning of our 40th year and discuss issues, including the presidential primaries. Great discussions!! (And good food!)

Much to do for peace, justice and saving our democracy. Join me. At the very least, please sign up for impeachment hearings of Dick Cheney, led by Senator Robert Wexler, at wexlerwantshearings.com -- now over 210,000 signatures!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving but today is also pretty big on the calendar. I'm with Rev. Billy on this one. He started today, Black Friday or what he terms Buy Nothing Day, by preaching at Macy's and I look forward to seeing the documentary, What Would Jesus Buy?. If you are so inclined, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Church of Stop Shopping.

(Rev. Welton Gaddy even had Rev. Billy on The Interfaith Alliance program, State of Belief, on Air America -- love Bill Talon and his work! And check out Rev. Billy's blog while you are at it.)

Change-a-lujah! Money for peace, not for crazy out-of-control shopping!\

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Hartmann: Cracking the Code at Demos

Thanks to Gail Harper's prodding that doggie duty should allow a little time for fun, I joined a packed roomful of people at Demos on Fifth Avenue in NYC to hear Thom Hartmann speak about his latest book, Cracking the Code. He was great and inspiring, as always. And I got to see and be seen by Air America Radio's Mark Green who recognized me and gave me a kiss afterwards. (That said, he's still trying to place me, I bet :-)

I spent the last hour searching for what Thom called the best Madison quotation and found PART of it as well as a bunch of other great Madison quotations. The part is:

"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."

But check this out from the Crosby Report. Was Madison psychic? One thing for sure, George Dubya Bush would NOT be happy with James Madison. Indeed, he'd send a Homeland Security Team after Jimmy as Dubya probably thinks Dolly Madison is a cupcake and is clueless that James Madison is a dead president.

Kate Anne & Thom Hartmann

Yes, I took pictures but I haven't downloaded them. [Update: see them.] Best, yet, however, my new friend Avery Harris (synchronicity!) was kind enough to volunteer to take a picture of me with Thom and I was astute enough to return the favor. Thom endured it all and his latest visit to NYC not only earned Gail and me a friend but gave me the opportunity to connect with two great young gents behind us, John from Bergen Co., NJ and Ezekial from Newark, NJ: Neat guys with great spirit. (Wish I would have gotten their info, but maybe they'll find me again through this blog.) Yes, there is hope for this country and this world. Now to read my autographed copy of Cracking the Code in full sight in the subway and on buses and spread its message. Watch my Flickr.com (see links) for the pix and...

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Thanks, WWRL! Another Open Letter

Mr. Rennie Bishop
Program Director
WWRL 1600 Radio
333 Seventh Avenue
New York NY 10001

Dear Mr. Bishop,

This follows up, with thanks, my letter written two months ago. I applaud you for adding Richard Greene's CLOUT to your evening lineup and dropping Sammy and Army in the morning to bring us back the terrific Mark Riley. He and Richard Bey are great together -- Richard actually works much better in the morning. Okay, so the show is not part of the official Air America lineup -- I have to tell you, I like it! And while you still have too many infomercials, Alan Colmes' tiny show, and not enough Sam Seder, I choose to accentuate the positive and say, Thank You for Clout and Bey-Mark!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


cc: Mr. Mark Green
President
Air America Radio
641 Sixth Avenue – 4th Floor
New York NY 10011

VERY Important PS, PPS, and PPPS

Lying in bed, what I didn't write in the original open letter to WWRL jumped in my mind. These are now printed on pretty paper, ready to be sent to WWRL's program director Rennie Bishop, copy to Air America Radio president Mark Green.


IMPORTANT LONG PS -- Good heavens!! Writing so late at night, I forgot to thank you about about the great Laura Flanders and her show Radio Nation -- then I realize that because I stream and blog with the other Laura Bloggers I haven't noticed that she's no longer on your schedule!! Now, sadly, her show is only an hour long early Sunday afternoon (NOT long enough -- and, both entertaining and educational, she was my favorite on the now defunct Air Americans Show, along with the wonderful David Bender). Please fit her Radio Nation in your schedule somewhere!

I could and perhaps should have mentioned Rev. Jim Forbes' inspiring show, The Time is Now -- but I haven't gotten any new podcasts and I have heard rumors that it may have been cancelled [update: it has been]. If so, what a loss! Whatever Air America does, I hope it remains on your schedule with new shows. We have to remind people that liberals can be spiritual. (That's one of the reasons I love Thom Hartmann!) The Rev. Jim is so appealing and New York and all of America need to hear his message.

Waking up and reviewing your schedule I am pleased to see you have Marc Sussman's Money Message -- I have to find time to manage what money I have and appreciate learning how to do it in a progressive politically correct way. Please keep him in your lineup. And as a nascent vegetarian, I also appreciate Bob Linden's show, Go Vegan, providing food for thought -- but I don't see it in your lineup. Consider it, please.

Finally, I deliberately omitted mention of left radio goddess Randi Rhodes, and perhaps I should explain. While I am glad she's on WWRL and I know she has a lot of value, she's just not my cup of tea. When she's really on target she's terrific -- and she's great for the novice listeners who probably appreciate her gushing about meeting certain celebrities, but I must admit her nastiness to certain callers (some of them obvious fans who get off on the wrong foot) turns me and my radio off. Hey, I can listen to podcasts of FAIR's CounterSpin or Bob McChesney's Media Matters [great archives for both of these!] -- these are two shorter shows on the very important media issue that are NOT currently in the Air America lineup that probably should be. And there's Matt Rothschild's Progressive Radio Show on a variety of topics. I don't need Randi most days -- personal preference. But her show has a role to play and she belongs on WWRL. Thank you!



IMPORTANT PERSONAL & POLITICAL PPS -- Good grief! I sound like the Left Wing version of my Ditto head brother. I sound like I only listen to talk radio. Nooooooo. I do have a life. But I listen when I can to learn and to act. That's the difference between me and my brother. I want to take what I have learned from blogging and talk radio to change the world positively -- to make it more peaceful, environmentally safer, and economically fair and just.

Interestingly, though, my rightist brother has started to listen to the LEFT wing talk shows on satellite radio and there are two things we actually agree on. We both cannot stand Hillary Clinton (albeit for different reasons) -- and we both would vote for John Edwards if HE gets the nomination. That says a lot doesn't it?

What also says a lot is the latest unannounced call-in presidential poll on Thom Hartmann's show. Everyone holding was dumped from the lines and it was everyone trying at the same time. The results were telling: Edwards: 26, Kucinich: 12, Obama: 4, Clinton: 3, Biden: 2 and one each for Ron Paul, Al Gore, and Higgens the cat. (If my call would have been answered, I would have said John and Elizabeth Edwards -- they are a great and winning team.)

Edwards is a populist and he polls well with lots of Americans of all and no party affiliation. Rolling Stone said John Edwards is the candidate the Right fears. How I wish that WWRL and Air America Radio would get behind him, like me and my rightist brother. Think about it. And again, thank you.

PPPS -- In true activist fashion I'm posting this letter on my blog PeaceHugs.com and telling my blog and listserv friends about WWRL, Air America, good talk radio, and John Edwards for President.

###

And a personal note to my blog readers: Of course, I don't listen to all the shows I like all of the time. Thanks to podcasting and the NY subway and bus system, I actually listen to quite a bit. It is important to learn to pick and choose. This is easier podcasting. If a show is a dud (and everyone has a dud now and then), go on to another podcast. That said, there are a lot of good podcasts -- just like books and movies -- that I and you will never get to. So be it. I am just glad that there is enough of our democratic republic left to have left wing radio (and let us NOT forget the great Amy Goodman's Democracy Now!).

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

An Open Letter to WWRL 1600 Radio

Mr. Rennie Bishop
Program Director
WWRL 1600 Radio
333 Seventh Avenue
New York NY 10001

Dear Mr. Bishop,

I am an Air American – listening to Air America Radio from Day One -- and a sometime WWRL listener who is extremely disappointed with the lack of Air America Radio shows on the schedule of WWRL, the supposed flagship station of Air America Radio. I would appreciate your consideration of my critical comments which follow.

Sammy and Army are awful, (im)pure and simple – and didn’t Armstrong Williams in the past receive payoffs to talk about certain issues?

Richard Bey – His show is lightweight and his singing syrupy and egotistical. He is a poor substitute for AAR’s Richard Greene whose CLOUT aims to foster much needed liberal/progressive political activism. (WWRL’s failure previously to carry Mark Riley’s Air Americans may have contributed to its quick demise.)

Alan Colmes – This is the person Al Franken referred to in his Lying Liars book as Colmes – I tried to listen, wondering if there was some substance there somewhere. I gave up after a number of poor caliber non-informative, limitedly entertaining shows. Part of his show conflicts with that of the superior and informative This is America -- Jon Elliott’s show – and you carry none of it regularly (though I will grant you that I have heard “A Best of” show over the weekend at some strange hour – and I would have a difficult time finding it.).

Sam Seder on Sunday Show – we get only an hour of an already truncated three hour show (even that is NOT enough – instead Air America has mistakenly given us nauseatingly puerile Lionel – not your fault – actually in this case I would appreciate your broadcasting some other progressive show – maybe re-air Jon Elliott in the 9 to noon weekday slot!) Please carry Sam’s full show. (I wish that AAR would give us MORE of Sam on a daily basis.)

WWRL seems to run a lot of (TOO MANY) health infomercials. I am a firm believer of alternative medicine and herbal remedies but WWRL’s programming is way overboard for a flagship station. Undoubtedly, these must be money-makers but please note that YES, I DO support sponsors when I can. (I have purchased a number of items recently from TekServe on 23rd Street – and I told them about hearing their ads on WWRL.)

Thank God for podcasts, but as a political activist I know that it is easier to recommend slightly older Democratic/political activists listen to certain radio shows rather than ask them to subscribe to and/or download a podcast. Besides, there is the immediacy of the original show. I stream AAR or WWRL while at work and frequently when I am home – Living in Queens I get way too much bleeding from the Disney channel after dark but it is sooooo nice not to be tied to the computer to hear good progressive programming.

All of this said, thanks for carrying Thom Hartmann and Rachel Maddow, my favorites – and I love Bobby and Pap’s Ring of Fire and Welton’s State of Belief, and enjoy Mark and Arianna’s 7 Days in America, but we need to give New York City’s radio listeners the ability to hear the best of the progressive radio shows, not pale substitutes or infomercials. With Sammy and Army, Richard Bey, and Colmes, a case could certainly be made that WWRL is complicit in the dumbing down of New Yorkers. Please. You can do better. Please do.

I welcome a response.

Thank you.


Respectfully,
Kate Anne

VERY IMPORTANT: PS, PPS, and PPPS re Laura Flanders, John Edwards and more

cc: Mr. Mark Green
President
Air America Radio
641 Sixth Avenue – 4th Floor
New York NY 10011