Host Posts

September 7th, 2008: Kenny Laguna and Farron Cousins

David Fazekas — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:31:42 -0400

This week we'll be talking about the upcoming presidential elections, Obama, McCain and Palin, with musician, producer and activist Kenny Laguna; Farron Cousins; and you, call us at 866-710-6883.

WE HAVE YET ANOTHER CACOEPIST IN THE RANKS: THE DREADED METATHESIS STRIKES AGAIN

Lionel — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:30:44 -0400

That’s right, Sarah Louise Heath Palin pronounces nuclear as “nucular.”

LIONEL'S BOOK SIGNING TOUR INVADES THE NATION'S CAPITAL

Lionel — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:40:27 -0400

LIONEL will appear at the Trover Shop in Washington DC Tuesday, September 9th at 5:30 PM. He’ll be autographing his new book, atour de force, hailed by critics “Everyone’sCrazy Except You and Me . . . And I’m Not So Sure About You.”

THE INDISPENSABLE HELPMEET OF THE PROGRESSIVE: THE IDEOLOGICALLY CLOISTERED MIND OF THE TIMOROUS REPUBLI-CON. LIONEL AT THE RNC

Lionel — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:31:57 -0400

REYKJAVIK, Iceland – On our last day at the Republican National Convention, I was standing with my colleague David Bender Friday morning at the complimentary coffee display at the Marriott Courtyard, Bloomington, Minnesota’s finest caravansary, politely voicing my objection to the selection and very notion of flavored coffee creamers when a woman who I later found to be a Republican delegate or just a Republican apparently overheard David and I muse anent her Aggrandized Old Party and our vey disgust with same. She walked away and entered the PC-appointed internet(s) facility where my inamorata, Frusheda, was already seated.

This termagant turned to Frusheda and asked if she were with those “twits,” viz. David and me. This harridan muttered something about why don’t we go and blog, or words to that effect, and when she heard of our affiliation with Air America, her rage was off the chart. Frusheda asked her whom she was with and she snapped, “I’m an American.” To this harpy’s shock, Frusheda jumped to her feet and hummed angrily “L’Internationale.” The self-styled cackle-broad ran away in disgust.

This woman was the prototypical Republi-con, a person who enjoys the general perceived trappings of Republican/conservative platforms, all the while failing to understand the gravamen of her alleged disagreements. We were the enemy. We deigned to question the GOP ”plan.” We didn’t see the brilliance or message of Madame Mooseburger, Wasilla’s Marcia Brady, nor did we buy Old Man Potter’s purloined promise of Change.

Next: The hematophagic conventioneer.

7 Days: SPINNING 12 HYPOCRISES w/ Huffington, Vanden Heuvel, Bender & Green

Mark Green — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:23:18 -0400

This week I attended the U.S. Open and watched the Republican Convention. Guess which had more spin? Can McCain's pedestrian stump speech Thursday night convince voters that a Bush look-alike for seven years is the change agent? Only in America.

Our panel below performs the Emperor-Has-No-Clothes assignment of saying what should be obvious but what Republicans are hoping Americans don't see. Look at how experienced she is! Who’s W?

One way to compare the Republican Convention and our American reality is to list their dozen top hypocrises. Admittedly, politics is often the art of squaring circles and finessing inconsistencies. But as commentators Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy accidentally told us, the level of BS and cynicism in the Twin Cities was mountainous:

*John McCain said that he doesn’t work for the special interests. Ok, but they sure work for him, given the lobbyists who run and give to his campaign.

*John McCain repeatedly told us that he was a man of honor and principle, but what was the principle when he belittled then hugged Bush, belittled then hugged the religious right, belittled then hugged tax cuts for billionaires and oil firms, condemned and then allowed torture?

This week on Black Politics... with Chris Owens, Saturday September 6, 2008

Logan Nakyanzi — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:53:45 -0400

On this week's show . . . we're airing THE BEST of Black Politics because I’m finally home after an amazing trip across the country.

So, we’re re-airing my interview w/ my friend Melissa Harris Lacewell. She’s Associate Professor, of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. You may remember, I spoke with Melissa just before the DNC.

Melissa is also the author of the award-winning book, "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought" (Princeton 2004). And, she is currently at work on a new book: “For Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn't Enough.”

Tune in because you’re going to get an earful . . . Plus, and this is NEW, I want to share a few thoughts about my travels these past couple of weeks. Going to the DNC this year was especially meaningful, for a lot of reasons. I can’t get into the whole thing right now, but listen in Saturday morning at 11 am to hear more. . .

And, see me this Monday on GritTV. I'll be on the media roundtable with host Laura Flanders. Check it out Monday evening at http://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/.