Thanks Giving

Click here to listen to today's "Grateful and Thankful" (with thanks to Francis Dunnery for the title song today) Radio or Not episode (runtime 12:17)

Today is the day before Thankgiving, so I thought it would be a good day to give thanks! That's what today's Radio or Not podcast is about.

It's been a hectic, tough week, and I'm still getting my act together after having my belongings stolen this weekend... and battling a cold on top of it.

So, it's a short Thanks-giving list, Radio or Not style. I hope you'll post the things you're thankful for this year in the comments section.

I'll be back with another week of Radio or Not on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nicole

Click here to listen to today's "Grateful and Thankful" (with thanks to Francis Dunnery for the title song today) Radio or Not episode (runtime 12:17)

The World Isn't Fair

Hear my interview with David Swanson about what we can do to hold Bush & Co accountable for their crimes by clicking here. (Runtime 26:28)

That's the title of a Randy Newman song. I didn't actually produce an episode of Radio or Not today, or I would have used that as the musical intro. Instead, please enjoy a video of Randy performing the whole thing....



Ah yes, this song works on so many levels... as do most Randy Newman songs. But the title swam through my mind yesterday as I was trying to calm my 9-year old daughter down after we found that the rear window of our car had been smashed, and my purse stolen.

We were celebrating our "Forever Day." Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of the day a judge in Kazakhstan officially approved our adoption, making me Alison's mother! It's our most special day of the year.

Alison has long fought learning how to ride a bicycle. But she was ready yesterday. We bought her a new bike as a "Forever Day" gift, and went to a local park to get her going. As I knew I'd never be further than a few yards from the car, I just left my purse inside. I should have known better!

Alison was doing great on the bike, and she rode down the straightaway and rounded the corner, and I ran after her. We were out of the car's sight for no longer than three minutes.... long enough for some lowlife piece of shit to smash the window and take my purse-- complete with all my credit cards, driver's license, $100 cash, social security cards (I knew these shouldn't be in my wallet, but you never think it'll happen to you!), my checkbooks, and my brand new G1 cell phone!

As a friend posted on my facebook page, "That Sucks!"

So, today will be spent doing pre-emptive damage control on my and my daughter's credit, canceling every account I have, getting new cards, and replacing the window on my car.

Oh yeah, we were supposed to go see "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" following the bicycle lesson. Unfortunately, the time spent filling out a police report, and the fact that I had no cash for parking on top of it made us miss the show... Another hundred bucks spent for the tickets down the drain.

So, no, the world isn't fair. And a group of the biggest thieves to ever steal from the country just might get away with all their crimes.

I am talking about the Bush Crime Family. The first time I heard Mike Malloy refer to them as such I laughed. But it's certainly not funny.

When I filled in for Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan on Air America last week, I spoke with David Swanson of afterdowningstreet.org about how we can hold these crooks accountable. So, I thought I'd share that portion of the show with you today on Radio or Not.

I have to get on the phone now. Thanks for listening!

Hear my interview with David Swanson about what we can do to hold Bush & Co accountable for their crimes by clicking here. (Runtime 26:28)

Sarah Palin- Stop please, you're embarassing yourself!

I just had to share this. Sarah Palin decided to do the "spare the turkey's life" photo op up there in Alaska, and then did this interview as turkeys were being slaughtered behind her... in the shot! It's more classic stuff from the VP candidate who just won't go away...

A postscript on last night's discussion about holding Bush & Co accountable

I just received this email from David Swanson, who was on the Rachel Maddow Show with me last night. It's important enough that I want to post it here for you. Please read it, and take action:

Congress Opposes Bush Pardons

Nadler Introduces Resolution Opposing Possible Bush Pardons of His Own Subordinates for Crimes He Authorized

By David Swanson

Here's a resolution, hot off the presses from Jerrold Nadler, Chair of the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee:H.RES.1531, "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President of the United States should not issue pardons to senior members of his administration during the final 90 days of his term of office," Sponsor: Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] (introduced 11/20/2008).

There will be a petition promoting this resolution, through which you can write to your representative and senators at http://democrats.com/nadler-pardons

Senator Russ Feingold editorialized against these possible pardons at Salon.com yesterday; please urge him to introduce in the Senate the same resolution that Nadler has in the House.

Never before has a president pardoned himself or his subordinates for crimes he authorized. The idea that the pardon power constitutionally includes such pardons ignores a thousand year tradition in which no man can sit in judgment of himself, and the fact that James Madison and George Mason argued that the reason we needed the impeachment power was that a president might some day try to pardon someone for a crime that he himself was involved in. The problem is not preemptive pardons of people not yet tried and convicted. The problem is not blanket pardons of unnamed masses of people. Both of those types of pardons have been issued in the past and have their appropriate place. The problem is the complete elimination of any semblance of the rule of law by pardoning one's own subordinates for crimes you instructed them to commit.

Yes, of course, there's something absurd about knowing that a president authorized crimes, not impeaching him, not prosecuting him, not proposing any action with any teeth at all, but formally objecting to the idea of him issuing pardons of his own subordinates for crimes he authorized. But this is where we are. State, local, civil, foreign, and international prosecutions are likely ways of holding Bush, Cheney, and gang accountable, and pardons can't interfere with them. Pardons can't interfere with impeachment. But if we allow these pardons, we not only guarantee no federal prosecutions, and not only give Congress an excuse to drop its investigations, but we also establish the precedent that from here on out any president can violate any law and then pardon the crime. This is simply to end the idea of law. We cannot allow that.

We need to work with Congressman Nadler and Senator Feingold to promote awareness of what is wrong with self-pardons. In this way we can prepare the American public for the appropriate response when the pardons come.The appropriate response will be to demand:

1. Immediate impeachment of Bush and Cheney, even if they are out of office.

2. Overturning of the pardons, as Bush's lawyers told him he could do to Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich, which was a far more minor abuse of the pardon power.

3. Legislation banning self-pardons and pardons of crimes authorized by the president.

4. A Constitutional Amendment banning self-pardons and pardons of crimes authorized by the president.

5. Prosecution of Bush, Cheney, and their subordinates for their crimes.

--
To receive updates from After Downing Street register at
http://afterdowningstreet.org/user/register

Rachel's back, but I still have one more show to do for Ron!

What a blast I've been having on Air America this week! Rachel Maddow returned from the cruise in time to do the first hour of her show today, but I got to take over for hour two.

I started the show with an interview I did with Scott McClellan (click on the link to hear the interview) on Saturday at the Miami Book Fair, and was then joined by David Swanson to talk about what can be done to make sure George Bush and company don't get away with the crimes they've perpetrated on the American people-- and the world -- for the last 8 years.

David Swanson, a co-founder of http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/ as well as http://www.democrats.com/, has been one of the biggest and best advocates for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

During my conversation with David Swanson, I referenced a Salon.com piece written by Sen. Russ Feingold, entitled An unpardonable use of power. It's a must-read.

One key passage reads "There is nothing to prevent President Bush from using the pardon in such a short-sighted and self-serving manner -- except, perhaps, public pressure that may itself be a window on the judgment of history. Everyone who can exert that pressure, from members of Congress to the press and the public, should express their views on whether it would be appropriate for President Bush to use his pardon power in this way."

To that end, I suggest that everyone go to http://www.change.gov/ and make your voice heard. President-elect Obama is asking for our input; let's give it to him!

On tonight's Ron Reagan show, I interviewed Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. I've known Debbie for a few years now, and do admire her. Although she and I have often butted heads on the impeachment issue -- she sits on the House Judiciary Committee, but has towed Nancy Pelosi's line on this issue -- we've agreed to disagree. We spoke about what to do about the auto industry, the new Obama administration and the cabinet he's assembling, her efforts in helping the Democrats pick up more seats, and I shamelessly asked if she had any spare inauguration tickets. You can hear that interview here:

I spent the rest of the hour taking calls from listeners all over the country. That's something I've really missed. I enjoy doing the podcast, but the one element that's missing is the ability to take calls from people in real time... And the Air America callers have been thoughtful and interesting.

As I was getting ready to wrap things up for the night, Richard Greene, the host of "Clout" - the show that follow's Ron Reagan's - asked if I'd like to hang out for a while on the air with him. I wound up spending the whole hour with him.

I really don't want this week to end. I'm having a blast!

My week on Air America continues

Click here to hear Naomi Klein on the Radio or Not podcast (runtime 14:43)

It's now Wednesday morning, and I'm putting together the lineup for tonight's show.

I meant to come home and write last night, but I was exhausted by the time I got home. Thankfully, there were no technical problems, and I had a great time talking about a topic that I'm obviously quite passionate about-- radio and media in general.

The calls were great, and it was heartening to hear from some old listeners from LA from my days at KLOS and the Mark & Brian Show. What's really amazing is the fact that I left KLOS in July of 1994! Fifteen years ago!

And when I got home, I received some emails from listeners of the station I went to when I left KLOS-- KSCA, which was a one of a kind station.

In fact, I started the Radio or Not podcast to give new life to some of the artist interviews I did at KSCA... the first Los Angeles radio appearance by Dave Matthews was the first podcast I put up on the site. If you go over to the left and go back through the archives, you can still download it and listen. There are a bunch of other gems too: Ray Davies, Jackson Browne, Steely Dan, Ben Folds Five and more. (I just made it easier by linking to the audio files too)

At least some of the LA radio audience who may have found me again thanks to KTLK carrying the Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan Shows will get a nice audio trip down memory lane!

Tonight, we'll deal with the bailout. I spoke with Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine, this past weekend at the Miami Book Fair. I've had the pleasure of interviewing her a few times before, and on this occasion, we spoke about how her book is playing out in real time now with the economic crisis we're living. I'm going to use some of the interview tonight, but will post the whole, albeit short, interview here this afternoon as today's Radio or Not podcast.

To the new visitors to the site, thanks for checking it out. I hope you'll come back regularly, even after my fill-in stint at Air America ends.

Click here to hear Naomi Klein on the Radio or Not podcast (runtime 14:43)

Day One of a Week on Air America

Today I started a week-long stint filling in for Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan on Air America. They're on the Air America cruise this week, so I get to fill in for Rachel through Wednesday, as well as taking over her second hour on Thursday, and guest-host the Ron Reagan show all week.

Unfortunately, today was one of those days when anything that can go wrong did go wrong... and that included some horrible technical difficulties. On Air America's end, the phones were down! And on our end, the studio had a button stuck that created a feedback loop. Although we couldn't figure out what was creating the problem in time for the start of the show... so people who tuned in at the start of the Rachel Maddow Show heard a repeat of her Friday program!

Ugh... Needless to say, I was pretty freaked out. We pushed buttons and tried everything for about 35 minutes, when I noticed one button that was stuck and seemed like it might be the problem. I had everyone inside the Atlantic Radio Studios (who were kind enough to let me broadcast from there) trying to find needlenose pliers so I could try to get this button popped out. Finally, someone found me a pair and. lo and behold, it did the trick! I fixed it!

As my first guest, Judge David Young said, "not bad for a straight woman!" But I think I'll keep a pair of needlenose pliers with me from now on. It's my tool of choice.

So, we finally got on the air at around 6:45, and I was joined by Judge David Young, a former Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge .. until Hollywood called. He now hosts the nationally syndicated Judge David Young Show on TV.

I invited David on to the show because tonight's topic was the passage of disciminatory constitutional amendments in California, Florida and Arizona which basically say it's ok to take away the right to marry from a group of citizens. I'm talking California's Prop 8, Florida's Amendment 2, and whatever number it was in Arizona. In these three states, the people who voted in favor of these hateful, discriminatory measures basically said it's ok to categorize gays as a second class of citizens.

Melissa Etheridge joined us on the air as well. She wrote a piece for thedailybeast.com in which she basically said that if 51% of California voters said she was less than a citizen, then she didn't feel she had to give California any more of her tax dollars. She said a lot more than that, and you can read the whole post here.

I also spoke with Barry Lynn. He's the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I have a serious problem with the fact that the big money behind these measures came from the church-- most notably the Mormon and Catholic churches. I believe they should lose their tax-exempt status for pushing their members to vote in favor of these measures. Barry Lynn pointed out that, though what they did was hateful and despicable, they didn't break any laws. There's a pretty straightforward explanation of what houses of worship may and may not do when it comes to candidates and issues at http://www.projectfairplay.org/.
There are a number of people who are protesting the treatment of the gay community in America with by witholding their taxes. Melissa Etheridge threatened it. Charles Merrill is doing it. Charles Merrill is an "activist artist" multi-millionaire who stopped paying taxes in 2004 when the Bush administration threatened a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Check out Charles Merrill's website at http://www.merrillcharles.com/ for a look into this fascinating man.

The discrimination against gays doesn't stop with laws against them marrying. Before Nov. 4, there were two states in which it is illegal for gays to adopt: Mississippi and Florida. Oh yes, can't you tell I'm so proud to be a Floridian? On Nov. 4, Arkansas passed a bill precluding single people from adopting, figuring out that since gays can't marry in Arkansas, that group includes all of them too! Unbelievable.

Robert Lamarche is the regional director of Alliance for Children, an adoption agency that specializes in international adoption. I met him last November when I wanted to do a segment on adoption in honor of National Adoption month. He's also a gay man who, with his partner, have become foster parents and legal guardians of a 14 year old. Unfortunately, due to Florida law, they cannot legally adopt their child.

I'm a single adoptive mother! I adopted my daughter from Kazakhstan eight years ago this month. In fact, it was eight years ago tomorrow that I left Los Angeles to head to Almaty Kazakhstan to bring my daughter Alison home. You can read my adoption journal and watch the video I produced of our story here. Just to show you what love can do, here are Alison's referral pictures... she was 15 months old and weighed about 15 pounds in these pictures:

When I took Alison out of the orphanage on November 24, 2000, She was 18 months old and weighed 18 pounds. After six months at home, and lots of love and good food, she was your typical two year old! And today she's a beautiful, strong-willed, smart as a whip with a mouth to match 9 year old, and I couldn't be any prouder than I am today!

Alison Sandler today at 9 years old. She's the light of my life.

Here's a segment from today's Air America show when I spoke about adopting my daughter.


Tomorrow on the Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan shows on Air America, we'll deal with media... talk radio, the Fairness Doctrine (what it is, was and could mean for the future), and the internet and where it's headed. I hope you'll listen!


Hear the final hour of the show -- the Ron Reagan Show hour -- by clicking the player below:

Tom Hayden visits Radio or Not

Click here to hear today's Radio or Not interview with Tom Hayden (runtime 30:18)

Activist, California legislator, war protestor, child of the 60's, the former husband of Jane Fonda.. the list goes on of ways I could describe Tom Hayden. He'll be in Miami on Sunday, speaking and reading at the Miami International Book Fair (3pm in Room 3208 if you plan on going).

His latest book is actually a collection of his works from the past 50 years, Writings for a Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader. And it's fascinating, especially when you read his writings from the 60's, when he was embroiled in the anti-war movement, and in fighting for the rights of blacks in the South.

I had the opportunity to speak with him by phone today from his home in Los Angeles, for use on my podcast and on Air America next week. On Radio or Not, you get the whole, unedited interview.

As I was getting ready for the day today, I flipped on Good Morning America, because I heard that they had an interview with William Ayers. I asked Tom Hayden about it, as they were "radical anti-war protesters" together. He hadn't seen the interview, but did tell me that he's known Bill Ayers for 45 years, so didn't need to see the interview.

I was going to include some of the audio in today's show, but I figured my interview with Hayden was enough, and that I'd just post the video from the GMA-Ayers interview here.

I hope you enjoy both... and have a great weekend!



(And don't forget to listen to Air America next week from 6-9pm Eastern, as I'll be guest-hosting the Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan shows!)

Click here to hear today's Radio or Not interview with Tom Hayden (runtime 30:18)

Palin Can't Let Go

Hear today's Radio or Not episode by clicking here (runtime 38:50)

Radio or Not comes to you from Miami Florida. I tell you this only because the Republican Governors Association is meeting here, and that means that Sarah Palin is in town. Sarah Palin, who just won't go away!

During the couple of months between when she was named John McCain's running mate and last week when they thankfully lost the election, Palin only did a handful of interviews, and held not one single press conference. Unheard of for a Vice Presidential candidates. Now we can't get her to shut up.

I started the show today with Lucinda Williams' magnificent Can't Let Go in Palin's honor.

Today, at the RGA gathering, it was widely hyped that the Governor of Alaska would be giving her first press conference. So, I watched with recorder rolling, figuring that something of substance might come from this woman. Boy was I wrong.

I reached out to a dear friend who always has an interesting and funny way of looking at women in history. So today I bring you a conversation with Amy Simon, who has the distinction of doing LA's longest-running one-woman show, Cheerios in my Underwear, and her take on the phenomena that is Sarah Palin.

I also stop down in the middle of it to share the audio of the press conference. But you can hear it, sans my comments, here. Notice the suit, which is obviously from the consignment collection!



Hear today's Radio or Not episode by clicking here (runtime 38:50)

A Special comment FOR Keith

Click here to listen to today's Radio or Not (runtime 24:52)

If you scroll down to my first post yesterday, you'll see the video from Keith Olbermann's appearance on The View from Friday. I posted it with a very short statement that said this doesn't need any comment. But actually, it does. It screams for a Special Comment in the best Keith Olbermann style.

Unfortunately, I'm not as eloquent as is Keith. And I came up with my best ammo for this comment as I was posting it, after finishing producing the show. And since I have a life and other things I need to accomplish today, it's going to have to wait until tomorrow or, perhaps, until next week when I fill in for Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan on Air America, and have a larger audience.

Now, please don't misunderstand. I still love Keith Olbermann. I'd probably even join his fan club if I ever did such things. But I'm so disappointed. And as a parent who knows what those words can do to a child, I hope it stings.

So, today's RoN ends with a Special Comment aimed squarely at Keith's huge shoulders.

But that's not all we discussed today. I also spoke of the hypocrisy of Keith's bosses at MSNBC-- those same bosses who suspended David Shuster for using modern vernacular when he opined that the Clinton Camp was "pimping out" Chelsea, yet did nothing of the sort when Joe Scarborough, host of Morning Joe, let loose a giant FUCK while rambling on at 8:15 on Monday morning!

No suspension, no punishment. Just the addition of a 7-second delay, lest this professional broadcaster let yet another f-bomb fly on national television! Apparently this was his second indiscretion.

Good thing Joe's relelgated to the cable channel MSNBS rather than the "over the air" NBC, where he'd be subject to a minimum $325000 fine. Yes, that would be the fine if I uttered that dreaded word on a radio station with 1/10 the amount of listers....all thanks to Janet Jackson's nipple!

Seriously, the Supreme Court is hearing the case of "fleeting expletives". But in Scarborough's case, it was not fleeting. He said it, loud and clear.

Hear it for yourself, and watch the look on Mike Barnicle's face:



I also delved into the Demcrat's dilemma of what to do with Joe. Newsweek's Howard Fineman discussed it with Keith Olbermann last night on Countdown (the Joe talk comes in at around 4:15):



Jane Hamser of FireDogLake wrote a great piece on the subject for The Nation. The comments at the end are pretty insighful too!

And of course, Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films has produced a new video and launched a website at www.leibermanmustgo.com.



Click here to listen to today's Radio or Not (runtime 24:52)

Veterans Day 2008

It is a day to honor those who've served our country. I found this video today, and post it here as a tribute to those who don the uniform, and do so for the right reasons.



The Radio or Not podcast will return tomorrow. In the meantime, Happy Veterans Day!

The View and Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann was on The View yesterday. I have a couple of observations.

He looks like he's a grown-up at a little girls tea party (by size only).

And, I wish I hadn't heard this part, he doesn't vote!?!!?? I'm disillusioned.

Is Gay the new Black?

Click here to listen to today's Radio or Not (runtime 31:12)

Of course I'm being facetious with the title of today's entry but, honestly, if Focus on the Family had it's way, the bigotry that used to be acceptable with a wink and a nod would just transfer to a new second-class of citizens.

This weekend, I was exposed to a piece of pornography put out by this group that enjoys 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and purports to be preaching the word of God, yet they put out a vile piece of propaganda to their faithful prior to the election in the form of a letter from "2012 in Obama's America" which was filled with bigotry, hate and lies. This is the definition of hypocrisy in my book.


I read portions of this in the second part of today's podcast. The first part includes an interview with Judge David Young, a former Circuit Court Judge from Miami who stepped down from the bench to host The Judge David Young Show on TV. As a judge and an openly gay man, I thought he was a good person to talk with about the constitutional amendments that passed on November 4, taking rights away from a whole class of citizens.



I railed against Focus on the Family, and the Mormon, Catholic and other churches that participated in urging their paritioners to vote in favor of discriminating against gays (and took any other political positions at all), and it is my belief that all such groups should immediately lose their tax-exempt status.



The IRS has a complaint process, should you care to avail yourself of it here. They sure don't make the form you have to submit easy to find, so I found it for you. Download Form 13909 here.


Click here to listen to today's Radio or Not (runtime 31:12)

Sarah Palin unmuzzled, also

I don't think any comment is really necessary!

Bittersweet Symphony Victory

Hear today's Radio or Not by clicking here (runtime 23:52)

I didn't want to let go of the euphoria of the victory yesterday, though I think I did make reference to the bittersweet element embedded in the day at one point in yesterday's program. Today I go into full detail on the bittersweet nature of the day, and the hypocrisy of organized religion.

I'm in Florida, I still consider California home, and oddly enough, my boyfriend is in Arizona right now visiting his son who attends his alma mater of the University of Arizona. Taking a cue from Keith Olbermann, I'll call these the three worst states in the union today.

I came across this picture on Facebook today, and it applies to all three....

I'm not as cynical as this post makes it appear. Click here to see an awesome display of newspaper headlines from yesterday! You can't help but feel good after checking this out.

Hear today's Radio or Not by clicking here (runtime 23:52)

New Beginning

Hear today's Radio or Not episode by clicking here (runtime 22:00)

When Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination, I changed the theme song of my then-radio show from The Propellerheads' (featuring Shirley Bassey) "History Repeating" to Tracy Chapman's "New Beginning."

So, of course, I felt as if I had to begin today's episode of Radio or Not with that same theme, as I have to believe it truly is a new beginning in so many ways.

I had a bit of a dilemma today regarding the podcast. It was a long day for me, fraught with peter principle type problems, precluding me from getting anything done on this show earlier in the day... thus the reason for the posting of this episode at 11pm.

But I certainly couldn't let this historic day, this most momentous world occasion of my adult life pass without producing a program commemorating it. As the day progressed, the music kept playing in my mind, along with the beautiful and, yes, eloquent words spoken by President-elect Barack Obama last night as the world watched and listened.

So, I decided to let some of the music and some of Obama's speech do most of the talking on today's show. I hope it's not too self-indulgent, and that you'll get the same goose bumps listening to it that I got putting it together.

The music used in this program:
Tracy Chapman - New Beginning
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young- Chicago/We Can Change the World
Bruce Springsteen - Long Time Coming
Todd Rundgren - Just One Victory
Widespread Panic - Hope in a Hopeless World
New Radicals - You Get What You Give
Elvis Costello _ (What's so Funny About) Peace, Love & Understanding
Eric Clapton - Change the World
Paul Simon - American Tune

In case you didn't get to see Barack Obama deliver this amazing speech, you can watch it here...



And this is the ad that ran the last couple of days of the campaign that brought me to tears...



Now, let's change the world...

Hear today's Radio or Not episode by clicking here (runtime 22:00)

It's the dawning of a new era!

I got the birthday present I wanted last night.

And this is a gift that will last for years to come and, considering the ramifications of the Supreme Court, for at least a generation!

If you couldn't stay awake late enough last night to see Barack Obama's acceptance speech, here it is. Goosebumps included!

Election day is here, so is Al Gore

Click here to hear today's Radio or Not podcast, a conversation with Vice President Al Gore (runtime 11:52)

As promised in my post from earlier this morning, here's the conversation we had with Al Gore! Enjoy.

Now go vote!

Election Day is finally here!

It's hard to believe, but this day has finally arrived. It also happens to be my birthday today, and I hope my gift will be a big change with the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States!

This morning on 850 WFTL, we had the opportunity to interview Vice President Al Gore! As soon as I can upload the interview, you'll be able to listen to it here.

After I got over my star-struck moment at the beginning of the interview, I did ask him about an email making the rounds urging Barack Obama (in the event of any possible problems like we saw in the last two presidential elections) not to condede tonight. You'll be able to hear his response when I post it, but here's the letter to which I referred:

"Election Night, DO NOT CONCEDE: An Open Letter Signed By Gore Vidal & Others To Senator Obama & The Democratic Leadership"

"Eight years is too much" is how Barack Obama explained why we must win the coming election and begin to restore America. But, even if we receive the most votes, will we win the election?

DO NOT CONCEDE!

Both of the last two elections were conceded by the Democratic presidential candidate. The 2004 election was handed to George Bush while votes were still being counted in closely-fought Ohio. While the 2000 election was contested to the Supreme Court, it too was ultimately conceded to Bush "for the good of the country." Some good.

Numerous politicians, investigators and authors, including Robert Kennedy, Jr., agree the 2004 election was stolen, not only in Ohio but in several other battleground states. Tactics included purging of legitimate voters and the use of nefarious voting software--but when even these actions did not yield the required numbers, Republican election officials simply changed the vote tallies in several states, all without a peep from the Democratic Party.

DO NOT CONCEDE!

In the time since the last general election the public has learned much about these scandals, which have led some states to reject electronic touchscreen voting (and which caused the infamous Diebold voting machines corporation to hide behind a new corporate name,) yet the Democratic Party seems to have learned nothing.

THREE STRIKES AND WE'RE OUT!

If we cannot afford another Republican administration, we cannot afford a third concession in the face of election fraud. Already there is evidence of massive fraud such as voter purging and caging of Democratic voters, and "flipping" of votes in early voting on electronic touchscreen machines. It is reasonable to once again expect further manipulation on election night by some Republican operatives and election officials, as was seen in 2004; should we also expect our Democratic Party leaders and candidates to repeat history, by once again conceding in the face of such blatant fraud?

Senator Obama, we need you, our Party and all candidates to stand firm, come what may on election night. You ask us to work for you, contribute to you--and to have your back; we ask that you promise to have our back: We ask that you PLEDGE TO STAND FIRM, AND NOT CONCEDE THE COMING ELECTION in the face of election irregularities, no matter how long it takes to contest such fraud, while there remains any doubt as to any part of the process. Be assured, Democratic voters will be more--not less--energized if we see you promise to stand firm.

Senator Obama, if there is any reason to contest the election, DO NOT CONCEDE!

Signed: (Titles for identification purposes only)
Gore Vidal, Author
Bob Fitrakis, Professor of Political Science, Columbus State Community CollegeAttorney; Editor of The Free Press (freepress.org)
Harvey Wasserman, Senior Editor, FreePress.org; Author of SOLARTOPIA! Our Green-Powered Earth
Mark Crispin Miller, Professor of Media, Culture and Communication at New York University; Author of Fooled Again, How the Right Stole the 2004 Election
Tim Carpenter, Director, Progressive Democrats of America
Mimi Kennedy, Chair, National Advisory Board, Progressive Democrats of America
David Swanson, Co-Founder, After Downing Street
Jeff Tiedrich, Publisher, SmirkingChimp.com
Eric Bauman, Chair, Los Angeles County Democratic Party
Garry S. Shay, Member, Democratic National Committee (CA)Lead Chair, Rules Committee, California Democratic Party
Jo Olson, MD, Co-Chair, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party
Mal Burnstein, Co-Chair, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party
Marcy Winograd, Executive Board representative, California Democratic Party, 41st AD; Former Chair, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles
Jodie Evans, Co-founder, CODEPINK: Women For Peace
Medea Benjamin, Co-founder, Global Exchange and CODEPINK
David Earnhardt, Filmmaker, "Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections"
Dorothy Fadiman, Filmmaker/Producer, "STEALING AMERICA Vote by Vote"
Don Goldmacher, Chair, Election Integrity, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party
Michael Jay, Progressive Democrats of America, Special ProjectsFormer Delegate, California Democratic Party, 42nd AD
Sheri Myers, Director, "Wake Up and Save Your Country"
Robert A. Feuer, Former Chairman, Stockbridge, MA Town Democratic Committee
Thomas Patrick O'Shaughnessy, Region 3 Vice Chair, Los Angeles County Democratic Party; Chair, Irish American Caucus, California Democratic Party
Howard Jennings, PDA-Virginia, State Co-Coordinator
Sarah Stott, Chapter Chair, PDA-Virginia
Evi Klett, PDA Co-State Organizer for Colorado
Lisa Pease, Co-editor, "The Assassinations: Probe Magazine on JFK, MLK, RFK and Malcolm X"
Cindy Asner, Former Delegate, California Democratic PartyMember, National Advisory Board, Progressive Democrats of America
Karen Bernal, Executive Board Representative, California Democratic Party, 5th AD; Officer, Progressive Caucus, California Democratic Party
Julie Lopez Dad, President, Santa Monica Democratic ClubChair, 41st AD Committee, Los Angeles County Democratic Party
Dr. Bill Honigman, PDA California State Coordinator and Orange County Chapter Leader; Delegate, California Democratic Party, 73rd AD
Rob Kall, Publisher, Executive Managing Editor, OpEdNews.com
Linda Milazzo, Senior Editor, OpEdNews.com; Blogger, Huffington Post
Rady Ananda, Senior Editor, OpEdNews.com
Jan Baumgartner, Managing Editor, OpEdNews.com
Joan Brunwasser, Election Integrity Editor, OpEdNews.com
Cheryl Biren-Wright, Managing Editor, OpEdNews.com
Susie Shannon, Executive Board Representative, California Democratic Party, 42nd AD; Founder, Poverty Matters
Sherry Healy, Co-Founder California Election Protection NetworkCoordinator, Election Defense Alliance
Laura Bonham, Summit County, UT Democratic Party Chairperson
Albert E. Fairchild, Retired Foreign Service Officer
Dorathea Peters, Precinct Captain, Alexandria, VA Democratic Committee

The Difference Between Us

Hear today's short but sweet edition of Radio or Not by clicking here (runtime 10:23)

It's now almost 2:00 on Monday afternoon. I've had some time to calm down after a frustrating morning. I guess the most frustrating thing about this morning was that I didn't have a chance to say what I did say in today's podcast.

I hope you'll listen, because it's about the key differences in this campaign. It's about compassion and kindness. And it's about the fact that we seem to be tired of the lack of that common courtesy.

It is about change. And every inch of my being believes that the goodness will finally triumph over selfishness.

We're going to see record numbers of people voting tomorrow. That, in itself, is the best birthday present I could hope for. Ok, maybe the second best...

Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you tomorrow... And remember, you can talk back. Please feel free to post away on the message board to your right!

Hear today's short but sweet edition of Radio or Not by clicking here (runtime 10:23)

The Day Before Election Day!

We're actually just 24 hours away from election day. As the song goes, it's been a long time coming!

I'm sitting in the 850 WFTL studio, in my role as "election contributor from the left" on a show hosted by Russ Morley, a right-winger who admits he's a "political neophyte."

So, today's line-up of guests include a few that I would not waste time on... but I'm just along for the ride. So, I'll just keep adding to this post as the morning goes on. At least I can vent here!

The first guest is coming up is listed on the show rundown sheet as "FBI Informant" Larry Grathwohl, to talk about William Ayers. Why this is an issue today is beyond me. In case you'd like to read the real facts about Ayers, his association with Obama, and what it means in today's world, click here for factcheck.org's look at the non-issue.

Wow! The interview just concluded. The guest had no credentials-- he even took offense to my question about what he does now or why he's all of a sudden coming forth with this new bombshell that Barack Obama and William Ayers at one time had offices in the same building! Seriously? This is what they have? Why is this even worth 30 seconds of airtime?

At the conclusion of the interview, Russ's exact quote to me was "You are incredibly rude Lady, I gotta tell you something." If questioning a guest about his credentials and challenging his erroneous statements makes me rude, then I guess I am.

So, for the rest of the morning, if Russ wants to talk about the candidates' plans for turning the economy around, ending the war in Iraq, what they'll do in Afghanistan, health care, education, or any other issue that has any importance in our lives, I'm there. Otherwise, I'll do as the host of the show wants and keep quiet.

I just get so frustrated by the inane level of discourse. And there's more coming up. The next guest that Russ has booked is the British columnist that Jon Voight quoted at the end of our interview with him last week, Melanie Phillips. She writes for the Spectator, and after reading the column "The Politics of Mass Hysteria," I can only conclude that she's the UK's equivalent of Ann Coulter. Good thing she can't vote in our election.

This is going to be a long morning....

Ok, let me add a little levity to the proceedings. Gotta love those Canadian DJs... they punked Sarah Palin!

Today's show on 850 WFTL

In the previous post, you can read about what went on today on my three-hour show on 850 WFTL. Here's where you can hear it, if you missed it while it happened.

Click here to listen to the first hour.

Click here to listen to the second hour.

Click here to listen to the third hour.

Thanks for listening... Now vote!

Pre-Election Live and Local Radio

I'm on live right now at 850 WFTL, and will give you all the web info to find out more about the guests on today's show here.

We started out by speaking with Ion Sancho, Leon County, FL Supervisor of Elections. He is featured in a new documentary about the challenges with the elections systems in place today. The film can be downloaded for free, and it's something everyone should watch, regardless of your political affiliation. Find it at http://www.stealingamericathemovie.com/.

In our first hour together today, I also spoke with Massachussetts Governor Deval Patrick, who's stumping for Obama in South Florida today.

And I had a spirited conversation with former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, who's working to unseat Lincoln Diaz-Balart in Florida's 21st Congressional District. Visit http://www.raul2008.com/ for more info.

The 1:00 hour was jam-packed with visits from Congressman Ron Klein of Florida's 22nd District, followed by his challenger, Col. Allen West.

Annette Taddeo phoned in. She's a first-time candidate who's running a competitive race against incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, from Florida's 18th Congressional District.

And the McCain campaign supplied a local businessman from his "Joe the Plumber" tour.

The 2:00 hour began with a call from State Senate candidate Linda Bird, who's running against incumbent Jeff Atwater.

The rest of the program was spent with listeners on the phone. As one less-than-fully-informed caller spouted concerns about Barack Obama because of his past association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. So, I wanted you to learn a little more about a guy who may have delivered a few incendiary sermons and went too far on a few occasions...

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you,but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, leftcollege in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They providemedical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian andbecame a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned tothe Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital , as a memberof the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.

For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/ sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student andone for being a prospective father.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger thanthe African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay incollege until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies toserve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beatthe system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice somethingor those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained asa minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one ofAmerica 's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.

I started the show with a piece written by John Gray, called A Day in the Life of Joe Republican. I guess we could change it to "A Day in the Life of Joe the Republican Plumber." But it is good food for thought on this final weekend before election day 2008:

August 29th, 2004 9:38 pm
Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican
by John Gray

Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.
Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.

Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dads; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican’s would still be sitting in the dark)

He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.

He turns on a radio talk show, the host’s keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have”.