From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
"LIVE for four years! Daily Kos Radio is on the air!"
I hear voices in the morning. They talk to me, the voices do. Yet…I'm the only person in the room. Which prompts me to shout, "What sorcery be this, demon spawn?!!" Which prompts the neighbors to yell, "It's your fucking radio, you moron!"
But it's not just any radio. It's Daily Kos Radio. The blog you can hear. Technology that, in less responsible hands, would be considered dangerous. But thankfully for humanity, it's in the capable hands of DK front-pager David Waldman---aka KagroX. Yes, the KagroX---the nationally-known Gun Fail compiler and tamer of GOP filibuster abuse.
Four years ago today, along with beloved, mild-mannered Kossack Armando (aka "Armando"), David took to the airwaves on Sirius Radio. After their "radio play" about a "Martian invasion" caused a "nationwide panic," Sirius suggested that perhaps their talents might be more appreciated elsewhere, and "changed the locks."
But Sirius's loss was NetrootsRadio.com's gain. Today "Kagro in the Morning" airs live Monday through Friday from 9-11am ET (but you can listen to the podcast any old time). For two hours David unpacks the day's big stories in politics and current events with wit, outside-the-beltway common sense, a voice on loan from James Earl Jones, and just enough incredulity at the state of things to make you wonder if he's just moments away from going Howard Beale on the world. But he says he doesn’t do it alone:
"Thanks to the many dedicated Kossacks who make up the Netroots Radio operation. They built this thing by themselves, out of chicken wire and duct tape, and were just kind enough to let us experiment with it.
Special thanks to Greg Dworkin, who's on with me nearly every weekday morning, and to our other regulars, Joan McCarter and Armando, plus the other featured writers, editors and community members who've been on with us, or let me read their comments and diaries, and helped make the mornings feel a little like a visit with family, but still be informative radio. And of course, all of you, who've been willing to click the "play" button and actually give over two hours, or some part of it, to the show each day! You people are crazy."
So check out the Daily Kos Radio preview post that'll show up above C&J momentarily, then lend Kagro your ears and join in the running dialogue on twitter at
@KagroX and hashtag
#KITM. Who knows? This might be the day he snaps. Or endorses Donald Trump. Pardon the redundancy.
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Thursday, August 13, 2015
Note: Rick Santorum would like you to know that he is still in the presidential race. Purchasing this note---this virtual lawn sign, if you will---to drum up support cost him five dollars, but it's all he could afford. So please support Rick Santorum. He's great! Paid for and approved by Rick Santorum for President.
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9 days!!!
By the Numbers:
Days 'til Apple unveils the iPhone 7:
27
Days 'til the
Tequila and Taco Music Festival in Santa Cruz:
9
Percent of the unarmed people killed by police this year who were black, even though they make up only 6 percent of the U.S. population:
40%
(Source:
The Washington Post)
Percent chance that Jeb Bush tried to criminally prosecute Terri Schiavo's husband Michael for trying to remove his wife's feeding tube, even after 20 judges and the Supreme Court ruled
in favor of the tube's removal:
100%
Estimated number of abandoned mines in the western U.S.:
55,000
(Source: AP)
Foreign tourists who visited the U.S. last year:
75 million
Size of Hillary Clinton's proposed
student debt-relief plan:
$350 billion
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Your Thursday Molly Ivins Moment:
For those of you who weren't paying attention at the time, the executive branch of the United States government was illegally selling arms to Iran and using the proceeds to illegally fund a right-wing insurrection in Nicaragua against a government we didn't like.
A lot of people died.
Elliott Abrams was convicted on two misdemeanor counts of lying to Congress---former Rep. Jack Brooks of Texas said at the time Abrams "took more pride in not knowing anything than anybody I ever saw." Abrams was also involved up to his eyebrows in funding the right-wing death squads in Guatemala (100,000 dead) and El Salvador (70,000 dead). He was one of several Iran-contra figures pardoned by George I at the end of his presidency.
Abrams now holds a senior position on [George II's] White House National Security Council, where it is to be hoped he won't take a dislike to anyone in Latin America.
---August 2001
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Puppy Pic of the Day: Dilan and Farley share a birthday…
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CHEERS to those darn kids. Thanks to their meddling, they're making President Obama look good:
Still the best Obamacare graphic ever.
Obamacare is attracting younger and healthier people to its coverage plans this year, according to research by Express Scripts Holding Co., a trend that could help balance and sustain the law’s insurance markets.
According to the report, which looked at people enrolled in drug coverage administered by Express Scripts, drug costs were 36 percent lower than in 2014. People in the exchange plans were also younger by almost four years than those who signed up for 2014, Express Scripts said.
The news has given Republicans an ever bigger Obamacare headache to deal with: they want to "re-brand" themselves to appeal to the non-white-haired crowd, but they also want to take away the younger generation's affordable health insurance and replace it with nothing. Never fear, though: having thought about it long and hard, the GOP leadership has come up with a perfect solution. They'll still try and take away young Americans' ACA health insurance, but they'll do it to a hip-hop beat. Genius.
P.S. In other health news, former President and humanitarian extraordinaire Jimmy Carter, 90, announced yesterday that he's been diagnosed with the dreaded c-word. He'll reveal more once tests are done next week. For now, just send him your positive vibes and repeat the usual mantra: "Fuck cancer, fuck cancer, fuck cancer…"
The Guardian's death-by-police
page is called "The Counted."
JEERS to outsourcing the math. Incidents of trigger-happy cops are embarrassingly high in this country---blacks are disproportionately targeted and many victims are unarmed. It's become such a law enforcement freak show, and our own official tracking
is so bad, that the rest of the world is literally
keeping track of the carnage for us. <---- (That link takes you to an interactive death-by-cop page at the
Guardian website; 711 deaths this year alone.) Jesus…is there
nothing we won't outsource?
JEERS to the dumb bro. Jeb Bush, dispossessed of any of the steely-eyed performance-artist-in-his prime bravado of his brother, gave a weird and wimpy speech Tuesday about his plans for Iraq. The best summary I've seen comes from LOLGOP:
After predicting that his speech would be greeted with sweets and flowers, Jeb instead only got a smattering of applause and lots of weird looks. But on the bright side, nobody threw their shoes at him.
JEERS to strongmen who have long outlived their fifteen 47 million minutes of fame. Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has managed to claw and scratch his way to an 89th birthday. His wish as he blows out his candles: unity and strength for Cuba and its people. And a big ol' grin for outlasting arch-enemies Ike, JFK, LBJ, Tricky Dick, Ford, Carter, St. Ronnie, G.H.W.B., Bubba, GWB and BHO, who finally cried "Uncle." Love him or hate him, that's impressive.
CHEERS to company comin' our way. Likely next President of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton will be parachuting into Portland, Maine next month:
"Make my lobster THIS big."
A Clinton campaign official said Wednesday that the former Secretary of State and First Lady will hold a grassroots organizing meeting Sept. 18 in Portland. Clinton is looking to continue building her network of volunteers and plans to urge supporters to get involved in the campaign. She's also expected to attend a fundraising event while in Maine.
This is her first visit since announcing her candidacy. When they get the schedule firmed up, they'll keep us informed in every possible way except #!@!&%#! email.
So shiny!
CHEERS to Great Moments in Inventin' Shit That's Cool 'n All. Wipe that doughnut powder off your face and sit up straight, this is important. Today's the 102nd anniversary of the
invention of stainless steel. It was created by metallurgist Harry Brearley, who had the good sense to "add chromium to molten iron [that] produced a metal that didn’t rust." Today stainless steel is a ubiquitous part of life on earth. But to survive the slings and arrows of being the president of the United States, only Teflon will do.
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Ten years ago in C&J: August 13, 2005
JEERS to inappropriate gestures. The Pentagon is commemorating the 4th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks quietly, respectfully and somberly by hosting a small gathering of...CLINT BLACK AND A MILLION ROOTIN' TOOTIN' COWBOYS FOR THE BIGGEST FOOT-STOMPIN, CORPORATE-SPONSORED D.C. PARTY OF THE YEAR! WHOOOO!! There will be a moment of silence for the victims, followed by KICKASS, WHOOPASS COUNTRY MUSIC `N RIBS RIBS RIBS! YEEEHAWWW!! But...no Dolly Parton. That would be tacky.
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And just one more…
CHEERS Bryan Cranston's first Oscar nod. Mark my words and you heard it here first: the amazing actor who brought life to both meth dealer Walter White and President Lyndon Johnson is going to drop jaws with his portrayal of blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (most famous for writing the script for "Spartacus"). Trumbo was a real character, and Cranston runs with it….
Plus John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Diane Lane and Louis C.K….and Jay Roach (Game Change, Recount) seems perfect as the director. Read his interview with Vanity Fair here. Between Bond, Star Wars, the Michael Keaton movie about the Boston priest abuse scandal, Spielberg's cold-war flick, a new Quentin Tarantino western and this possible masterpiece, we may have a decent few months of flickers in store. Hallelujah.
Have a nice Thursday. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial:
After a short, productive explosion of early activity, Bill in Portland Maine has begun his long mope towards oblivion.
---Nick Stockton, Wired
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