Amy Goodman over at Democracy Now had Paul Krugman on for a lengthy interview today.

The intro to the interview found here on the Democracy Now web site looks like this:

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman is author of the new book, "The Conscience of a Liberal." Krugman teaches economics and international affairs at Princeton University and was recently named Columnist of the Year by Editor and Publisher magazine. He joins us the firehouse studio to talk about the Bush administration 's opposition to child health insurance, and why universal health care has long been considered politically impossible despite the overwhelming support of a majority of Americans. Krugman also responds to Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan on the administration’s tax cuts and threats to social security.

"The connections are daring in journalist Naomi Klein's new book, "The Shock Doctrine," but the result is convincing. With a bold and brilliantly conceived thesis, skillfully and cogently threaded through more than 500 pages of trenchant writing, Klein may well have revealed the master narrative of our time. And because the pattern she exposes could govern our future as well, "The Shock Doctrine" could turn out to be among the most important books of the decade."

This is what William S. Kowinski had to say about Naomi Klein's new book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism in his September 23rd review for the San Francisco Chronicle. In this brilliant new book Klein deconstructs the unsavory methods that market fundamentalist use to subvert democracy and ram through unpopular "free market" reforms. Follow me below the fold for your free vaccination of knowledge that will protect you in times of crisis.

Well, me and 300 of my neighbors and friends who had gathered at the Plumbers and Pipe fitters union in Columbus Ohio. The event was to start at 5:30 and I knew nothing of it until I got a call at 5:05 saying he was going to be in town and would I mind finding out where and when. Edwards web site had all the info including the fact that it was a $15 dollar per person fund raiser. A quick check of my wallet revealed just six bucks so out the door I went knowing I had to hit the atm on the way. Lucky for me it was just a short trip and I was actually there two minutes early at 5:28.

In Naomi Klein's new book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism she lays bare the truth behind George Bush's Modus operandi in pushing through radical free-market reforms. The entire Bush Presidency has been about economics and the playbook was written by Milton Friedman.

Friedman believed in a radical vision of society in which profit and the market drive every aspect of life, from schools to healthcare, even the army. He called for abolishing all trade protections, deregulating all prices and eviscerating government services.

These ideas have always been tremendously unpopular, and understandably so. They cause waves of unemployment, send prices soaring, and make life more precarious for millions. Unable to advance their agenda democratically, Friedman and his disciples were drawn to the power of shock.

Shock and Awe was not just a clever turn of phrase. It was a peak inside their playbook!

He worked in a factory most of his adult life and retired in 1992 at age 59 due to failing health. His short retirement lasted almost exactly a year to the day. He died of a massive stroke in June of '93. Looking back on it I think he knew he was dying and tried to prepare me for it as best he could. I just did not have the emotional maturity to see what was happening at the time. Follow me below the fold to pay some small tribute to a working man, a thinker, and a New Deal Democrat.

Keith Olbermann will be on NBC at 7 eastern just ahead of the Sunday night NFL game.

UPDATE Many stations around the country are going to run the show a little later this evening so you may still have a chance to catch it. Thanks to all who made our conversation a lively one!

This is a chance for those of us who don't have cable to watch countdown over the old airwaves. I have some tidbits from a blog over at the Orlando Sentinel

so follow me over the jump for some scoop

How does that sound for the land of the free and home of the brave? Are you feeling like the most powerful country in the world today?

A new report is out today and you can read about it over here:
economic times

plug your nose and follow me below the fold

Bev Harris and others have this effort underway to raise the money needed to recount Ohio and other states. Laws allow for citizens to demand a recount themselves.

I know there is quite a bit of talk here about not taking this road but living in Columbus and seeing what I saw around town last Tuesday there is no way I can accept the results as valid. I feel very strongly that this thing was stolen and I'm glad to have an organized effort that I can participate in. Hope others will be willing to jump aboard as well.

The site should be up very soon. They need $10 per precinct.

web site: www.helpamericarecount.org

Please recomend

Mitch

I need some help organizing and promoting this. Please recomend.

www.filmstoseebeforeyouvote.org and I.B.E.W. Union Local 683 present an all day Documentary Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday October, 31st, 2004.

The event will screen 8 Documentaries beginning at Noon Sunday. The location is the I.B.E.W. Union Hall at 23 W. Second Ave. in the Short North. Just west of the intersection of North High Street and Second Avenue.

I'm putting together a voter info event for this Sunday the 31st and I need some help organizing and to get the word out.

I've booked a union hall near the Ohio State campus

We will be a showing most if not all of the films from www.filmstoseebeforeyouvote.org  listed below. I need lots of help to get flyers done and distributed!!
(I have not set the time for the event yet but I'm thinking 1-10pm Sunday).  

I'm also hoping maybe someone will be willing to come to an organizational/planning meeting Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Will you pass this along to anyone who may be willing to help me out.

I'd like very much to find experts to lead discussions following these films. Please help me with this project if you have any time.

thanks