Hear some great children's music selected by my 3-1/2 year old son, who also hosts this episode.
Hear some great children's music selected by my 3-1/2 year old son, who also hosts this episode.
It's still very early in the campaign for the 2008 Presidential election. A whole slew of hopefuls (and many who are more wishful than hopeful) have thrown their hats into the ring, including:Al Sharpton (Civil Rights Activist) (thank God he's not really a contender); Barack Obama (D-Sen, IL), who many think could be a contender, but I think the American people will recognize the fact that he doesn't have the experience; Bill Richardson (D-Gov, NM); Chris Dodd (D-Sen, CT); Dennis Kucinich (D-Rep, OH), who is again not really a contender; Duncan Hunter (R-Rep, CA); George Pataki (R-Gov,NY), who probably doesn't stand a chance with New Yorkers if Rudy runs; Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-Sen, NY), who many think has a very real shot at being the first female President of the United States, though I think her popularity is more due to the support of her husband than any real political value she might have; Jim Gilmore (R-Fmr Gov, VA); Joe Biden (D-Sen, DE), who I personally don't think stands a realistic chance of winning the nomination; John Cox (R), who is someone you have probably never heard of, which makes his chances virtually nonexistent; John Edwards (D-Fmr Sen, NC), again, no chance in 2004, no chance in 2008; John McCain (R-Sen, AZ), who is probably the best Republican chance so far; Mike Huckabee (R-Gov, AR); Mitt Romney (R-Gov, MA), who has flip-flopped a bit to win Conservative support; Newt Gingrich (R-Fmr Spkr, GA); Rudy Giuliani (R-Fmr Mayor, NYC), who might drum up some real support if he ever makes a real announcement; Sam Brownback (R-Sen, KS); Tom Tancredo (R-Rep, CO), who seems to have a one-issue candidacy against illegal immigration; and Tommy Thompson (R-Fmr Gov, WI).Feeling a bit overwhelmed yet? Well, it's understandable. Many of those people haven't officially announced their candidacy but most have formed "exploratory committees," which just means that their exploring the possibility of getting together enough money and support to even make a quasi-respectable stab at the White House. Others in the list are actively being pursued by grass-rooters who are trying to recruit them into a run, while the remainder are just the usual flotsam and jetsam that muddies the waters of every Presidential election.
While there is no perfect candidate for the White House, I currently have been unable to find a more well-rounded choice than Senator John McCain. And while Independent (and former Democrat) Senator Joseph Lieberman has said that he will not run for President in 2008, I have recently toyed with the thought of what a McCain-Lieberman Republican ticket would look like. They're good friends with many of the same views, and would make a solid team that would help us to win the war in Iraq without bowing to the pressure to withdraw troops, leaving the fledgling Democracy to fend for herself.
- McCain on Foreign Policy:McCain (like most of the Presidential candidates currently holding seat in the Congress) voted for authorization of the war in Iraq. McCain stands out among his peers, however, in his firm support of investing the resources necessary to finish the job right and emerge victorious.
- McCain on the Environment: McCain has expressed concern over global warming, opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and opposes ethanol subsidies.
- McCain on Social Issues: While McCain voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, arguing that each state should be able to choose whether to recognize gay marriage, his true colors came through when he supported the Arizona initiative to ban gay marriage. McCain supports protecting unborn children from the moment of conception, which would "implement equal protection ... for the right to life of each born and preborn human person."
- McCain on Illegal Immigration: When asked about a bill that contained funding for building a fence on the Mexican border, McCain said, "In the short term, it probably galvanizes our base. In the long term, if you alienate the Hispanics, you'll pay a heavy price. By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the go**amned fence if they want it." McCain, unfortunately, supports amnesty and citizenship for the twelve to twenty million illegal aliens currently residing in the United States, with the notable exception of those diagnosed with HIV. In a November 2006 speech before GOPAC, McCain said, "I understand the magnitude of the problem. We can do all that is possible to defend our borders from illegal immigration, and affirm the rule of law. When we have made these improvements, we must still recognize that job opportunities here and poverty elsewhere in the world will still attract immigrants desperate to improve their lives, and who will use increasingly desperate measures to do so. We can devise a rational and fair process, which protects our security and affirms America's promise as a land of opportunity." While I understand McCain's stance on immigration, I respectfully disagree with giving amnesty and citizenship to those illegals currently in our country.
- McCain on Education: McCain supports the teaching of intelligent design education in public schools. McCain has stated that he believes "all points of view" should be available to students. Though McCain initially opposed stem cell research, he later came out in support of the controversial method of research. A bill supported by McCain would have allowed federal funding of stem cell research on lines of stem cells derived from discarded human embryos created for fertility treatments but would have banned any form of human cloning. Essentially, discarded human embryos could then have been put to better use while at the same time preventing the creation of embryos specifically for the purpose of research. This is not an entirely unacceptable approach to stem cell research.
- McCain on the Middle East: McCain firmly supports the state of Israel. McCain tried to persuade FIFA to ban Iran from the 2006 World Cup given Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments that the Holocaust never happened (which is a criminal offense in Germany where the competition was held).
- McCain on Senate Confirmations: McCain was instrumental in brokering a bi-partisan agreement in the Senate that resulted in three of the most contested Bush appellate court nominees receiving a fair up-or-down vote on the Senate floor, and contributed greatly to the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito, two recent Conservative additions to the Supreme Court.
- McCain on Gitmo: McCain, a former Vietnam POW, authored the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, which prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. McCain argues that American military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the US in the name of fighting terrorism. While it might be easy for millions of armchair quarterbacks across the country to defend the treatment of prisoners at Gitmo (and I'm one who personally believes that they probably deserve whatever treatment they receive), it makes sense that someone who has been there (as a POW in Vietnam) is far more qualified to speak on the matter.
- McCain on Campaign Funding: With Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, McCain pushed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (the "McCain-Feingold Act"), which banned unlimited donations to national political parties ("soft money") and curtailed issue-advocacy ads.
- McCain on the Deficit: McCain has emphasized deficit reduction over tax cutting, and is one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of pork-barrel spending.
The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.
With a special independent artist you won't find on any other music podcast. Let me know what you think.
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Joe
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I'm pleased to announce that Premiere Radio Networks - the biggest radio syndicator in the US - has picked up my KFI radio show for syndication. We're signing up affiliates now, so ask your local talk radio station to give Premiere a call. KFI listeners: the show will continue exactly as always. There just will be a few more people listening in.This is one of my regular weekly podcasts I listen to. You can subscribe online at TWiT.com.
JoeConnecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 who won re-election as an independent last year, says he is open to supporting any party's White House nominee in 2008.
"I'm going to do what most independents and a lot of Democrats and Republicans in America do, which is to take a look at all the candidates and then in the end, regardless of party, decide who I think will be best for the future of our country," Lieberman said Sunday.
"So I'm open to supporting a Democrat, Republican or even an Independent, if there's a strong one. Stay tuned," said the three-term lawmaker who caucuses with Senate Democrats.
Lieberman is an ally of GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a 2008 hopeful, and supports President Bush's new Iraq strategy. Lieberman won re-election as an independent last fall when Democrats backed an anti-war candidate who won the party primary.
Speaking of which politician he may support in 2008, Lieberman said, "Obviously, the positions that some candidates have taken in Iraq troubles me. Obviously, I will be looking at what positions they take in the larger war against Islamist terrorism."
He added, "I am genuinely an independent. I agree more often than not with Democrats on domestic policy. I agree more often than not with Republicans on foreign and defense policy."
The senator said he wanted to select someone "I believe is best for the future of our country. ... Party is important, but more important is the national interest. And that's the basis that I will decide whom to support for president." ...
20070127.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Two key challenges we face are reducing our dependence on oil and expanding access to affordable health care. I have asked Congress to take several vital steps to address these issues. ... We've set important goals, and now Republicans and Democrats must work together to make them a reality. Together, we can reduce our dependence on oil, improve health care for more of our citizens, and make life better for all our citizens."
Sen. John Kerry has decided not to run for president in 2008, a Democratic official says.That's the best news I've heard in quite some time. Not that he actually stood a chance of winning, but it's nice to see that he is no longer a concern at all. I wonder who he will throw his support behind now.
...[A]ccording to Kerry associates, the senator's plans changed dramatically in the fallout of his election-eve ``botched joke" about the education levels of US troops. The harsh reaction to that incident -- from many Democrats as well as Republicans -- displayed to Kerry the extreme skepticism within his own party about whether he should mount another run. ...
...[W]ith polls giving front-runner status to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, Kerry realized that he would face formidable adversaries in the quest for the Democratic nomination. ...
I think the President did a fine job, from his opening remarks, "Congress has changed, but not our responsibilities," to his closing, "The state of our union is strong. Our cause in the world is right. And tonight that cause goes on."...On the Democrats' response:
He stated the facts without boasting about things that some might not consider boastworthy.
He alluded to his plans for the deficit, earmarks, entitlements, healthcare, and military growth.
He talked about immigration, energy, and Senate confirmation of Judicial nominees -- which makes me wonder if he anticipates another Supreme Court vacancy during his term.
The President stayed firm on the war on terror and, more specifically the war in Iraq, without grandstanding about successes or bemoaning failures. He simply and boldly remimded the 533 legislators in attendance (two were absent for medical reasons): "We went into this largely united.... And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure...."
He reminded us all of what makes America the greatest country on Earth: "It would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk."
The President called for the establishment of a Civilian Reserve Corps that would allow for citizens to volunteer to serve this great country out of uniform.
He promised no amnesty to illegal immigrants and no nuclear weapons in Iraq and the Korean peninsula.
The President spoke decisively and firmly on the direction he believes this country should go without using the kind of language that would easily offend his detractors.
First and foremost, I wondered why the Democrats chose freshman Senator Jim Webb to deliver their response. It later occurred to me: he is a (undisputed) veteran who can speak out against the war in Iraq intelligently and with a been-there-done-that attitude. He also is not running for election to the White House in 2008, and therefore doesn't have to worry about the repercussions of his statements. Obama, Clinton, Kerry, et al, could not have spoken so freely and would have buried themselves in confusing double talk.This was not the President's most grandiose State of the Union Address. In fact, it may be most memorable for the things he did not say. But I do believe it was another opportunity seized by the Democrats to remind us why they can't be allowed to take the reins of leadership in America. Not that they would really do much harm. It's more what they wouldn't do at all that concerns me. At the end of the session, I was left with the impression that Republicans are the party of the patriot while Democrats are the party of the protester.
The Senator spoke of mainly two things: economy and foreign policy.
He referred to the difference in wages paid now compared to several decades ago as if President Bush was personally responsible for the inequity of wages from the top executive to the lowly part timer.
He promised approval by the Senate of an increase in the minimum wage without offering reason why it is or isn't a wise move.
He accused the President of reckless leadership and called for a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq.
He closed his brief remarks by calling on the President to take action to end the war and promising, "If he does, we will join him. If he doesn't, we will show him the way."
The Senator said virtually nothing of healthcare, immigration, education, the deficit, job growth, earmarks, the judiciary, or any of the other issues that concern many patriotic Americans today. If it wasn't about the money we earn or the war in Iraq, it was quietly swept under the rug.
| + It wouldn't be possible or useful to rebut the President's message in the time allotted. + There are two areas where Democrats and Republicans disagree: economy and foreign policy. + Economic benefits are not being fairly shared. + It takes the average worker more than a year to make what his/her boss makes in one day. + The Democrats in Congress are working to get the right things done for the right people in the right ways. + "The President took us into this war recklessly. We are now as a nation held hostage to the ... disarray that has followed." + We need a new direction. Not a step back, not a precipitous withdrawal, but a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq. + Tonight we're calling on this President to take action to end the war. "If he does, we will join him. If he doesn't, we will show him the way." |
| + With Nancy Pelosi acting as the first female host of a State of the Union Address in American history, it has been reported that former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has signed on to the Presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. + The President waits on the podium as the entire Congress, from both sides of the aisle, applaud. This may be the only time during the address that he has bi-partisan support. + The President opens with a reminder that "Congress has changed, but not our responsibilities." + 41 months of continuous job growth. + We must balance the federal budget, and can do so without raising taxes with spending discipline. + The deficit has been cut in half three years ahead of schedule. + He will submit a budget that eliminates the deficit within five years. + Over 13,000 earmarks in 2005. "The time has come to end this practice." Cut it in half by the end of this session. + "Must take on the challenge of entitlements." "Fix Medicare and Medicaid and save Social Security." Give families "the right to choose someplace better" to send their children to school. + Ask Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act. + "Government has an obligation to care for the elderly, the disabled, and poor children." A standard tax deduction for health insurance. + Help the states that are coming up with innovative ways to help the uninsured. + Expand health savings accounts. Help small businesses with association health plans. Encourage price transparency and pass medical liability reform to protect doctors from junk lawsuits. + Remember that "the best health decisions are not made by governments and insurance companies". + Establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country on temporary work permits. Enforce immigration laws at the work site. + "Resolve the status of the illegal immigrants already in our country ... without amnesty." + Dependence on foreign oil requires technology to diversify America's energy supply. + Continue investing in new methods to produce ethanol. + "Reduce gasoline usage in the United States by 20% in the next ten years." + "Reform and modernize fuel economy standards for new cars and trucks." + "Step up domestic fuel production." + Ask congress to double the strategic oil reserve. + Give judicial nominees a fair hearing and a prompt up or down vote on the Senate floor. + "To win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy." + "We cannot know the extent of the attacks that we ... have prevented." + "It remains the policy of this government ... to find these enemies and protect the American people." + "We advance our own interest by helping moderates and reformers." + "It would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk." + Sending an additional 4,000 Marines to Anbar province with orders to find the terrorists and drive them out. + On the vote to authorize the war: "We went into this largely united.... And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure.... I ask you to support our troops in the field and those on the way." + Ask the Congress to authorize an increase in the size of our military by 92,000 in the next five years. + Design and establish a Civilian Reserve Corps. + "The world will not allow the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons." + "Our work in the world is ... based on the timeless truth of to whom much is given, much is required." + "There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autry." + "The state of our union is strong. Our cause in the world is right. And tonight that cause goes on." |
The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.
Some great rock, with a blast (or two) from the past.. Let me know what you think.
Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.
Enjoy!
Joe
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Are Democratic operatives trying to sabatoge the political aspirations of one of their party's fastest rising stars? ...Joe
Here’s what they say they have found so far:
* “He was a Muslim, but he concealed it,” one source told Insight. “His opponents within the Democrats hope this will become a major issue in the campaign.”
* “Obama was given the name Hussein by his Muslim father, which the Illinois Democrat rarely uses in public.”
* “Mr. Obama, 45, spent at least four years in a so-called Madrassa, or Muslim seminary, in Indonesia.”
* “In two best-selling autobiographies—The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream and Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance—Mr. Obama, born in Honolulu where his parents met, mentions but does not expand on his Muslim background, alluding only to his attendance at a ‘predominantly Muslim school.’”
* "In The Audacity of Hope, Mr. Obama says, ‘I was not raised in a religious household.’ He describes his mother as secular, but says she had copies of the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagavad Gita in their home. Mr. Obama says his father was ‘raised a Muslim but by the time he met my mother he was a confirmed atheist....’”
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I don't usually look forward to this kind of weather, but here it is! And this time, I was looking forward to it.
My wife has graciously (finally) agreed to my purchase of a new Palm OS handheld. For the past two years or so, I've been using a Zire 72 (like the on pictured at left) that my wife bought me for Christmas (that was just as shocking as receiving her blessing to buy a new one now). It's seen a lot of activity in those two years. I literally take it with me everywhere I go. I've probably spent more money on accessories for it than the device itself cost.
After much consideration, I opted for the Palm Tungsten T3, a discontinued model that has already been superseded by two generations. The T3 includes a faster (400 MHz) processor, twice the RAM at 64 megabytes, and a larger (320 x 480) TFT display. It includes a voice recorder, which means all I had to give up was the digital camera. That'll be a hard feature to do without, but I think I'll be able to get by.20070120.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Americans are fortunate to have the best health care system in the world. The government has an important role to play in our system. We have an obligation to provide care for the most vulnerable members of our society -- the elderly, the disabled, and poor children and their parents. We are meeting this responsibility through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. We must strengthen these vital programs so that they are around when future generations need them."Joe
The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.
Getting longer and better every episode. Let me know what you think.
Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.
Enjoy!
Joe
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Bush Eyes Pardon for Border PatrolmenJoe
President Bush on Thursday said a pardon was possible for two Border Patrol agents serving prison sentences for shooting a Mexican drug dealer as he fled... .
Several lawmakers have urged the president to pardon former Border Patrol agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos for the shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, who retreated to Mexico after he was shot and later admitted he was transporting marijuana while in the country illegally.
The agents began serving their federal prison sentences Wednesday — 11 years and one day for Ramos and 12 years for Compean. Both were fired after their convictions on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, obstruction of justice and a civil rights violation. ...
Rep. Hunter Joins 2008 Presidential RaceJoe
California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter established an exploratory committee Friday for his long-shot presidential bid. ...
The San Diego lawmaker is a strong foe of illegal immigration and favors a U.S.-Mexico border fence.
"America needs a way ahead in the ongoing war against terrorists and a policy of economic opportunity, with a reaffirmation of faith in the principles of our founding," he said.
Rep. Tom Tancredo to Form 2008 Exploratory CommitteeJoe
Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a leading opponent of illegal immigration, said Tuesday he would take the first step toward a longshot 2008 presidential bid dedicated to the immigration issue. ...
"I am considering this campaign because of my commitment to real immigration reform: reform that first and foremost is dedicated to the security and well-being of the citizens of the United States, and to respect for the rule of law in our beloved nation," Tancredo said. ...
None of the White House candidates, he said, "reflects the grass roots, majority belief of Americans that our borders must be secured, that employers who hire illegals must be prosecuted, and that no one who has broken our immigration laws should ever be put on a 'pathway to citizenship."' ....
The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.
This is my first Artist Spotlight. Let me know what you think. Or call the feedback line: (206) 600-4JOE.
*Songs used with permission of the artists.
Enjoy!
Joe
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton said Monday he is seriously considering a run for president. "I don't hear any reason not to," Sharpton, 52, said in an interview during an urban affairs conference sponsored by another civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. ...Oh, wait, here's one:
Sharpton mounted a long-shot bid for the White House in 2004, in which his wit and fiery denunciation of President Bush often enlivened Democratic primary debates. He dropped out of the race after losing several state primaries and endorsed the eventual nominee, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. ...And another one:
Sharpton said the candidate who impressed him most so far was former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who has made poverty the central issue of his campaign. ...Joe
JoePowerful black activists in the U.S. remain surprisingly cool to a White House run by African-American Senator Barack Obama.
At a recent meeting of activists in New York, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the first black candidate to run for president, declined to endorse Obama, saying "our focus now is not on who’s running, because there are a number of allies running.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, who ran in the 2004 Democratic primaries, said he was considering another presidential run in 2008 and observed about Obama: "Right now we’re hearing a lot of media razzle-dazzle. I’m not hearing a lot of meat, or a lot of content. I think when the meat hits the fire, we’ll find out if it’s just fat, or if there’s some real meat there.”
And singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte said America needed to be "careful” about Obama, the Sunday Times in London reported. ...
JoeFormer U.S. Vice President Al Gore said on Monday he would not run in the next presidential race, despite rumors that he might build on the higher profile created by his environmental campaign to do so.
Asked whether he had plans to stand in the 2008 election, Gore ruled it out, adding: "I'm involved in a different kind of campaign." ...
Well, not exactly nothing. It seems like it might never stop raining. I don't remember seeing so much rain since I was stationed in Texas in the Army. One year there it was so rainy that you couldn't take three steps without committing mass cricket murder.
No crickets in Indiana so far. Probably because even though we've had no snow, and the temperatures have been unseasonably high, it's still too cold for crickets. But we've sure had our share of the rain!
I pass cornfields (some would argue that Indiana is nothing more than a race track in the middle of a giant cornfield) every day commuting for work that look more like ponds and lakes than farmland. I saw a river yesterday that had overflowed its banks so much as to become more pond-like than river-like. Come to think of it, maybe it was actually only a creek to begin with. It's hard telling anymore.
Indiana hasn't been the only part of the country blessed (cursed?) with unwinter-like weather this season. I've heard rumours of snowfall in Colorado and Chicago, but not much else. I can just imagine Al Gore leaning back in his La-Z-Boy, popping open a cold one and thinking, "Yep, I tried to tell them."
I'm surprised we haven't heard more from the doomsayers about global warming these past few months. Maybe they realize that it was also unseasonably cool in many parts of the country last August. You can't quite blame that on global warming, can you?
Maybe things will dry up soon. After some rain today, and "a passing flurry" tomorrow, the forecast calls for cold sunny days the rest of this week. I don't usually care much for the snow, but it would sure be nice to see it at least once before spring comes. This unseasonable weather has wreacked havoc with business in my sector of the Retail industry!
Joe
Hear great music, great commentary, and learn a little more about a great musician.
This week's special guest is someone you haven't heard on the Podsafe Music Network, or any other music podcast.
Hear great music, great commentary, and learn a little more about a great musician.
This week's special guest is someone you haven't heard on the Podsafe Music Network, or any other music podcast.
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