• Thom Hartmann is traveling in Darfur, Carl Wolfson was guest host today.
• Guest: David Corn, Mother Jones. His article on mudslinging.
• Thom Hartmann called in from Darfur. What they have seen and done.
• Guest: Joe Madison - The Black Eagle. From Darfur.
• Guest: Dr. John Eibner, Christian Solidarity International. From Darfur.
• Guest: Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News. From Darfur.
• Guest: Christy Harvey, Center for American Progress.

Topics, guests, upcoming events, quotes, links to articles, audio clips, books & bumper music.

Friday 14 March '08 National show

• Thom Hartmann is traveling in Darfur, Carl Wolfson was guest host today.
• "Anything goes" Friday.
• Nominations for "weasel of the week".
• Article: Iran's Eliot Spitzer.
• House vote yesterday.
• The Senate yesterday said no to a one year break from pork spending. Hillary and Obama came back.
• Article: Property rights: Drying al fresco.
  "In subdivisions across the country, homeowners are forbidden to use clotheslines outside. Such bans are often among the aesthetic rules enforced by snooty neighborhood associations. Fortunately, lawmakers in Vermont and Connecticut are considering legislation protecting residents' ability to air-dry clothes. The measures are an environmental boon, for drying al fresco requires no fossil fuels. A spokesman for the Community Associations Institute complains that too many clotheslines could affect "the curb appeal, and probably the home values" of a neighborhood. But if the real estate market is so fragile that the sight of wet sheets can send values plunging, then clotheslines are just about the last thing neighborhood associations need to worry about."
• Bumper Music: Citizen of the Planet, Simon & Garfunkel.
• Florida and Michigan primaries/caucuses/delegates/rerun.
• Bumper Music: The Way Life's Meant to Be, ELO.
• Article: Meet the New Mudslingers, David Corn.
  "Forget Swift Boat Veterans and 527s; this election's sneaky operators are nonprofits.

  Forget Swift Boats; this election year could become the battle of the armadas. Thanks to the success of misleading ads against John Kerry in 2004—as well as recent Supreme Court and Federal Election Commission actions—the current presidential contest promises to be more cacophonous and mud strewn than any in recent history, with a record number of down-and-dirty ads financed on the sly by big-money interests. Attacks bankrolled by "independent" groups—businesses, unions, and millionaires—and amplified by YouTube and reporters starved for news "will play a much greater role than ever before," predicts a top gop strategist.

  "
• Guest: David Corn. The March/April issues of Mother Jones is out. His article on mudslinging.
• Thom Hartmann called in from Darfur. They were delayed 6 hours out of Juba - the plane was overloaded, leaking fuel, bureaucracy - and had to scramble to get their tents up before dark. They are in a community they can't name for security reasons. It was a 3 hour flight. They met the Consul General, UN forces. They are now in the middle of nowhere. Sudan is the size of Texas, but there is only 10 miles of paved road. The nearest electric light is 300 miles away, there's no water, sanitation. They just delivered sacks of hope, pitched tents. They are within a few kilometers of the Darfur border and refugees are coming in. Chad agreement reached.

  The whole area is pregnant with promise. US has sanctions against Sudan, so Americans can't buy oil from the South; China does. The appointment of a Chinese representative is good. The dirt is red, so there's lots of iron in it. They are in a small compound next to a huge refugee camp, maybe 50,000 people. They spent some time with families that arrived today. Thom's son Justin was finishing off the tent. They will have photos, interviews, notes, video when they come back. The country is rich in natural resources. It was the same in Uganda when Thom was there. In 1956 Churchill pulled out of Africa, leaving huge power vacuums.

  They distributed a planeful of sacks; the village people distribute it. Thom has an infection in his lungs. Mia Farrow has pictures from Sudan on her site showing the sort of thing Thom is seeing.

• Bumper Music: Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane.
• It is the anniversary of Bush invading Iraq. There have been more deaths.
• Guest: Joe Madison - The Black Eagle.
• Thom put Joe Madison on the phone from Darfur. He said not to wear head lamps, it is mostly westerners who use them and it makes them an easy target. Joe has been visiting there for 8 years. There is little media coverage, they just give excuses - like no hotels, and they can't just get in and straight out. It's a very difficult trip. It took 3 days to get there. 500 people were just dropped off at the camp with nothing but clothes. It's his 4th trip. The first two times were during the civil war between North and South. Last time he took aid for displaced returnees. There are two conflicts. Lots of resources are pouring into Darfur because it is Arab Muslim against African Muslim. At same time comprehensive peace agreement from the 25 year war.
• Bumper Music: Democracy is coming to the USA, Leonard Cohen.
• Thom said it was now dark. Last night was spent in Juba, one guy was shocked that at the shortage of water in the hotel - the best hotel in Juba. It's fascinating. Tomorrow they travel overland to another village, the following day they travel overland to another village, the day after they get a plane to Loki, then Nairobi, then home - about 35 hours. Thom should be home Tuesday midnight, and on air 8am Wednesday morning. Thom said that other organizations are doing good work there including the UN.
• Joe Madison returned to the phone. It is the first time that talk show people have come, so it is very important, and they raised money. US policy is lacking. Genocide. Civil disobedience in Washington.
• Guest: Dr. John Eibner, Christian Solidarity International (CSI-USA).
• Thom put John Eibner on the phone from Darfur. He's been coming since 1992, they come about every 2 months to that area. Sacks of hope. Please write to presidential candidates and ask them what they are going to do about Sudan? They are making videos while they are there.
• Guest: Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News.
• Thom put Ellen Ratner on the phone from Darfur. She has two pet goats, so is not happy about the idea of eating a goat there. Thom is not going to eat it. She's been to many countries, many refugee camps. She was in Eritrea, Palestine, Iraq, and was moved. The UN can only do so much. There was a boy with a huge open sore on leg, no antibiotics. There is not enough food there. She is Jewish. A lot of kids have red hair because of malnutrition. How many politicians have been there?
• Article: GOP Group: Ex-Treasurer Diverted Up To $1M. Christopher Ward Fraud.
• Bumper Music: Talk to me, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac.
• Carl: "I want to say thank you to Thom too. I know he can't hear me right now over in Darfur, but let me tell you something. Thom Hartmann, I've had the privilege to sit alongside him for a year now in Portland, Oregon. I don't think I've seen a harder worker for the progressive cause than Thom Hartmann. I'm honored to do this show. He and his wife Louise are tireless, really, on behalf of the progressive cause and it's my honor to be here."
• Article: Superdelegate warns Clinton, Obama to stop negative barbs. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.).
• Bumper Music: America, Jewel.
• Article: Bush says if younger, he would work in Afghanistan.
  "I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks."
• Article: Air Force is 'Above All'.
• Article: Dolphin saves 2 whales stuck on New Zealand beach.
• Article: Haile Gebrselassie pulls out of Beijing marathon because of pollution.
• Guest: Christy Harvey, Director of Strategic Communications at the Center for American Progress, MicCheckradio.org. She spent the day cleaning her office. A report about the connection between Saddam and al Qaeda was supposed to come out, but Wednesday afternoon the Pentagon suddenly canceled plans. It will not be online after all. People will have to apply for their own copy on CD by snail mail. The Executive summary was online on Monday. They have classified 17 times as much as any other administration. They spend $2.9 million dollars on shredding a year. John Dean said Richard Nixon could not imagine this in his wildest dreams. Bush saying he was envious of troops in Afghanistan. He had his chance and went AWOL from Vietnam service. Nearly 4,000 have died in Iraq. How can the troops respect him, as opposed to his rank? He does not support them, he misuses them. Veterans are struggling. The Air Force has a new slogan; "Above All". Über Alles means "Above All" in German. The New Zealand dolphin saving whales. The marathon world record-holder dropping out of the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because of the risk to his health from China’s air pollution.
• Bumper Music: What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong.