Carl Wolfson & Christine Alexander of KPOJ Portland guest host, as Thom is traveling.
Upcoming Events: Thom's book tour for "Threshold":
Aug 5th - Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica Library.
Aug 17th - Minneapolis, MN
Aug 19th - Chicago, IL
Aug 21st - Madison, WI. There will be "Brunch with Bernie" with members of the audience getting to ask the questions.
Upcoming Event: Aug 8th - Seattle, WA AM1090 Presents - "Embracing Change: Moving Forward As The Majority" with Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Bill Press, Mike Malloy and Ron Reagan - Tickets are just $22 for Reserved Seating, $32 for Premium Reserved Seating, and $47 for VIP Floor Seating. Tickets go on sale Saturday June 27th @ 10AM. Purchase yours at the ShoWareCenter Box Office, or by phone at 253-856-6999. Doors open at 5pm, the panel discussion runs from 6-9pm. (not to be confused with the July 30th Seattle book signing).
New RNC ad. Callers' experiences of calling the RNC.
AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT WHY WE NEED MAJOR A MAJOR OVERHAUL IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND WHY THE MEDIA NEED TO BE BETTER WATCHDOGS.
Article: "What's so great about private health insurance? by Michael Hiltzik.
Article: "Whistleblower is Dems' best ammo in health care fight by Stanley Crouch.
Article: "Wendell Potter: Single Payer Is Industry's Biggest Nightmare" by Corporate Crime Reporter.
Bumper Music: The Bug, Dire Straits (video).
Guest: Health insurance industry whistle blower, Wendell Potter, former head of corporate communications for Cigna. They are using the same tactics. What's so great about private health insurance? This time around, because of mergers and acquisitions, the industry is much stronger than '93/94. Cartel. 7 large companies. Town hall meetings. Coordinated. Same fear tactics. The money is laundered. How they went after Michael Moore for Sicko. This is mortal combat. If it seems inevitable, they will likely water down the public option, the House will likely have it, Baucus against. $250b last year passed through the 7, one eighth of health care dollars. Wall Street wants them to spend less each year. Many non profits have turned into for-profits and been gobbled up. It is very important to have the amendment to avoid ERISA.
Article: "'Blue Dogs' or Corporate Shills? by Thomas Frank.
Bumper Music: Radio, The Corrs (video).
Article: Barack Obama faces 30 death threats a day, stretching US Secret Service.
Article: Ore. park dropping torture reference from name. Switching from Lloyd Knox Water Board Park to Lloyd Knox Park.
"BLACKWATER FOUNDER IMPLICATED IN MURDER"
Article: "Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder by Jeremy Scahill.
Guest: award winning independent journalist Jeremy Scahill, author of the bestselling book "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. His new article. Great job last night on MSNBC. Erik Prince. John Doe number 2 was in Blackwater management. He alleges Prince may have facilitated the murder of some co-operating or planning to, and has ordered the destruction of incriminating materials. Using plane to smuggle weapons. John Doe 1 saw weapons being pulled out of dog food bags. 2 says Prince views himself as a crusader. Swore affidavit at the Nation. Radical right wing family, bankrolls. Five civil cases consolidated into one. Sworn affidavits for that one. There is an ongoing criminal investigation. The federal government has already given the information, testified to grand jury. We know because the lawyers are suing for wrongful deaths. Prehearing Friday. Monday lawyers filed the affidavits to counter the request to have all five cases thrown out. The judge is not keen on the gag orders Blackwater wants. It will be a very hard case for them to lose. It is tough because power goes with power. High standard to meet, they look like they can, but the judge may not agree.
Jon Stewart expounded on "Cash for Cluckers" on The Daily Show.
As a result of cash for clunkers, most car manufacturers' sales rose. Cash for Clunkers cars list: Top 10
Bumper Music: Pocket Full Of Sunshine, Natasha Bedingfield (video).
Video: GOP Rx for Health Insurance Reform: TV Version. Americans United for Change.
"Why do the health insurance companies and Republicans want to kill President Obama’s health insurance reform? Because they like things the way they are now. Ed Hanway, CEO of insurance giant Cigna, makes $12.2 million a year. That’s $5,883 an hour. Ed makes more in one day, than the average worker makes all year long. Now Ed's retiring with a $73 million golden parachute. The Republican prescription for the health insurance crisis — be as rich as Ed. You'll be happy too."
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG...ABOUT WOODSTOCK?!"
Guest: Elliot Tiber, who enabled Woodstock to take place 40 years ago, tells us about his new book, "Taking Woodstock: A True Story Of A Riot, A Concert, And A Life". Ang Lee of "Brokeback Mountain", has a new film, "Taking Woodstock", out August 28, based on the book. He did not see the concert, he was too busy. He overturned the police car at the Stonewall riots.
Article: "Taking Hollywood, New Film by Academy Award-winning Director Ang Lee.
Bumper Music: World Hold On, Bob Sinclar (video).
VETERAN'S ISSUES
Guest: Larry Scott, Founder/Editor of VA Watchdog, who is keeping an eye on the VA because somebody has to! The post 9/11 GI bill, Obama has welcomed it, Jim Webb is for it, McCain is against it. His dad got his masters on the GI bill at the University of Oregon. It includes the National Guard who have done active duty. Go to VA site. Kick-off August 1. Being in the VA will meet the enrollment requirement. Email recently "we're putting together news packages" looking for bad news. Interesting clients - NRA, he asked them. Osama scare about Obama care.
Article: "OBAMA TO LEGION: NO CHANGES AT VA by Larry Scott.
Article: Orly Taitz Melts Down On MSNBC, Blames MSM "Brownshirts" (VIDEO) Jason Linkins.
Article: "Freshman Democratic lawmaker 'physically assaulted at a local event' by right-wing activists. by Ben Bergmann.
Bumper Music: Democracy is coming to the USA, Leonard Cohen.
HIGGINS ALERT!! "Commuter Kitty! Meet Casper the Bus-Riding Cat.
Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News. "Threshold", Maslow. Journalists back from North Korea. Will this open dialogue? Clinton said she is not counting on it, perhaps they will talk in the group of 6. Town hall mobs. The White House is making this the face of Republicans. Peter Hurt email, middle independents still with Obama. Sotomayor vote likely Friday afternoon, and there will be more cash for clunkers, they have the 60 votes needed.
