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Thom's blog
Is our democracy is now in its death throes?
Thanks to the Supreme Court, our democracy is now in deep trouble. Fueled by tens of millions of dollars in out-of-state corporate and billionaire cash – giving him an 8-to-1 spending advantage over his Democratic opponent – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker prevailed in Tuesday night’s recall election. This is the second major election in the post-Citizens United era – and for the second straight time organized money beat organized people – just like what happened in 2010 when Tea Party Republicans swept into Congress with the help of over $300 million in outside corporate cash. In a slight consolation – Democrats may take control of the state Senate – as one Republican state Senator out of four facing a recall appears to be headed for a defeat.
Despite reports of massive voter turnout around the state Tuesday afternoon – the turnout was actually closer to 2010 levels when more than 2 million Wisconsinites voted and Republicans won big – rather than 2008 levels when closer to 3 million Wisconsinites elected President Obama and Democrats.
So what does all this mean? It means that things really are as bad as we think they are – and the Supreme Court really has handed over our democracy to the highest bidders – giant corporations, foreign governments, and the likes of the Koch brothers. Wisconsin gives us a glimpse into the election coming this November – and patriotic Americans have five months to figure out how to overcome these oligarchs – and undo the incredible damage the Roberts Court has done to democracy in the nation of its modern-era birth. Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders are fighting against the cancer in our democracy - Citizens United - and you can join their efforts at sherrodbrown.com and bernie.org, and movetoamend.org.
-Thom
(How would you overcome big money to save democracy? Tell us here.)
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 9pm and 11pm... Don't mourn...ORGANIZE!! (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Need to Know: Don't mourn...ORGANIZE!!
Need to Know: Wisconsin Recall...- Mike Papantonio, Attorney, Host, Ring of Fire Radio
Lone Liberal Rumble:- Caroline May, The Daily Caller - Marc Harrold, Attorney / Author-"Observations of White Noise…an ‘Acid Test’ for the First Amendment".
Conversations with Great Minds - Lamar Waldron, Historian / Author - Latest book, Watergate: The Hidden History: Nixon, The Mafia, and The CIA (Thom's co-author for "Ultimate Sacrifice" and "Legacy of Secrecy")
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Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: Wisconsin...Don't Mourn-ORGANIZE!- Tim Carpenter, Progressive Democrats of America.
Hour Three: Watergate- Lamar Waldron, Historian / Author - Latest book, Watergate: The Hidden History: Nixon, The Mafia, and The CIA (Thom's co-author for "Ultimate Sacrifice" and "Legacy of Secrecy")
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!! (OCCUPY SOMETHING!!!!!)
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Tuesday's Daily Stack
Quote: "People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." -- John Kenneth Galbraith.
The Big Picture- Sam Sacks, The Big Picture producer, progressive commentator
WI recall election- Kristine Frazao, Anchor & correspondent-RT America Washington, DC Bureau (on the ground in WI)
Hour Two: On the ground at WI recall central- Andy Kroll, Mother Jones Magazine
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Thom's Poll
Does Gov. Walker beating the re-call, with obscene amounts of Corporate Money, prove that all we have left is Public Protests?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Crazy Alert! Bovine Banging Blocks Busy Bystanders
The Good, The Bad and the Very Very Vortiginously Ugly!
Get out your tin foil hat for the new GOP platform
The Good, The Bad and the Very Very Vortiginously Ugly!
Anti-drug propaganda and Miami zombies
LA GOP spirals into chaos...Paul delegates arrested
Teamster James Hoffa- from the frontline-war on labor
Democracy...Only Rich White Guys Need Apply
The real scoop on Rubio...
Watch the Full Show
Full Show 6/5/12: Walker Buys Recall Election
Thom gets on the ground reporting from Madison, WI just after polls close. Teamsters Union President James Hoffa looks at the bigger picture of where the labor movement stands nationwide, and why Romney and the Republicans continue to push their anti-women agenda. Also discussed: Marco Rubio's ties to K Street, Ron Paul supporters demanding delegates in Louisiana and in tonight's "Daily Take" Thom looks at the history of why Republicans don't want you to vote.
Thom Hartmann on the News - June 5, 2012
John Nichols - Recall in Wisconsin
On the ground at Wisconsin recall central
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Show Info
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