TJ and The Tux

WE HAVE MOVED OVER TO TUMBLR

2011-04-05T15:44:00.000-04:00

look for us at:

http://100daysofobama.tumblr.com/

www.eastvillageradio.com

@tjandthetux

and always remember to listen live to “Shock and Awesome” 10am- 12pm Friday, Rebroadcast 8am-10am Saturday

New Website

2009-09-15T18:02:00.004-04:00

Our new website is now up... www.tjandthetux.com. we will be blogging at that site from now on. click here to link.

DEREK JETER

2009-09-11T21:56:00.007-04:00

Derek Jeter: class and dignity. Congrats to the captain who tonight became the all time NY Yankees hit leader surpassing the legendary Lou Gehrig. Above is the now iconic photo of Jeter's gritty catch against hated rivals Boston in 2004. The play has come to symbolize a player whose intangibles can only be truly appreciated by those privileged enough to watch him day in and day out.

FLIGHT 93: JEREMY GLICK AND THE PINNACLE OF HEROISM

2009-09-11T15:21:00.011-04:00

FLIGHT 93: THE PINNACLE OF HEROISM:

Jeremy Glick, the epitomy of an American Hero

" It was a tragic fate, but when I heard he was on Flight 93, my first thought, aside from the shock , was that he was absolutely the perfect person to be in that situation for the country." said Jon Dirienzo a close college friend to Jeremy Glick at the university of Rochester. Glick died a hero as a leader of passengers aboard the tragic Flight 93.

Flight 93 took off from Newark airport that fateful September 11th morning, and was taken over by hijackers 40 minutes into the flight and diverted towards Washington DC. Passengers and crew members made calls about the flight and learned about the attack on the Twin Towers. Passengers then, led by Glick, decided to mount their own attack.

"We're going to rush the terrorists," was apparently the last words Glick ushered to his wife by phone before derailing the plans of what was supposed to be another plane headed for symbolic destruction. Of the four flights that day, only flight 93 was the only one that failed to reach it's destination (the other three hitting both towers and the Pentagon).

"Jeremy was complex. There was a stunning sensitive side to him. He could be a big strong scary guy and a gentle giant. He also had an aura about him. People took notice when he was around; a shining star with a bigger purpose. Jeremy was a National Judo champ, extremely adept at using his hands. My image of Jeremy in that situation, his complexities, his fear because of his months old daughter, his aggressive side putting his whole skill set to use..without Jeremy things would not have turned that way for the country."

The terrorist's intended destination for Flight 93 has never been factually established but many felt that it had to be on it's way towards the White House, given that New York city landmark Twin Towers had been hit. Wild conspiracy theories always add to the intrigue of tragedies. A popular one regarding Flight 93 is that the flight was shot down by the Bush administration.

"I'm sure he knew he was gonna die and they (passengers on Flight 93) quickly knew what their purpose was. I bet that in his eyes his number one goal was to break their necks...get his hands around someone."

As we reflect on 9-11 on the eight anniversary of perhaps the darkest day in American history, it's too east to politicize the story through some partisan lense for political gain. As someone who woke up the sounds of the first plane hitting the North tower at 8:45 am, this 9-11 has been about reflecting upon the unfortunate victims of a political game bigger than them, as well as those like Gloick,who gave of themselves for others.

"To be thrown into that position, to know that there is a bigger picture, to step up and rise to that moment, is the pinnacle of heroism. Jeremy was destined for that moment."

above: Jeremy Glick center, with college friends .

SHOCK AND AWESOME: 9-11 A LOOK BACK

2009-09-11T12:32:00.005-04:00

On Shock and Awesome today, Yetta Kurland, running for NY City Council in the "Hellsea district" gave her thoughts on term limits, Prop 8 and a host of other issues that form the basis of a platform that will be put to test against incumbent Christy Quinn on voting day Sept 15.

The duo took a look back at the tragedies of 9-11 with personal accounts as well as a running account from 1010 WINS that TJ taped as he walked to the street before witnessesing the second plane hit the Towers.

In addition to the 9-11 tape, TJ and the TUX (above) celebrated the release of the Beatles remasters in conjunction with the release of Beatles Rock Band ,by playing selections of old Mono recordings. Obama found the swagger that swept a nation last year but will his speech on Health care change the outcome? Republican house member Joe Wilson's now famous "You Lie!" was a window into the anger that breathes under the surface of the leaderless GOP. It was also a dramatic highlight that symbolized the contentious culture that exists in Washington as we exit the Summer and move head on into the Fall. Ex Misfits guitarist Bobby Steele strolled by to talk 9-11 and his thoughts on Obama.

It's fashion week people get your suits pressed and your dresses ready. It's time to walk the cat walk with confidence, attitude, and of course, with class and style. Wanna get into the private parties. Do what Shock and Awesome does. Dress over the top, stroll up the velvet rope and fake it . Look like you've been there before.

SHOCK AND AWESOME: 9-11 SHOW

2009-09-11T09:37:00.003-04:00

Yetta Kurland (above), running NY City council joins the dynamic duo at 11 am in the booth to discuss her run for a seat this year. Barack Obama mirrored Fleet week with Speech week, ending up in DC at in front of the joint Congress to talk about health care. Republican Joe Wilson shouted the now famous "you lie!"in the middle of it, while TJ and the TUX enjoyed the drama. Acorn is hooking up pimps and whores with tax forms and hey, it's 9-11. Let's back and honor the fallen but also ask ourselves, where the hell are we with all of this?

9-11 : STILL AT WAR, NO OSAMA, SOLDIERS STILL DYING

2009-09-11T09:29:00.004-04:00

Republicans today are accusing the President of giving a partisan speech Wednesday night. What's up with the thin skin fellas? You mean the "socialist" and the 'Hitler" and the "death panel comments" weren't worth responding to? C'mon guys toughen up. Surely "you are either with us or against us" wasn't a partisan ploy to pressure those opposed to the Iraq war in 2002 right? Instead of crying about Obama's response about "bogus claims" how about giving real alternative ideas It's not the difference of your opinions that makes your complaints a political motive, it's the harsh tactics of making Obama out to be the next Marxist that's causing the problem. Stick to the issues and how to improve them. Now that's an idea.

Acorn gave advice to a pair filming a conservative documentary, who were posing as a pimp and a prostitute. Noting that the pimp should write "performing artist" on tax forms. Damn, that's awful. And brilliant at the same time. In fact, thanks for the free advice ACORN, that's what we're gonna do next tax season. Should of thought of that this year, damn.

On this anniversary of 9-11, let me quote a good friend who posted on Facebook that this morning he "is remembering 9/11. Countrys still at war, no real construction, no Osama, soldiers still dying, fireman still sick...we could have done better as a country." Much will be publicized and politicized as to the heroic efforts of so many on that day and days since. My friend brings up a great point though. Reflection on 9-11 can't stop at the tragedy alone. It's not enough.Today let's look back and honor the fallen, but let's also take stock of where we are and where we are going with all of this. Let's get a complete use out of the emotions of this day.

WILSON'S SLIP IS A WINDOW INTO THE GOP'S VIEW OF OBAMA

2009-09-10T10:48:00.005-04:00

I couldn't help but wonder out loud today what Republican Joe Wilson's "You Lie" slip REALLY meant last night. The South Carolina delegate shouted this after Obama claimed that illegal immigrants would not be covered by a public option should one be available in a new health care plan.

It reminded me of my own steaming anger I've had at times at those I've worked with on various projects in Downtown circles since moving to NYC before Whole Foods and Starbucks made it look like Bergen County. Anger and frustration build up under the surface to a point where a tipping point moment happens and without the ability to control emotions, an improper statement is made. Improper in it's timing, yet somehow revealing in it's emotion. The problem with Wilson's apology is that he's been TOO apologetic this morning, and like Obama, has lacked sufficient detail as to what the true basis of his and the GOP's disdain for Obama and his governing style is.

Wilson was perhaps unintentionally bold in shouting over the President. He's intentionally been a coward since. He sat there like many politicans last night, expecting Obama to risk even more political capital by further detailing a plan that still needs work from the House and Senate. Wilson stood up and got into the fray. NOW Wilson is afraid to take on the risk of his own political capital and make a full and complete case for the GOP as to what about the core of Obama's presidency bothers them. It's too bad. Maybe the GOP missed an accidental moment at finding a face and a voice for some reasonable opposition.

We all saw House members waving their health care plans in response to Obama's suggestion that if the opposition has ideas, show them to him. This falls under the same category in one respect. People need to stop waving papers and shouting out from the balcony and start laying out problems and solutions on the table. In full view. For all of us to see.

I won't rush to judgement on Wilson's "moment." We've all had them: Bottled up and ready to burst, little issues build to a boiling point where no matter the venue or event, an uncontrollable and unavoidable outburst takes place. I will ask Wilson and those waving papers to help us see what is happening behind closed doors by explaining where the TRUE anger stems from. It can't be from the health care issue alone.

Maybe it's more than just Obama's viewpoint regarding policy. Maybe Washington vets are still seething at how the new kid took the country by storm. Maybe the anger and the dropping poll numbers the President has been receiving this Summer have now taken on a life of their own. Whatever the case may be, Wilson , by apologizing without offering what led him to perhaps become THE window into the mindset of the entire GOP, has seemingly slipped away. An opportunity lost, with the same congenial, middle of the road behavior that naysayers come down on Obama for.

above: Joe Wilson going apeshit last night during the President's address to a Joint Congress

YOU LIE

2009-09-09T21:38:00.000-04:00

Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "YOU LIE!" while Obama stated that illegal immigrants will not be covered by a public option. Senator John McCAin called this uncalled for and said that Wilson should apologize, during a post speech interview on Larry King live

OBAMA CHANNELS THE 1969 METS SLOGAN: YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

2009-09-09T21:09:00.004-04:00

"I still believe we can act even when it's hard. I still believe." Those were the closing statements

from a President who has regained the confident footing required to present clear public messages. My favorite moment was his comment aimed towards the "No" strategy folks in the media and in Washington. "If you make up lies we will call you out."

What were the details? Well..there weren't too many. Broad brush strokes were instead the approach.The major controversy, the public option, was worded as only an element that keeps insurers honest while providing the uninsured with an option for care. Not a plan to run companies out of business. The notion of malpractice reform, a major Republican point of contention, was highlighted by Obama, as was John McCain's campaign desire for catastrophe coverage that won't leave people broke should a disaster occur.

Obama channeled Ted Kennedy whose major battle was Health care by saying his dream was not a partisan attempt at big government but a heartfelt desire to give everyone a chance. THAT was an essential American quality, not a Democratic or Republican one. This in the attempt to unite the room. The room did not leave united but it's hard to deny that Obama's swagger is back. Questions were still left unanswered and much still has to be done. If the tone was set to allow both sides to work together, something will get done by Christmas. If not, the buck will be passed, an opportunity will be lost, and the ones who will lose the most will be the people.

CNN analyst David Gergen remarked that had Obama given this speech three months ago while he still held that magical glow, he could've swept the country. We'll soon find out if this speech wasn't too little too late.

OBAMA SPEECH EXCERPTS

2009-09-09T19:22:00.003-04:00

We know its minutes away but here's the speech text anyway. Strong yet with the desire for everyone to still work together. Love the notion of calling out the bullshit artists and stiff armers who think saying "no" to everything has any sort of politcal gain to it in 201o and 2012.

read speech text

SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT

2009-09-09T17:23:00.009-04:00

It's countdown to the showdown. Will Obama get tough in his tone, keep the public option on the table, and tell the naysayers to shut up and sit down? Tonight's national address before a joint Congress could be as dramatic a political theater as there can be, without talk of some impending war, or domestic catastrophe such as a Hurricane Katrina.

Health care? This is bigger than health care. This is a microcosm. A window into the mind of a politician who up until a few months ago, could do no wrong. Now, after a Summer of Beer diplomacy between the Cop and Professor Gates, a National Health care message that has been stripped away by and stolen by the stiff arming strategy of the leaderless GOP, the time is ripe for a stand. The President needs to regain that swagger. That believability. That confidence that inspired a nation after the 2008 Democratic convention speech between the Roman Pillars in Denver.

Alot has been made of the importance of this night. That's fair. It's not hype. The pressure for Obama is real. His bipartisan approach has been met with nasty mobs at Town Hall meetings, Tea parties, and right wing Pundits like Glenn Beck who have called Obama "racist."

How will the president will rise above the fray? Will he use the pulpit to get everyone united, and on the same page? Will he be firm and let the country know that bills will pass regardless of the displeasure from naysayers in both parties? Maybe he'll somehow allow himself the wiggle room to achieve both. Either way, tonight's the night for the President to Shit or Get off the Pot. Issues that will arise from here on out during his Presidency will be harder not easier to corral, unless he shows the ability to lead. In this case lead a Health care bill to the finish line.

Above: A nutjob drops a deuce on the front porch.

IT'S HIGH NOON FOR OBAMA AND THE HEALTH CARE SHOWDOWN

2009-09-09T11:57:00.005-04:00

First off, great quote by Press sec Robert Gibbs regarding the reaction to the School children sppech BEFORE it took place by many angry parents.

"It's a sad state of affairs that many in this country politically would rather start an 'Animal House' food fight rather than inspire kids to stay in school, to work hard, to engage parents to stay involved and to ensure that the millions of teachers that are making great sacrifices continue to be the best in the world,"

Former first lady Laura Bush defended the President's idea when she told CNN:

"I think that there is a place for the President of the United States to talk to school children and encourage school children, and I think there are a lot of people that should do the same,

Enough said on the school kid speech nonsense.

As for High Noon on Health care, the Prez will speak to the country tonight in a televised speech to a joint session of Congress that HAS to change the game. Has to. The question is not whether Obama will give a repeat performance of his Labor Day tough talk approach when he asked emphatically to his detractors "what are your ideas!" Rising costs of health care are the number one problem that needs to be solved so Obama has to get clear and detailed as to how he'll attack this. Now. The main question will be how he will frame the biggest issue regarding the Health care debate: The public option. With the option ,come shouts of "government take over" and "Socialism." Obama needs to hold firm on the option and explain why the option is needed and is not Socialism. Finally, Obama has to decide whether to announce publicly that either way, he will try and let a bill get rammed through. Holding firm on the Public option and getting a bill passed no matter what will cost some political capital. The return on the risk will be if and when the whole country is insured and the rising cost of care goes down.

TJ AND THE TUX BOOK CLUB: EYEWITNESS TO POWER

2009-09-08T16:00:00.004-04:00

In a book published back in 2000, perhaps televisions only non paritsan analyst David Gergen, who has worked for both Republican and Democratic presidents, gives a first hand account of the personalities and qualities of the President's that he's worked for from 1972 through the Clinton years. The anecdotes are fun and his opinions are well rounded as always, making you wonder what he thinks about Obama's work so far. check it out

WITH VAN JONES GONE, SHOULD GLENN BECK FOLLOW WITH HIS " OBAMA HATES WHITE PEOPLE" COMMENT?

2009-09-08T11:40:00.008-04:00

Van Jones, reknown environmental advocate for the Obama team has resigned amidst controversy over an old comment he made that the Bush team knew about 9-11 before it happened. Did the vetting process again bite Obama in the ass or is vetting impossible these days with the advent of Social media? The answer is, it's too easy to screw up these days. Anything you say is hard copy now. E mail. Facebook. Twitter. Forget it. Impossible. Everyone on Earth, if vetted, would lack a clean slate. That said, claiming on you tube that Biush knew, as Jones did, albeit 8 years ago, should've been Jones' responsibility to share with Obama. The administration's handling of Jones situation now is correct. Let him fall on his own sword, the health care issue, still THE hot topic issue this month, is more important.

As for Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, who brought the Jones story to light, nice work Glenn. While many including respected CNN analyst David Gergen have taken time out now to speak highly of Jones' achievements and resume, it was the potential distraction over the claim that forced Jones into quitting. Maybe after Van cleans out his locker Glenn, you could do a story on yourself and YOUR claim that Obama doesn't like White people. People at Fox news haven't felt enough of a ratings boost this comment could truly have. Stir it up, see where it takes you. You're on a roll Glenn, why not? Strike while the iron is hot.

Obama's Labor day response to the "complain" strategy of the GOP during his speech Monday was emphatic. It was a sight for sore eyes for those sore at Obama's "50,000 foot approach" of watching events replacing a down and dirty approach on the ground to fight for what he believes in. To the GOP complainists he said, "What are YOU gonna do, " whats YOUR answer whats YOUR solution?" Great start. Now get tougher with the Senate Barry, and get clear with the people as to what the plan really is. Take that risk and you'll get the reward. The first reward will be respect. The second reward will be that your cigarette after dinner will be so much more enjoyable.

Which brings us to the Obama schoolchildren speech. Stay in school. Work hard. Be resilient. No excuses, I come from a broken home too. What in those messages has anything to do with 2012, health care or brainwashing? The children who missed the speech out of their parents partisan nonsense, missed it out of fear that rivaled the overrreaction of those who jumped out of windows during the HG Wells "War of the Worlds " radio broadcast, a sci fi tale in which Martians were landing on Earth Oct 30 1938. People actually died jumping? The answer is yes. The moral of the story to many haters is that anger has less effect the more you use it. Oh and it's too late to show off your Paul Krugman-like economist skills don't ya think? I mean you've all had since 2000 a great opportunity to tell us what you know. Maybe those houses you all bought and couldn't afford got your tongue. Maybe the 900 Billion dollar bill you agreed with by saying yes to the War in Iraq, that "Mission Accomplished" war that's now going on 7 years did too.

People, shut up and sit down unless you wanna back track to include the whole story. Meaning your roles in it. Seriously, any trigger like opposition by the GOP and it's followers to the school speech, and every issue that comes up, confuses and dilutes any concerns about Obama care and Obama's vision for the country that DO have merit. Crying Wolf has a shelf life ya know.

The Dying Soldier Photo: The AP went ahead against the wishes of many including the family of a dying soldier whose leg inuries became insurmountable only hours after a photo was taken of his Mortar Shell injuries. Robert Gates was appalled. So is Sarah Palin, who will always be there to stick up for military families (her son is in Iraq right now) . The AP feels that it is necessary to show all sides of War. Wow, this one's tough to comment on. Vietnam was a different war because people saw it the battlefield for the 1st time on TV. The notion of whether to broadcast coffins is always a delicate subject as well. War is hell. Let's leave it at that. Any depiction of it as glorious in movies and in photos or military recruitment commercials is obviously not taking the whole picture into account. The picture of a 21 year old kid bleeding to death one virtually one leg, just to presumably pay his way through college. Sad.

above: Van Jones

TJ AND THE TUX MOVIE CLUB: AKA CASSIUS CLAY

2009-09-07T21:20:00.002-04:00

What a great documentary. Great footage of the fights, and the controversial turbulent 60's culture. Clay, who became a Muslim, a member of Nation of Islam and Malcom X, changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1965. The loudmouth self promoting flamboyant icon, who refused to go to Vietnam was and still is, bigger than life. His contribution to society has trumped his triumphs in the ring. This was released in 1970. Find it. Check it out. You'll love it.

OBAMA TEXT TO SCHOOL CHILDREN

2009-09-07T15:00:00.003-04:00

Don't think you can just be a rapper, a basketball player or a reality tv star. Success means hard work and resiliency. I've come from a broekn home too. I know what it's like." I'm papraphrasing Obama's speech to kids that he'll give tomorrow. It's a far cry from the partisan pro health care vote for me in 2012 crap that GOP leaning parents were fearing. Gee that's shocking. read the text

LEVI CHECKS SARAH INTO THE BOARDS: SHOULD WE BELIEVE A GUY WITH A HOCKEY HAIRCUT?

2009-09-07T12:49:00.005-04:00

Levi Johnson apparently has alot to say about Sarah Palin in some upcoming article in Vanity Fair. He claims she watched soaps often on her couch, said she was overwhelmed in the role of Governor, and hinted that Palin's marriage to Todd was perhaps on the rocks. The confusing part is while it's hard to trust anyone with a hockey haircut, the allegations he's allegedly made in the piece seem possible.

Barack Obama talks to the school kids Tuesday. Think he'll borrow and read them "My Pet Goat " the book that George W was reading school kids when an advisor whispered that the 1st tower was hit on 9-11?

Fake Afghan poll sites posted by those loyal to the incumbent Hamid Karzai gave the incumbent hundreds of fake votes in his favor. The fake sites , as many as 800, made up close to 15 percent of the polling sites on election day. Wow, now that's a model of functioning Democracy huh? Just like Tehran was two months back. Maybe we should send Hillary Clinton out to Afghanistan to provide some comfort and understanding. She could repeat her words in Nigeria earlier this month empathizing with Nigerian election corruption by stating that "our Democracy is still evolving" Her words in reference to the Bush Gore election of 2000 and the controversial results in Florida that gave W the White house. Hey, a little empathy goes a long way.

What is it about September that gives a person mixed feelings? It's such a great time of year , especially in NYC. The problem is that Winter follows and then you get mad at yourself for wishing the Summer away so quickly. What bums me out the most is how many friends of mine plan Labor day barbeques and rooftop parties as if they are Lollapalooza. If these same people treated the rest of their hopes and dreams with the same care, the other 364 days of the year, maybe they wouldn't be looking for the same parties with the same people going nowhere this time next year.

W COULD'VE TOLD OBAMA THAT WASHINGTON IS LIKE ONE BIG SUCKER PUNCH

2009-09-06T09:40:00.008-04:00

It's Labor Day. Leave the city and your stuck in traffic for days. We stayed, no not because we're broke and could only have a "Stay-Cation," but to celebrate the end of the Summer of Whining. We also stayed home just to ponder the following:

THOUSANDS PROTEST CHAVEZ:

BOGOTA – Thousands of opponents of Hugo Chavez marched against the Venezuelan president across Latin America on Friday, accusing him of everything from authoritarianism to international meddling.

The protests, coordinated through Twitter and Facebook, drew more than 5,000 people in Bogota, and thousands more in the capitals of Venezuela and Honduras. Smaller demonstrations were held in other Latin American capitals, as well as New York and Madrid.The Honduras march was led by Roberto Micheletti, who became president when Chavez ally Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a June coup.

"Any politician who tries to stay in power by hitching up with a dictator like Hugo Chavez, he won't achieve it," Micheletti said. "We'll stop him."

Stop him? With thousands? We doubt it. There were more people outside of the Bowery Electric hoping to catch the secret Wolfmother show than on the streets of Bogota. You can't take down a ruthless dictator with a crowd that couldn't even sell out the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Colorado once a Republican leaning state turned Democrat thanks to the Obama ground campaign, is now wondering where Obama has gone. The Washington Post reports:

"Today, the energy that powered Obama to victory has begun to dissipate. Some of his supporters remain on the sidelines; others are, if not disillusioned, questioning what has happened to his presidency."

We'll tell you what happened. The GOP found a strategy. Complaining and Disrupting. Whether that translates into winning elections then being effective in office is another story.

The AP reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's adviser Van Jones has resigned amid controversy over past inflammatory statements, the White House said early Sunday.Jones, an administration official specializing in environmentally friendly "green jobs" with the White House Council on Environmental Quality was linked to efforts suggesting a government role in the 2001 terror attacks and to derogatory comments about Republicans.

Jones also said White people shoot up suburban schools, not black people. Add Jones to Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright as the wrong guys for Obama to share the Doritos bowl with at football house parties. Do these types of links hurt a President's credibility? Sure, but only for a brief monent in time. These shmucks are all just temporary sideshows. For the record, it was controversial Fox news host Glenn Beck who helped lead the charge to ruin Jones as of late. Today the pressure that came with the connection to Jones and his volatile opinions became unecessary for the White House to endure any further.

Somewhere George Bush Jr is laughing at Obama's struggles. W came to Washington with the same "reach across the aisle" intent in early 2001. Those hopes lasted 8 months, ending on Sept 11 when W was interrupted from reading his favorite picture book, "My Pet Goat" to schoolkids. Then the "with us or against us" approach became the nation's foundation. Bush Jr could've and probably DID tell Obama that Washington politics is like a sucker punch in the face. while Obama was running on a campaign designed to show voters that he was the Anti -Bush. Honest, clear, transparent, intelligent, and able to get all sides to agree on matters. Ha ha. We're chuckling.

Forget Jones though. The REAL story this Fall will begin if and when Obama changes his tone. With the media, the people, and DC politicians who are trying to bog him down and bring him down. Time to start throwing sucker punches of your own Barry. Or punches at suckers who deserve it.

above :W lets an opponent have it, as a member of the Yale rugby team, circa 1968.

WHAT OBAMA SHOULD TELL THE SCHOOLCHILDREN

2009-09-05T20:10:00.006-04:00

The notion that President Obama is preparing to address schoolchidlren with a televised speech Tuesday to kick off the new school year has many GOP leaning parents up in arms. Charges of brainwashing and recruiting for 2012 by the righties with the kiddies, have been splashed across various news stations. George Bush Sr had the same idea in 1991 in an address to kids to which then Democratic house majority leader Dick Gephardt responded by calling the address "paid political advertising." Today the complaints are the same, but it's the sides that have changed.

More importantly, folks ought to focus on the message. What Obama SHOULD say. Here's a suggestion for Barry:

"Now look, (Obama loves to use the word "look") I'm not here to recite the Canterbury Tales in Middle English like I do during night time addresses for your parents. I AM here to tell you that your parents who act like economists on par with Nouriel Roubini and Pual Krugman, in their forecasts of your impending doom if we pass health care, are the same ones who bought houses they couldn't afford and helped lead us into the shit storm we are in right now. Look, your parents are the same folks who go to Town Hall meetings and claim that MY administration is ruining the Constitution while THEY voted twice for the guy who tapped their phones just to hear about where Mommy and Daddy's unlicensed gun collection was being stored. They voted twice for the guy guy who said "Mission Accomplished" before the mission even started. Before the 900 Billion dollar bill ever accumulated in Iraq. Now look, I'm not coming down on the Bushies kids, I'm just making a point. If your parents were experts, they wouldn't have helped put us in this position by backing the guy who lead us here on his watch. Now get out your #2 pencils and take down this website address. It's www.barackobama2012.com. We accept piggy bank collections provided that you can get yourselves to your local Fed Ex shipping office before 5pm on schooldays. AFTER, of course you finish your homework."

Between the Tea Parties, the Town Hall meetings with the "Death Panel" charges and now the School Speech Affair, it's apparent that the only strategy for the GOP and it's followers is to kick and scream and cry like diapered babies over everything the President says or does. Hey it's understandable. After all, we're talking about a Socialist Hitler who wasn't born in the U.S, and takes his primary viewpoints in life from 60's radical Bill Ayers and the Prejudice Reverend Wright.

At some point during the next three years however, regardless of Obama's obvious Nazi leanings, Republicans might want to figure out what it is that they actually stand FOR. For now at least, it's clear that the "Summer of Whining" will roll out of August and into September. This because the GOP is living off of the hopes that Obama's 47 percent approval rating on the Health Care issue is only a window into the potential for a complete fall from his one time untouchable status, if the strategy of "complaining" continues. With no true candidate to lead them out of the wilderness right now, and no solid party platform to currently get behind , who could blame them?

SHOCK AND AWESOME : THE PENTAGON PAPERS

2009-09-04T12:05:00.004-04:00

Today on Shock and Awesome the fellas escaped Boston and the Ted Kennedy while wondering why Dick Cheney didn't show up for the funeral and if former Red Sawx pitcher Curt Schilling can seriously win his Senate seat? Obamacare. Yawn. Bored of that story.

Summer's out, school's in. Of course at least it's not 1789. What did Thomas Jefferson do without White out while writing the Constitution. That's alot of pressure. The duo's analysis on the matter is the first of it's kind.

Judith Airlick, Producer of the forthcoming documentary "The Most Dangerous Man In America," Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, joined the show today to give listeners a preview into the new footage and Nixon phone tapes that will help reshape one of the biggest stories regarding war, secrecy, and the widening gap between people and government this country may have ever seen. President Obama will soon have to decide whether or not to let investigation and prosecution on Bush era CIA torturers proceed. Who were the whistle blowers whose conscious made them tell the people the truth? Daniel Ellsberg (above) was THAT guy in 1971. He felt Richard Nixon's wrath following the paper's release to the NY Times. The film opens Wed Sept 16 at the NY Film Forum. See Film info.

SHOCK AND AWESOME TRIES TO EXIT BOSTON FINALLY

2009-09-04T09:38:00.004-04:00

The Ted Kennedy story still lingers. Mike Huckabee said he wouldve died earlier under Obama care. Dick "don't call me Richard" Cheney didn't even show up for the funeral. What a Richard. TJ has a story for Boston fans about former Red Sox star Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd as the duo wraps up their coverage of the Kennedy compound for the Summer.

The boys will compare and contrast naughty boys Mark Sanford and Elliot Spitzer as part of their first assignment of the school year, while talking about the brush fires that may sweep Gally Vor Nee a and their Governor into the Ocean.

CURT SCHILLING TO FILL TED KENNEDY'S SEAT?

2009-09-02T20:20:00.005-04:00

The average CEO pay of bailed out banks was 430 times larger than for typical workers who helped bail them out. how is that fair? It's not. Just something to chew on folks while you get ready to make your latest excuse as to why September's rent is late, just like August's was.

Here's a prediction.The only band to go platinum this year will be the Beatles, after Beatles rock band comes out next week. A hall of fame catalog of great songs mashed up with viral technology like video games. Wow. it's over. If Ashley Dupree , Elliot Spitzer's hooke,r can sell her song for a dollar on My Space and make a million bucks as she did when news of her relations with Spitzer first broke, imagine what the Beatles will do when news hits that album's once had complete sides of great material? Just the thought of the Twitter generation's reaction is scary. So is the notion that modern day rock stars, DJ's, are probably armed and ready to re mix songs like Yellow Submarine so that they blend right into Dance club sets alongside Lady Ga Ga and Kate Perry.

Barack Obama plans more hands on leadership with health care including writing elements next week after Summer recess ends. Great, because the President's imitation of Muhammad Ali's famous 1974 Rope A Dope (Ali lying on the ropes not fightnig back ,pretending to be just hanging on for dear life, as opponent George Foreman exhausted himself.) moves may not tire out an opposition that is gaining numbers if the polls are any indication. Obamacare is now at 47 percent approval rating. It's time to start biting ears Barry, like Mike Tyson did against Evander Holyfield in 1997, C'mon the bell is ringing Barry, it's round two now. Switch up the approach.

ABC's anchor Charles Gibson will be retiring after a 34 year stint there. The biggest news he may have uncovered in his entire career was that Sarah Palin could see Russia from her own backyard. Congrats on a long run, Charles. Diane Sawyer takes over as the "World News" anchor in January.

How bout this one: The Huffington Post writes:

"Sam Donaldson and Liz Cheney spiritedly debated the decision by Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate whether or not torture occurred during CIA interrogations of terrorist suspects. Cheney took the position that this matter had already been investigated, with the conclusion being no illegal activity had taken place.Donaldson countered that the investigations had been undertaken by the Bush Justice Department, an agency that became notoriously political during Bush's administration, and that a fresh investigation is needed."

Liz, shush. Your Dad did some secretive shit. Did he not? Now it shouldn't be brought up in this current climate by AG Eric Holder. That's because it's truly not the time or the place to look back. At all. It does nobody good. The country, Obama. Nobody. I'll give you that. But don't tell us that the matter has already been investigated ok? We're not drooling morons. Well ,WE are, but not the rest of the country. Who are you gonna tell us investigated this already Liz, George W's ventriliquist puppet Alberto Gonzalez?

With all of the negative attention he's been receiving, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina said today "now I know how Sarah Palin feels." Mark, it's different. Sarah's family got hit out of bounds by the media during a tough Presidential campaign where amny sought to discredit her and the McCain Palin ticket politically. YOU were playing Twister butt naked, doused in baby oil with a "friend" in Argentina. Again, we don't condone the media digging into the personal lives of Politicians but we already told you what to do. Get on TV and cry hysterically. Apologize. Be vulnerable. PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR YOU MARK. South Carolina residents want you out. If you want empathy don't try and link to Palin's plight, who despite a person's feelings bout her politicially deserved empathy for the endless attacks regarding family matters. If you want empathy you gotta go Jimmy Swaggart style. Ball uncontrollably in Primetime. Forgive me Lord for I have sinned!! Plain and simple. Otherwise shut up and do your job and don't bring the matter up at all.

The recently freed North Korean journalists "tried with all of their might" to not be dragged onto North Korean soil where they could be considered as intruders and open to prison time. They were embarking on a documentary on the female trafficking of North Korean women as sex slaves to China. They feel that perhaps they were set up by their tour guide. Hey we get it don't worry.We often gt and set up and then try "with all of our might,' not to be dragged into dumb Lower East bars, where party escapades increase heavily in odds once you cross Southbound on Houston and Essex . The next time when we get caught in some idiots apartment when the sun ain't shining, WE should call Bill Clinton to rescue us. It's hard to escape those places sometimes. We'll be thankful for the help from the Ex Prez. Dreary shit hole party pads start to feel like Downtown gulags as the hours pass, and the ability to leave lessens by the minute.

Former Red Sox star pitcher Curt Schilling filling Ted Kennedy's Senate seat is the rumour of the day. Big shoes to fill we must say, even for the guy with the bloody sock. Hey but wait,Ted was a die hard Red Sox fan. As for any historical precedence, Jim Bunning, the long time Senator of Kentucky, did once throw a perfect game for the Phillies in 1964. In other words it's not inconceivable for a Major league pitcher to make it to the Congress, because it's been done. The real problem is, Schilling never threw a perfect game .OR even a no hitter. He came within one out a few years back but it got broken up by Shannon Stewart. Shannon Stewart? Exactly. You can't be one out away and let a guy with two first names ruin it. Proper credentials ought to be a big part of the conversation when filling the shoes of the Lion of the Senate. Just something to consider.

SUMMER OF WAKES

2009-09-01T19:38:00.005-04:00

Having already lived through Michael Jackson’s death this summer I found it very difficult to expend anymore days watching Edward Kennedy’s burial play out on national television. He was a great legislator that served as a bookend of history, and he did deserve the gracious send off if for nothing else being the only Kennedy brother the country got to see grow old. Still, I could not bring myself to sit down and watch the two-day event for the simple fact that I thought privacy should have been extended to the Kennedy family after the point that Senator Kennedy’s body left his brother’s presidential library. Very personal speeches given from family members and close friends are not built for national television and broadcasting them often trivializes the true emotion, pain, and grief that the speakers are experiencing. Case and point is the speech Brooke Shields gave at the Staples Center for Michael Jackson. I cringe at the thought of pundits evaluating and critiquing these very personal accounts in real time. I can’t imagine what is going to happen when we lose a sports icon the size of Michael Jordan. ESPN will probably run a 48 hour live feed with Marv Albert and Mike Tirico giving color commentary while Hubie Brown and Jeff Van Gundy use their Wacom pens to draw X’s and O’s as well as pick and roll graphics on top of the procession.

In studying the shots of the packed church in Boston for Edward Kennedy I was more surprised with who skipped the event than with the caliber of those who attended. Notably absent from the gallery that included most of the powerful members of congress, most of the sitting cabinet, the CIA director, 3 former presidents and the current one, was Dick Cheney. To me, that proves just what a partisan hack Mr. Cheney is. George W. Bush came to pay his respects. John McCain, who arguably has the sourest taste of partisan politics in his mouth, was present. Dan Quayle made it out from whatever potato he lives under these days. President George H. W. Bush did not attend because of his health, but sent along a note with Mr. Quayle. Where was Mr. Cheney? Simple, he was on Fox claiming that Attorney General Eric Holder’s probe into the CIA’s Inspector General’s report is completely political.

I find it interesting that the man who was part of the administration that politicized the Justice Department more than any administration in our nations history is out throwing stones on the issue. Just maybe the justice department during the Bush administration over looked facts in the CIA torture cases because it was politicized in the opposite direction. Until we have a Justice Department and Inspector Generals who are independent from the White House we will never know truly where their allegiances lie. I do know one thing for sure however, and that is that the top brass structured the torture regimen outlined in the IG report and it is the latest in a series of examples where the federal government has taken the war on terror too far.
If in protecting the country from “terror” we destroy the very fabric it is made of, is the war worth it?

The Bush and Obama administrations have presented the country with a false choice between security and civil rights. There are technologies out there like those made by Alex Karp of Palantir Technologies that allow us to mine date, monitor terrorists, and protect civil liberties all at the same time. Oh, and Palantir can uncover patterns that terrorists don’t even know that they are leaving. Therefore we can continue to thwart their plans even after they change their habits after watching others fail, and the best part is that all intelligence gathered by Palantir happens on the front end so that in the future we will be able to prevent the types of 9-11 attacks on our country that Dick Cheney allowed.

SANFORD MAY NEED TO PULL A JIMMY SWAGGART

2009-09-01T17:06:00.006-04:00

Some GOP folks love the idea of Dick Cheney running for President in 2012, according to the Huffington post. Hey he definitely fits a Republican candidate's profile at least since Ronald Reagan in 1980. Cheney''s had less than six heart attacks AND he's under the age of 90. There's also former Reagan Secretary of State Alexander Haig who after Reagan was shot in March of 1981 told reporters "i am in control here. This of course while overlooking that the Constitution called for VP George Bush to temporarily take over as POTUS. Perhaps thats just ancient history and Haig is truly ready NOW. Alright, he may be a bit rusty as far as the Beltway goes, but look, at least he's only 85.

Elliot Spitzer, according to the NY Post may be eyeing a run at something in 2012. The state Senate seat occupied by appointed Senator Kirtsen Gillebrand could be that something. Spitzer has reinvented himself to some degree, by not only stepping down, but by offering analysis and opinions on news channels, even writing pieces for publications such as Slate Magazine. A sound economic reputation will also help the guy who cheated on his wife with a hot prostitute. Which is none of our business but hey this is not the JFK 60's, where trysts could be known by the media yet not written about in order to protect a public figure's reputation. Not anymore people! Decency is over. Class? Ha! Respect? Please!! We got cell phone camera pics, twitter feeds, facebook posts, and pictures galore at sites such as lastnightsparty.com. Privacy? Forget it. If you are doing something BAD, we'll know about before you're even finished doing it.

Which brings us to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford who has, as of late thwarted the attempts to pressure him into resigning for banging an Argentinian reporter behind his Wife's back. AP reports that half of SC wants him to resign according to a new poll. The similarity between Spitzer's mistake and Sanford's is that both cheated on their wives while in office. The difference is that Spitzer stepped down. Sanford on the other hand tries to fight through the mess while still in office.

Sanford might want to as CBS sports anchor legend Warner Wolf likes to say "go to the video tape" and look back at other embattled players who also chose to weather the storm by going public, in order to win over more support. The famous "Checkers" speech that Ike forced Nixon to give in 1952, freed Tricky Dick from the threat of being taken off the GOP ticket over alleged "improprieties relating to a fund established by his backers to reimburse him for his political expenses. (Wikipedia)" Nixon then won over sympathy by going over his salary and personal expense report on TV before saying that the only gift he received was his dog Checkers and by golly he was gonna keep it. Who could argue with the intentions of a dog lover like Nixon (his next dog famously hated him in the White House years later)?

In 1988 Jimmy Swaggart the Televangelist pioneer was known to have hooked up with a New Orleans prostitute (though she says they never had sex. Poor Swaggart. No sex. ever. Yea THAT'S normal) , went in front of his TV audience and broke down hysterically crying saying "I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness." Swaggart got a 3 month suspension. Had he not been caught with another hooker in 1991 again, Swaggart would have regained his reputation to a large degree. OK OK not the perfect template but wait, what about Slick Willie Clinton's "I did not have sexual relations with that woman?" Clinton REDEFINED what sex was. Considering the charges of impeachment facing him at the time, one has to agree that this reinterpretation under such pressure, was one of his greatest achievments in eight years.

The point is, its 2009. Everything and anything is fair game. People love to watch the big dogs fall only to listen to them beg on their knees before propping them up again. Sanford just has to play into this a little bit. Now the same doesn't seem to go for to Spitzer at this point ( polls show him ahead of Gillebrand right now) but for the guy who was really only saved by the insane Micheal Jackson coverage, it may be time for a big Cryingpallooza on TV. Just for Sanford to insure himself that this Summer ends with a bang. No, not the kind of bang he found in Buenos Aires. Rather, the kind of bang that denotes keeping a job that may otherwise be in serious jeopardy as we head into the Fall.

MIKE HUCKABEE SHOULD FORGET TV AND JUST START A BAND

2009-09-01T00:29:00.004-04:00

The brush fires in California are out of control. 10,000 people ordered out their homes. Scary. We need water bombs dropped from Air Force planes. Forget Afghanistan for now and besides, that war needs a policy review anyway. How bout a quick break and a new idea. The domestic use of military arsenal.

There's a creepy You Tube video going around that shows Michael Jackson or someone that appears to be him walking out of the coroners ambulance alive! Is this a real life Eddie and the Cruisers story? Was it all staged? What would Larry King do when he hears of this? Oh no, good god, not more CNN exclusive's of King playing capture the flag with Marlon Brando's kid at Neverland ranch. Please. Let's hope this truly is a farce. Rumours spread like California wildfire these days. Whoever did it will have to explain.

What about the guy who kidnapped the 11 year old girl 18 years ago then had two kids with her? Kind of amazing given modern technology, that neighbors didn't realize those tents in the guys backyard weren't worth inquiring about. No cell phone pictures? No curiosity? Bone fragments have now been found there. Expect this wacko to be charged with unsolved murders soon too. Model citizen.

One quick sports note. The Yankees are treating pitcher young "prodigy" Joba Chamberlain like a pitcher on the Staten Island little league team. The Yankee pitcher's 150 inning season limit put on him by team officials is up soon. Last month the team decided to stretch him out in between starts to every 8-9 days. Now he's back to every fifth day but can only pitch three innings No wonder why the retired stars like hall of famer Jim Rice come down on modern day ball players who get paid more in one game than they did for the whole season. Big money makes teams hesitant to let players go all out for fear of an injury ruining a long term investment. Players are afraid to risk injury which in turn would risk giant contracts. Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio?

Mike Huckabee has taken a brief time out from playing bass guitar on the Mike Huckabee show to enlighten us with the fact that Ted Kennedy would have been urged to die earlier under Obamacare. Mike, look, everyone is allowed an opinion.
However, to make a point about Obama care by politicizing the late Senator's passing, is as bizarre as watching you play the Who's John Entwhistle in your makeshift cover band at the tail end of your show. You got good hands though Mike. Maybe you should start a band. Get a hottie on lead vocal. Record labels love that stuff. How bout Sarah Palin? Throw Joe the Plumber on drums and Ted Nugent on lead guitar. Call yourselves Sarah Barracuda and the Meateaters.
You have a platinum selling fan base already. Just a thought while we're on the topic of pulling thoughts out from the depths of our assholes.

TJ AND THE TUX MOVIE CLUB: THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA

2009-08-31T11:58:00.003-04:00

Keep an eye out for this documentary. It's out mid September. The Pentagon Papers, the 1971 release of top secret docs to the NY Times by Vietnam strategist Daniel Ellsberg exposed the government mistakes regarding policy and military strategy in Vietnam.
It also sharpened the blade for an already paranoid Richard Nixon. This episode not only furthered the divide on the domestic homefront between the anti war folks and authorities, it revved up the Oval office to a culture where "plumbers" would now be
welcomed to help stop "leaks." The Watergate break in took place in 1972. see trailer

JENNA BUSH HAGER AS DEAN MARTIN

2009-08-31T11:22:00.005-04:00

The President is back in DC from the Vineyard and as mentioned in the previous post better have grown some facial hair during his summer break. No more Mr Nice guy please Barry, OK? It starts with the Senate. Those knuckleheads need guidance but first, a smack down. A WWF smackdown. Dive off the top ropes, clothesline the "Death Panel" liars. Pick up a chair and crack the Blue Dog filibusterers over the head. Swing the Far Righties who hide in the corner waiting for 2010 to be over, off of the ropes then run into them with a flying elbow. It's time for Barry the Badass to start kicking ass. The congenial approach needs a vacation now.

That bastion of truth the NY Post, reports that Jenna Bush Hager will work as a part time correspondent on the Today show, reporting on Education. She's a teacher in the Baltimore area. Remember her wild days of trying to out run her Secret Service protection while heading to the bars in DC. Who could blame her for those days? Not us. We'd do the same thing if we were in her shoes, with access to black limos and VIP treatment at the clubs. Sounds like fun actually. Like a video game made for Wii. Drink and Ditch. Run fast and make your getaway car race down Pennsylvania ave. If she IS still partying hard, which we'll assume she's not, the recently married offspring of W could turn the Today segment into an old Dean Martin show type episode. Stand wobbly while holding a highball glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other then then tell a story with a laugh track in the background.

Dick Cheney thinks it's a good idea to re open the conversation on Waterboarding altogether. Um, we don't. In fact, it's the worst idea i've heard of this weekend. It's such a bad line of thinking considering all that is on Obama's plate right now, that if this is a window into the pragmatism of Dick Cheney well then, there's not even a need to read his or W's biography's that will hit the shelves in the coming years. Wait a second, W's may be worth getting. I hear they'll have interactive pop up castles and buttons to press that will make various cartoon and sitcom theme song sounds. Maybe even fart noises.

Mr Kadaffi is not welcome in NJ now, according to Senator but not for long Senator John Corzine. The feelings mutual with Kadaffi who had to be saying to himself "NJ? What the ##%K?!! Hey, what the hell made it ok in the first place ? Even though the former public enemy #1 of the US has since reconciled and even terminated Libya's nuclear program, the damage has been done, no?
Pan Am Flight 103 that killled 270 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 left a permanent mark on the Libyan President here. Regardless of the fact that he looks like he could be in the next rock n roll band that Jack White puts together.

As Jim Morrison once said "Summer's almost gone." He's right again. Gotta live it up while we can beach goers. All those people who can't wait for the Fall and September, better be the ones tough enough to walk around when it's twenty out in December. In other words shut up and don't rush things. You can all wear your Million dollar 70's cop show leather jacket re makes soon enough Soho residents. Patience.

SUMMER VACATION IS OVER, OBAMA NEEDS TO GET TOUGH

2009-08-30T23:05:00.016-04:00

Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said that Obama needs to have a leadership role in the Health Care debate, on CNN's State of the Union with John King Sunday. Hatch is right. The loss of the bipartisan ability of the late Ted Kennedy will make it harder to rely on a Congress that has become more divided by party lines than many can ever remember it being.. The emotional aftermath of Kennedy's passing will not be enough to move the quagmire along either. For Barack Obama, now is the time to take the reins. It's time to lead. Health care reform can be the issue and the template for what the country and the Senate can expect from the Commander in Chief from here on in.

First Obama must take back the authority. He's given it out to a Congress that has proven that it can't enjoy the prosperity of having a the chance to make an impact on its own. For the President, congenial delineation of authority without lending a clear guiding hand has to be over. That may mean putting the gavel down on the extreme notion that if compromise can't be reached, a partisan Health care bill is still an option.

If Obama's approach does NOT change, and Health care becomes a dead issue, then the opposition borne out of Tea Parties and Town Hall meetings will gain in real strength. Real confidence. Not the phony stuff that makes an angry mob appear to be a silent majority. More like the stuff that can make what seemed like a slam dunk second term after a victory in 2012, turn into a whole new political ballgame.

The Summer vacationweek in Martha's Vineyard that ends tonight, should be enough time for Obama to asses his performance and message shaping to date. Let's see how he comes out of the gates when the trip is over. Obama has attempted and exaggerated spreading the power around DC since day one as a way to create distance from the narrow centralized power based approach that defined the Bush approach to many people here and abroad. it's no longer needed. Enough time has passed.

While we're on the topic of the Bush era, let's also suggest that the need for probes into alleged illegal torture methods authorized by the previous administration by Attorney General Eric Holder, should be reviewed before implementation. The President has said that he doesn't want to look back yet in doing so will come off as hypocritical. Then there is Holder, whose job it is to make sure that the rule of law is being followed by our government while former VP Dick Cheney will remind us as he did today on the Sunday morning talk show circuit, that the idea of investigations are simply politically motivated.

That is not to say that Obama should be afraid or intimidated by Cheney or Bush officials. It just that it's worth him being ready to accept that the tighter the grip is made regarding any future code of conduct, the more scrutinized that military "incidents" or misshaps that occur his watch will become as well. The best way to wiggle out of being cornered one day by an Abu Gharib type incident is for Obama to put a stop to the rear view mirror at once. Throwing an indirect verbal slap on the wrist for is enough, using a comment such as "We don't condone torture but we must look ahead." Obama can't waste his time trying to placate to those on the far left who need bloodthirsty revenge on the Bush years. Leave the legal implications against those who tried to keep us safe at all costs in the past. This will help politically by neutralizing GOP claims of diversion, while pragmatically allowing the focus for Washington players to remain on the Health care issue.

The President has to leave Congressional Carrots in Martha's Vineyard and instead, and bring a giant shit kicking stick, back to the Nation's Capital instead. Obama must then knock on Eric's Holder's door and say "Eric, not now, timing is everything." As we've seen this Summer poll ratings change fast. Obama was once untouchable, now he's not. The President's decreased political capital has is not exactly dwindling, but it has become more precious. Not something not to be risked frivolously. For Obama, more will be gained at this time by stepping up his presence through firmer leadership with the Senate, than by taking on a legal issue that brings us back to a time many expected he'd help us forget. Obama has to get tough now by showing who is boss on Capitol Hill, and by saying "no" to anyone trying to put a spotlight on Bush era interrogation practices.

Ted Kennedy Tribute at our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica

2009-08-29T11:15:00.008-04:00

Many of the top Washington players showed up today at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Roxbury for the funeral service of former Senator Ted Kennedy. This was the first time since he died that he wasn't upstaged by pictures of of JFK and RFK, and the unescapable legacy of his brothers. It's about time.

George Bush Jr was there sitting next to Hillary Clinton. Assigned seats we assume. Wonder if they put Attorney General Eric Holder next to CIA director Leon Panetta, given Holder's decision last week to hire special prosecutor to look into Bush era torture methods.

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, W. (Sr was too ill to attend) John McCain, Arnold Sgwarzenagger. They were all there. Where was Dick Cheney? Must have been out shooting his buddies on a hunting trip somewhere. He better have a written note from Scooter Libby as to why he missed this one. I bet Sarah Palin wishes she could have a press conference outside of the church this morning to make the claim that Obama's death panel would have left Ted Kennedy on the outside looking in after being diagnosed with brain cancer last year anyway. Rush Limbaugh too. He's still patting himself on the back for predicting that Kennedy's death would precede any health care bill being passed.

The coverage from the Church on CNN has not had a peep for the last 20 minutes. A far cry from the Apollo theater tribute for Michael Jackson sponsored by Al Sharpton's National Action Network. That tribute was a dance-a-thon hosted inside by the best DJ's from 98.7 highlighted a dirty dancing moment with the Reverend and a female fan while Spike Lee laughed his ass off on stage next to them. Different approaches to tributes in

This church contains the most powerful people in the United States. The street sweeping bomb sweeping dog sniffing units had to be off the charts before this one. This of course is not the right time or place but it would be great to see W get up there and do a slapstick stand up comedy routine. It's just so solemn in the church.

As we discussed on Shock And Awesome Friday on East Village Radio, Kennedy's legislative record has been impressive. Look we all know about Chappaquidick and the drunk gaffes from time to time. in the end though it doesn't feel right to say anything else but RIP Ted, job well done.

THE KENNEDY FAMILY

2009-08-28T13:40:00.002-04:00

One great point raised by a former 1980 Ted Kennedy for president campaign worker on the show today was that Ted's passing finally a "normal" ending for the Kennedy's. Let's hope that tragedies and horrifying moments are in the rear view mirror for America's first family.

Above, the Kennedy family arrives at JFK museum Thursday in Boston

FLOSS STICKS WILL SAVE HEALTH CARE DEBATE: SHOCK AND AWESOME, THE TED KENNEDY TRIBUTE SHOW

2009-08-28T12:13:00.005-04:00

TJ and the TUX have found middle ground for both parties to begin the Health care debate on. Floss sticks. This ingenius notion that could both bring the cost down and insure that personal health and hygiene is maximized was first heard on EVR this morning. This topic of course coming off the heels of the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, who fought his whole political life for the passing of a bill.

The guys interviewed Winchin Chala, a Boston journalist covering the Kennedy saga this week, who shared personal experiences with the late Senator as well as a member of Teds 1980 New Hampshire ground campaign as the "Lion of the Senate" took on incumbent Jimmy Carter.

In discussing the trip to Boston for the memorial the dynamic duo asked each other Where the Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis and Assasination in Dallas exhibits in the JFK museum were. We'll tell you where. They were missing, along with the reasons why these 3 events may be linked. Someone call Oliver Stone it's time to investigate this further.

The show streams all week on www.eastvillageradio.com
above, TJ mans the 1960 CBS news camera on election night

SHOCK AND AWESOME FRIDAY 10am

2009-08-28T09:40:00.005-04:00

Winchin Chala from the Examiner joins the show at 11am to discuss her personal accounts of Ted Kennedy. Billie Joy Joy, once a member of the 1980 Ted Kennedy for president campaign, will share some memories about the campaign. Here is Chala's piece for the Examiner from August 25th.

above, The Tux manning the CBS News camera from 1960 Election night room, at the JFK museum in Boston Thursday.
Shock and Awesome was there to cover the Ted Kennedy Memorial. Both TJ and the TUX were so overjoyed when the results were in and John F Kennedy was declared the winner, that security had to escort them out through the freight elevator.

SHOCK AND AWESOME ROAD TRIP TO TED KENNEDY MEMORIAL IN BOSTON

2009-08-27T22:55:00.003-04:00

The JFK Museum and Library hosted the Ted Kennedy memorial today where his body will lie in repose for the next two days. Shock and Awesome was there, standing on line for what felt like an hour while people wrote novels in the condolence books to the Kennedy family. Passing time while locals told stories about Teds partying ways as if these tales were a Bostonian's badge of honor. The real honor was to have a badass hold their Senate seat for 47 years

Watching the many hundreds wait in in anticipation until the Kennedy motorcade, in full force, arrived at 5pm. No family in American history carries this type of mystique. Maybe Jon and Kate makes eight will one day, but for now...

Prior to the afternoon memorial, we went through the JFK museum. The highlights: The 1960 Nixon Kennedy debate room, the 1960 CBS news election night room, the many confidential papers that were on display, RFKs Attorney General office desk which had so many of his notes and original phone. The lowlights: So little was shown regarding the Bay Of Pigs, The Cuban Missile Crisis, and his assasination. It was almost as if the book hasnt been written on those yet. Know what I mean? I mean the full story. Who did what to whom and how those two issues in Cuba may have affected the evenets of Nov 22 1963 in Dallas. Just a thought.

Check out the show tomorrow. We'll interview a 1980 Ted Kennedy for President campaign staffer as well as some media members who have been covering the Kennedy story in Boston this month.Shock and Awesome www.eastvillageradio.com 10am-12

TED KENNEDY AND THE 1980 CAMPAIGN TRAIL

2009-08-26T19:53:00.002-04:00

"No more hostages and no more Jimmy Carter," were the words out of Ted Kennedy's mouth as he took on incumbent Carter in 1980 in the Democractic Primaries. After losing rather handily to the President whose approval rating was near 30 percent nationally, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan took Kennedy's speech and threw it in a campaign commercial. Watch the ad

Will Gadhafi pitch a tent in NJ

2009-08-26T16:02:00.000-04:00

TED KENNEDY

2009-08-26T13:18:00.010-04:00

The NY times obituary calls the life of Ted Kennedy "gifted and flawed." It started out as a fairy tale. Three Kennedys in Washington. A dynasty was born. Camelot. Then by 1968, after the assasination of RFK 5 years after JFK was gunned down in Dallas, there was only Ted. A senate member since 1962, the "liberal lion" was part of. His biggest fight was for health care. A fight that Senator John McCain said this morning, would have been easier to get bipartisan support on had Kennedy been healthy enough to have been there. The Chappaquidick incident in 1969 in which he drove a car off of a Martha's Vineyard bridge, killing a female companion, essentially ended any hopes for a national top of the ticket run. Kennedy turned down the VP position on the 1972 George McGovern ticket, but did take on the incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980 only to lose handily. Ted made his point though, and his famed "no handshake" with Carter at the Democratic convention sank the already sinking Carter hopes for re election. Then there were the bills he helped get through.The Voting Rights act of 1964, the Disabilities act of 1990, the family and medical leave act of 1997, the Immigration reform act of 2007 , No Child left behind act of 2002, voing NO on the Iraq War

Let's hope that what comes out of Kennedy's passing is more than an emotional reminder that the fight to reform healthcare should not and can not get lost in partisan politics. Someone in the Senate needs to grab the reigns and spearhead the way towards finding a middle ground to work outwardly from. The Ted Kennedy health care bill would be the Massachussets Senator's greatest legacy.It's time. For a look back on his life from the Boston Herald, click here.

above: Kennedy with JFK , RFK. Also pictured with Vietnam vet and 2004 Presidentail candidate John Kerry

OBAMA LOST IN THE TREES ON THE GOLF COURSE AND STUCK IN THE FOREST OF PARTISAN POLITICS

2009-08-25T17:34:00.004-04:00

Let's not mistake the President for Tiger Woods ok? The guy is hooking balls left and right on the Martha's vineyard links where he'll spend the week. It's pretty symbolic seeing a picture of him on the course today stuck under a tree figuring out his next move. He's lost in a forest of trees, old oak trees in Washington, where he's left the health care battle to partisan positioning and
gamesmanship. While the Death panel jargon has died down, player son both sides have hit the trails to win the war of public opinion on Obama care. For the Republicans, out strolled John McCain to tell us that 1 trillion dollars of more debt on our children is not what we need. Of course he and the rest of the GOP can find nothing but futrue debt and death panels to help them stiff arm an obama plan that is still unclear but aims to reduce the rising costs that will continue to hurt employment numbers. This coming from the guy who told us the economy was strong while we all contemplated selling our bodies for rent money last Winter. Keep golfing Barry, no rush back. Truth is, Obama is going top have to risk political capital in one of two ways. By backing up and putting health care off, which will make him appear weak. Or he can flip naysayers the bird, trust his instinct, ask for a reformed version of the millin page plan, sign it, and let the chips fall where they may. I'd rather go out swinging than backpeddling personally.

Attorney General Eric Holder is appointing a special prosecutor to go after Bush era torturers? Who can blame Dick" Darth Vader "Cheney for saying that this proves Obama's mindset puts us all at risk? It's a shrewd politcial ploy by a guy who already got his special assistant Lewis "Scooter 'Libby branded "Asswipe" for life, by being unable to get out in front of the pardon that George W told Cheney to forget about. And you were wondering why Cheney wheelchaired exit stage left away from Bush on inauguration day. The former VP's flipping the script on the torture methods and turning the focus instead to the idea of a soft conciliatory President is a nice measuring stick to the temperature of the status quo. Are the angry mob the majority or just a brilliant Trick Dick Nixon disruption trick rehashed in a new form? Either way, the need to look back and not forwards is a lay up for Republican strategists who will surely call this move a "deflection" by Obama to keep us from noticing that Obamacare is going down the toilet faster than vomit from a late night bender.

Fidel Castro (above) has even chimed in, with his Cuban baseball team warmup suit on, saying its the racist right wing attacking Obama. This could be true. Whats also true is that the right wing nuts Castro talks about are doing cartwheels over the notion that it's Castro, not Americans who understand where his policies are coming from. Socialism, communism, dictatorship. There. now you don't have to watch Sean Hannity tonight folks. I just summed it up for you in the speed of a coffee rush. And hey Fidel, go stretch out and throw a bullpen. You may get to live out your dream at last. The Mets need two starters. Hurry up, get loose.

AWESOME THOUGHTS: CAN ADHD CURE SWINE FLU?

2009-08-24T10:51:00.007-04:00

So ADHD (above) is the new drug of choice on College campuses. The prescription drug for 10-19 year olds is apparently the latest thing. God we're so proud of those college kids continuing on a long tradition of campus life introducing the culture with how and what to abuse for the coming decade.

Speaking of which, I walked by a street book sale and picked up a nothing book called "The Gap" for a buck and loved it! It's 100 pages, takes place in 1968. Both a college student and his 42 year old Uncle spend time in each others circles. The kid goes to Madison ave while the Uncle smokes weed with his nephew and hangs out in Tompkins sq park. Conversations are about Vietnam, the draft, music, hippie culture vs the work world. It's a pre cursor to 70's mega huge show " All in The Family"
which gave the world the lovable bigot Archie Bunker. The book came out the same year as "I Love You Alice B Toklas," a film in which the "square" star Danny Kaye leaves his wife at the alter for a life of smoking weed that extends to a hippie commune in his apartment. Great cult film.

Now waking up today to Washington we see that there are those like Joe Lieberman who suggest as he did on CNN's State of The Union Sunday, that Obama should wait for another year, another time, to get back into health care. Meanwhile rumours about whether to ram the bill through still fly overhead. Town hall meetings across the country continue today. None in Martha's Vineyard where according to right wing mosquito Anne Coulter the Obama's are having their "elitist" summer vacation. Hey Anne, if McCain won, which of the six houses that he didn't know he had would HE be camping out at?

News from Kabul is that the Afghan elections may have been rigged. That's almost as shocking as telling me a horse race was rigged. Those poor bastards at OTB on Manhattan ave in Greenpoint. Imagine if we let them in on that secret. It could crush their whole existence.

Back to thecollege kids. 47 cases have been reported at U of Kansas already. The college heads are telling kids to stay home and commute if possible . Yea right. Don't the school heads know that the sole purpose for most kids in college is to party and get laid? Should be an interesting semester across the country. Can ADHD cure Swine Flu? We're sure the frat boys will give it the old college try after three beer funnels.

That's all for now. Gotta race to the dealer. Cash for clunkers is on the clock. One hour left. My dreams for a hybrid the size of a mini snickers candy bar is fading. Fast.

IS OUR PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN WAR WANING?

2009-08-23T11:29:00.007-04:00

50 percent of Americans polled in an ABC Washington post poll said the now 8 year war in Afghanistan is one not worth fighting. The chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff says in an CBS news article that the President is "still formulating his plans on how to deal with Afghanistan." Yet the goal, defeating the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a country whose terrain is brutally hard to navigate, has been a losing proposition for many who have tried to win wars there before. Ask the Russians who first supported the ruling Democaratic party in 1979 with security form the Muhajideen resistance. 10 years later when they left, the Russian's were staring at their own "Vietnam," a war that starting as a security matter, then escalated into a conflict, ending up in a quagmire.

By adding 17,000 troops as Obama has done in his version of the troop surge, we'll have tripled our forces from 20,000 to 60,000 in the past three years. Reports say the new policy is intended to destroy an Al Qaeda presence that has strengthened in Pakistan. What if it doesn't? Will this then be Obama's Vietnam, if a modest troop increase yields only modest results? Should history be any indicator, maybe we can expect the increase to continue. In 1965 our military presence rose to 180,000 from a mere 16,000 soldiers and advisors in 1964.

From 1965-1968 anti war sentiment was at it's peak. It was during that four year span that yearly marches in Washington helped grow the national attention to the fight taking place over in Hanoi. In 2009 protests will not come in the form of shouts and signs put rather postings on blogs. The strength in numbers of discontent will rear their ugly heads not on streets surrounding the White House, but on twitter and in voter polls taken.

The bigger question will be whether the Obama approach to achieving goals in Afghanistan will be compromised by domestic opinions of the war here in the U.S. If War room strategists should take anything from the Johnson and Nixon administration's experiences during the Vietnam war, they should realize the level of importance an unpopular war can push a party to save themselves from getting buried politically in it's own quagmire. A quagmire of partisan politics and dissent at home.

Fallout from the Afghan elections this past Thursday may affect the strategy as well. If the Taliban is found to have been more than simply an intimidating disruptive presence in the process (they've reportedly chopped off a few voters fingers) more media attention will be directed back towards whether our current strategy over there has been effective in defeating the enemy.

It's too soon to call Afghanistan "Obama's war." He's inherited a war that once kickstarted the War on Terror and has since continued for seven years. Nonetheless, what Obama MUST do, what he has failed to do with regard to health care, is to get in front of the message. The Feeling out process is wearing thin. He needs to stop dancing around the ring and start throwing punches. Both in the Afghanistan policy and in through his comments about it to the American people. Sooner not later. He should use not only the lessons we learned form policy mistakes in 'Nam, but also from communication mistakes he's made by not being clear and direct on the Health care front. He can't afford to be bogged down for the second time in his first year. Being out in front with a solid plan will lend Obama the additional public support he'll be happy to have gained back after a rough August that has hardly resembled the fun of a summer sleep away camp.

SHOCK AND AWESOME LANDS THE INTRO

2009-08-21T12:19:00.004-04:00

It's not always been a smooth landing for the Shock and Awesome guys during the intro of the show. Explosions, wires sparking,
pyrotechnics going off too early. Disco demolition covered carpets. However today, the Shock and Awesome Zeppelin balloon landed smoothly on this, the week of Robert Plant's birthday. Mayorial candidate Bill Thompson admitted to the duo that he was a Met fan in addition to explaining the platform he's basing his campaign against Mike Bloomberg around. The guys created a "Death Panel" that includes among others the Terminator, Charles Manson and Richard Simmons. They also suggested that the Israelis and Palestinians need a corporate retreat and a session provided by Landmark. Shock and Awesome. streams all week.
Also airs Saturday 8am-10am. www.eastvillageradio.com

above, Famed TV producer legend Don Hewitt, who passed away this week, as he prepped the set for the famed 1960 Nixon Kennedy debates.

BURRESS GETS TWO YEARS FOR SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE LEG

2009-08-21T09:33:00.003-04:00

Disgraced football star Plaxico Burress received 2 years with a chance for parole in 20 months for bringing an unlicensed gun to a NYC club and shooting himself in the leg. Sports in society, in these cases pro football, has been a hot topic lately with convicted Michael Vick's signing, hall of famer Brett Favre's unretiring for the 2nd time and now the Burress sentence. Does this odd behavior reflect society that doesn't know which way is up?

LOCKERBIE BOMBER DEBATE

2009-08-21T09:29:00.002-04:00

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahli, the Libyan mastermind of 1988 PAN AM flight 103 that killed 270 people over Lockerbie has been freed on grounds that he has terminal prostate cancer and can die at home. People are outraged. read debate

OBAMA INVOKES FDR IN SPEECH ON HEALTH CARE

2009-08-21T09:23:00.002-04:00

In his remarks at Organizing for America's National Health Care Forum on Thursday, President Obama invoked FDR's battle to pass Social Security, clearly comparing himself to his predecessor in terms of the challenges they faced and the vehemence of the opposition they encountered.

After asserting that the public option was "important," Obama sought to clear up some of the existing misinformation about "death panels" and the cost of reform. That prompted his discussion of his predecessor's legacy, along with JFK and Lyndon Johnson's push for Medicare:

I am absolutely confident that we can get this done, but I want everybody to remember, this has never been easy -- never been easy. When FDR proposed Social Security, all across what was I guess the equivalent of today's Internet, right -- (laughter) -- all the newspapers and the radio shows and all that -- he was accused of being a socialist. He was going to bring socialism to America. How dare he-HUFFINGTON POST

MAYORIAL CANDIDATE BILL THOMPSON ON SHOCK AND AWESOME FRIDAY 10:30AM

2009-08-20T23:35:00.002-04:00

Once dubbed the "stealth candidate," City Comptroller Bill Thompson is picking up the pace and the poll numbers show it.
Mayor Bloomberg's lead dwindled to 10 percent in late July from 22 percent in mid June. Thompson will join TJ and the TUX Friday at 10:30am on Shock and Awesome. Listen live at www.eastvillageradio.com

CASH FOR CLUNKERS TO END MONDAY

2009-08-20T23:19:00.003-04:00

If you have a gas guzzling beater and wanna trade it in for a cash credit and a new ride , hurry the $##% up! The government program ends Monday. read article

TOM RIDGE: TERROR ALERTS RAISED IN 2004 ON PURPOSE

2009-08-20T23:17:00.002-04:00

Former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge in a new book claims that he was forced to raise the terror alerts before the 2004 election. This of course would have been done to dissuade voters from changing the guard to John Kerry while under such security threats. read article

OBAMA "GUARANTEES" HEALTH CARE

2009-08-20T17:16:00.002-04:00

Like Joe Namath famously did in 1969 when he "guaranteed" an improbable Super Bowl victory days before the big game, the President has gone just as bold. Let's see how this unfolds now. read article

AFGHANS VOTE DESPITE MILITANTS

2009-08-20T09:10:00.005-04:00

Hamid Karzai seeks reelection. The Taliban have promised to violently disrupt the process. Voter turnout has been 40 percent lower than the previous Afghan election of 2004, yet some ballot boxes are full anyway. Fraud could bring a whole new set of dynamics to this story. read article

BLASTS IN IRAQ KILL 95 AND WOUND OVER 500

2009-08-20T09:08:00.002-04:00

It's good to see that Iraq has settled in since we announced our troop withdrawal months back. Ugh. read article

TIM PAWLENTY: VOTERS TICKED OFF AND SCARED

2009-08-20T09:03:00.002-04:00

The Republican Governor of Minnesota is known for his strengths in policy. Staying away from the WWF style "Death Panel " argument, Pawlenty who we've brought up before as a 2012 potential for the GOP is beginning to find a place for himself in the National debate on Health care. read article

OBAMA: HEALTH CARE IS A MORAL OBLIGATION

2009-08-19T22:45:00.002-04:00

The NY Times reports that the "President asked religious leaders to help promote his efforts to overhaul the nation’s health care system." Calling the plan to change health care a moral obligation, his recruitment of these religious giants could help in the war of propoganda going on.

Woman Shouts "Heil Hitler!" At Jewish Man Praising Israel's National Health System

2009-08-19T17:41:00.002-04:00

Send laywers, guns and money....the shit has hit the fan!

BARNEY FRANK LAYS A SMACKDOWN

2009-08-19T12:31:00.004-04:00

It's about time Democrats starts telling people they're crazy for comparing Obama to Hitler. Will other dems follow Frank's lead in eradicating the ignorance from the health care debate?

DON HEWITT DIES

2009-08-19T11:45:00.003-04:00

Hewitt produced the famous 1960 Nixon Kennedy debate, the CBS news with Walter Cronkite, 60 Minutes. A giant. A legend. RIO. read article

THE NEXT SARAH PALIN?

2009-08-19T11:39:00.003-04:00

Rising GOP star , New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte is a gun loving mother of two with her eyes on a Senate seat. read article

THE HEALTH CARE "NUCLEAR OPTION"

2009-08-19T10:42:00.004-04:00

Rumblings in the media have the White House considering as an option the "nuclear option" on the health care issue. This being the notion of simply ramming Obamacare down the throats of Congress, and hope for a one vote victory. This will take complete cooperation by Dems. It would make sense that the Blue Dogs temperature is being taken right now should this drastic tactic be taken as a way to get something done.

It would be a shame if both parties couldn't make adjustments and come up with a compromise that improves the system somehow in the rush to get something done.The impatience on the part of Obama to get a bill on the table is due to the 2010 Congressional elections that will force Congress members to vote along the lines of their constituency, making it a political and career risk not to. If all of the Democrats are on board though, it's over. Like it or not.

However, it seems as though they are not all on board. In fact the message out of Washingtonin recent days has been messy. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the public option was "not essential" to which Press Secretary Robert Gibbs answered "she misspoke." Sebelius has since changed her tone but the first order of operation before any "nuclear option" is seriously considered, is to get the administration on message. Then, Ii Obama truly likes what he is reading in the gazillion page plan, he'll have to expend alot of political capitial to get leery Dems on his side in order make this happen.

AFGHAN ELECTION PRIMER

2009-08-19T10:39:00.004-04:00

Meet the candidates for Thursday's election. The field is vast. The threat of the Taliban disrupting polling areas, and creating fear in people to come out and vote is no secret. Democracy tries to fight it's way through the muck in the Middle East. Will President Karzai remain the face of the country? read article

ROBERT NOVAK DIES AT 78

2009-08-19T10:30:00.002-04:00

"the Prince of Darkness" is gone. Conservative writer and journalist for the past half century, Novak's signature line "Always love your country, but never trust your government," summed up his approach to investivagive journalism, a job he loved and was proud to have partaken in.

Novak's stamp on recent politics will be his media outing of Valerie Plame as a CIA agent in 2003. Plame, U.S Ambassador Joe Wilson's wife, had her identity made known to Novak, through Richard Armitage, some feel through Dick Cheney's office as a way to stifle Wilson, whose op ed piece in the NY Times challenged the administration's claim that Iraq had enriched uranium. Enriched uranium was the main reason that the White House felt it just to invade Iraq as a matter of national security. Scooter Libby, Cheney's chief of staff, took the fall as charges of obstruction of justice and perjury were laid on him. His sentence was later commuted by President Bush but Libby was never pardoned, a bone of contention still to this day between Bush and Cheney. read article

WHITE HOUSE WILL TRY AND REFRAME THE MESSAGE ON HEALTH CARE

2009-08-19T10:26:00.004-04:00

The biggest problem that the Obama squad is having is that they have lost control of the message on health care. They've let the opposition frame it as: hazardous to future generation bank accounts, dangerous for the elderly who may face "death panels," and a glaring exampleof Socialism. Well that's about to change as the White House tries to take the lead again in the fight for people's hearts and minds. read article

TOP DEMS CALL PUBLIC OPTION ESSENTIAL

2009-08-18T09:38:00.002-04:00

Nancy Pelosi is among the top Dems who call a public health care option essential. This comment comes after the confusion caused by the mixed messages over the weekend. Health care secretary Kathleen Sebelius deemed that a public option is not an essential element to reform to which press secretary Robert Gibbs responded "she misspoke." Pelosi is now helping to lead the charge back to where Obama started this Rock n Roll Town hall tour. read article

MAN BRINGS GUN TO OBAMA PROTEST

2009-08-18T09:36:00.003-04:00

It's in the 2nd amendment. The right to bear arms at Presidential Town Hall meetings.

read article

North Korea to Reopen Its Border to the South

2009-08-18T08:08:00.005-04:00

Pretty soon you will start seeing travel advertisements for North Korea on late night television -Looks like NK is allowing South Korean citizens to travel across the 38th parallel to visit family members they have been seperated from since 1953. Who has family members that are still alive from the 50's over there, and how have they been staying in contact? Can South Koreans send mail to North Korea? Im pretty sure North Koreans dont have email accounts. Is there a google.NK that only allows Kim Jong-Il's face to be on the home page? read here.

Memos Show Nixon’s Bid to Enlist Brazil in a Coup

2009-08-18T07:54:00.003-04:00

New released documents show that Richard Nixon and General Emilio Medici of Brazil discussed the overthrow of Salvador Allende, Fidel Castro, and all other leftest regimes in South America. I wonder how Hugo Chavez is going to react to finding out both his dear neighbors are in bed with the "Great Evil". Everyone already knows that Colombia will do the U.S.'s bidding because we give them billions of dollars in aid every year to "fight" the drug trade, but the relationship with Brazil was still unclear. The US has been following the Monroe Doctrine in South America since it was instated by the 5th president James Monroe. Any threat in South America will be unilaterally delt with by any means neccessary. read here.

DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show

2009-08-18T07:50:00.003-04:00

Even precious DNA evidence can be manipulated a recent study found. Our criminal justice labs are already overused and outdated. Now they are going to have to contend with bio-criminals who can genetically frame someone at the scene of the crime. FUCK! read here.

Whole Foods Fight

2009-08-18T07:30:00.003-04:00

John Mackey, the chief executive of Whole Foods, put out his own plan for healthcare reform over the weekend. Alhough his reforms arent complete, they will add much needed improvements to the system. He is for, among other things, tort reform, removing state laws that reduce private insurance company competition, and increasing tax deductions for those who want to donate money to needy families for health insurance. It seems however that John forgot exactly which company he is running becuase while his ideas are desperatly needed the solutions he proposed fall on the right side of the spectrum. All the organic food buying hippies that drive BMW hybrids are livid. The hate mail written on recycled paper is just pouring in, and people are threatening to stop purchasing $80/bottle free trade hand lotion made by sexually progressive nuns in El Salvador just to spite John's ideas. read here.

CREDIT CARD DEBT SOARING

2009-08-17T13:52:00.002-04:00

Credit card debt is soaring but now companies will be forced to allow three weeks before due date, not two for customers to pay their bills. I've already voiced my personal concern from experiences as a Bank Of America cardholder. I won't go as far as calling late fees turned insane defaults rating a scam, but I will say that credit card companies have in the past done everything in their power to see to it that bills are not payed on time. And they are NEVER wrong. Here, Terry Savage writes in the Chicago Sun Times on the matter. read article

SHOULD THERE BE A FAT TAX?

2009-08-17T10:44:00.003-04:00

We've brought it up on the show before. whether or not there ought to be a fat tax. Obesity creates health issues which drive up the cost of overall health care. however, there are also those whose weight issues are hereditary or metabolism driven. What to do? How bout tax crappy junk food and make fruits and veggies cheaper for one? read article

MIXED MESSAGE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON HEALTH CARE

2009-08-17T10:15:00.004-04:00

Health sec Kathleen Sebelius said a public option is not essential. PRess secretary Robert Gibbs said she misspoke. President Obama has been touring the country touting the fiscal value of a public option. What the hell is going on? This article wonders that as well. read article

TOP GAME THEORIST TRIES TO PREDICT IF IRAN WILL GET A NUKE

2009-08-17T10:05:00.002-04:00

NYU Prof Bruce Bueno De Mesquita is one of the worlds top game theorists and political prognosticators. He's worked with the CIA since the 80's. Check out what he's up to now and his take on Iran getting nuclear bombs. read article

AS HIPPIES PARTIED: MEANWHILE IN 'NAM

2009-08-17T09:46:00.003-04:00

Richard Kolb makes an excellent point that on the weekend of Woodstock we lost 100 American in Vitenam. 100 brave individuals who put society over self, half of whom were volunteers. Never applauded for their efforts while the "defining moment of a generation" was happening thousands of miles away. Is the cultural divide between those who support the wars we are in and those who oppose them as great as it was in 1969? read article

IS THE GOP GAINING STEAM AS HEALTH CARE SPUTTERS?

2009-08-16T22:01:00.005-04:00

Politico is making the argument that the GOP is gaining steam off of the sputtering health care drama. Before we go ahead and start showering the GOP with praise in their attempts to thwart Obama care let's picture what immigration reform will look like. Yeesh. You think the health care fight is bad? This is a party that had no answer for the personal appeal of Obama in 2008 and has now found it's voice. By disrupting Obama's attempts to push forward at what some feel is too quick of a speed. The truth is , with 2010's mid term elections on the way, Obama gambled that now was the best time to go for health care. Not AFTER the mid terms when his approval rating would be left up to speculation.

Approval for Obama care is 43 percent, disapproval is at 49. In the game of politics , where people don't matter, but winning power does, maybe the GOP has gained a little steam. The steam will sputter though, if they don't have any ideas other than getting in the way of someone else's . That trick can only fool people for so long.

above:Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty

OBAMA RIPS CRITICS IN COLORADO

2009-08-16T11:15:00.002-04:00

Here is NPR version of Saturday's Town Hall meeting . read article

SEBELIUS: PUBLIC OPTION NOT ESSENTIAL

2009-08-16T11:11:00.003-04:00

Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that a public option is not the essential issue with the health care overhaul and that according to the AP:

The White House indicated it could jettison the contentious public option and settle on insurance cooperatives as an acceptable alternative, a move embraced by some Republicans lawmakers who have strongly opposed the administration's approach so far.

Still want to call Obama Hitler and a Socialist? He crushed it in Colorado yesterday, finally making hi spoint clearer while rebutting opposing view with grace and easy to follow thoughts. read Obama's Grand Junction, Colorado Town Hall transcript.

TJ WITH JOHN SEBASTIAN OF THE LOVIN SPOONFUL

2009-08-16T11:07:00.003-04:00

Do You Believe In Magic? Yes. Above, TJ with the the great John Sebastian of the Lovin Spoonful Morrison Hotel Gallery for the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival which took place 40 years ago this weekend.

OBAMA IN COLORADO FOR TOWN HALL MEETING

2009-08-15T18:23:00.002-04:00

The reason Health Care is under pressure and being pushed is because in September, other issues like climate control will be on the table. The closer we get to 2010 the closer we get to the Mid term election campaigns. In other words, bye bye voting for issues from the heart, hello voting for or against issues in accord with constituents just to win elections. watch stream

WOODSTOCK AUG 15 1969

2009-08-15T11:07:00.002-04:00

40 years ago today, half a million people with a collective conscience drove to Max Yagsurs farm in Woodstock NY for a three day festival of sex drugs and rock n roll. It has been said that this festival did not epitomize 1969 but was only a reprieve from it. A moment where the people did it THEIR way.

Without the inner city violence, the racial violence, Vietnam. Three days of some of the greatest musical rock n roll acts to ever grace one stage together. The story of Woodstock is worth checking out. The famous documentary "Woodstock" is epic. Check it out.

OBAMA WEEKLY ADDRESS ANSWERS HEALTH CARE OPPOSITION

2009-08-15T11:06:00.004-04:00

CAR BOMB IN KABUL

2009-08-15T11:01:00.002-04:00

Here we go. Days before Afghan elections, the disruptions have started. This one in the form of a car bomb near the International security forces building. So predictable. So sad. August 20 is the day we hope to watch democracy Afghani style take hold.

GRASSLEY WAS FOR SO CALLED DEATH PANELS IN 2003

2009-08-14T20:19:00.002-04:00

Typical politicking. Vote for it when it benefits you. Call it the devil when it helps politically. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley who is scaring the daylights out of people warning them of the Obamacare "death panel" provision for elders, was in favor of the same provision in 2003. read article.

MAD MEN SEASON THREE DEBUTS SUNDAY

2009-08-14T20:08:00.004-04:00

The 1960's advertising world of Madison ave. Men in great suits. Hot women in great dresses. The office drama, the highballs, the cigarettes. Emmy Award winning Mad Men returns for a 3rd season Sunday in much anticipation. The show is a time warp to a point in American history on the brink of cultural change. With the 40th anniversary of Woodstock hours away, we couldn't help but take notice of a show that snapshots the early inklings of the Sixties counterculture, while it says goodbye to the fifties mindset. Liberation and revolution would soon be on the way but not in 1963 , where season 3 kicks off on AMC Sunday. go to preview

SHOCK AND AWESOME SHOW : WOODSTOCK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY

2009-08-14T12:18:00.004-04:00

August 15, 1969 was the day rock n roll and culture collided like they may have never had before. The Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967 may have broken ground for the big outdoor potential. Woodstock then took it over. Half a million people, a three day free concert, a hall of fame lineup, and in many ways a statement about the unity of the counterculture vehemently againstthe government's policies in Vietnam.

Shock and Awesome also covered the controversial Michael Vick signing, Hillary Clinton's

controversial comments in the Congo, and the Town Hall meeting, that rage on like a WWF tour.The show re airs Sat 8am -10am and can be heard as well in the archive section. Go to www.eastvillageradio.com

SQUEAKY FROMME RELEASED

2009-08-14T12:13:00.001-04:00

The former Manson girl who attempted to shoot President Ford in 1975 was released today, after 34 years behind bars. read article

VICK PRESS CONFERENCE

2009-08-14T12:07:00.004-04:00

Michael Vick's 11am press conference regarding his jail time, reinstatement, and regret. The debate is out and the intensity rages on. Protests are expected at the Philadelphia Eagles practice facility , where Vick will join the team. This artists rendition (above) shows the viewpoint of harsh violent viewpoint of those who see Vick's crime as unforgivable. Vick, to his supporters, will be painted as a guy who has repayed his debt with jail time and was an unfortunate product of a culture of dogfighting as a child. watch press conference

SHOCK AND AWESOME TODAY 10AM-12

2009-08-14T09:41:00.003-04:00

Obama is in some shit, the return of Michael Vick, Hillary's being a prick, does Lady Gaga have a dick? of course not. Oh, the absurdity of it all. Today on Shock and Awesome. 10am-noon www.eastvillageradio.com

above, Tux on 2nd ave

VICK SIGNS WITH EAGLES: WAS IN JAIL FOR 18 MONTHS FOR RUNNING DOGFIGHTING RING

2009-08-14T09:37:00.003-04:00

The controversy has not even started yet. The Philadelphia Eagles may have put a target on their backs bigger than the one that Dallas and the Giants already have for them every year by signing Michael Vick. The one time football star was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to charges of running a dog fighting ring where many dogs were executed and maimed shamelessly. Many Eagles fans are torn now as the emotion of cruelty to animals quickly rises to the surface now that Vick is back. Was it too soon? Has he showed that he is a changed person and sorry for his actions? A major 60 Minutes piece with Vick will air Sunday. read article

GIULIANI: OBAMA FAILING TO ELAD

2009-08-13T20:42:00.002-04:00

Where has Rudy been since his one state primary run? Who knows but the one time NYC Mayor and one time GOP favorite until he crapped out in political nano seconds back in 2008, is out on the town now. He's telling Politico that Obama has not taken the lead on the health care issue. Fair enough. read article

HILLARY BLUNDER #2: COMPARES NIGERIAN ELECTIONS TO BUSH GORE

2009-08-13T15:25:00.002-04:00

Africa is not treating Hillary Clinton well. Days after she got testy over a misread question asking her for husband Bill's opinion (the questioner, a university student, has said that the question was intended to say Obama. Nerves or lost in translation perhaps) she compared Nigerian political corruption to recent moments in our past. Right or wrong regarding Florida 2000, this is not the kind of topic a Secretary of State needs to be exploring, here, there or anywhere. Obama must be loving his former campaign challenger acting out in frustration lately. A scolding may be in order soon. read article

"As you may remember, in 2000 our presidential election came down to one state where the brother of one of the men running for president was governor of the state. So we have our problems too." -Hillary Clinton

GIBBS GETS TESTY DURING PRESS BRIEF

2009-08-13T15:06:00.002-04:00

Press secretary Robert Gibbs was firm in his commitment to explain that "pushing back" on the opposition to health care is alot in part to the misinformation being spread out there. He was testy during an exchange with one reporter who suggested that random e mails are being sent to citizens pushing the White house health care plan, that didn't sign up for these e mails ( You mean junk mail? Wow, that's breaking news). Gibbs also tried to echo the sentiments of the President that these harsh exchanges at Town Hall meetings are not representative of both Town Hall meetings in general, and the mood of the country. read transcript

INTENRAL MEMO TO PHARMA CONFIRMED

2009-08-13T15:04:00.002-04:00

Well, both have been denying an under the table situation going on but the Huffington Post claims that they know something we don't know. Shady stuff in Washington? Not possible.

Pharmagate is next. read article

MUPPET DIPLOMACY

2009-08-13T10:57:00.002-04:00

Daoud Kuttab, executive producer of "Shara'a Simsim," knows that the Muppets are highly effective communicators. "Anything the Muppets do, anything they say, any idea they transmit, the children accept." A show where Muppets teach kids non violence?

That's right!This from the Sesame Street creators for the Palestinian territories. Catching kids attention, as an alternate to harsh things they were being taught. Propoganda in the form of Muppets. read article

CHENEY'S FRUSTRATIONS WITH BUSH EXPECTED TO BE IN 2011 MEMOIR

2009-08-13T10:44:00.002-04:00

Former VP Dick Cheney is not sorry and will not apologize for much if anything. His zeal is applauded by advisors, even to this day. Getting personal in his upcoming memoirs however, would be out of character according to former White House spokesman during the early Bush years Ari Fleischer. Yey that's what Cheney is apparently going to do in his memoir, set for a Spring 2011 release. Daughter Liz Cheney says that her dad is a lover of history and sees this as a book his grandchildren will one day read. Might as well set the record straight. Cheney was not happy about Bush's softer, conciliatory approach during his second term and was very upset when Bush wouldn't pardon Scooter Libby over the infamous Valerie Plame affair. Other topics will be tackled for the first time as well. Hurry up 2011! read article

OBAMA RHETORIC VS OBAMA DEAL MAKING

2009-08-13T08:27:00.001-04:00

There are two Obama's in this NY Timest article. The public face Obama and the one who negotiates behind the scenes. read article

Blago.com

2009-08-13T07:38:00.002-04:00

Looks like Rod Blagojevich is back with a website dedicated to himself. listen to blago's radio show and check out the "news" section where he lists press releases about who recently joined his legal team. enjoy

Man gropes Minnie

2009-08-13T07:08:00.000-04:00

STEELE LAUGHS AT SPECTER SPECTACLE

2009-08-12T23:21:00.004-04:00

GOP leader Michael Steele burst out laughing after viewing a clip where Arlen Specter said those angry town hallers are not representative of America. The joke may be on Steele though. The loudest people on the 2008 campaign trail were Ron Paul supporters according to CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin. How did Ron Paul's bid for the Presidency end up? Like a blip on the screen.Let's see where this all ends up in September. How much will the angry mobsters truly affect the legislators mindsets when recess is over? Who knows but you gotta admit, it's been entertaining. The blockbuster hit of the Summer in some ways.

GRASSLEY: YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FEAR GRANDMA DEATH PANEL

2009-08-12T18:04:00.002-04:00

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has really made things interesting. This is now the first top level Washington player who has come out and claimed the "death panel" rumours are worth fearing. read article

ROVE UNDER FIRE

2009-08-12T10:17:00.002-04:00

McClatchy Newspapers' Marisa Taylor reports:

"Karl Rove and other top officials in the George W. Bush White House were deeply involved in pushing for the ouster of several U.S. attorneys, notably including one in New Mexico, according to testimony and e-mails that the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee released Tuesday.

"Sworn testimony from former White House Counsel Harriet Miers revealed that Rove considered former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias of New Mexico a 'serious problem' and 'wanted something done about it' because of complaints about politically sensitive investigations that Iglesias had mounted. Miers said that she couldn't recall whether Rove specifically demanded Iglesias' firing during a 2006 conversation, but Iglesias was fired later that year.

"Miers' testimony and e-mails between White House officials contradict Rove's assertion that he was merely a passive "conduit" to the Justice Department for complaints from Republican operatives and wasn't himself an advocate for the administration's eventual ouster of nine U.S. attorneys."

"House Democrats turned over to federal prosecutors thousands of investigative documents Tuesday, alleging they are evidence of impropriety by Karl Rove and other Bush White House officials in the controversial 2006 firing of nine U.S. attorneys," adds the Wall Street Journal's Evan Perez.

"It remains far from certain whether the 5,400 pages of emails and other documents released Tuesday contain information that would help prosecutors bring criminal charges against Mr. Rove, who served as former President George W. Bush's political adviser, or against any other former Bush officials.

MORE ON THE ANGER REGARDING HEALTH CARE

2009-08-12T10:03:00.004-04:00

This is the gentleman who threw a shitstorm fit at Arlen Specter's Town

Hall meeting in Pennsylvania yesterday. The rant was classic TV soundbite shock jock material but once again lacked any detail. So much misinformation. So much fuzzy math going around. So much anger. Where is this anger at Obamacare really coming from? Has the nation ever been this mad over the idea of a bill?

Alot of the anger at Town Hall meetings has to be bigger than Health Care. It's about opposition to where Obama sees the country going, who will pay for it. Disagreement is normal. Dissent is a right. Yet let's remember the next time a Republican takes office and wonders why the the Dems have hatred in their eyes too. George Bush Jr felt this wrath in 2000 as he himself tried to reach across the aisle. Partisanship is the biggest wedge in the country. Forget the isms. The nonsensical blind adherence to a political party too often makes a mockery out of our system and makes individuals come off like jackasses (see photo above).

Be upset but shout with purpose, knowledge, direction and focus. Have a better plan to contribute and do it in a way that doesn't insult, but respects those who may not agree initially.

DEBUNKING THE "KILL GRANDMA" SCARE TACTIC

2009-08-12T09:54:00.003-04:00

Let's just make this easy for you GOP strategists. Help sum things up a bit. Condense. Here we go. Barack Obama is a racist Nazi who wants to not only make Ameirca socialist , he wants to kill grandma as a way to cut back on the cost of health care. There. Now run with it fellas. It flows well off of the tongue, try it.

Now, for those who aren't complete dipshits...ya know..shmucks that believe that only the one who yells the loudest,that presidents from the other party have to be like Hitler, here's a look into the Dems PR attempts to debunk lies, myths and ridiculous exaggerations. The health care plan needs fine focus, details, and alot of adjusting. It does not include an elderly death squad though. read article