Center Left Radio

For Vs. Against : The Friday Show

CLR show 1953. Air Date August 2, 2024. The core themes of both the democratic and republican campaigns have been established and it couldn't be more disastrous for the republicans. They are all about fear, division and retribution. The Harris campaign is about hope, inclusion and building America. And all of this before Kamala even announces her VP pick, or the democrats hold their convention. Recall that, even with the recent attempt on Donald's life, the republicans saw no bounce whatsoever from their convention, the worst of all political signs. But Kamala's campaign cannot simply be a contrast in feelings. There must be an intense focus on democratic policies, both as they have and will make the country better and stronger and how they differ from the democracy defeating non-policies of Donald and his ilk. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.     

A Visitor's Perspective

CLR Show 1952. Air Date July 30. 2024.  A visitor from Betelgeuse converses with a group of non-Trumpians, trying to make sense of why anyone would vote for convicted felon Donald in a country that calls itself a democracy. His conclusion: Donald's supporters are part of a cult that denies and defies all norms of conventional politics and behavior.  If they understand that putting him in power would mean deconstructing their government and Constitution, it's of no concern––because the cult leader says it's Ok and, what the hell, he was elected president once before. The only way out of imploding the country is for democrats to vote in unprecedented numbers on November 4th. And even then, the cult leader and his cultists will fight the results in any way they can. And it will get ugly. But not as ugly as destroying American democracy. 

The Bump That Never Was : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1951. Air Date July 26, 2024. Between the Republican National Convention and voter concern over Donald's attempted assassination it would be reasonable to expect Donald and republicans generally to have experienced a significant bump in their numbers. This is typically the case for American political parties. But just the opposite has happened. What was a 4-point lead over Biden nationally, before and after the RNC convention has evaporated into a dead heat or a one-point trailing of Harris just 2 days into her campaign. What should have been a net 10-point bump can be validly construed as a 15-point lost opportunity deficit. Harris has the wind to her back, a positive message for the country and is rapidly re-coalescing the traditional democratic winning constituency pool. Net, net: This election could produce a 1972 McGovern-like disaster for Donald and his minions. (But we'll play the games just the same!) With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.      

'What A Difference A Day Makes...'

CLR Show 1950. Air Date July 23, 2024.  In the space of 24-hours the newly minted Kamala Harris presidential campaign has raised more than $100 million dollars, shattering all presidential fund raising records and witness to a conscious choice of hope over hopelessness on the part of democrats nationwide. Donald and his boy Robiin are now reduced to railing against hope, not a physically declining Joe Biden. It will be lies and grievances against truth and hope. And this is, literally, just day one. 

'Darkest Before The Dawn' : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1949. Air Date July 19, 2024. Too many democrats are making hopeless sounds, all but conceding the election to the soulless forces of Trump sycophancy. But it has been proven, time and time again over the millennia, that, especially in moments of profound importance when the need for change is all the more intense, it is always darkest just before the dawn. For those who are currently fearing that darkness, take hope. And prepare for the political speech of a lifetime by Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention to democratic cheers and tears of joy and hopefulness like we've never seen or heard them before. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.

Infuriated!

CLR Show 1948. Air Date July 16, 2024. Of late, democrats have been experiencing and all too often eloquently inferring their hopelessness over the apparent normalization of Donald Trump and all things Trumpian to the point where it all sounds like a dry run for a concession speech. That is infuriating. Not once has the attempted assassination of Donald been decried for what it was and is: the latest use of a weapon of mass destruction that should never have been allowed on the streets in the first place, and that is supported by Donald. He is not a hero; he is the latest target of failed republican policies and their callous disregard for the safety of all Americans. The only difference between Donald and the countless others that have been killed by automatic rifles is that he survived the attempt. The bandage he will wear on his ear as a sign of triumph must be converted into a badge of dishonor and willful disdain on the part of a convicted felon. Why is no one else telling it this way? Wake up, democrats! 

Critical Decisions : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1947. Air Date July 12, 2024. Give the conundrum facing democrats and Joe Biden as we struggle to define the top of the ticket, it might be useful to paraphrase the St. Francis prayer, to wit: 'Lord give me the strength to change the things I can change, the patience to accept the things I can't, and the wisdom to recognize the difference between the two.' Implicit in this prayer––if it ever existed as such––is the presence and choice of hope over hopelessness. Challenges like the one democrats face in choosing the top of the ticket and defeating Donald Trump cannot be approached with a sense of foreboding and doom. They must be faced with a positive 'can do' attitude. And it's damn high time democrats understood that. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.  

Out of Hope, Not Fear

CLR Show 1946. Air Date July 9, 2024. Joe Biden's poor debate performance, while doing little to change candidate standings has turned into a rallying point for doom and gloom on the part of the liberal media. This sort of reaction is the worst disservice the media can provide its viewers and listeners. There is nothing to prevent us from defeating Trump and his message of hatred and destruction except our comparable feelings of hopelessness and despair. We are the force of light and goodness. Donald and Co. are the essence of darkness and evil. Quite literally. It doesn't matter who tops the ticket. What matters is each of us committing to doing everything we possibly can to insure the election of democrats up and down every ballot in the country, beginning with the presidency.  

It's All In Motion: The Friday Show

CLR show 1945. Air Date July 5, 2024. The Democratic Party is about to do something the current Trumpian Party could never even envision: making a mid-course correction for the sake of the party and American democracy by selecting new candidates for president and vice president from a pool that suggests we have a wealth of riches at our disposal. If rumors are correct, Donald may be on the verge of choosing Michael Flynn to run as his vice-presidential pick. That would mean a twice impeached, convicted felon, sex offender and tax cheat would be choosing a criminal that he personally pardoned to run with him for the highest elected positions in the world. No amount of 'Swift Boating' could possibly hide the ugliness of it all from the large majority of Americans. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.  

America Is Officially Broken

CLR show 1944. Air Date July 2, 2024. With its horrific decision granting virtual kingship to sitting presidents, the US Supreme Court has officially removed itself as a functional branch of the American government and declared the rule of law and the Constitution null and void for all practical purposes. We are left with one final option: to win and retain the presidency this November together with both houses of Congress and to begin the slow, painful process of reclaiming the meaning and function of American democracy. To allow Donald into the White House is to end the American experiment and all it signifies and makes possible for America and the world. Joe Biden must be reelected. We have no other viable choices.