Center Left Radio

Repeat––'Don't Panic ': The Friday Show

CLR Show 1943. Air Date June 27, 2024. Joe Biden's performance in the presidential debate was far below expectations. He seemed old, at times forgetful and spoke is a raspy voice that, only later, was revealed to be the effects of a cold. It was a massive disappointment for democrats and, being democrats, many are still panicking. It will also drive Donald to new levels of calumny and bombast and result in his further discounting of Joe as a viable opponent. But he will do this at his own peril. The panic will subside. Democrats will double down. Joe will have far better appearances. Donald will be sentenced. And the presidential race will still be one of truth versus the basest of lies. We are fighting to preserve American democracy; Donald is out to destroy it. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.   

An Asymmetrical Encounter

CLR Show 1942. Air Date June 25, 2024. This Thursday's presidential candidate debate promises to be one of the more egregious mismatches in debating history. Jo Biden has been sequestered for a week working on statements of policy and Donald's weaknesses. Both would need to be cogently stated in a format that will permit no 'talking-over' one's opponent. Donald, on the other hand, is doing no specific debate preparation whatsoever and is merely doing a series of rambling campaign speeches that leave even his most ardent supporters scratching their heads. Prediction: Donald will not show for the debate, or depart early when his efforts to shout over Biden prove futile.  

The Ball's In Joe's Court : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1941. Air Date June 21, 2024. A new poll shows Donald and Joe Biden neck and neck with Biden slightly ahead with a fraction over 40% of registered voters. But that missing 20 percent of the electorate with be the key to the election. They are the true undecided independents, and during this coming Thursday's debate they will watch Donald self-destruct in a deluge of paranoid attacks and mindless blathering, all ill-suited to the sedate format. It's custom made for Biden. And on July 11th, Donald finally gets sentenced; read: suffers the first real world penalties for his criminal acts. And there's so much more to come. Don't be surprised if Jack Smith resumes the 1/6 case immediately after the ethically challenged Supreme Court begrudgingly concedes there is no such thing as blanket presidential immunity. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach. 

Build It Up Or Tear It Down

CLR Show 1940. Air Date June 18, 2024. The Trumpian mindset allows only for the destruction of those things that are deemed 'offensive'. Coming from a position of fear and grievance, there is no choice but to destroy those things that stand in the way of a fantasy America that never was and could never be. The notion seems to be that if the functional core of the country is destroyed, somehow Donald will rebuild it in a form that works for 'us'. 'They' don't matter. It's another reason why it's a fool's errand to try and reason Trumpians out of their delusions. They'll simply have to work through them on their own as democrats continue working for a 'more perfect union'––for all. 

Two Key Events: The Friday Show

CLR Show 1939. Air Date June 14, 2024. On June 27th, Donald will debate Joe Biden on live TV before no one but CNN and ABC commentators, under a strict series of rules. It is the antithesis of the preferred Trump format and he will be destroyed if he shows up. He may very well decline to appear. On July 11th, Donald will be sentenced and, based on leaked communications between his lawyers and the Republican National Convention staff, there is a reasonable chance he may not be able to attend because home or local confinement may be in effect, even as he pursues his appeal. In either circumstance, the base will remain unmoved and/or remain entirely uninformed. But the independents and the wavering segments of the GOP will get the message(s) loud and clear. And change will be in the air. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.  

You'd Have To Be Insane!

CLR Show 1938. Air Date June 11, 2024. If you'd been living on a tiny island as part of a small community with no connection to America for 30 years, and suddenly found yourself back in America, you'd be interested in reconnecting with the politics, especially realizing it was an election year. And if you were thrust into a group of Democrats and MAGA-ists, you'd first realize that no one could agree on a set of political facts or other facts. But once you'd done some research of your own and realized who the candidates were, you'd reach the unavoidable conclusion that the MAGA-ists were insane for wanting a convicted criminal to be president. And you'd do everything in your power to keep that person out of the White House. Right?  To do otherwise would be insane. Right?

Love/Hope vs. Fear : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1937. Air Date June 7, 2024. All democracies come with a self destruct switch. To avoid triggering it, every generation must re-commit to the perpetuation and positive evolution of the democracy by choosing love and hope over fear and grievance. It will never be a unanimous choice, but love and hope must be embraced by a clear majority of the citizens. If this is not the case, then fear and grievance will predominate, democratic institutions will fail, and we will repeat the familiar steps that lead to the fascistic and communistic states of the 20th century. And it could be generations––if ever––before we came to our senses and regained our footing. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.

The Only Road To Victory

CLR Show 1936. Air Date June 4, 2024. Yes, Donald will continue to prove his incompetence every time he approaches a microphone. He will prove his ineligibility to serve every time a newscaster recites his litany of crimes, prosecuted and and un-prosecuted. He will reveal his disdain for the constitution and his willingness to destroy the fabric of American democracy on countless occasions. He will be sentenced to incarceration and/or house arrest and attempt to wear it as a bizarre badge of honor. As insane as it sounds, none of this can outright prevent him from winning the 2024 presidential election. Only his resounding defeat at the ballot box can do that. And that will take dedication and commitment on the part of every democrat in the nation, no matter what other grievances you might harbor. Period.   

Republicans––Sink or Tread Water : The Friday Show

CLR Show 1935. Air Date May 31, 2024. The headlines that Trump and the republican power brokers have dreaded seeing are finally on every newspaper and internet site on the planet: 'Trump Guilty On All Counts'. And he'll probably be given jail time. Donald is acting as though he can simply blow past it all. But the leadership knows better. Rather than the coattails on which all will glide into a new era of republican power, Donald is the millstone that will sink the entire party for several generations. Do not imagine for a moment, no matter what you read or hear, and especially from Donald himself, that the republican power brokers will fall on their swords to express fealty to Donald. There will be a very interesting Republican National Convention beginning on July 14th. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach. 

A Painful Process, At Best

CLR Show 1934. Air Date May 28, 2024. Whether or not Donald is convicted this week, the irrational emotions and grievances of the base will be stoked all the more. Whether or not he is incarcerated or loses in November, it won't matter. It will all be seen as further proof of the unavoidability of us versus them and a clarion call to fight to the bitter end to defeat 'them'. And if, God forbid, Donald were to win in November, there is no clear vision of what a victory would mean, except an evisceration and reconstruction of all tools of government to suit Donald's personal purposes. And after that... We need a leader who can begin the process of reuniting the country under the aegis of true patriotism. And it will be a slow painful process––at best.