Environment

Ring of Fire's Buried Stories

Ring of Fire — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:32:25 -0400

Mike Papantonio of GoLeft TV and Air America's Ring of Fire talks with Matthew Filipowicz, founder of HeadzUp.tv, about this week's most absurd news stories that the corporate media wouldn't cover.

Ron Suskind: The Way of the World

Ring of Fire — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:43:53 -0400

Mike Papantonio of GoLeft TV and Air America's Ring of Fire talks with award-winning author Ron Suskind about his new book "The Way of the World," where he talks about the forgeries committed by the White House in order to build their case for the Iraqi War.

Tonight on The Ron Reagan Show... live from 8-midnight

logan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:40:20 -0400

From Ron Reagan:

Tonight's the last presidential debate and I'm here in New York City for Air America's special events coverage.

First, the latest stump speeches. . . and then I'll be joined in studio with Politically Direct's David Bender.

And later, we'll have the enlightened reactions from our very own: from the Hofstra University debate, Air America Chairman Charlie Kireker, plus Ron Kuby, Lionel, Thom Hartmann, Mike Papantonio, Mark Green, Jon Elliott , and Rachel Maddow.

And we'll be taking your calls all evening.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

Pap and Sam Seder : Buried Stories

Ring of Fire — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:17:31 -0400

Ring of Fire's Mike Papantonio and fellow Air American Sam Seder run down this week's stories that the corporate-controlled media missed, including the fact that 1 in 4 mammals are facing extinction, and how Wall Street is cashing in on the financial crisis.

This Saturday on Black Politics . . . Green jobs and smear tactics

logan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:29:21 -0400

A message from Chris Owens:

This week, things have gotten a little ugly in the presidential campaign, from threats and innuendo to guilt by association...

I'll take up just one part of this topic with Isabel Macdonald, communications director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and one of the authors of the “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes spread fear, bigotry and misinformation,” a profile of the “Dirty Dozen” 12 worst offenders of smearing American Muslims. http://www.fair.org/index.php

And I'll speak with Van Jones, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the new book, The Green Collar Economy. We're talking about what "green jobs" really are and what new money Americans could be making when they shift their priorities on the environment. www.vanjones.net

Chris Owens interviews Lamont

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:28:13 -0400

The Denver Adventure: Day 9 – Up Chicago Way

Chris Owens — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:01:11 -0400

September 1, 2008

I got up at 5:00 am this morning. It takes me a bit longer than it should to get out of the house – just like I pack a little more than I should when traveling – and I had a train to catch. I was going to Chicago and then, after a short layover, onward to New York City.

My job was to get the Southwest Chief at 7:45, which meant that my checked baggage had to be at Union Station in Kansas City by 7:00 am. Well, thanks to Jan, we made it with no problem. Of course, we had to check with CNN first to see how Gustav was doing. Things did not look good.

It is Labor Day – a day that has come to mean many things in my life. Most notably, it is the day of the huge West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway back in Brooklyn, New York – the culmination of weeks of celebrations around independence and national pride. For people like me, the day is always burdened with a political responsibility – either I am marching with a candidate and/or an entourage or I am the candidate (only once so far.) As much as tourists flock to see the parade for the music and splendor, the politicians and their appendages are a critical part of what makes the parade a “must see’ event.

Last year, I was part of a rogue float sponsored by the Caribbean-American Weekly that hoisted a huge picture of Barack Obama with Calypso star The Mighty Sparrow and other community leaders. (The paper had already endorsed Obama.) Response to the float politely appreciative during that long, hot day. Many people, particularly Caribbean women, were enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. We were definitely “on the edge,” politically.

Well, I am missing this year’s parade, but I am sure the reaction is quite different – if there’s another float! And next Saturday I will march with working people in New York City to celebrate the now-deferred Labor Day.

The Denver Adventure: Day 8 – A Heartland Sunday

Chris Owens — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:48:02 -0400

August 31, 2008

If it’s Sunday in Kansas, it’s church day. Jan and her family members belong to a small local Baptist church and we attended the 11:00 am service. Prior to leaving the house, we were watching CNN’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav and the potential modifications being made by the Republican Party to their convention plans. I don’t know what to think.

The Democratic Convention was so important to the party; it’s hard to imagine the Republicans being helped in any significant way by this change. But they may not be hurt. I think the low-key approach is appropriate and potentially beneficial. They just announced that Bush and Cheney won’t be attending. That’s unfortunate for US! The Republican Party just got off the hook for part of its legacy!

The church was nice with good, clean modern lines. The people were all very friendly and welcoming (though some assumed that both Jan and I were visitors, despite her long-time membership – Jan’s husband is white). The church appears to do some good outreach work to the poor, including those in other nations.

There was the requisite overhead electronic screen to guide congregants through hymns. There was the requisite band to provide that soft rock feel to the music. Jan’s son, Jeremy, was playing the piano with the band on this day. And there was the requisite blonde, thin-voiced soprano to lead the songs of praise with a level of passion I simply cannot define (let’s leave it at that).

The Denver Adventure: Day 7 – KC is not NY but it's cool!

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:13:19 -0400

August 30, 2008

I’m wiped. The cold / allergy attack that has burdened me since last Sunday’s debacle at JFK has kept me off my “A game.” I wake up late simply because I could not have awakened any earlier. Janice takes me on a tour of Kansas City neighborhoods. She and her family have only been here two years and, frankly, they’re not lovin’ it. But Jan and Jerry are feisty and find a way to make things happen.

I won’t bore you with tourist details, but I will say that KC has some interesting history and a lot of (small) neighborhoods. I wanted to visit the Jazz Museum and the Negro League's museum, but I decided those were better to experience with the rest of my family (my wife is a baseball fan and she and my sons would enjoy both of these experiences.) We decided to visit the National World War I Museum (www.nwwone.org) – which seemed appropriate in the aftermath of the Convention and given our current global concerns. It was impressive and sobering. It was also a reminder of how Black Americans were always considered to be less important to this nation no matter what their level of “patriotism” may have been. (Check out my brief discussion with some of the young Museum staffers.)

One great feature is the tower at the museum, which provides an outstanding view of the Kansas City proper -- as well as other areas if you know what you're looking at!

A chunk of Jan’s family is here in KC, including her sister and her mother. We joined them for dinner at the home of friends. They live in the “Northlands” as does Jan – an area which, as I have since been informed, has had its share of racial issues over the years.

The Denver Adventure: Day 6 – Goin’ To Kansas City with Palin On My Mind

Chris Owens — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:04:17 -0400

August 29, 2008

Getting out of my hotel this morning was pretty smooth. I packed way too much stuff, so yesterday I sent a box home via UPS Ground to meet me upon my return to Brooklyn. Unfortunately, my bags still are unwieldy, but better than they were (particularly since I would have had to carry that extra “convention stuff” as well).

My itinerary calls for me to take a Greyhound bus from Denver to Kansas City – the ride is a little less than 12 hours. I have not done that for awhile, but that’s why I’m taking this trip. Reminding myself a bit of the America outside New York City is important to me and my political perspective.

As I zip up the bags, CNN is breaking the news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain’s pick as a running mate. It’s a shocker, frankly. Not that he picked a woman; I sort of expected that as a response to the “Hillary” factor. No one seems to have really expected this particular woman, however. She’s even younger than Barack Obama (making me feel even older) and her experience in office is minimal, if impressive. The A Mayor and a Governor in a very interesting state. Palin is also clearly anti-choice and pro-gun. The latter won’t hurt her with too many Democratic women; the former is a big deal. This should be even more fascinating than I anticipated.