Some things I learned listening to the Diane Rehm Show today:

[hedgehog]

From Steve Moore of the WSJ:

1. Obama could have accomplished so much more if he'd reached out to Republicans last fall

2. The Health Care Bill that was passed has put us on the path to socialized medicine.

3. Conservatives didn't want Alan Simpson on the Deficit Commission because he is tooliberal.

4. The Democratic Party has moved far to the left.

Bonus factoids from a caller from a small Texas town:

The freedoms the Tea Party is defending include:

Freedom for CEOs to be paid whatever the companies want to pay them (they deserve the big money)

Freedom for large companies to fail (without the threat of failure, the large companies won't have any motive for success)

Freedom to order fatty foods at fast food joints (No, I didn't make that up!)

Freedom for teenagers to work without interference from child labor laws.

Freedom for defense contractors to break union contracts and off-shore jobs.


I should note, I like Diane Rehm. I think she did an excellent job today allowing the loons to show us just how delusional they are.

[rurallib]

1. Freedom for teenagers to work without interference from child labor laws.

Boy their fantasies are now back to the child sweatshop days.
How much should they be paid? $1, maybe $1.50 a day?

[LiberalFighter]

2. Let their kids be the first to work with labor laws.

[still_one]

3. These are the repuke talking points. The problem is that the Democratic response is so timid

That has been the problem with the Democrats for over a decade, they don't know how to fight

The campaigns of Gore and Kerry were pathetic, no energy. We lost Kennedy's seat because of the lack of passion

Obama in 2008 stayed ahead of things, but sure let the ball drop after the election

[Jakes Progress]

4. You have a strong stomach.

I had to turn the dial to our local classical station. That these loons actually walk among us is way too disturbing. Idiocracy is just around the corner.

[rusty quoin]

5. The one and only local NPR station does not air her here in Richmond.

But I use to live close to DC leading up to the Iraq war, 2002-2003, and her first hour of her friday show was one of the only places I heard anyone who was actually against the war. The discussion always had representatives from both sides.

[hedgehog]

6. I was surprised, because she usually interrupts when someone

makes a misstatement (LIAR! LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!.....uuummm, excuse me, sometimes I lose control.)

Anyways, today not only did she let these statements go unchallenged, but she didn't force the guy from WSJ to take turns. It seems to me that she thought the best way to expose these people is to let them natter on.

[Blue Meany]

7. Let me get this right, we want to let defense contractors

outsource their manufacturing so that if we get in a war we will be dependent on another country to supply us with arms? I think they are already doing this, but I always thought this should be outlawed on national security grounds. It used to be that we had tarrifs to protect essential industries that would be needed in war time. So, what if we have a conflict with China?

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. They really hate unions. That woman gave a preview of how the newly

GOP led Congress is going to have to run the country to keep the loons around for 2012. I usually like Diane's show, but this obsession with the tea-nutters is just beyond sickening. They are holding the Republican party hostage, and absolutely nothing will get done for the next two years.

[4_TN_TITANS]

9. One can learn a lot from the Diane Rehm show

if you can manage to stay awake through it. I just had to switch to the Ed Show to wake me back up.

[Enthusiast]

10. This is why I no longer listen to NPR.

All these discussions are framed to favor the GOP point of view.

[hedgehog]

11. I think it's important to hear what the other side is pushing.

AS I said, Dianne is usually pretty good about making people back up what they say.

[Doctor_J]

12. Then watch Calble News or listem to hate radio

"I think it's important to hear what the other side is pushing."

Bullshit. It's everywhere, and gets repeated here incessantly

[Enthusiast]

13. What the other side is pushing

is repeated constantly in every media venue. It is downright sickening. Is it any wonder Democratic voter enthusiasm is down? Even MSNBC repeats every Reich Wing talking point.

It used to be that NPR was slanted toward the left position. Then, at least, MY side had that single voice. Now if you don't listen to Ed, Keith or Rachel you will never hear the left position on anything.