It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on the end of 2010. The older we get, the shorter the years… or so it seems.

2010 was a year for the history books. This was a year of political frustration, economic distress and ecological disaster. We witnessed the rise of the Tea Party, and division among the Democrats.
The first big shot against (small d) democracy came on January 21, when the Supreme Court upended 100 years of law to give corporations the right to buy elections. To add insult to injury, Air America radio (my employer at the time) ceased operations on that very same day.

2010 gave us the biggest environmental disaster in US history, thanks to BP. As if designed to rub salt (or oil) in the wound, the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and started millions of gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico on Earth Day!

Wikileaks became widely known – and either lionized or vilified, depending who’s doing the pontificating, all starting with the release of the video known as “collateral murder,” and escalating with hundreds of thousands of documents, giving a new meaning to the word “dump.”

The year is ending with a mixed-bag of news. After taking a “shellacking” in the midterms, President Obama cut a deal with Republican leaders on tax cuts, unemployment insurance extension, and stimulus, angering many in his own party!

The Senate, just this weekend, killed the DREAM Act, but finally repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
That’s just scratching the surface on the year that I’ll be happy to put in the rear view mirror.
Over the next two weeks, we’ll embark on an audio journey back through the year in news, both on The Randi Rhodes Show, which I’ll be guest-hosting, and on my show at RadioOrNot.com.

RADIO OR NOT

When Air America filed Chapter 7 and ceased broadcast operations on January 21, I decided to keep my show going online, giving even more meaning to the name of my site – Radio or Not. After a few months, I moved to my current time – 10-noon ET, Monday through Thursday, streaming live at RadioOrNot.com.

I’m thrilled with the growth we’ve experienced in the past 11 months, and truly appreciate your support.

I plan to continue moving forward with new projects in the coming year.

Hopefully Net Neutrality will become a reality, allowing my show and others like it to continue speaking truth to power in the last bastion of free speech.

RANDI RHODES

I can’t let this year come to an end without thanking Randi. She invited me to guest host her show the first time on my 50th birthday – Nov 4, 2009 – and has invited me back many times since. (We certainly can’t forget 2010’s Snowpocalypse, can we?) I can’t thank Randi Rhodes enough for the opportunity!

Over the next two weeks, our guests will weigh in on the progress made (or lack thereof) in their areas of expertise. I’ll be joined by Senator Bernie Sanders, Salon.com’s Glenn Greenwald, Congressman Raul Grijalva, The Nation’s John Nichols, AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka, and many others.

NEW YEARS WISHES

While many Americans are enjoying holiday-time vacations, there are some, like me, who are truly thankful to be doing the fill-in thing and work!

My wishes for 2011:

That I’m proven wrong about this year-end tax cut deal!

I wish for jobs, jobs and more jobs for everyone who’s been fired, laid off, downsized and unable to find work!

That the Senate takes action on the much-abused filibuster rule to insure that majority does indeed rule.

That no more blood is shed and no more money spent on these endless wars, and that our young men and women overseas are finally allowed to come home.

That Republicans find their compassion genes and begin caring about the less fortunate among us instead of just the wealthiest of their donors.

Happy Chrismakwanzaakuh and a my best wishes for a very happy and healthy new year.

I’ll talk to you this week and next on The Randi Rhodes Show and my show too… Radio or Not!