Even here in Florida! For some reason, the mercury will hit 85 this afternoon, and dip down to 45 tonight. But no, there’s no climate change. Not at all.
The best part of my day was watching Maysoon Zayid’s brilliant TED talk. In case you haven’t seen it yet, have a look now.
It’s been too long since Maysoon joined us, so she came on this morning to talk about that experience and why General Hospital should hire her (and they should!)
And, as it’s Monday, Nicole Belle of Crooks and Liars joined in with our first Fools on the Hill segment of the new year…
I’m not sure what world the conservative talking heads live in—is it Bizarro World? Is it the Village? Is it the One Percent World? Take your pick. But whichever one it is, it is clearly not the world the rest of us live in. So it demands the question be asked: why do we let them frame the debate?
Why do we let George Will (the actual documented MOST WRONG pundit) stay on the air to say that Bill deBlasio is bribing the teachers’ unions by pushing universal pre-K. Because doing something for the benefit of our future is not something conservatives would even consider doable.
Sadly, that’s not even the worst thing said about Bill deBlasio this Sunday. Even Bob Schieffer thought that Peggy Noonan went too far calling him “a former Sandinista”.
Cokie Roberts looks at the change of the conversation towards inequality and populism and doesn’t see a resurgence of liberalism. No, no, no…there’s no liberal resurgence, because there’s so few “self-identified liberals.” Huh?
The Little Sisters of the Poor are actively fighting the birth control mandate of Obamacare, even though they are exempt as a religiously-based non-profit. But apparently, signing the exemption form is also something God doesn’t want them to do either.
Jim Cramer—from whom no one should expect cogent economic theory—isn’t sure that raising the minimum wage/hiring workers and lowering the unemployment rate will benefit the poor beleaguered billionaires. And really, isn’t that who is MOST important?
On a more important note… I apologize for my emotions at the top of the show. I’m going through yet another life crisis, and trying to figure out what comes next. No, there’s no one beating down my door looking to hire me… but I’ve also not spent much time looking for a job that would actually pay a salary.
So, my question for you: Are you reading this? If so, please leave a comment below. If there are no comments, I guess I got my answer.
Thanks.
Not to be nosy, but I know that a big part of your income comes from the Randi show, did something happen with that? You seem like someone came down hard on you. I guess we will know soon enough. Peter B mentioned your troubles in his podcast. You have many thinking about you.
Randi is awesome and has been only supportive of me. No, reality is just setting in for a new year, I’m afraid.
I just now registered to let you know that yes, your blogs are read, and extremely useful. I often am at work listening to your show live (or the podcast if I am interrupted) and do not have time to follow links mentioned in the show, so your blogs are helpful.
I also somewhat understand your frustrations. I am getting paid $21k for a highly technical job to support my family of 4. As you have noted many times, the middle-class is getting the squeezed. It is this message that is so important in order to bring about change. As Greg Palast has said, your voice is needed. It may be unrewarding professionally and financially, but it cannot be overstated how important you are. It does seem your audience is still growing and that’s a positive. I would completely understand your need for a steady paycheck. However, you would be very sorely missed. I only have time to listen to a few people: Amy Goodman, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and YOU. 🙂
Everyone is busy,if you don’t have time for the blog,do it once a week. Mostly I listen to the podcast. Sorry for my long reply above, but I feel disconcerted by our inhumanity and nastiness. It is hard to stay positive. As a strong women you will face the crap more than others. I hope things work out for you.
Thanks for the replies! I do wonder if people actually read the blog, or just listen to the show. Trying to figure out how to go forward, as you can tell, in this new year. I haven’t figured it out yet – but when I do, I’ll let you know.
Thanks for the kind words. I wish we were all in better shape. Life just sucks sometimes.
Nicole, what’s wrong? I’ve only gotten about 7 min into the show on UStream and it’s obvious there is something majorly wrong! If you won’t tell us we’ll never know. We can only guess. Did you break up with your Honey? Did you have an argument before the show? Write me back and tell me what’s wrong? You know whatever it is if you share it with someone the load automatically gets lighter. You probably feel better sharing with someone that writes to you often. And I don’t write very often but I listen almost every day. To the podcast that is because I’m in California and it’s hard for this old lady to get up that early. But I do care about you. I can’t show you how much I care with money right now because my husband is still unemployed after almost three years. And at 59 nobody will hire him. I’m a little older at 62. The only way we’re holding on is I’m disabled and receive SS disability and my retirement pension. So no I can’t contribute right now but I listen! And I care! Please tell me what’s wrong!
I’m reading this Nicole! So far so good! Happy New Year! Connie
Nicole I feel for you. the whole crazy world seems a little nuts and I always feel that many things that happen are so backwards. The religious and libertarian nuts are always a downer.
I hate to tell anyone that I am retired and have a defined benefit pension. My husband paid off the house and we live on that income, which is good for retirement at about $25000 yr. I hated my job for 30 years and feel I am owed the money, but so many have so little. I am making more than some make working full time but not a fortune. I put up with a lot to get this retirement, and it was both physical and mentally straining. I am loving having the free time. I waited until I could get Obamacare to retire. I have many preexisting conditions and needed that option.
I post on my fb page all the time and have a couple of libertarian and religious friends (?) that say some hateful things to me. I was joyfully happy that I could get an inexpensive health plan that I could afford. I posted information hoping to help others needing this insurance also. No one was really told how it worked in Colorado. You had to apply for medicare expansion and be turned down to finish the application. My friend (?) told me I was stealing from poor people.
Just recently I put that pot was now legal and hopefully the taxes would fund teachers and infrastructure, my other friend told me that the govt was just wanting taxes to control us. I get tired of it all and sometimes, it also makes me wonder about the sanity of people. Why can’t they be happy that I am retired and that I set up that possibility with 30 years of crap.
You are in the public eye and put up with this on a regular basis, I can stop my abuse by not looking or posting on FB. It does get old, I know that Marc Marin is doing well. He has lots of advertising. Hopefully as the internet becomes more used for this kind of thing the $ will be there for you to get.
It is all too crazy. I try to send you money when I can and have cut off all other donations. We don’t even get Thom Hartmann any more. I worry about others including my 30 year old child. You should be able to retire and have life not kicking you in the teeth anymore. I wish you the best and hope all works for you. Sending you good thoughts.
Susan P
The constant negativity is unhelpful, but I have a great husband and we have scaled back and are living within our means. We are raising organic chickens and turkeys and selling eggs. We want to self sustain as much as possible.
I appreciate your long interviews and have dropped Seder for his short interviews and gossip sessions that he provides.