On yesterday’s show Rachel mentioned that Senator Barak Obama campaigned for Senator Joe Lieberman in 2006. Please don’t tell me that Obama was campaigning for the Conneticut for Lieberman Party candidate over the “out-of-Iraq-now” Democratic Party candidate. OK, you can tell me that but only if it’s true.

Sec'y of State Condoleezza Rice, Soviet scholar.

'Nuff said. Yikes.

I couldn't believe it either but Obama gave me many doubts about his judgement when he vigorously campaigned for Joe over the wonderful Ned Lamont. Lamont incedently kicked off his campaign on the Sam Seder show.

Am listening to pundits reach to craft unconvincing interpretations of unconvincing poll results--could the new show have a recurring polling feature? Discussing the relative accuracy of specific pollsters, their histories, who they are. Discussing the methods used in polls, incidentally explaining how polls work and current polling issues technologically and politically. Funny stories from polling; we've certainly got a lot of those now. Mine some Karl Rove gems.

(That sound you hear is Daniel Boorstin spinning in his grave.)

Unfortunately we already live in "that kind of country".
Snippets of these types of illegal invasions get exposed every once in a while.

You're probably familiar with the Dave Zirin' story "Spying on a Sportswriter" (edgeofsports.com:80/2008-07-23-362/index.html).
Dave is a sports writer and has his own Radio show: Edge of Sports, (XM 167 America Left).
He's against the death penalty and is involved with the Campaign to End the Death Penalty which organizes to set up a table at the local farmer's market with clipboards to collect signatures to try to petition against the death penalty in Maryland. The Maryland State Police's Department of Homeland Security devoted nearly 300 hours and thousands taxpayer dollars to place members of this organization on the homeland security database as "terrorism-anti govern[ment]." With "secondary crime" listed as "terrorism-antiwar protesters."

OnStar won a case against the FBI when it was learned that the Gov't was eavesdropping on the occupants of automobiles with their OnStar System. OnStar was the victor in the case because while the voice open channel was actively open it disabled the other safty elements of the system (i.e. the deployed airbag alarm, rollover detection- in the event the auto was in an accident, and etc.) thereby creating an unsafe condition for their subscribers.
Be careful what you say inside your car- big brother is out there.
www.granneman.com/blog/2006/07/11/fbi-used-onstar-for-surveillance/

They do what they want regardless of the law. Congress is complacent in pressing charges against the Executive Office- When they do try to go after the big dogs, "House Committee Judiciary Meeting, Constitutional Limits of Executive Power", Nancy Pelosi decides not to take it to the floor.

It really doesn't matter, Bush will sign a BOATLOAD of Full Presidential Pardons in the eleventh hour of his term.

And so am I. Later.

"If you want a picture of the future of Man, it is a boot in a human face--forever."--George Orwell

I'm trying to track it down, but I'm pretty sure that one reason the Presidential candidates can't say who will be in their cabinet if elected is that it's illegal, because it's a form of political patronage for support.

OK..I know no one is going to want to touch this with a ten foot pole..and I understand why.

It bugs me, however, the way people fall over themselves to praise McCain’s Vietnam War record. Of course, no one should be subjected to torture and the international law concerning war prisoners must be followed. This was not followed with McCain and other American war prisoners of North Vietnam.

However, there are many questions about McCain’s war record (see http://www.alternet.org/election08/95825/i_spent_years_as_a_pow_with_joh...) which remain to be answered.

Beyond this, there are many Americans who believe Vietnam was an unnecessary and criminal war. The past forty years have only increased this perception. What was gained for anyone, other than the war profiteers, by all of the death and destruction? McCain was part of a bombing campaign which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands, and probably millions, of Vietnamese. Is this really heroic? Isn’t it this collective amnesia about the Vietnam War which is the reason this country has itself in another senseless quagmire?

Many people praise McCain’s courage while in captivity. Who says that in thirty years one of the prisoners in Gitmo (most of whom had nothing to do with 9/11) will not be held up as a courageous patriot who should lead his country. Look at history!

So happy for your new show.

Rachel,
I must add my congratulations on your new tv show! Fantastic news. Here are some thoughts on show titles...

Since you break down the issues of the day, how about something like "The Political Distillery", "Daily Distillery" etc. This also combines your love of alcohol and politics/news. On that thought, how about naming your show after the newsagent's at the top of my road when I lived in Edinburgh: "Booze and News"!!!

Wait - that's even better. Newsagent. "Rachel Maddow, Newsagent." That makes you sound like a spy, which I understand you also are fond of.

For something a little dull but unassuming and allowing flexibility of content, how about "Newsbeat" or "The Beat"? This would especialy work if you are serious about having a live band! You could then have segments like Worldbeat, Washington beat, science beat, beatroot (for in-depth analysis), etc. Music by the English Beat?

A final suggestion. "Mind the Gap with Rachel Maddow" The title exhorts the viewer to be thoughtful, and the gap refers to the gaps in information that exist in other media reports. It's also a nod to your time living in the UK. Too subtle?

Also, thank you for being the only person in the American media who pronounces Edinburgh correctly!!

Some more comments...

might it be allowed for Rachel to wear her glasses on the new show? I like the way she looks w/ e'm - definitely more hip = J

& FWIW, I'm not quite sure if this guy's been on TRMS or not (or if this link's been posted here before): Scott Horton of Anti War Radio - not THE Scott Horton (tho he's been interviewed there) - this guy's out of Austin TX. Some of the most impressive discussions, besides TRMS, I've heard - & podcasts are FREE @ iTunes - there's even a terrific interview w/ Uncle Pat...

http://antiwar.com/radio/

it seems like exactly the kind of topics & guests Dr. Maddow would be interested in - lotsa serious foreign policy, military & geopolitical analysis.

Oh & I also think it'd be neat if some of AAR's other alumni could be guests on the new TV venture - like Papantonio & RFKjr., Chuck D, Lizz - tie-ins & a little self-promotion, anyone? - if those other TV jerks can do it for their cronies & their R-wingnut causes, why not Rachel for AAR & liberal causes?

& I do like the idea of something to do w/ cocktails being referenced - & FWIW, here's a recipe for a 'Doctor Cocktail' from my 1945 'Cocktail and Wine Digest' by Oscar Haimo - President of the International Barmen Association :

Juice of 1/2 Lime
1 1/2 oz. Swedish Punch
3/4 oz. Jamaican Rum
Shake.

cheers!

Rachel,

It might be a good idea to have a conversation with Paul Rieckhoff about what care the VA is obligated to provide to veterans, on air, or off. Over the years the DOD has backpedaled on those promises of lifetime medical care, and the care of veteran's dependents, and in fact, even on the care provided to dependents of active duty personnel. (A lot of active duty dependent and retiree care is provided on a space-available basis, and with base closures and other personnel cutbacks, there isn't space).

The VA doesn't provide lifetime care for all veterans, it is a much smaller subset. It is difficult now to even get a diagnosis of a service-related injury that would be then be eligible for VA care.

What my military retiree status does get me is a chance to buy into a medicare-like health care system that is pretty much exactly what we like to see for a universal health care system. I pay no premium to the DOD Tricareprogram, and I can see the doctor of my choice. There are some co-pays, but I am able to find a reasonable supplemental policy that takes the risk out of medical care. It has it's own deductibles on top of the Tricare deductibles. The doctor's office submits the paperwork to Tricare, I never see it. If there is a co-pay, Tricare forwards the paper to my supplemental carrier automatically. If there is a copay because of the deductibles, then I get a statement from the carrier, and eventually, a matching invoice from the doctor. Otherwise, I am not bothered with paper, at all, but can check those transactions on line, easily, if I so desire. For a prescription, I can get most medications through a Tri-Care mailorder pharmacy or at my local drug store, agian with a reasonable copay.

My point, though, was that the VA isn't in the care of all veterans for life business, and while that was the promise the DOD made to some vets, the courts rejected the case and DOD doesn't promise it any more.

Love your show, looking forward to the new one.

Hank

Listening to Rachel Maddow August 21 in the 6:00 hour, I heard her repeatedly refer to Barack Obama and John McCain as if they are the only two people running for president. Ms. Maddow's aware that Ralph Nader, Bob Barr and Cynthia McKinney are three high-profile independent/small party candidates seeking the presidency, isn't she?

Why not acknowlege and even report on the campaigns of Nader, Barr, and McKinney, too? When I hear Air America Radio hosts limiting such discussions, I think I'm listening to General Electric, Mickey Mouse or Viacom instead of the alternative to them Air America purports to be.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/world/americas/22canada.html?ref=world

What exactly was he planning to do with 2,865 bicycles?

That is just one of many questions the police and others have been puzzling over since the arrest last month of Igor Kenk, the owner of a used-bike shop here.

Mr. Kenk’s legacy now fills a former police garage with a leaky roof. Organized by brand name and mostly resting on their handlebars, wheels pointed upward, are 2,396 of the bicycles that police say Mr. Kenk either stole or arranged to have stolen.

The jumbled collection of bicycles suggests that Mr. Kenk is the unofficial world champion of bicycle thieves. [snip]

Mr. Kenk was something of an informal social worker, Mr. Jansen explained, giving work to street people and outpatients from a nearby mental health institution. Of course, the police say some of that work involved stealing bicycles.

YOU ARE ABSURD , MCCAIN CUTTING INTO OBAMA'S LEAD EVERY DAY AND YOU SAY THAT B.S. P.S. AGAIN I SAY I WOULD RATHER HAVE A PRESIDENT WITH HEALTH ISSUES ,THAN A LYING TYPICAL POLITICIAN , DID I MENTION OBAMA IS TOTALLY UN-QUALIFIED ALSO!! LET IT RAIN MCCAIN !!!!!

RESEARCH THIS !! 20 YEAR MEMBER OF THE RACIST TRINITY CHURCH,,,20 YR ASSOCIATION WITH HOME GROWN TERRORIST MR AND MRS AYERS ,,,REAL ESTATE DEALS IN RETURN FOR POLITICAL FAVORS FOR CROOK MR RESKO,,,MICHELLE OBAMAS USA BASHING,,,AND HIS FRIENDSHIP AND ADMIRATION FOR THE RACIST ISLAMIC EXTREMIST MR. FARAKHAN,,,AND NOT TO MENTION HIS BOLD FACED LIES ....RESEARCH THAT YOU OBAMA ( CANNOT DO WRONG ) NUT....LET IT RAIN MCCAIN !!!!