Fun With Dick & Jane

Dick was back today for a rare appearance. The subject was health care, and more health care and then even more health care.

Dick doesn’t like the health care bill much (I don’t know anyone who does – except maybe Scotty McCall. Joe, Scotty and I did a remote on Friday where we discussed the then, pending bill).

Dick pointed out that this is business as usual. I disagree. We have never ever had a bill, so opposed by the public (75%) passed by one party full of nothing short of bribes.

We talked about the immediate ramifications, the exemptions (among them the staffers who wrote the bill exempted themselves from the bill) and what is going to happen going forward.

We spent some time on the latest GITMO detaineee to be released, Slahi Ali Saleh Nabhan- who by most accounts is the worst guy at GITMO. The problem is there is no place to release him to, so the president is in a bit of a pickle. Will he now argue that he can hold someone with no hope of a trial, after fighting so hard for just the opposite? Or will he release the most dangerous operative of al Qaeda in GITMO? We await his decision.

First of all, it’s not “Fun with Dick and Jane” anymore. Dick is no longer broadcasting. So far the new name is Money Matters Mid Day with Joe and Jane. If you can think of anything more catchy, let me know.

Today, we talked about health care – what else? Now that the president has said we will “focus like a laser on jobs, jobs, jobs” the only thing we hear about is health care. The democrats don’t have the votes so they are trying to pass the bill through reconciliation and if that fails (and it looks like it will) by using the Slaughter rule. I attempt to explain both during the show.

Then we had an interesting conversation about radio, and radio signals, and the difference between AM and FM signals. One of the things I really like about being on the radio is having a conversation like you would in your living room, where you get to learn things you would have never known.

We ended on the White house stonewalling about whether they offered Joe Sestak a job to not run against Arlen Spector. Doing so is against the law. No one doubts that it is done all the time, but the White House’s refusal to admit or deny keeps the issue coming back. It’s the same sort of thing that sunk the players in Watergate. Of course that involved a republican president so the press was a lot more eager to go with the story.

It became apparent this week that we need some liberal voices on FWDAJ. It was great fun talking about Rahm, Massa, democrat scandals, and stuff like that. But it would be better if there was a little opposition. I’m hoping that people will start calling and add their opinions.

We talked about the status of the health care bill which changes minute by minute. It’s a fascinating charade at this point, and it is hard to know where it will end up. I’m still on the “it will not pass” side, and you can see how I instruct a brave democrat to become a hero – here.

We talked about Stephen Lynch (D-MA) Massa, Rahm who this week killed and amendment which would prohibit tax cheats from working in the government. Joe thought that was a little harsh and he actually convinced me to see things his way. I do think politicians and people who work for the federal government should be held to the same standards the rest of us are held to. That probably won’t happen in this administration.

We also talked about how people are really starting to pay attention and there is a lot of pent up activism that needs a place to go. Tea Parties, where are you?

I’m sure you have noticed that I’m having trouble uploading podcasts lately. And I owe Jay Fleitman another spot on the show once I get it working.

Tuesday’s show was fun – we talked Charlie Rangel, health care, reconciliation, Jim Bunning, Climategate and lots more. The hour flew by!

WE now have live streaming so if you want to listen to the show simultaniously with the broadcast go here and click on “listen”. The show is broadcast Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM.

Keep your fingers crossed that the upload works – oh and don’t forget to check out You Too Congress!