Podcast 437

STFU Media. Most of the time the blog I write to describe each podcast, as long term subscribers to the Bob Davis Podcasts know, is written in the third person. Not this one. In the wake of the Paris Terror attacks I am grateful I’m not getting paid to go on the air, flap my jaws, and spread utter nonsense about a breaking news story no one knows anything about as it breaks. This was the case for the weekend of November 13th, as terrorists attacked a theater in Paris, France. What is the total effect of this cavalcade of nonsense? Nothing will happen. There will be counterstrikes which will be pin pricks. Speeches will be given. Statements of ‘solidarity’ will be issued. There will be pledges to bring the ‘attackers to justice’, but that’s all a bunch of bull. These kinds of attacks benefit the media, the state and the terrorists. No matter what our so called leaders tell you, they’re not going to do anything about anything. Instant experts appear on television to pimp their blogs, books and radio shows. Politicians appear to make strong statements of condemnation or to suggest carefully that we ‘avoid the rush to judgement’, and the terrorists claim credit. Everyone wins, right? Given the stellar examples of US Government competence like the VA, the Obama Care Website, Amtrak, and the Department of Education, do we really believe they are going to be able to protect citizens from a bunch of determined terrorists with Ak-47’s, grenades and suicide belts? I wouldn’t hold my breath. As a presidential election cycle approaches candidates are throwing out one liners as ‘solutions’. It’s always someone else who has to ‘do something’. It’s as easy as pushing a button on your car radio, or switching to another cable news channel for the same nonsense under a different label. Except it isn’t. I’ve done several foreign policy podcasts and I have said again and again the United States needs a new foreign policy, and that it isn’t going to come out of a can or box. No one seems to have thought much about that, least of all the voters. The truth? We’re at the beginning of at least a multi decade struggle for our survival and something tells me, we’re still completely unprepared. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Pride of Homes. 

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PODCAST 392

Real Iowa Politics Live. I decided to cover an additional Scott Walker event in Iowa for two reasons. After covering the Walker announcement in Waukesha, Wisconsin in podcast 391, I have a reference point for Walker, so covering on additional appearance by the Governor, especially in Iowa would be a good pair of companion podcasts. So, it was off to Davenport, Iowa from Minneapolis. The road trip started at midnight, arriving at Davenport’s Modern Woodmen Park, home of the ‘Bandits’, a minor league baseball team at about 5:30 AM. After a short nap, I would be covering Scott Walker’s appearance later in the day. There’s a big difference between watching an event on live television and actually being there. Modern media amplifies, magnifies and distorts reality. It was amazing to see the network cameras set up for the live shot, or to tape, with no reporter. I’m assuming someone in another city slices and dices the speech. When you have video, who needs to be there. This is why I decided to come to a political event in Iowa. I learned a lot. Most of these events at the present time are pretty small ball, but I was shocked to learn that one presidential ‘candidate’ after another has trooped through, sometimes two or three a day, to rub noses with Iowans, just because they cast the first votes in caucuses and primaries in 2016. Iowa Republicans do not trust the media — even podcasters like me — and they’re perfectly content with a status conferred upon them by virtue of their caucus date, the media and the politicians trooping through these rooms all over the state. Walker is a disciplined candidate, delivering exactly the same speech, in exactly the same way, except for a moment of prayer for the recent victims of the Marine Base shooting. Still, the ‘reporting’ on Walker tends to be long on snark, and short on actual analysis and illumination of what he has done in Wisconsin and what he is proposing on the campaign trail. With a track record of actually doing what he says, you would think the media might actually want to put some effort into analysis. But no. Mostly snark. And, there’s a train in this podcast. Put headphones on and experience what an Iowa political event feels and sounds like. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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Podcast 212

And the Beheadings Just Keep On Comin’! The Bob Davis Podcasts, On The Road. Live from Scottsdale Arizona. Recorded in front of a live audience; Bob’s best friend Andy, treading water in the pool. A wonderful Sunday night reverie interrupted by more ugliness from The Islamic State. The White House must be pulling out all the stops as the New York Times runs a puff piece on how thoughtful the President is. The sources? Unidentified guests at a White House dinner held the night of the address outlining ‘The Strategy’ for ‘degrading and destroying’ ISIS last week. Meanwhile, ‘The Strategy’ is not going so well. Arab ‘allies’ responded tepidly, and ISIS just cut a deal with one of those Syrian ‘moderate’ groups John McCain and John Kerry are so hot to trot to make deals with, or maybe even arm. Don’t worry though, there’s a Hurricane Brewing in the Pacific that might wipe out Cabo, so that’s all you’ll be hearing about for the next 48 hours as cable news networks and the big broadcast networks send reporters and camera crews to cover. By the way, did you hear someone else got beheaded? What was his name? What’s the name of the other guy that got beheaded? Meanwhile, back to the historic landmarks in Scottsdale. A visit to the apartment where Hogan’s Hero’s Star Bob Crane met his demise, plus a conversation about Bob’s visit to Andy’s house — the very same house this podcast was recorded in — nearly 40 years ago. Then we veer off into discussion about Bob Crane’s porn addiction, Crane’s x-rated pictures, and pictures of the crime scene on the Internet, sex addiction, the movie Auto Focus, the work ethic of radio people, age reversal therapy and what it will mean, Bikram Yoga, Andy’s 1967 International Scout, growing up in the 1970’s, Paradise Valley, a a story about Prince, and for you political junkies, we talk about the real story going on beneath the headlines; The off year election. Organizing to win votes and raise money, means real influence in politics. If you want change, you have to change things by doing actual work, door to door, to make sure people vote for your candidates. Sponsored by X Government Cars. EDITOR’S NOTE: Yes, I am aware I have skipped podcast 211, which will become the new ‘Lost Podcast’. Watch for it. It’s a doosey.

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