The Bob Davis Podcast

Podcast 203

Being Right. An email sparks some thoughts about the political discourse in The United States. Should a person who puts themselves out in the public eye as a commentator always be right, as in ‘correct’? Should everything they say be required to be proven ‘correct’ at a later date? Should a major league ball player leave the game if he fails to make an important catch? What does it mean to take a risk? What lessons have been learned in almost twenty years of talk radio? Political figures, writers, musicians, actors, comedians, and especially talk and podcast hosts take risks and put themselves ‘out there’ everyday. Should a person decline to use their talents because they are afraid of being ‘wrong’? Moreover, does the country gain from the increasing practice of demonizing and trying to destroy people who say things others disagree with, or are ‘shocked’ by? How has talk radio, and cable television (which has stolen the talk radio format) turned the body politic into tribes that demand their point of view, and only their point of view, be heard. Why radio and TV managers are suddenly terrified by opinions. How podcasting is changing this. And, a pitch for contributions to the Bob Davis Podcasts for the Podcast Van. Sponsored by Baklund R & D.

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Podcast 202

The Islamic State. What to do about it? Is it an existential threat to the United States? Is it the role of the US Government to avenge the horrible death of US Journalist James Foley? The bottom line? Emotional reactions to lurid coverage of a murder does not a foreign policy make. If you want to influence International Relations as practiced by the Executive and Legislative branches of the US Government, you also have to understand the disciplines behind the policy. The State Department, Pentagon, White House, Congress, the Clandestine Services and Non State Actors all speak a language different from ‘civilians’ being manipulated by the media. Where DOES foreign policy come from? What are the disciplines and philosophy behind the concepts driving executive, intelligence, military and legislative positions and, more importantly, actions. How will the death of James Foley be handled. Will airstrikes alone eliminate the ISIS threat? What about intervening in Syria? Is it The President’s fault? Which president? Media coverage of this story is terrible. Viewers and listeners aren’t getting any background in foreign policy development, and we’re hearing the same tired arguments from deliberations over the Iraq war in 2002 and 2003 all over again. Here’s some background and some facts about the situation. Sponsored by Autonomouscad.com.

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Podcast 201

Live from the Lake! A family celebration of music sparked thoughts about these summertime family rituals. Friends and families getting together at ‘the cabin’ or in their backyards in the upper Midwest, where summer is so short and so sweet. Whether it is a bar-b-que, bonfire, games at the lake, or someone’s birthday, family celebrations can be enriching for everyone involved. We live in a time of cynicism and negative judgement. Our media thrives on conflict. Yet, on this Saturday in August, 2014, a family, friends and neighbors gathered for a recital of beginning adult musicians and everyone got into the act. Some say ‘America’ is ‘lost’, beyond ‘redemption’ and that the country ‘we’ once new is dead. And yet, people are capable of doing truly incredible things. Whether it is art, crafts, or passing down lessons learned from elders on how to fish, or hunt, or just to play games, people are getting together and sharing with each other all over this country. And…it’s always been that way. We just never hear about it anymore. This is a chronicle of one Saturday in late August, at the lake in Wisconsin, and the lessons learned. Sponsored by X Government Cars.

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