Podcast 276

Dead Cops. Encouraged by craven politicians, protesters demanded dead cops, and now they have two in New York City. After warning the world, “I’m putting wings on pigs today” via Instagram, a criminal assassinated two NYPD officers as they sat in their car, killing himself in the subway minutes later as police closed in. Dead are officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. ‘Protesters’ took to Twitter to celebrate the shooting, ‘protesters’ in Ferguson, Missouri took to the streets shouting ‘pigs in blankets’. The head of the Police Union in New York said there was blood on “many people’s hands, and those that incited violence on the streets under the guise of protests , that tried to tear down what New York City Police Officers did every day. We tried to warn, it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated. That blood on the hands starts at the steps of City Hall”. As New York Mayor Bill De Blasio arrived at the hospital where the dead officers were taken, police turned their backs on him … an extraordinary gesture. Even Al Sharpton seemed confused as he issued a statement condemning violence and expressing sorrow at the murder of two police, apparently oblivious to the fact that protesters at one of his rallies recently chanted, “What do we want? Dead Cops! When do we want it? Now!”. Well protesters, be careful what you pray for. The upshot of all this? One of the reasons protests have been orchestrated by the left recently is they’re losing. They’re losing the house and senate, they’re losing governorships and state houses all over the country, as Americans move to the right. Now, by advocating killing cops, they’re losing the people. More importantly, most of the progressive policy ‘victories’ in past years are failures. Obamacare remains unpopular. While progressives gained power saying government would help people, the people do not think it is fair, or trust it. Despite three intense years of effort to control firearms, Americans continue to support the 2nd amendment, as carry laws spread to Washington DC and even Chicago; and the courts uphold them. Americans do not support legislation on Climate Change, and continue to believe the economy is not recovering. The media’s credibility is in a shambles after the Rolling Stone’s debacle on campus rape as is the President’s attempt to federalize sexual harassment rules on campus. The murder of these two NYPD officers will only increase support for law enforcement. People who think the country won’t survive two more years of President Obama should take note — and heart — that the progressive left is losing. They protest because its all they know how to do when they lose, and their policies fail. Pour it on. Sponsored by X Government Cars

Podcast 275

Nye’s Bar To Close. The news came down in the last few weeks, the iconic Minneapolis Nye’s Bar will be closing sometime in August or September of 2015. The Bob Davis Podcast visits Nye’s on a Friday to give listeners the feel of the place. Opened in 1950, Nye’s Polonaise Room was kind of the grandma and grandpa bar in the late 70’s, and through the 80’s. Hipsters love its 1950’s decor, red naugahyde booths and kitchy piano bar. Nye’s Bar – featuring a polka band – is even funkier, and is older than the Polonaise Room. What’s not for hipsters to like? The owners are closing the restaurant and bar because they say, even with its popularity, there’s not enough business during the week, despite a ton of people there on the weekends, to keep the place open. What will replace Nye’s? A 20 to 30 story glass tower apartment building, according to owners. Minneapolis has always had a penchant for destroying the old, and putting up modern glass and brick buildings, and nothing has changed. The new city council apparently favors this kind of development, so don’t look for too many roadblocks. Yes, Nye’s owners ought to be able to do whatever they want with their business. But, regional plans, city plans, subsidies and things like taxpayer funded stadiums all over the place doesn’t bode well for mom and pop structures. Rents are going up. Costs to businesses are going up, as condos and apartments only trust fund babies can afford all over the city. They keep saying they want soul, but they keep tearing down all the soulful buildings. When is it too much development? What are the real costs of such subsidized development? This podcast also features some of the people singing at the Piano Bar. Some are better than others, but some of them were really good. Spend an evening at the Nye’s Piano Bar before it all goes away. It’s actually really special entertainment. In fact, play the podcast, and you’ll spend an evening at Nye’s again and again, long after it is gone. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Podcast 274

Story Lines. A few loose ends on the big stories, heading into the weekend. Frustrating that most media outlets continue to peddle the story that all the President has to do is ‘order’ relations with Cuba normalized, and they are. Then comes all the stories about how it got done, who benefits, the businesses that are chomping at the bit to get into Cuba. Thing is, the law concerning sanctions on Cuba is different. These aren’t sanctions placed entirely with executive orders. A welter of laws regarding just how relations are to be normalized with Cuba will have to be repealed, or the President is going to have to demonstrate to Congress that Castro Land has suddenly become a free country. Meanwhile there is mounting evidence that ‘normalizing’ relations with Cuba will strengthen a murderous regime, and has enriched itself, and left the people of Cuba with nothing. These facts are apparently not interesting to the  media in the US. The President says sanctions haven’t worked against Cuba. Aside from asking ‘which ones?’, if sanctions don’t work why did Secretary of State John Kerry not say, just prior to sanctions being placed on Russia, ‘Sanctions work’. Well? Which is it? If they don’t work, why waste your breath on Russia, or for that matter North Korea. The US now says North Korea hacked Sony, with help from China and Russia. But it’s all Sony’s fault, right? Let’s look at it this way; Sony just got raped by a fraternity of North Koreans, Chinese and Russians and we’re blaming the victim? It gets weirder and weirder everyday. The Sony hack, and the company’s reaction, as well as the reaction of the United States Government, will have far reaching consequences. The President seems fine standing up to right wingers, clinging to their guns and religion, but apparently not when it comes to China, Russia and North Korea. With Obama on his way to Hawaii, for yet another vacation, don’t expect him to be standing up to anyone in the near future. The good news for the weekend? The IRS head says the agency may have to shut down for a few days because of budget cuts. Merry Christmas! We now know how to stop government spending. Just keep cutting the IRS until it closes, and they won’t be able to collect taxes, much less raise them. And, a winter storm is headed across most of the country for Christmas. In the upper midwest that will means snow. Sponsored by Depotstar