Podcast 156

D-Day. June 6th, 1944 – June 6th, 2014 is the 70th year since the invasion of Europe by ‘The United Nations’ as Dwight Eisenhower called them. I toured Omaha Beach from ‘Dog Green’ where the most intense fighting was, to the heights of the German defenses, to the fields where American Paratroopers were dropped, to the American and German graves. While I have told the story in bits and pieces over the years, the great thing about podcasting is you can tell the whole story. The tour left a permanent, personal and emotional impression on me. This will be one of the last commemorations of that great and terrible day in American history that includes its few remaining veterans. While Obama and Putin jostle for attention in Normandy this weekend, what lessons might we draw from the sacrifice of those who were young in 1944. Sponsored by Baklund R&D. 

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Podcast 155

The release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was supposed to be a story of a hero’s rescue from captivity in Afghanistan. Since the story broke Sunday afternoon, June 1st 2014 that scenario has been breaking down. Is Bergdahl a deserter? Did the President break the law in making the deal with Taliban through the Government of Qatar? Why did the White House make the deal against the advice of the Senate, and Special Forces? Why was the announcement of Bergdahl’s recovery to troops in theater, by Defense Secretary Hagel, greeted with stony silence? Did the story draw attention away from the Veterans Administration Scandal as well as other problems Obama seems to be struggling with these days? How do you answer these questions? What are the important take-aways from this developing story? Sponsored by Sedation and Implant Dentistry. 

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The Bob Davis Podcast

Podcast 154

Updating top stories for the week ahead. Former VA head Shinseki says he didn’t know about incompetence, corruption and coverups at the VA and so the President didn’t know either. Yet as many as 18 detailed reports have been placed on Shinseki’s desk – maybe the President’s too – since 2008. Was White House Press Secretary Jay Carney’s resignation announced the same day as Shinseki’s to draw eyes and ears away from the ‘When and What did you know’ question? The White House announces it has negotiated the release of a US soldier held since 2009 by Taliban, but he is referred to as a ‘Prisoner of War’. Is he? Did the US pay too high a price for the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl? And what were the circumstances of his capture. Why was Secretary Hagel’s announcement of his release treated with stony silence by the troops in Afghanistan? This was political convention weekend in Rochester (republicans) and Duluth (democrats). While the democrats came out of their convention unified, the same might not be said of the Republicans. Looking ahead to primary season, one wonders what possesses the brains of  Republican insiders. El Nino, Oprah and George Clooney. Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul. 

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