Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849

Walk and Talk

These days things are happening fast and furious. Every now and then I have to take a breath and review some of my past podcasts. Moreover there’s no better way to do a review podcast, than a late night walk and talk. Check it out in Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849.

Answering Critics

In addition some of the most recent podcasts have turned out to be controversial. This is a good time to answer my critics and make some additional points.

Post Eclipse Radio

We’re coming off two huge eclipses. A solar eclipse at the beginning of July, and just recently a full moon lunar eclipse. Especially relevant are my observations about eclipse energy.

Pledge Podcast Aftermath

First of all in the last week I did two podcasts that have turned out to be controversial. My podcast covering an emotional demonstration against the Saint Louis Park City Council’s decision to stop saying the pledge of allegiance at some of their meetings, can be found here. And a podcast about Trump’s chances for reelection based on the 2016 and 2018 vote totals in battleground states, here.

Facts Are Controversial

One of the points in my coverage of this protest is most of the protesters screaming and shouting “resign!” at the council meeting to discuss the pledge decision, were not residents of Saint Louis Park. Apparently pointing out that fact was controversial.

Why Don’t You Criticize Democrats!

Also, my critics like to demand that I explain why “you don’t ever criticize democrats”. So, during this walk and talk I’ll tell you. Learn more in Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849.

Bought and Paid For Media

Finally because there are no rules or planning for a walk and talk podcast, reviews of recent podcasts evolved into a discussion of bias. It sure seems like we’re living in a world these days where every single ‘news’ source or pundit has been bought. This has contributed to a loss of principles and integrity in our discourse.

Independent Voices

Consequently we all have to be careful with sources. Rather than repeat what someone else said, independent voices move the story forward by researching that facts and sharing them. People don’t seem to be able to do that anymore. This is one of the reasons my recent podcast explored actual vote totals in battleground states the president has to win again in 2020, if he is to have any chance to win reelection, let alone win by a landslide, as some have foolishly predicted.

Clearing The Air and Bias

In conclusion I love these walk and talk podcasts. They help me clear the air. Then I can move on to the next few podcasts. Walk and Talk podcasts also help me to identify my own biases, which usually run to distrust for government in general not against or for political parties or candidates or issue advocacy.

Living Dangerously

Personally I think we need to move beyond responding to flashpoint issues. That means some of us are going to have to listen to opinions we might not agree with as we develop new principles that lead to working policy. I’ve always lived dangerously by talking about things just before they go viral. These days I think that’s a real good place to be.

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Post Eclipse Radio-Bob Davis Podcast 849

 

 

 

 

Early-Election-Advisory-2020-Bob Davis Podcast 836

A Year Away And It’s Already Started

The 2020 election is more than a year away. Time and distance doesn’t stop the predictions about who’s running. Even more, who’s going to win. Time to come back to Earth in Early-Election-Advisory-2020-Bob Davis Podcast 836.

Sorry State Of Politics

One of the themes of my podcasts is the sorry state of politics in the United States. First of all our politics these days are driven completely by media. Social media. Cable News Channels. YouTube. Podcasting. All partisan. Usually owned by rich political operators.

Don’t Trust Everything You Read

Moreover it’s all about persuasion. Nothing we see or hear can be trusted.

Confirmation Bias

Tell us what they want to hear.

Make us feel good about it.

What I Won’t Do

Due to advocacy media, seems like the best thing I can do is tell you what I won’t do when it comes to coverage of election 2020. This kind of coverage is a great opportunity for independent voices.

Manipulation Is The Media’s Business

Certainly all the commentators and talking heads are busy convincing us of a point of view. Predicting the future, making assumptions on rumor and innuendo are the tools they use to manipulate viewers. Learn more in Early-Election-Advisory-2020-Bob Davis Podcast 836.

The Borg

Meanwhile local, state and the federal government take in huge sums of money and we don’t seem to have any control over how it’s spent. Consequently more of us feel government is the Borg. We can’t understand it, much less control it. And increasingly we don’t like this feeling.

No Predictions

Therefore with over 25 candidates for the presidency the best service I can provide is to steadfastly avoid predictions and identify my own biases.

Can’t Stand Any of Them

Finally, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate political skill. campaign wins and losses, political brinkmanship or propaganda. I just refuse to jump in on one side or another. I also refuse to predict the future and predict outcomes. Especially outcomes based on polls.

See It For What It Is

In conclusion, I have found the best way to learn what “The American People” might be thinking, is travel and actually covering these political events.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and WhiteTail Builders of Andover Minnesota

Early-Election-Advisory-2020-Bob Davis Podcast 836

 

 

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

Presidential Election Ahead…Cue The War Drums

War and rumors of war. This time between the United States and Iran. These days you don’t know what’s real. We’ll talk about it in War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832.

The Devil’s In The Details

In addition I’ll provide details and perspective you don’t get from breathless cable news channels, talk radio and advocate commentators. Once a crisis develops advocacy media will try to convince viewers for or against.

Complicated Issues

Iran is a much more complicated issue.

First of all, at issue is the so called JCPOA. The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action.

The JCPOA was signed by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Iran during the Obama administration.

Moreover in exchange for Iranians giving up weapons grade uranium some US and European sanctions dating back forty years were temporarily waived.

The Worst Deal Ever…Might Have Been Working

In 2016 republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigned on getting rid of the JCPOA calling it ‘the worst deal I’ve ever seen’. In contrast someĀ  sources say Iran was actually abiding by that agreement. By the way, the deal Trump signed with North Korea recently pledging to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula was in fact a communique like the JCPOA, with fewer conditions.

Trump Imposes Sanctions

No matter. President Trump has taken the US out of the deal and imposed sanctions last year. Just recently the US has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports as well as copper, aluminum and steel most recently. The economic effects have not been good for Iran.

Iran Uses Proxies To Retaliate and Threatens To Start Enriching Uranium

Reportedly Iran has retaliated using Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia to attack oil pipelines and shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Trump Sends The USS Abraham Lincoln

Trump ordered a US carrier battle group into the gulf. The Saudis want Iran ‘defanged‘ and have called for ‘surgical’ US Airstrikes.

24 Hour Cable News Channels and Talk Radio Love War

Here come endless loops of jets leaving carrier decks. Pundits talking over shock and awe. Headlines across the bottom of screens showing US troops in Iraq.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Finally we have been through all this before. It did not end well. In fact it has not ended. The Iranians are not paragons of virtue but they are no Iraq or Afghanistan either.

In conclusion we ought to think about that before we’re snookered into another war.

(Editor’s Note: I refer to PPP when giving Iran’s per capita income at about 22,000 a year. In US Dollars it’s probably about 8,000 a year. In addition I gave Iran’s oil export total as 1.2 barrels a year. Even more it is roughly 1.2 million barrels a day.)

Sponsored by Whitetail Builders of Andover Minnesota and Reliafund Payment Processors

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832