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 193

Robin Williams dead at 63. Updates on all the major stories for the week ahead. IBM has developed a ‘supercomputer on a chip’ that will be able to function like a human brain. As developments like this continue, what will the future look like for when we work, how we work, how we get paid, and how we consume. How’s your economy doing? Only 48 percent of Americans could lay their hands on four hundred dollars in cash, for an emergency! A third simply could not get ‘that much’. Meanwhile, investigations into waste, fraud and corruption in the US Federal Government are being thwarted, and an award winning ‘tele-work’ program at the US Patent office is rife with fraud; People who work for you — sorry…the ‘Government’ — working far fewer hours than they’re reporting and getting paid for. Wonder where the money is going? The big story; The airstrikes against the Islamic State heavy weapons engaging Iraqi Kurdistan. How are partisan political forces in the US reacting to the strikes, as Iraq begins to descend into chaos. What’s the takeaway? What politician is filling the void? Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Hillary Rodham Clinton, the clearest voice in Foreign Policy this week. The coldest summer since 2004 may turn into a hot September. Remember Radio Shack? It may be a thing of the past (even though some people think it already is … of course it has ‘radio’ in its name) by Christmas. Finally, a comedian, a genius and a great dramatic actor, Robin Williams was found dead in his house Monday morning. A big loss. Sponsored by X Government Cars.

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