Human Potential-Bob Davis Podcast 821

Every now and then you see something on social media that bugs you for days. These days, for me, it often has to do with Minnesota Politics. We’ll talk about it in Human Potential-Bob Davis Podcast 821.

Rag Tag Protest In Minnesota’s 6th District

On a misty and warm April morning in Minnesota a rag tag group of protesters showed up outside Elk River High School. This was the scene of the 6th Congressional District Republican Convention.

Blaming Somalis

Especially relevant was the target of the protesters; the Somali population of the 6th District.

Emmer and Abeler Sell Outs

Moreover Congressman Tom Emmer and State Senator Jim Abeler were featured in signage as ‘sell outs’ to Somali-American and Democrat interests in the district.

Muslims Running Amok

For republicans in the 6th, a top issue are Muslims running amok. There are two large Somali populations in Minnesota. One in Minneapolis and another slightly smaller group in Saint Cloud, in the heart of the 6th district.

Fear Sharia Law

Above all these voters think Sharia Law will become the law of the land. In Human Potential-Bob Davis Podcast 821 I’ll tell you why this is never likely to happen.

Civil Rights

They cite an outreach by Emmer to former congressman and now State’s Attorney General Keith Ellison as the chief reason Emmer is a sell out. Would their remedy violate the civil rights of American Citizens? Find out in Human Potential-Bob Davis Podcast 821.

Abeler and Emmer Keep Winning

State Senator Jim Abeler is a footnote in this controversy. Republicans here complain constantly about Abeler’s performance in the state legislature, but somehow he keeps getting elected. So does Emmer.

So Do Democrats

Unfortunately for republicans it is most noteworthy that democrats won all the statewide races in last year’s election and gained control of the state house of representatives. Furthermore democrats took two districts which have been in republican hands for years, solidifying their hold on the Minneapolis suburbs.

Big Spending Republicans

Furthermore it is republicans who continue to spend while they demand lower taxes, then blame it on democrats. Finally there are two conditions necessary to unlock Human Potential and guarantee prosperity. Sound Money and Low Taxes. Neither of those are happening even though republicans control the presidency and the US Senate because both sides keep spending, taxing and borrowing.

Individual Human Potential Wasted By Politicians

I think it’s time for new political parties and new politics in this country and in Minnesota. Unfortunately given the incompetence, poor leadership and raw stupidity on the republican side, it probably won’t do much to help anyone’s individual human potential. Or capitalism.

(Editor’s Note: In addition, the centerpiece of the protest at the CD6 convention this weekend are allegations surrounding the state’s Child Care Assistance Program and Somali day care programs. A recent report on KMSP TV alleged ‘suitcases full of money’ were being sent out of MSP among other things. These allegations were investigated by the Minnesota Legislature. A report issued in March of this year found no actual evidence of a connection between terrorists and the CCAP. Here’s a link to a balanced report from MinnPost. As usual with these kinds of issues, once you start unpacking them you learn it’s easy to make charges and not so easy to prove them. Oddly similar to the Mueller report conclusions being touted by Trumpers as we speak.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and by Organo. Change Your Coffee. Change Your Life.

Human Potential-Bob Davis Podcast 821

 

 

Political Dealignment-Culture Shock-Bob-Davis-Podcast-750

I find it harder these days to make sense of politics. We’ll talk about it in Political Dealignment-Culture Shock-Bob-Davis-Podcast-750.

Role Of Podcasting

Moreover it’s time to talk about the unique role of podcasting in sorting out the noise. Especially since our day to day news coverage has become a reality TV drama. A minstrel through the lens of Cable TV News and Social Media.

News Is A Reality Show

What will it be this week? A reveal in court that has to be walked back? A trade deal touted as the greatest thing ever that closer examination turns out to be just ok? An economy that is the ‘best ever‘? Diplomacy and policy discussion conducted via twitter?

Sorting Out The Noise

Especially relevant to me is the role of podcasting in this political realignment. How do podcasters help listeners navigate these times? More opinion disguised as news? Or worse, opinion disguised as ‘truth‘.

Let Politicians Defend Themselves

Most noteworthy is the idea that the ‘little people‘ need media to defend and interpret everything politicians say and do, when those politicians should be able to defend themselves. Find out more in Political Dealignment-Culture Shock-Bob-Davis-Podcast-750.

Tuning Out

Finally I am beginning to get the impression people are turning away and tuning out the noise anyway. Should podcasters rush to cover stories in depth that will be forgotten in twenty four hours?

Mean Discourse

I spent a weekend delving into the last one hundred years of history for Podcast 749. Our country and the world has changed so much over the last century. We have exchanged the industrial revolution for a technical revolution. Technology has made our discourse meaner.

An Invisible America

There is an America where people share their passions and help each other out regardless of their political opinions. That America just isn’t always visible on social media and definitely not visible in news coverage of every breath taken in Washington DC.

Maybe that’s the problem.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul, Reliafund Payment Processors and John D Scott Personal Injury Lawyer

Political Dealignment-Culture Shock-Bob-Davis-Podcast-750

Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685

Is the South suddenly turning blue? Democrats have handed the GOP a shocking defeat in the Alabama US Senate Race. Coverage in Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685.

A Stinging Defeat

What are the takeaways from this race? What about winners and losers? Where do the President and Republicans in the Senate go from here? Where does the President’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon go from here?

Comedy of Errors

This was a race that captured the whole country’s attention. First there was the botched appointment of Luther Strange to the Senate Seat held by Jeff Sessions by an embattled Governor. A controversial primary election followed. Especially relevant were salacious allegations of misconduct leveled against republican candidate Judge Roy Moore. We’ll talk about it in Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685.

Welcome To The Blue South?

This is the second state to elect a democrat in a state wide race this fall. With Virginia electing a democrat governor in November and now a Senator in Alabama in December republicans are suddenly concerned about a lot more than their majority in the US Senate. What about the 2018 races coming up?

The Tax Bill Suddenly Got More Expensive

Republicans have a thin majority in the Senate. With the democrats adding a seat and a few republicans soft on the President’s agenda, suddenly passing legislation like the Tax ‘Reform’ Bill, Confirmations and Treaty Votes will be a little more uphill. In 2018 you can be sure past histories of congressmen and senators and their relationships with women will be on the ballot. But there’s more.

Get That Old Religion

In Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685 we’ll talk about the failure of something called ‘Republican Populism‘ in Alabama. Truth is, many people have overlooked Roy Moore’s decidedly far right and ‘populist’ political ideas because of the allegations against him. While those allegations certainly had an effect, his politics couldn’t have helped.

Time For A Plan

Finally, do republicans have a plan for the future beyond, “We can’t let democrats win”. Is there a plan beyond barnstorming politicians who say whatever enters their mind and blame of the media? We’ll talk about it in Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685.

Trump Has To Take The Blame

The president, his former chief strategist and the republican party have suffered a stinging defeat. The idea was, go out and campaign for our guy because he is our guy and we can’t afford another ‘liberal’ democrat in the senate. Well, that is exactly what happened. President Trump has no one else to blame for this defeat, but himself.

(Editor’s Note: A late night meant I was a little fuzzy with my Senate numbers. With the GOP losing this seat they lose a vote in the Senate. Democrats gain one. So it’s GOP 51, DEM 49. Add two independents who caucus with democrats…and it’s 51 51. With a soft majority for the republicans – they don’t necessarily vote as a block – the future could be uphill for the President and Republicans.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Doug Jones Beats Roy Moore-Trump-Alabama-GOP Chaos-Podcast 685