I enjoyed your first show so the next one seems like it'll be good.

Thanks, Em! Appreciate the support! Should be another fun one this week!

I am also eagerly awaiting the second installment of the Brad Show!

Look at it this way, Brad: You still have everything going for you that you had last week, and in addition ... you now have experience!!

Hey Brad! What happened to the "Kiss Brad Pitt" ad on Bradblog homepage? Everytime I saw it I couldn't help thinking "Kiss Brad Friedman!"

So - I'm blowing you a big KISS across the ethernets!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Great job Brad, it looks like your talent's now include hosting an entertaining radio show, spread the word people, this is how we change things! Keep it up Brad and I'll be listening.

Keep on Truckin'!!

Just as an aside, I went on a couple of Republican Blog Sites. One in particular 'BlogsforBush.com' and tried to be a "voice of moderation". I tried to post yesterday afternoon, but they still haven't shown up. When you enter your post, you get a message saying 'we must check content first...'. If those that run this site are censoring any anti-bush or more moderate material, then clearly only pro-imbecile stuff is getting through. HEY, this sounds a bit like a Bush press conference.

Just thought that some of your readers might find this a fun place to go and "play".

Alan

Dr. Alan Levinson, I've just been reading your posts at Conyers' site, under the heading "John Fund Caught on Tape." They're great - especially the article re: fillibuster. I wasn't aware of all those facts. I agree that the Dems have got to be more confrontational.

Good stuff! Thanks.

Alan #7 Sounds like Gannon posts while in the pink would get thru the neocon blog but not comments from a moderate. Sounds right but wrong.

When the CONS approach you and offer you wads of money to "shut up" or "go soft" on the fascists, TAKE THE MONEY! (RECORD THE CONVERSATION, and play it later on your show)! Way to go, guy!

Brad,

Tell Congressman Chris Bell that if he is seriously contemplating his run for Texas governor the first thing he has to do is not to solicit for donations for his race (as he's doing on his website) instead to do everything possible to change the electoral system. Without a transparent election he will never be elected, he's just wasting his time & energy and also the donors'money....Unfortunately, the same holds true for all Democrats and not only in Texas.

LOL @ Peggy's "TAKE THE MONEY!"

Good one, Peggy. Thanks for the chuckle!

If any Neo-Con Overlords want to pay me some cash to keep quiet, I'm your man! I'll underbid Peggy!

But you'll have to pay 6 or 7 other people for it to work...

I can't wait for the SHOW! We are so grateful to you, Brad. You can't imagine the despair (or maybe you can) of people utterly frustrated in their knowledge of the true way things happen and their inability to INFLUENCE. You are changing that paradigm, praise be. We continue to work alongside you; and we wish you all success and a safe journey to TRUTH.

Kira,

Thanks, nice of you to say so. www.Conyers.blog is a great site to get inside info. I've been there for just over a month and learned more than I care to admit. I still don't understand why someone like Keneedy, who's career is limited at this point, doesn't get out there and confront, confront, confront. Come prepared with facts, and let the facts be refuted (but we know they can't).

Who cares if they call him a liberal. Who cares if they spend time labeling him in any way they need to. If facts are portrayed in an intelligent fashion, with citations to back them up, with instructions as to where to look up the info so even our less intellectual republican friends can find it...maybe we will have more success.

The following is an editorial from my local newspaper. These are the kinds of facts that need to come to the fore.

“GOPers Already Pervade Courts”
Right-wingers protest too much!

Given all the caterwauling in republican circles about America’s out-of-control courts and liberal, activist judges, you’d think that the Democrats have an unassailable beachhead in the upper reaches of the federal courts. Judging by the numbers, that just isn’t so.

Republican Presidents have appointed commanding majorities of judges on both the Supreme Court and the powerful federal appeals courts. The real beef from the right is that not enough of those judges toe its ideological line. But that’s as it should be. Judges should be clear-eyed arbiters of the law and conscientious guardians of the Constitution, not warriors in service of any particular ideology.

The Republican right-wingers may not like it that the Supreme Court has, for instance, upheld abortion and gay rights, supported affirmative action and barred executing juveniles and the mentally retarded. But they can’t reasonably blame the judicial selection process for that record. Republicans have had their way on judicial appointments for years:

 Seven of the nine Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Republican presidents.
 Majorities of judges on 10 of the nations 13 federal appeals courts were appointed by Republican Presidents.
 The ranks of 162 active appeals court judges include 94 who were appointed by Republican presidents, according to the Los Angeles times.
 George W. Bush has sent 215 judicial nominations to the Senate; 205 have been confirmed, including 41 of 51 for the appeals courts.

Despite that record of Republican hegemony, Senate Republicans are poised to wage a parliamentary war over judicial nominations. They insist—all evidence to the contrary—that the selection process is broken.

Their favored fix? Eliminate the filibuster, a senate tradition that allows a sizable and committed minority to block action by talking a nomination to death. It takes only 51 of 100 senate votes to confirm a judicial nominee, but it takes 60 to end debate and move to a confirmation vote.

Eliminate the filibuster and Republicans, who hold 55 Senate seats, could confirm anyone they want with no need for consultation and compromise. That kind of unchecked dominance—by either party—is a formula for courts animated by ideology rather than the pursuit of justice.

Editor

Sometimes you find good things in the most unexpected places...

I thought it might be a good idea to gather a bit of info on Paul Lehto and what he's been up to, so that interested listeners could have some background before the show tomorrow.

One thing led to another and I found myself at www.tigerdroppings.com, which bills itself as providing "The Poop On LSU Sports".

And there I found the following post:

Two patriots: Paul Lehto and John Wells

They have filed suit in Washington state against Snohomish County and Sequoia Voting Systems, Inc. to nullify a contract between those two defendants that keeps touch-screen voting software shielded from public view.

The suit cites Washington statute which states:

"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created."

Oh, that all states would have such statutes!

A pdf link to the lawsuit

Thanks to "Rex" for posting this!

Thank you for that info on Lehto & Wells...Florida does not have any such statute, I'm willing to bet. Because we are THE persistant, vegetative state.
Regarding the filibuster,
this is from the Family Research Council's website:

"Q - If the Democrats do decide to filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees, is there anything that can be done about it?

A - Yes. The presiding officer of the Senate (which is Vice President Dick Cheney, when he is present) could rule that filibusters of judicial nominations are not permitted. Such a ruling could then be upheld by a simple majority vote. This "constitutional option" preserves the constitutional right of the president to appoint judges with the advice and consent of the Senate--without adding additional, unconstitutional conditions."

Hi, Brad! Potential Guests for your Radio Show?

(1) Breitweiser found herself widowed at age thirty when her husband Ron died at Tower Two of the World Trade Center on September 11

(2) A Letter to America

Second article I've read by this gentleman - I like his style - no beating about the Bushite!

Britain's Absurd Election
by John Pilger

I nominate for potential guests on the Brad Show:

1. Ray McGovern - Former CIA agent says Bush to blame for 9/11

2. Terry Jones (of Monty Python) has written a new book "Terry Jones' War on the War on Terror" - dead on and with deadly wit.

The former Python takes aim at Bush and Blair --- without losing his sense of humor.

Mother Jones

MotherJones.com: How did you come to write these columns?

Terry Jones: I think it was rage. It was just blind rage (laughs). This was after 9/11, and I just couldn’t believe what our great leaders were doing. It seemed like every action they took was designed to have exactly the opposite effect of what they said they were going to do.

Like Bush, after 9/11, says the right thing: “We’re going to catch the evil perpetrators of this evil deed.” But if you’re going to catch the perpetrators of an evil deed, what you need is secrecy and speed to nab them red-handed. What you don’t do is say when you’re going to look for them --- “we’re going to look in two months’ time.” Or where you’re going to look --- "we’ll look in Afghanistan.” Or what you’re going to do --- "we’re going to bomb you.” I mean, by that time, all the evil perpetrators would leave the country, I would’ve thought. Now, as a result, they haven’t caught the evil perpetrators, and the whole thing’s a joke.

Instead of treating it as a crime --- which is what they should have done, getting the FBI and Interpol and everybody onto it --- they’ve elevated it into a war. So they’ve elevated the status of the evil perpetrators like Osama bin Laden. He’s put up as of an equal footing with the United States itself. They’ve increased his prestige and reputation to no end, the perfect way of recruiting more people to his agenda.

***MORE***

I URGE EVERYONE FROM EVERY STATE IN THE UNION TO E-MAIL AND/OR CALL THEIR SENATORS AND URGE THEM TO "SAVE THE FILIBUSTER" AND REFUSE THE NUCLEAR OPTION. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE TIME FOR THIS VOTE, AND HELP IS NEEDED TO GET THE REPUBLICAN'S TO BACK OFF.

I JUST SENT E-MAILS TO ALL REPUBLICAN SENATORS. I ALSO CALLED A FEW WHO HAPPENED TO HAVE ANSWERING MACHINES.

PLEASE...PLEASE...PLEASE... THIS IS THE WEEK TO CALL OR WRITE.

Alan

Info for Mr. Brad

Nov 7 2000, miami dade vote count, James Baker
calls BOLTON in from South Korea, to stop the recount 2000. Now Baker controls election panel and Bolton will control UN.......all fits together like a big puzzle.......Good Luck ...truth telling brother man..

Peace and Love to all from my Big Beautiful Bay

Hi, Brad! I second the motion by Dr. Levinson #20 above. Could you/VR (urgently) post an e-mail form letter, so 6 or 7 of us can send it. Sorry, to keep giving you more work - but isn't this "Central Station" for internet crime busters?? Thanks a million, Brad (even if you can't do it). But maybe you can.

I went to BlogsforBush.com and tryed to post this article.
"Who is this Clint Curtiss guy I keep hearing about on talk radio and in the letters to the editor? I'm told I have to go to Bradblog.com to find out more about the story."

I received this message.
"Thank You for Commenting
Your comment has been received. To protect against malicious comments, we have enabled a feature that allows your comments to be held for approval the first time you post a comment. I'll approve your comment when convenient; there is no need to re-post your comment."

Should we tire them out proofreading?

Hi, Harvey...personnally I wouldn't waste my time with the little "police-state-BlogsforBush.com" people. Let them consort with themselves as they wish. Isn't it better that all the energy is expended in joining the petitions in support of Conyers, DV4D and all the other activities organized under the umbrella of VR and Bradblog? Brainstorming here is far more satisfying. Don't you think??

re #23. Harvey: They say they will read your comments before posting --- the first time you post something! So ... go there [under a different name] and post a dumb message like "Bush is the best President ever" ... which they will certainly approve ... Then, once they post it [and file you under the "approved posters" category], you can start asking tough questions!

Personally, I have been banned and/or trashed at various pro-Bush blogs because of comments I have left there ... but those same comments have also attracted visitors to please don't read my blog. And this tells me two things: [1] Some of the people who read pro-Bush blogs suspect they are being lied to and want good information, and [2] We can indeed spread the truth through pro-Bush blogs, at least to a certain extent, as long as we're smart about how we approach the mission.

We need to respond to this phony commission with our own Election Justice Commission hearings.

Do you think all VelevtRevolution affiliates would come together around such a set of hearings, perhaps in Houston June 27th to 29th with, say, Conyers as keynote, say, 4PM CST on June 29th, with an opportunity for all activists to "attend" the phony hearing on the next day, June 30th?

Just a thought...
Kip

If you are really interested to know what's going on here and have not had the chance to go the www.fromthewildernesss.com, do it right know. And read

CROSSING THE RUBICON: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil --- New Society Publishers

by Michael C. Ruppert

All your questions will be answered.