Clout Blog

Fear, Domination, The Reptilian Brain and The Non-Goodness of Man

Republicans are different.  We must understand them in order to reason with them.
 
As proud Republicans begin their convention in earnest in Minnesota today it might be a good time to reflect on why a dedicated, patriotic, intelligent adult would choose to be a Republican.
 
It was a question that always haunted me - until Dennis Prager, super dedicated, super patriotic and unbelievably intelligent Republican - answered it, ironically at the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.
 
Thank you, Dennis
 
The answer came at the beginning of a debate I moderated at the Seachange Ideas Forum at The Starz Green Room, a refreshingly deep and cordial debate between Dennis, famed right wing talk show host and Thom Hartmann, my colleague on Air America, one of the most brilliant Progressive minds in the country.
 
What I learned helps me understand why Republicans are hawks, why they still give George W. Bush a 67% approval rating compared to 29% from the public at large (USA Today/Gallup Poll, August 23, 2008) and why FEAR plays such a vast role in the lives of Republicans.  Here is a summary and some analysis.   
 
Basic Belief About Mankind
 
Underlying everything, Dennis Prager made this bold statement:
 
"I don't think we're basically good, as it happens/  And that is at least a theoretical political divide . . .   It is so obvious to me that people are not basically good that I stand in awe of those who think that people are basically good.  You have no evidence for it.   . . . Babies are not good . . .  What is so good about a baby . . .   This notion that we are born good is nonsense . . . We don't start off good.  This is fantasy . . . We aren't basically good.  People stink as a rule. . . ."    
 

Its Friday Night on Clout and its almost that time for Obama to announce his VP! Who is it going to be?

 Its possible that Obama may choose Sen Evan Bayh! Check this article out from KMBC in Kansas City.

OBAMA BAYH 2008 ARTICLE!

Also tomorrow is... Go Topless Day!Go Topless is an organiation, claiming that women have the same constitutional right to be bare chested in public places as men. Rael, spiritual leader and founder of gotopless.org states: "as long as men can be topless, constitutionally women should have the same right, or men should also be forced to wear something hiding their chest."

GO TOPLESS.ORG CHECK THIS OUT!

Happy Weds to Everyone! We have a very good show for you this evening.

After a productive  trip to  China where Richard met with some of China's top leaders a  and a short trip to Las Vegas where he attended Harry Reid's energy conference Richard is back home in LA!  We will be talking about the upcoming DNC convention in Denver and what the best strategy for Obama is going against McCain.  

Tonight  also we will be honoring Richard's Air America Teammate Rachel Maddow! She will have a show on MSNBC taking  over the 9 p.m slot from Dan Abrams who currently hosts THe Verdict.  

We are so so proud of her and  With the promotion, which takes effect Sept. 8, Maddow, 35, breaks into  the all male old boys club of MSNBC!

Richard would like to personally pass along your comments congratulating Rachel. Email him at Rgreene@airamerica.com!

Its Weds on Clout and we have a very interesting show for you. It is Richard's Last show before he goes to China for The Olympics!

Also we are going to talk about Edwards understanding his psychology why did he cheat?   Here is a great article for you to look at by Desmond Morris from The UK Telegraph which talks about how Brilliant Men like Einstein always cheat. 

Check this out....

BRILLIANT MEN ALWAYS BETRAY THEIR WIVES

Brilliant men always betray their wives

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 13/07/2006

Page 1 of 4

Einstein's affairs should surprise no one,
says Desmond Morris. It is all in the genius's genes

So Albert Einstein did not, after all, spend all his waking hours
chalking up complex symbols on a blackboard. According to letters
newly released this week, he devoted quite a bit of it to chasing
the ladies. And with considerable success.

Its Tuesday  PDA Night on Clout!

JOINING RICHARD IS....

Mimi Kennedy, Advisory Board Chair for PDA, 

a leading supporter of Dennis Kucinich’s antiwar
presidential campaign in 2004 a human rights,
environmental and labor issues activist, and  former Television star  of Dharma and Greg  playing Dharma’s mom
on the show.

 Joining Mimi and  Richard is  Tim Carpenter, National Director for PDA. 

Tim is a social and political activist who, for more than 30 years, has
worked for causes such as nuclear disarmament, death penalty abolition,
defending the homeless, and campaign finance reform.Tim established
Housing Now! and Democrats for Peace Conversion (DPC), co-founded the
Orange County chapter of the Alliance for Survival (AFS), and helped
organize the Orange County chapter of Families Against Three Strikes
(FACTS).

Joining Mimi and Tim Tonight is  Donna Smith star of Michael Moore's Sicho.

Its Friday tonight on Clout and we have a very special show for you! Richard is live in New York and has a special guest. Best Selling author and advocate of the use of psychedelic substances Daniel Pinchbeck.

Daniel is an author and advocate of the use of psychedelic substances such as LSD, Psilocybin mushrooms and peyote for enriching people's intellectual, psychological and spiritual beliefs through the psychedelic experience. He is the son of painter Peter Pinchbeck and writer Joyce Johnson.

 He is the author of the best selling book Breaking Open the Head