GraniteGrok

Meet the New Press Podcast 

            

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Hour 1              Hour 2

Hour One:

Interview with Brian "Cosmo" Lawson of PolitickerNH  Part 1   Part 2

Part 1 - PolitickerNH catches eye of the Columbia Journalism Review; Wall Street Journal  noted high powered hiring, PolitickerNH's speed of reporting vs Union Leader on political items at the conventions.  What are the results of the Dem and Repub deliberations on First in the Nation NH Primary

Part 2 - Brian is covering Obama in Manchester today (rain or shine). Discussion on Jeb Bradley vs Carol Shea-Porter (who is going to say what, where in the State they have to do well to win?).  Will they debate each other?  Switch to Sununu vs Shaheen.  Outside the State money for Shaheen - The Liberal Hollywood Womens group donates $100,000 to Shaheen.  Discussion concerning Shaheen's radical community organizer role in the anti-nuke protests during the building of Seabrook Station and her flip-flop that she is really pro-nuke. 

Interview with Lt. Col (Ret, USMC) Orson Swindle who shared a P.O.W. cell for 18 months with Senator McCain at the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

Note: this was one of the most impressive and compelling interviews that we have done in the life of Meet The New Press.  Once again, we thank him for his service to his country!  He had a lot to say - much of which I just had to pull out and quote - words have meaning and his certainly did!

We learn of his background of graduating from Georgia Tech to be a US Marine Capt. flying supersonic jets to becoming a six year P.O.W. on his last schedule flight.  He describes the emotions and how he coped in the prison camps and how the prisoners, as part of  "the team", supported each other in their time of torture.  He spoke of "honor" and how it has driven both he and Senator McCain (and how it now carries little weight in today's society); it was their way to survive by not wanting to be ashamed of their performance and wanting to believe that the folks back home would appreciate their sacrifice. Talked about whether they felt abandoned.  Negatives were kept low to keep the others going.  He tells a story about a young female reporter that could not fathom why McCain wouldn't save himself when given the chance to be repatriated when on death's door - she didn't understand the true meaning of "honor".   From a cybersecurity guy (see bio), he talks about McCain's solid technical bona fides in the area of data security. He talks about how McCain has surrounded himself with really bright and successful people that will get the work done.  Sadly, he confirms the torture induced physical handicaps that McCain has from being a POW (cannot comb his hair or wave to people properly).

Quotes:

"There is no substitute for victory - we don't seem to fight wars that way anymore". 

"Nobody wants war less than those those of us that fight it because we know the suffering, we know the loss." 

"And a President McCain will be a person who if we do go to war, the people who want to do us harm had better standby because there can be no better friend than the United States of America or no worse enemy so don't pick on us."

"John McCain is probably the least favorite person to be the President in the eyes of our enemies."

Orsen discusses what "honor" means to Senator McCain based on his past and his outlook for the future:  "Honor is everything"

"Our education system is horrible...we are dealing a fatal blow to ourselves if we don't correct that." 

"Obama - ending the war responsibly?"... "An incredible naivety"

"Imagine,  had we followed the lead of the Democrats we would have the stigma of a defeat and when we back up, or when we're defeated, the enemy moves forward."

He puts to rest the carnard that McCain doesn't use email - his dexterity problems in his hands, due to torture,  prevent it and should rightly let someone else handle email.

"Think that it's an illustration of just how damn desperate the Barack Obama campaign is that they would come to that." 

"We are not electing the winner among competitors in American Idol here - We are electing the President of the ...United States."

Hour Two: 

Opening banter - Pat's fingerprints on McCain's ads?

Jeb Bradley, Republican running for NH-1 Congressional seat, returns to say "Thank you!" to the voters.  Will the "seat" return back to the Republicans? he wants to take it back to NH values - especially funding the military which Carol Shea-Porter voted against.  Debate? He hopes so (mentions that Carol Shea-Porter did "make nice" and call to congratulate him on his Primary win) to show the differences between them.

Jeb brings up having a live Blogger Debate on GraniteGrok?  Skip goes further - how about a GraniteGrok / BlueHampshire moderated debate on on MTNP?  Jeb accepts! Jeb continues and talks about the rise and importance of the blogosphere on campaigning and political discourse. 

Discussion on energy - do everything - drill, refine, nukes, solar, wind and what Carol Shea-Porter won't do.  Environmental groups preventing usage of what is legally available.

Doug and Skip - SWAT / Special Operations Teams in NH - accountability, funding, and training.  There should be an open discussion about this entity in Belknap County.

Liz Mair talks with Doug and Skip as she is now the Online Communications Director of the Republican National Committee!  The gang listens to the new RNC ad on earmarks - who represents real change?.  NH is important as a swing state; the ad shows real change and a stark difference between the tickets.  Obama has had over a Billion dollars of earmarks (not bad for just 143 days of work); Biden has been going after earmarks for years.  Skip brings up the earmark that Obama steered to his wife's hospital (and then her salary tripled).

Palin has cut almost $500 million of Alaska's spending. McCain has never asked for an earmark.  Palin has line item veto.  Levin (D-Michigan) is now trying to further hide earmarks in committee reports as "force of law".  McCain will veto spending - President Bush hardly ever used this most important tool.  Americans do not like their tax money wasted. 

Obama promises no tax hikes on "most Americans" - Doug is not convinced (either is Liz, based on Obama's past history - it just seems he's changing his target).  Skip brings up who IS/isn't paying the Federal income taxes and how easy it may be to be considered "rich".  Democrat policies almost always end up taxing the rich but that tax will usually trickle down to the "less rich".  The

The "Sarah" surprise - excitement in the base!  She shows what most Americans believe - that almost any ordinary person can become President.

No SchlubCam this week