Center Left Radio

CLR Show 1972. Air Date October 8, 2024. Remarkably––or maybe not so remarkably––the Trumpians are using the same 'patriotic' language as democrats to motivate their base. They speak of 'freedom' coupled with threats about the last chance to save the country. But their exhortations are rooted in Donald's worst fears, which he has cravenly melded with their own. Lofty words hide simmering racial animus, misogyny and, for many, unvarnished greed. These are among the many stepchildren of fear. We must––and can and will––counter Donald's fear based (don't jail me!) rants with hope for a greater America. We cannot be suckered into operating out of fear, lest we amplify the fear that drives and oppresses the Trumpians. We can and will win this election unified in the hope and belief that America's best days lie ahead––as they've always been, even when things seem darkest.  

CLR Show 1971. Air Date October 4, 2024. It may be a less than scientific observation, but good things coming in threes portend well for the forces of rationality and democracy in America. Consider: The Mets have made it to the second round of the playoffs against all odds; the longshoremen's strike that could have plunged us back to supply chain hell has been expertly sidestepped by 'incompetent' Joe Biden; and an asteroid the size of a school bus that could have nearly destroyed us is harmlessly circling earth as a second moon for another month until it is harmlessly flung into the far reaches of the galaxy. Not unlike what will happen to Donald Trump after November 5th. It's in the stars! With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.

CLR Show 1970. Air Date October 1, 2024.  October Surprises are a staple of American presidential politics. And the Israeli incursion into Southern Lebanon coupled with the east coast longshoremen's strike might count as a major one in some other campaign cycle. But the electorate is largely locked into its positions on the candidates. And the remaining undecideds will be far more influenced by Donald's and Jimmy's ongoing blatant lies than whether or when Joe Biden enforces the Taft-Hartley Act. That makes this evening's Vice Presidential debate far more consequential than it might otherwise be. In all likelihood, it will be the last opportunity for undecided Americans to witness a face to face between representatives of the two campaigns––and watch JD Vance lie about his reasons for lying.  

CLR Show 1969. Air Date September 27, 2024.  A constant lament of the rational is how Donald continues to lie so blatantly and continually with no apparent consequences among his fans. But there are consequences. It's just that they are cumulative and slowly accruing. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have not only pushed back against but effectively exposed lie after Trumpian lie, to the point where a presumed Trumpian strong suit like the economy is moving into the Harris column. And the same is true of immigration. That, and flailing Donald's inability to make any real headway with the remaining undecideds. All this will reach a tipping point within the last two weeks of the campaign and the Harris victory will be a very significant one. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.  

CLR Show 1968. Air Date September 24, 2024. Policy is being bantered back and forth between the Harris and Trump campaigns (with the Trump version typically a garbled reaction to the day's headlines) but the likelihood is that this election will be more about, and will be won by an embrace of, either love/hope or fear. The great irony is that the 'Christian' nationalist forces, historic purveyors of biblical love and hope, are now the merchants of fear, division and domination as embodied in Project 2025. Their goal: convince White America and a few others that 'our country' is being taken away from us and the only option is to seize it back from 'them'. The problem is, 'them' is bigger and far more 'positively' motivated––an altogether Christian characteristic. Donald's utter incapacity for the office is irrelevant: He is little more than a permission slip for those who see America's dismantling as the only pathway to their dominance.    

CLR Show 1967. Air Date September 20, 2024. The irrational inappropriateness of republican pronouncements and positions––everything from Donald Trump's criminal conviction to Mark Robinson's professed black neo-Nazi beliefs to JD Vance's admitted lies about Haitians eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio––would have been game enders for any other presidential or regional campaign in American history. On the surface at least, republican voters seem to be taking it all in stride, simply ignoring it all in the interest of preserving tribal cohesion. But there is a cumulative weight to these collective insanities and we are beginning to see signs that political gravity, and simple reality, may finally be starting to weigh down this bowdlerized version of a once-proud republican party. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.

CLR Show 1966. Air Date September 17, 2024. The greatest of all Trumpian lies is that the permanent splitting of America along ideological and emotional lines will benefit Trumpians and will create some kind of wonderful new world where Trumpians happily rule and control all. In fact, it would lead to the destruction of America as a world power and most likely to some form of civil war. This is a fate we can avoid but only if more Americans learn the truth of the Trump-Vance hate campaign. Vance has even openly admitted to the lies they are telling, showing absolutely no respect for the people they claim to lead. Imagine what they would do to the majority of Americans who they consider to be their enemies. 

CLR Show 1965. Air Date September 13, 2024. 67.1 million people, including many devout republicans, watched the presidential debate and saw Donald Trump eviscerated by Kamala Harris, and shown to be the racist, American hating, deranged old man that he is. While the Donald Show may bring a wry smile to the faces of his most ardent supporters, they can no longer pretend that he is fit to be president––or even a mediocre gameshow host. Voting for Donald is a vote to tear down America and American democracy. And the onus will be on anyone who votes to do it. Republicans: If you can't find it in your heart to eschew Donald for the sake of the country, do it for more selfish reasons. Consider the fate of the more than 1000 federal prisoners would believed Donald's lies and raided the Capital on 1/6. No, this is not about supporting your favorite gameshow host. This is about the stability and long term viability of America. Don't take your responsibility lightly! With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.

CLR Show 1964. Air Date September 10, 2024. Juxtaposing the free-for-all executive privilege ruling of the Supreme Court against the unhinged threats and behavior of Donald Trump, and it's no wonder most of the planet believes America may have lost its mind for even considering convicted felon Donald Trump an acceptable candidate for the presidency, much less one in strong contention for the position. But, despite the tight polls, Kamala's massive and consistent 15-point lead with women, coupled with the inefficient ground game established by the republicans in key swing states, may still lead to a Nixon-McGovern-1972-like victory for Kamala in November. Trump will attack viciously at tonight's debate; it's the only tool left in his quiver. And, by every indication, Kamala will make him pay for it. Stay tuned. 

CLR Show 1963. Air Date September 6, 2024. Donald's campaign has boxed itself into a curious strategy. Unable to deal with policies, issues or facts of any kind and committed to simply tossing out red meat for the ill-informed MAGA masses, it has shifted its disinformation campaign to personal attacks on Harris and Walz––things like negative comments from a former Harris boyfriend or calling Walz before a congressional committee to answer questions about a long defunct state program. And the slurs and mis-facts are being tossed out so rapidly that none seem to be able to gain traction before the next false slur supersedes it. Donald is having no better success trying to co-opt democratic programs he neither understands nor cares about. All of which should make the September 10th presidential candidate debate a very memorable one––but for all the wrong reasons from a Trumpian perspective. With Friday Co-Host, David Bach.