19 responses to “KVMR Conversation – Tea Party Patriots (updated)”

1. 

   Kim Pruett

   13 July 2010

   Looking forward to listening in.

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2. 

   D. King

   13 July 2010

   Well done!
   You’ll like this.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0heL2Czeraw

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3. 

   Russ Steele

   13 July 2010

   Good job! Dixon listened in from Florida over the Internet, details at NCMW in the comments. Both Ellen and I thought is was a great program and hope that KVMR finds time in their schedule for more discussion on the Tea Party movement and the long term implications for the nation. These discussion programs need to have a broader audience. The schedule should be advertised several days in advance of the program. Well done!

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4. 

   George Rebane

   13 July 2010

   Thanks guys, your support is important. That’s a great song, delivers the message. I think we may be doing more of these call-ins on other topics. Paul Emery is a great host, gracious, well read and ready for bear (if that’s what he chooses to hunt).

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5. 

   Dixon Cruickshank

   13 July 2010

   Did he really say he would qualify to be a soclialist?
   I like your responce to the last caller on National Defense good answer

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6. 

   George Rebane

   13 July 2010

   Yes, Paul Emery stated that given the usual beliefs people ascribe to socialists, he would have to accept that label. But the man is more complex than that. Many of his beliefs fall outside the traditional confines of a socialist. You would definitely enjoy a confab with him over a glass of wine.

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7. 

   Russ Steele

   13 July 2010

   George,
   Your are getting more positive feedback on NC Media Watch.

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8. 

   Kim Pruett

   14 July 2010

   I enjoyed the show, Paul Emery is a great host. Hope you guys do it again soon, I think the questions from the listeners were really good and George, you did an excellent job of answering them

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9. 

   Todd Juvinall

   14 July 2010

   Paul usually stops by the republican booth when I work it during the fair. We generally have a reasoned, intelligent conversation on politics. Even though he and I are world’s apart in our philosophy, I have respect for him. If the other liberals were respectful like Emery, then there would be a lot less rancor.

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10. 

    RL Crabb

    14 July 2010

    Having known Paul Emery for thirty-odd years in both the music biz and politics, I would join the chorus extolling his abilities to bridge the gap between right and left. Sorry I missed the show, but hope to hear more in the future.

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11. 

    Dixon Cruickshank

    14 July 2010

    Let me say I just wanted clarification I heard him correctly, and one Georges points last night was the fact that liberials and socialist’s take the label as an insult. In that vien I thought he did a great job and didn’t go MSNBC on George, it was really good.

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12. 

    Steve Enos

    14 July 2010

    The Tea Party clan is nice, rational, middle of the road folks… not!
    A billboard created by an Iowa Tea Party group compares President Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin and is about as offensive as it can get.
    The North Iowa Tea Party clan put up a billboard in downtown Mason City. The billboard shows large photographs of Obama, Nazi leader Hitler and communist leader Lenin beneath the labels “Democratic Socialism,” “National Socialism,” and “Marxist Socialism.”
    Beneath the photos is the phrase, “Radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive.”
    Yep them Tea Party folks are middle of the road, rational folks… not!

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13. 

    Kim Pruett

    14 July 2010

    Todd, I also have made some good friends who are democrats who are respectful and nice to talk with and have rational conversations on our differences. Paul Emery seems like a person of integrity and who would be willing to listen to both sides of an issue.

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14. 

    Barry Pruett

    14 July 2010

    Steve: There are radicals on both sides. I am sure you have or have seen some of these diddies. http://www.littleurl.net/af1a15
    Here is the article about which Steve refers
    http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/tea-party-trouble-in-river-city/
    Free speech…damn those founding fathers (sarcasm).

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15. 

    Dixon Cruickshank

    14 July 2010

    Steve a recent poll ask if people thought Oboma was a socialist 55% responded yes – its not a big secret, and unless they called a list of only Tea Party members which I doubt, there are alot of other people that feel that way and I’m sure they called some Democrats.
    Steve did you tune in?

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16. 

    Paul Emery

    17 July 2010

    Since my admission that according to Tea Party Movement (TPM) principals I appear to be a socialist is a topic for discussion I thought my comments would be appropriate. First of all I appreciate the support for the radio program that I hosted on KVMR. As host of a radio talk program I have three goals in mind. 1- To clearly define the topic for discussion, in this case What is the Tea Party? 2. To invite a guest to speak on the topic 3-To ask questions and moderate the discussion and insure that callers stick to the topic and do not engage in personal attacks on the guest. I think the program succeeded in that. The show is not to express my opinion on the topic except to clarify discussion and create talking points. That said, I stated that I am a socialist under the TPM definition. That also then must include all Americans Canadians, British, Irish, Germans, Danish, Swedes, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, South Koreans, Italians………on and on and on that support the directions of their government to include national health care, graduated income tax and social welfare programs that ensure a standard of living for all it’s citizens. There sure are a lot of Socialists out there. I imagine publishers of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx must be doing quite well. I guess I better read the book i that’s what I am.
    The point of what I’m saying is that we all have different views and opinions. George and I engage in conversations from time to time that are interesting because they show how often we agree on things. If the TPM is to at all succeed and not be a two year footnote in history it must stop using simplistic accusations such as calling people “Card Carrying Socialists” (from some blog response about me) to engaging in meaningful discussion to try to come up with common solutions to the huge problems that face the world we live in.
    Let’s start with these ideas about foreign policy
    Changing our policy of meddling in the affairs of others won’t come quickly or easily. But a few signals to indicate a change in our attitude would go a long way to bringing peace to a troubled land.
    1. We must soon, and Congress can do this through the budget process, stop the construction of all permanent bases in Iraq and any other Muslim country in the region. Think of how we would react if the Chinese had the military edge on us and laid claims to the Gulf of Mexico, building bases within the U.S. in order to promote their superior way of life. Isn’t it ironic that we close down bases here at home while building new ones overseas? Domestic bases might well promote security, while bases in Muslim nations only elicit more hatred toward us.
    2. The plans for the biggest U.S. embassy in the world, costing nearly 1 billion dollars, must be canceled. This structure in Baghdad sends a message, like the military bases being built, that we expect to be in Iraq and running Iraq for a long time to come.
    3. All military forces, especially on the Arabian Peninsula, must be moved offshore at the earliest time possible. All responsibility for security and control of the oil must be transferred to the Iraqis from the United States as soon as possible, within months not years.
    Before you accuse me of plagiarism let me confess. That was taken word for word from Ron Paul’s essay “Why We Fight” http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2005/cr090805.htm. I don’t see much concern from the TPM about those issues. I had hoped that the movement would embrace Libertarian values but instead it seems like just another Angry American movement having a tantrum and releying on simplistic slogans and accusations. With that said, I am proud to be a Socialist if that’s what you think I am.

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17. 

    Mikey McD

    17 July 2010

    Paul Emery, let me join the crowd in complimenting your radio show, well done. I hope your productive and informative shows continue long into the future.
    I often use the phrase “card carrying socialist” to describe folks who publicly believe in the tenets you cited above “national health care, graduated income tax and social welfare programs” 9among others). George (and I) wrote follow-up pieces on “Who is a Socialist?” (July 15th). I think this debate (socialism/slavery vrs free market capitalism/liberty) needs to take place NOW for our country to strengthen. We are drowning in debt and losing our liberties daily becuase of the ills described in “The Tragedy of the Commons” and “The Peter Paul Principal.”
    Were you dancing around the ‘label’ of “socialist” (“I am proud to be a Socialist if that’s what you think I am”). Your beliefs label you as a “socialist” (not me), yet it sounds like the term may offend you? A productive debate is difficult when one or some sides feel offended. I hope this is not the case.
    I would enjoy hearing your ‘defense’ of the progressive tax system (which I feel is as immoral/discriminatory/demeaning/enslaving as racism/sexism/etc)?
    See July 15 “Who is a Socialist?” thread.

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18. 

    Paul Emery

    17 July 2010

    There cannot be a debate on socialism/slavery vs capitalism/liberty because the definition of the debate has conclusions as part of it’s description. I don’t like debates very much. They were great as college or high school exercises in thinking. I prefer discussions with open minded participants that listen to each other and engage in open minded talk that may lead to some agreement..
    I don’t consider my self a socialist in the sense that I believe in Marxism or am a member of the Communist or Socialist party. This is socialism according to the dictionary Webster’s online
    Main Entry: so·cial·ism
    Pronunciation: \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
    Function: noun
    Date: 1837
    1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
    I don’t believe that and will defend my view if you like
    2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
    I don’t believe that and will defend my view if you like
    3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done
    I don’t think this applies
    We can create our own definitions as much as we like but there is a common meaning for words that we share. You should put an explanation next to the word that it is your definition not one that is shared by the English language in general.
    I am not particularly fond of the income tax system in general but I will defend it if it’s used for the common good.. . I would prefer some kind of consumption tax.

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19. 

    George Rebane

    17 July 2010

    Paul, throwing in my two cents. I took our parting conversation and composed ‘Who is a Socialist?’ (q.v.) which satisfies your call for semantic precision to which I add the utility of communication.
    Your notion that there is a definition of socialism and socialist “that is shared by the English language in general” is unfortunately not a description of the current state of affairs, but perhaps a fervent wish. For example, protestations and denials not withstanding, 55% of American adults today believe that Obama is a socialist which conclusion is accepted by many prominent world leaders.
    I have made my own operational definition available to all who can read. And again, no pejorative intended or implied in that appellation.

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