We'll be talking to Leon Smith, the editor-in-chief of the Lone Star Iconoclast - the local Crawford, Texas newspaper, soon to be Bree's local paper! This next holiday weekend Bree and Alicia will be going to Crawford to celebrate Cindy Sheehan's birthday on July 5th, celebrate the independence of our nation, and kick up a little dust!
Once again, the intrepid Greg Palast reports.
Visit the Los Angeles Impeachment Center...
Action Alerts! Please check out National Priorities Project - the place we got our Cost of the Iraq War counter. National Priorities Project analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Find out how much the Iraq War is costing your city!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Hot Links - What We're Talking About On The Show
Today's Musical Guest - Saturday, June 30
Today we are featuring the one and only Preston Smith, a truly unique and unforgettable artist.
Also, check out our very own Jeff Phillips! In addition to handling the board for the Bree Walker Show, he is a talented singer/songwriter - take a listen to his music!
Preston will be performing tomorrow night (Sunday) 8:30 at Jax in Glendale - 339 N. Brand Blvd.
How does one categorize an artist who, during the span of his career, has sung for Barbra Streisand's wedding, performed at countless functions for people such as Steven Spielberg, Aaron Spelling, and the late Sonny Bono, played harmonica and scat rapped alongside Salt'N Pepa on Quincy Jones TV show Vibe, played alongside Chaka Khan at a Grammy Awards Party for Black Entertainment Television Corporation, and has had the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Van Halen, Jerry Lee Lewis and Greg Allman, among countless others, join him on-stage for impromptu jam sessions.
Preston has performed on The Tonight Show along with the late Jimmy Stewart and released an album on Curb Records entitled Preston Smith. He appeared on the hit movie soundtrack Cocktail starring Tom Cruise with the title song Oh I Love You So, which he composed, produced and performed. The soundtrack went on to sell over six million units foreign and domestically. Roseanne Cash then recorded his song Black and White, which released as a single, rose to number 30 on the country radio charts and was included in her greatest hits CD which went on to sell gold. Prestons latest CD's are" That Real Feel",which he produced and released on his own label, was recorded live in the studio and is a combination of many genres of the past.
Welcome to Today's Show - Saturday, June 30
Today we'll be talking to the amazing Tom Hayden, progressive activist! He has a new book out called Ending the War in Iraq. He is most famous for his involvement in the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. Tom Hayden is national co-director of No More Sweatshops!, a coalition of labor, clergy, community and campus advocates of "sweat-free" guidelines on public procurement and enforceable labor standards for corporate behavior. He is also on the board of Progressive Democrats of America.
Also joining us will be Brett Morgen, director and filmmaker. He has a new documentary, Chicago 10, that made its debut Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival. It is a animated documentary, combining animation and live footage from the trials of the Chicago 7. It will be showing tonight at 8:30 tonight (Saturday, June 30) as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival. The screening is free.
Grand Performances at California Plazaclick to read entire article
350 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
California Plaza garage parking $7.50 after 5pm on weekdays and all day Saturdays and Sundays. Garage is best accessed from Olive Street between 1st and 4th Streets. Click for more info.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Chris Matthews: Media Putz!
For reporting that is an embarrassment to the profession of journalism, and for being beholden to corporate paymasters rather than the citizens of America.
For our first BuzzFlash Media Putz of the Week, we had so many nominations for Chris Matthews that we had to pick one by lottery. Before we even launched MediaPutz.com, it appears Matthews is already positioned for a lifetime achievement award.
Winning nominator, Marjorie Swanson of Kenosha, Wisconsin, writes of just one Chris Matthews Media Putz moment: “Matthews pretends to hold a serious discussion on environmental issues using noted, and well informed, environmentalist Bobby Kennedy and then counters him with talk show ranter Melanie Morgan. We need honest discussions on the environment so that people know the facts.
“Why use someone like Morgan, who has no expertise on environmental issues including global warming? Matthews should know that a discussion must be comprised of two people who know something about their subject. This discussion contained one expert and one female capable of nothing more than lies, distortions and Conservative Talking Points.”
Good point, and why did Matthews have Ann Coulter on just after she wished that a terrorist would kill John Edwards? Because Matthews is running a freak show disguised as a pundit program. Coulter’s violent shock statements seemingly boost his ratings, or so he and his producers must think.But Elizabeth Edwards showed grace and courage in calling into the Matthews program to politely and firmly ask Coulter to stop her vile personal attacks on Democratic political figures and their families. It’s well worth listening to the dignity of Elizabeth Edwards, the defensive counterattacks by Coulter, and the circus ring leader comments by Matthews.
As one BuzzFlash reader queried Chris Matthews in an e-mail forwarded to BuzzFlash, “Why do you even have Ann Coulter on when she has no news value only shock value? Anyone advocating the assassination of any political candidate shouldn’t be given any airtime by anyone.
“I no longer waste time with your program, but I did see this one. Chris, if your ratings are so low you have to have someone on who advocates killing candidates then you need another line of work.
“Maybe you can have Ann do cancer jokes since making fun of the deaths of children is getting old. Ann has absolutely nothing of value to say and is only good to show off her skinny legs and cleavage, what there is of it.”
Chris Matthews, you are indeed a trailblazing Media Putz — and more than merit being named the first recipient of this dubious BuzzFlash distinction.
Every week, you remind us how easy it is to separate journalism from the truth. click to read entire article
Saturday, June 23, 2007
June 23 Hot Links - What we're talking about...
Here are some links to people, places and things we're talking about on the show...(not listed in order of importance - they're all important!).
Lt. Eric Shine - Lt. Eric Shine is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and is an expert in the history of the United States Merchant Marine, as well as issues relating to shipping issues and national security.
In his role as a whistle blower, Lt. Shine has taken his USMM oath, Acto Non Verba or “Deeds Not Words” to new heights. Lt. Shine has been the subject on hundreds of articles and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs nationwide including shows on Air America, Voice of America, and Pacifica Radio.
Paul Krassner calls himself an investigative satirist. Don Imus labeled him “one of the comic geniuses of the 20th century.” (Imus has since apologized for that quote.) And, according to the Los Angeles Reader, “Krassner delivers 90 minutes of the funniest, most intelligent social and political commentary in town.”
On the other hand, a couple of FBI agents went to one of his performances and stated in their report, “He purported to be humorous about government policies.” His FBI files indicate that after Life magazine published a favorable profile of him, the FBI sent a poison-pen letter to the editor, complaining: “To classify Krassner as a social rebel is far too cute. He’s a nut, a raving, unconfined nut.”
“The FBI was right,” says George Carlin. “This man is dangerous--and funny; and necessary.”
Find out more at Paul Kressner's site.
Crispin Hellion Glover is live in studio this week! He is going to be presenting his new film "What Is It?" at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood tonight and tomorrow night at 8:00, and doing a live dramatic narration of 8 of his books. Do not miss this if you get a chance to go!
Our regular segment from the most important investigative journalist of our time, Greg Palast! Although the American press won't give him the time of day, Greg's treasure trove of e-mails has given John Conyers the ammunition he needs to continue his investigations of the Attorney-Gate and vote-caging scandals.
We'll be talking to Sandy Gimpel, stuntwoman nonpareil, and discussing her StuntBlasters Workout video. Visit her here at Stuntblasters Workout.
Phone-in with Richard Greene, whose new show 'Clout' debuts on Air America, and can be heard locally in LA at KTLK AM 1150.
Welcome to Today's Show - Saturday, June 23
Hi, everyone - we're just about ready for the show today. We have some amazing guests both live in-studio and by phone. Don't forget, if you're not within 1150 AM KTLK LA radio range, you can stream the show online here - just click on the "Listen Live" link. The phone number to call in is 877-520-1150!
click to read entire articleTuesday, June 19, 2007
What Next? by Bree Walker
Buying that plot of land in Crawford, Texas was the easy part.
Important because it prevented that symbolic soil from being tainted by right wing nut poison, but keeping Camp Casey alive as a peace movement as well as a memorial site will mean lots of hard work ahead for this career broadcaster turned anti-war resister. I will be praying my fellow media take their best shots and then stay open to the possibility that this patriot is up to the task. I welcome the learning curve. Anyone who has watched me reinvent myself to embrace a purpose in which I believe should not doubt me...yet.
I am the first to admit I will need lots of help.
So here is my call to arms for anyone who believes in the cause of peace-building and vocal anti-war resistance; please come forward to help with fundraising, assistant work, and advice on how to be most effective in the trenches in order to keep momentum building.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
June 16 Hot Links - What we're talking about...
Here are some links to people, places and things we're talking about on the show...(not listed in order of importance - they're all important!)
National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 51
Danny Schector - MediaChannel.org
Mikey Weinstein - Religious Freedom in the Military - author of "With God On Our Side"
Susan Rosenthal - POWER and Powerlessness
Greg Palast - investigative reporter extraordinaire!
Robert Young Pelton - IraqSlogger.com
Crispin Glover
Today's Musical Guests - Saturday, June 16
Today's musical guests are a duo called emith. Emith is songwriter Carol Ann Ives and guitarist Stevie Gurr. Carol is a newcomer but sounds like a veteran, with a gloomy vocal style reminiscent of Aimee Mann. Gurr has a longer musical resume, having toured with Elvin Bishop and Dr. John.They will be playing a House Concert at The Living Tradition in Anaheim on June 16 (tonight!) at 7:30 PM, opening for the brilliant Peter Morton.Location: Anaheim Downtown Community Center
250 E. Center St.
Anaheim, CA 92805
Reservations (949) 646-1964
tinkersown@ca.rr.com
Admission - $14 - children under 8 free!
emith's new CD available "13 Seasons" - visit them on MySpace -
emit or emis - 'the truth' or 'the good life'
Bree Walker - New Owner of Camp Casey! From BradBlog
Exclusive from Brad Friedman at the BradBlog:
Former TV News Anchor Bree Walker to Purchase 5-Acre 'Camp Casey' Property Near Bush Ranch
Former TV News Anchor Bree Walker to Purchase 5-Acre 'Camp Casey' Property Near Bush Ranch
Will Keep Property Open to Public as 'Legacy for Peace'; Sheehan to Appear Live in Studio on Walker's Program Saturday...
A former Los Angles newscaster turned progressive talk radio host, Bree Walker, will be purchasing Cindy Sheehan's 5-acre property near the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas, The BRAD BLOG has learned.
Walker, currently a resident of San Diego, was previously a television news anchor in Los Angles and New York. She confirmed the news to us moments ago, in an exclusive interview, that she intends to keep the property "as a ground for freedom and peace" and is considering erecting a memorial there for troops killed in Iraq. She hopes to create a meditation garden on the grounds and to keep it open to the public.
"I'm cashing out my capitalist corporate stocks and buying into a legacy of peace," she told The BRAD BLOG moments ago. Sheehan will be selling the property for the same price she purchased it for so as not to be seen as profiting from the sale, Walker explained.
Walker is the host of the The Bree Walker Show on the Los Angeles Air America affiliate station KTLK AM1150 on Saturdays from 2-4pm PT.
Sheehan will appear in studio with Walker for the entirety of tomorrow's broadcast where, Walker says, she'll "give Cindy the check, and Cindy will give me the deed to the property."
She tells us that she'll be taking calls from listeners during tomorrow's show as she wants "listener input on what should be done with the land."
The BRAD BLOG's creator and publisher, Brad Friedman, is scheduled to appear on Walker's show Saturday as well, at 3:00pm PT, by phone.
In a Memorial Day posting, Sheehan announced that she would be stepping away from her leadership role in the Peace Movement and planned to sell the Crawford property. Originally she had announced the property would be sold on Ebay, but shortly afterwards a group of Bush supporters announced their intentions to try and purchase the land.
That group, "Moving America Forward," had staged protests during Sheehan's original attempt, in the summer of 2005, to meet with Bush in hopes that he would explain the "noble cause" that he had claimed her son, and others, had died for in Iraq.
Bush refused to meet with Sheehan, whose son Casey, an Army Specialist, was killed in an April 2004 rescue mission in Sadr City, Iraq. Thousands of supporters gathered from around the nation to hold a vigil along with Sheehan in 2005 near Bush's ranch during his summer vacation. A national peace movement grew out of her stand that summer. The area where the protests were held was dubbed "Camp Casey."
After the city created new ordinances to keep protesters from occupying public property during protests, Sheehan bought the land where protest gatherings have been held at various times since whenever Bush was to be on vacation.
Ours was the only organization doing regular full-length daily radio broadcasts from the protest grounds that summer. Highlights from The BRAD SHOW's more than 50 hours of special "Operation Noble Cause" radio broadcasts may be heard online here.
UPDATE 6/9/07: Sheehan hands deed to Walker during in-studio appearance on Walker's show. Details, audio, now posted here...
click to read entire articleA Message From Jim Lampley
BLOGGED BY Jim Lampley ON 6/13/2007 11:38AM
Jim Lampley: Let's Hear it for the Brave and Beautiful Bree Walker
The Network Sportscaster and Outspoken Progressive Lauds Walker for Stepping in to Purchase Cindy Sheehan's 'Camp Casey' Property in Crawford, Texas...
Guest Blogged by Jim Lampley
when cindy sheehan's son casey, a loyal enlisted member of the united states army, was killed in combat in iraq, his mother sought an audience with the commander in chief. disturbed that she was rejected in that quest, cindy eventually acquired a five-acre plot of ground five miles from the president's ranch in crawford, texas and named it CAMP CASEY in honor of her son. she used the camp as an outpost for her continued quest to meet with george w. bush, and invited those who supported her cause to join her in texas. over the years the camp has become a haven for iraq and afghanistan veterans opposed to the war and/or its conduct, for peace activists who believe there has to be a better way, for others who simply cannot fathom why the president will meet with oil profiteers, with right-wing religious fanatics, with well-heeled contributors, but NOT with the mother of a son who died serving his country. today CAMP CASEY is as alive as ever.
but when congressional democrats recently backed off of their challenge to the president over funding of the iraq occupation, cindy sheehan reached her point of exhaustion and decided she needed to go home. she put the camp up for sale, and very shortly it became the target of groups supportive of the administration's policies, people who see no problem with the continued needless loss of life in the middle east in support of what amounts to a corrupt oil grab. that's when bree walker stepped in.
this past weekend on her radio program on los angeles' KTLK progressive talk, bree presented cindy with a cashier's check and acquired CAMP CASEY for its original price. her plan is to continue to invigorate the location as a memorial to those who have needlessly and bravely died, and as a monument to all who favor peace, rationality and true free democracy in the United States-- in short, all the causes which have been so flagrantly trampled by the fascist criminals who support and work for george bush.
within the next few weeks a new non-profit organization will be established under which we can all make financial contributions to bree's valuable new outreach and continue the pressure against this administration which has so violently defiled our country and its values. on the weekend of july 7 bree will lead a caravan from southern california to CAMP CASEY for a celebration of cindy sheehan's birthday and of all that cindy has contributed to the cause of truth, peace and justice. until then i invite all of you to express your support to bree for her exemplary patriotism and bravery. you can reach her at breecampcasey@bradblog.com. thank you for supporting this great patriot who has now placed herself squarely in the line of succession which began with nathan hale, patrick henry, paul revere, george washington and their ilk.
please pass this along to all who share our cause.
===
Jim Lampley is an HBO/NBC sportscaster and occasional guest host for Ed Schultz and other progressive radio talk shows. He was a formerly married to Bree Walker and served as her broadcast television news co-anchor in Los Angeles for many years.
click to read entire articleFriday, June 15, 2007
From the San Diego Union-Tribune
Last Saturday, she handed a check for $87,000 to peace activist Cindy Sheehan for 5 acres of Texas scrub near President Bush's Crawford ranch.
“This is the first time in my life I had a moment like this,” Walker said.
Sheehan had bought the land using the insurance payment she received when her soldier son, Casey Sheehan, was killed five days after his deployment to Iraq. He was 24.
Camp Casey. That's what Sheehan called the place where she camped in the August heat of 2005. What brought her there, she told journalists from around the globe, was to ask the president why her son died, for what purpose?
Sheehan's protest helped turn public opinion against the war. Nearly three-quarters of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the war, according to a May 24 New York Times/CBS News poll.
Walker, 54, is a college dropout who worked her way up from rock 'n' roll disc jockey to star anchorwoman in America's biggest media markets, from San Diego to Los Angeles and New York. The three-time divorcee lives in an $1.8 million Del Mar home after walking away from her network career to raise two children.
So what is Walker doing with Camp Casey?
“You mean, I don't have a dead son, so what right do I have?” she said.
Her husky voice softened as she admitted, “I've tried to put myself in Cindy's shoes, and I can only imagine the pain.”
Walker and Sheehan bonded 18 months ago when they met, Walker said. She wanted to buy Sheehan's life story for the television production company she owns with ex-husband Jim Lampley, an HBO commentator with whom she remains close.
Over Memorial Day, Sheehan announced her retirement from the peace movement, citing failing health and frustration with Congress for continuing to fund the war. The woman some have called the Rosa Parks of the peace movement was selling Camp Casey on the Internet auction site eBay.
Move America Forward, a group based in Sacramento with links to conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh, wanted to buy the land. Walker, a liberal talk-radio host on Air America's Los Angeles affiliate, immediately offered the asking price, which she said is what Sheehan paid for it, plus improvement costs such as running water and a gravel road.
“I felt like this was hallowed ground,” Walker said. “How often do you get a grass-roots movement out of one woman's heartbreak?”
Walker cashed in the stock portfolio she painstakingly built during her network news years. It wasn't easy, she said, for she had grown up poor in Oakland and Minnesota. She saved 45 percent of every paycheck, fearful of returning to poverty.
But she also had grown up in the 1960s and felt the pain of a family divided, as much of the country was then. Her older brother was drafted, and she protested the Vietnam War.
As Carol Jahnkow, director of the Peace Resource Center of San Diego, said, “Bree stepping in and buying it is a testament to the work that Cindy did and also recognizes that the war continues and people are dying every day, and the peace movement needs to have a continued presence there.”
In a statement, Move America Forward urged Walker to work with families who have a different view of the war so that the land will become “a place where the troops can be honored without the anti-troop rhetoric that Ms. Sheehan has become famous for.”
For now, Walker's plans for Camp Casey include keeping it available for anti-war protests. Maybe she'll build a memorial, maybe a playground for the children of the 700-person town of Crawford, or maybe start a school for nonviolence training for youth. She will see the land for the first time during a three-day gathering of anti-war advocates beginning July 6.
Walker knows stepping forward carries a price – she has already received hate mail – but she has weathered personal storms before.
She has ectrodactylism, a genetic bone deformity of the hands and feet. Her brother and her children, Andrea, 18, and Aaron, 15, have it. When she was pregnant with her son, she publicly challenged a radio talk-show host who had focused national attention on her and her right to have children. Walker became a high-profile spokeswoman for disability rights because of her openness about her genetic disorder.
Earlier this year, she checked herself into a 30-day alcohol-abuse treatment program in West Los Angeles. There was no major crisis, she said, but a lifelong interest in health issues – she had wanted to become a doctor – helped her see danger signs.
“I'm proud of putting myself into treatment. That takes a certain amount of courage to admit that you have a problem that could get a whole lot worse.” She continues her sobriety in a 12-step program.
Of Camp Casey, she said: “There will be people who say that I am not supporting the troops, and that is not the truth. I support the troops because I want them home.”
click to read entire articleTest Post
This is a test. This is only a test. If this were an actual emergency, you would be instructed to tune your radio to KTLK AM 1150 for the Bree Walker Show.
click to read entire article
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