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Tag: Left Right & Center

Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Endgame; Educational Hazards

It’s hard to believe that the curtain may soon go down on our health care reform drama, but it looks like we could soon have a bill—whether three-quarters of Americans like it or not. Should it be voted in now and fixed later? This is surely a question for “Left, Right & Center” regulars Arianna Huffington, Tony Blankley, Matt Miller and Robert Scheer.

Posted on Mar 5, 2010 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Huddle, Goldman/Greece

Was any progress made at Thursday’s health care summit on Capitol Hill? Is Goldman Sachs bringing down the global economy? Is it Wall Street gone wild or just the progress of capitalism? And is the U.S. trouncing Toyota because the federal government owns GM? So many questions, but luckily the “Left, Right & Center” lineup is ready for all of them on this week’s show.

Posted on Feb 26, 2010 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Et Tu, Dick Cheney?; Woods’ Lament

Tiger Woods performed his celebrity duty on Friday, making a public apology for his extramarital escapades, and, yes, even the “Left, Right & Center” lineup of regular commentators has something to say about it. Also this week: Some conservatives think (gasp!) Dick Cheney ought to run for president, and the richest Americans aren’t feeling the same recessionary burn that the rest of the country is suffering.

Posted on Feb 19, 2010 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Is Palin for Real? Can Obama Reboot?

For this week’s show, “Left, Right & Center” fans have the option of watching all four of the show’s regulars—Arianna Huffington, Robert Scheer, Tony Blankley and Matt Miller—in action together at the “Santa Monica mothership” as they ponder whether Obama can turn his own ship around before it’s too late, whether Americans take the tea party movement seriously, and other pressing questions of the day.

Posted on Feb 12, 2010 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Global Markets Reeling; China Flexes Muscle; Apologies

With national and global finance still wobbling and the fundamentals of the economy still gone awry, the fellows on “Left, Right & Center” discuss economic policy, China and the politics of apology.

Posted on Feb 5, 2010 READ MORE


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Whither Bipartisanship?

On this week’s “Left, Right & Center,” usual suspects Robert Scheer, Tony Blankley and Matt Miller (Arianna Huffington is in Davos for the World Economic Forum) weigh in about President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address and ponder the timely and, to some, troubling question: Is bipartisanship dead?

Posted on Jan 29, 2010 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Tragedy in Haiti; the Evils of Wall Street

Is the tragic story of the Haiti earthquake as much about poverty and failed governance as it is about a natural disaster? Is the Banking Commission a kangaroo court? And what does the Massachusetts special election have to do with the future of the health care plan in Congress? All this and more on this week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center.”

Posted on Jan 15, 2010 READ MORE


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Dems Doomed? Should Geithner Go?

The gang’s all here for this week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center,” and it’s a good thing, considering the, er, sheer amount of material to cover. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s not exactly winning the hearts of millions these days, but should he step down? Plus: bad news on the employment front (sigh); the Democratic outlook for 2010; and what big banks are (and aren’t) doing for customers—and what Americans can do about it.

Posted on Jan 8, 2010 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Fat Cats and Health Care Spats

Does Congress need to consider a health care reform do-over? Those Americans holding out the dying embers of hope for anything resembling a public option might think so. Tony Blankley finds the revolting Democrats, well, revolting, but a seafaring Robert Scheer focuses his ire on Wall Street’s notorious fat cats on this week’s “Left, Right & Center.”

Posted on Dec 18, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Obama’s Nobel Speech; Blackwater + CIA; Bank Bonuses

Was Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize speech just idle wordplay or something more “muscular”? “Left, Right & Center” regular Tony Blankley thinks it was tantamount to a “triumph of belief in words over actions” and even invokes deconstructionism (eek!) in his analysis. Is the CIA in bed with Blackwater? And are big banks really cracking down on egregious executive bonuses?

Posted on Dec 11, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Obama’s Undoing?; Tiger’s Foul Play

So, President Obama finally announced his long-awaited decision to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Will it be his undoing? At least on this week’s “Left, Right & Center,” opinions on left and right converge, although for different reasons. And how about the latest unemployment figures—what, only 11,000 jobs lost? We’re doing less-worse than ever, but are we doing better? And is there any reason to take Tiger Woods to task for his alleged infidelities? 

Posted on Dec 4, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: America the Ungovernable?

On this Black Friday edition of “Left, Right & Center,” regulars Robert Scheer, Tony Blankley, Matt Miller and Arianna Huffington get philosophical, trotting out the likes of Karl Marx and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel to get a read on the timely and fundamental question of whether it’s truly possible to govern the people of the United States under the “of, by and for” setup.

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: The Geithner-Summers Backlash; Is Palin Dangerous?

At long last, it seems that members of Congress, of left- and right-leaning persuasions alike, are harboring serious doubts about a couple of key players on President Barack Obama’s economic task force. The right-leaning Tony Blankley thinks that this signals the cyclical, and helpful, breakdown of hyper-partisanship on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Robert Scheer thinks Sarah Palin is still scary.

Posted on Nov 20, 2009 READ MORE  |  8 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: 9/11 Trial; Obama’s Afghani-Standoff

Does the planned trial of the five alleged 9/11 plotters (including oft-referenced “mastermind” Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) represent a partisan issue? “Left, Right & Center” mainstay Tony Blankley thinks so, but his left-leaning counterpart, Robert Scheer, begs to differ on this week’s show. Also: What’s with all the deliberation about Afghanistan?

Posted on Nov 13, 2009 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: GOP Scores; Unemployment Up; Fort Hood Fallout

Unemployment reaches 10.2 percent—do we need a bigger stimulus? What do the GOP victories in Virginia and New Jersey mean for both parties? Will the House’s historic health care bill pass, and, if so, why wait till 2013 to implement it?

Posted on Nov 6, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Spending for America; Clinton’s Pakistan Gamble

Consumer spending drives the real economy, and it has taken a plunge. Did we save the banks at the expense of the people? Also this week: The health care reform bill finally appears on the scene, and Hillary Clinton attempts a precarious balancing act in Pakistan—are either of these developments successful?

Posted on Oct 30, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Public Option Redux; Obama vs. Fox; Bonus Bust

Well, that public option idea keeps creeping back to the table as Congress debates the health care conundrum, but will it stick around? Does the federal government have the right to limit executive bonuses when taxpayers hold a majority interest in the company? And is President Obama wasting his time by tangling with Fox News? So many questions this week!

Posted on Oct 23, 2009 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Reform Survives?; Wall Street Revives

Wall Street got a boost, as if it needed one, from the Dow’s rise past 10,000 this week—but let’s not confuse that with economic stability. Consider the unemployment rate and the ballooning federal budget deficit, as Arianna Huffington, Bob Scheer, Tony Blankley and Matt Miller do on this week’s “Left, Right and Center.” Just don’t ask Arianna about “Balloon Boy.”

Posted on Oct 16, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Nobel Surprise; the Dollar’s Down

President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize caused a ruckus round the globe, drawing a wide range of reactions. The big question: Did he deserve it? On this week’s show, “Left, Right & Center” co-hosts Robert Scheer, Tony Blankley, Matt Miller and Arianna Huffington mull this one over, along with the value of the dollar and the ongoing saga that is health care reform.

Posted on Oct 9, 2009 READ MORE  |  5 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Jobs, Health, War, Sex!

That last bit in the headline isn’t just to get your attention—there are a few valid reasons for its inclusion among this week’s “LRC” topics (paging Roman Polanski ... or was that David Letterman?). However, more substantial fare precedes that part of the discussion, including talk of unemployment, Wall Street’s most wanted, and Obama’s growing Afghanistan problem.

Posted on Oct 2, 2009 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Baucus, Beck, Missiles and Money

Russia might be pleased with President Obama’s decision to nix Bush’s missile shield plans, but how about Eastern Europe? Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus’ health care reform plan foundered, and Obama made a play to get through to the powers on Wall Street. All this—plus the Glenn Becking of American political discourse—is part of this week’s discussion on “Left, Right & Center.”

Posted on Sep 18, 2009 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

Whither Obamacare?; Pelosi Says No on Afghanistan; 9/11 Remembered

It was a big week in political news, what with the kerfuffle about Obama’s education speech and then the hubbub over ... Obama’s health care speech. Anyone see a pattern?  “Left, Right & Center” regulars Robert Scheer, Arianna Huffington and Tony Blankley just might.

Posted on Sep 11, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Jobless Labor Day, Afghan Plans, Obamacare

President Obama’s got a lot of work to do to convince “Left, Right & Center” regulars Arianna Huffington, Tony Blankley and Robert Scheer that he’s going to make good on his promise of “change” when it comes to bettering Americans’ health care options, the economy, the job market and that whole war thing he’s got going on in Afghanistan.

Posted on Sep 4, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

Afghan Investigation, Kennedy Consideration, Health Care Prognostication

Not surprisingly, “Left, Right & Center” co-hosts Arianna Huffington, Robert Scheer and Tony Blankley harbor some differing viewpoints when it comes to Sen. Ted Kennedy’s legacy, as well as whether Congress should push through a health care reform plan to “win one for Ted.”

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Afghan Election, Blackwater’s Role

Was Thursday’s election in Afghanistan a step forward for representative democracy in the South Asian nation? What exactly does President Obama aim to accomplish in Afghanistan anyhow? This week’s lineup of commentators explores the possible connections between the CIA and Blackwater and considers the current status of the health care debate.

Posted on Aug 21, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: The Return of Big Government?

President Obama is gambling on America’s readiness to embrace a larger, more comprehensive form of government, but will it take? “Recovering Republican” Arianna Huffington argues that the system Obama favors is currently working best for oligarchs, not those losing their homes or worried about their health care, while Tony Blankley thinks Big Pharma is pitching camp in the White House.

Posted on Aug 14, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Big-Dog Diplomacy, Sotomayor and Health Care

Diplomacy by former President Bill Clinton that brought home two journalists from North Korea offers a moment to reflect on the anniversary of the Hiroshima nuclear attack. Sonia Sotomayor’s been confirmed, but not until after there was a dramatic display of partisan ideology. Plus, is the disruption of health care town halls real or orchestrated?

Posted on Aug 7, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Bonuses, Blue Dogs and Beer

This week’s show covers flagrant shenanigans in the financial world—could it be that Tony Blankley makes a move toward the left? Meanwhile, lefty Robert Scheer is the surprising deficit hawk in the mix, and Arianna Huffington and Matt Miller clash over whether the absence of a strong public provision in Congress’ emerging health plan represents a betrayal of the American people. Also: beer!

Posted on Jul 31, 2009 READ MORE


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Gets Critical

So we won’t have a solution to the health care conundrum before summer’s end—and maybe not before the end of 2009, either—but for millions of Americans, this issue is a top priority. Who’s going to pay? Bob Scheer, Matt Miller and Tony Blankley cast their votes on this week’s show.

Posted on Jul 24, 2009 READ MORE  |  8 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Vetting Sotomayor, Sizing Up the GOP

This week’s show includes two Republicans filling in for Tony Blankley—Mike Murphy and John Henke—making this episode more like “Left, Right, Right & Center,” if you will. Robert Scheer joins them to weigh in about the Sotomayor hearings, the future of the GOP and what to do about the health care conundrum, among other lively topics.

Posted on Jul 17, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

Health Care, Unions and the State of the U.S.

It’s the Bob and Matt Show! Robert Scheer and Matt Miller discuss the prospects of a public health care system now that the Democrats hold a 60-vote majority in the Senate, and then they move on to examine the impact of unions on education and health care. Tune in to hear Friday’s special summer show of “Left, Right & Center.”

Posted on Jul 10, 2009 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Econorama

For the holiday weekend, the “Left, Right & Center” squad takes a good, hard look at the state of the economy: How did we get here? Who’s to blame? Can it be fixed? Argument, and even entertainment, ensues as Robert Scheer, Arianna Huffington, Matt Miller and Tony Blankley do their best to make sense of it all.

Posted on Jul 3, 2009 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘LRC’: In Defense of Auto-Eroticism

On this week’s “Left, Right & Center” it’s lots of sex, a little health care and even less Michael Jackson. Is sexual repression a uniquely Republican problem? Discuss.

Posted on Jun 26, 2009 READ MORE  |  7 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

LRC: Iran on the Brink, Financial Regs, Health Care Snag

This week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center” takes a look at the doings in Iran and U.S. involvement there, with Truthdig Editor Robert Scheer recalling his interview of a CIA agent who said he organized the 1953 coup in that country. Other topics include two hot issues on the domestic side—U.S. regulatory proposals and health care.

Posted on Jun 19, 2009 READ MORE  |  11 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

LRC: Iran, Big Bank Payback, Reregulation and Health Care

This week on “Left, Right and Center” the gang tackles three big questions: What do today’s Iranian elections mean in the polarized theocracy? What’s going on in the banking world and with the alleged TARP paybacks? And finally, given the partisan divide, will public health care ever become a viable option in the U.S.? Tune in to find out.

Posted on Jun 12, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

LRC: Obama in the Middle East, GM in Bankruptcy, Now What?

You know you’re in for a spirited episode of “Left, Right & Center” when Truthdig’s own Robert Scheer drops a line like “Tony, you’re getting overly excited for NPR.”

Posted on Jun 5, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Is Torture a Partisan Issue?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has been reasserting himself, for good or ill, in the public sphere this week. President Obama was ready with his own take on torture, aka “extreme interrogation” methods. Is this a media-enabled setup or a legitimate face-off between executive powers past and present?

Posted on May 22, 2009 READ MORE  |  7 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Pelosi Waffles, Obama Falters

Will Nancy Pelosi survive the onslaught of scrutiny and criticism in the wake of recent CIA torture-briefing revelations with her House speaker status intact? Is President Obama in over his head, what with all the hubbub over torture photos and military tribunals?

Posted on May 16, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Bank Stress, Afghani-Paki-stan; Gay Marriage

Alert the media—banks need money! Who’s stressed, who’s reassured by the government’s test of the banks’ capitalization? Meanwhile, Pakistan is in serious danger, and Afghanistan is hardly a model of an emerging democracy. Their leaders are in Washington; what will America’s role be?

Posted on May 8, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Souter, Specter and Swine Flu

This week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center” is jam-packed full of news, much of it having to do with words beginning with “s,” incidentally. Also, did Obama pass his first 100-day test?

Posted on May 1, 2009 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Torture, Credit Cards and Chrysler

Even Fox News’ Shep Smith said it: America doesn’t torture ... although the recently released set of torture memos belies that declaration. Meanwhile, President Obama’s none too pleased with credit card companies, and Chrysler has hit the skids. Was there any good news this week? Tony Blankley thinks so.

Posted on Apr 24, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Tea Parties and Torture

Did the nationwide “tea parties” on April 15 constitute a much-needed boost for the Republican base? Was the Obama administration right to release the latest batch of torture memos from the Bush years?

Posted on Apr 17, 2009 READ MORE  |  18 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: A Glimmer of Hope for the Economy?

The economy’s not the only thing that “Left, Right & Center” co-conspirators Matt Miller, Tony Blankley and Robert Scheer are thinking about this week, but it’s a biggie again, as are the Obama administration’s announcement about defense spending and the changes under way in American foreign policy. Also: Somali pirates!

Posted on Apr 10, 2009 READ MORE  |  5 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Obama’s Big G-20 Debut, Bigger Budget

Did President Barack Obama achieve anything at the G-20 summit besides showing up and pressing the flesh with other international political players? Tony Blankley isn’t so sure, but Robert Scheer and guest moderator Lawrence O’Donnell are ready with their rebuttals. And how about that ginormous budget plan?

Posted on Apr 3, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Geithner’s Grand Plan; Obama’s Afghan Quagmire

The clock is ticking for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to come up with a plan to deal with the banks that actually works. Meanwhile, some of the United States’ current struggles seem beside the point to European countries that already have a strong social safety net. And finally on this week’s list of “Left, Right & Center” hot topics is President Obama and Afghanistan: Is this a disaster waiting to happen?

Posted on Mar 28, 2009 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: AIG Angst; Happy New Year, Iran!

Have the American media become too fixated on AIG and its nefarious bonuses—at the cost of focusing too little on the whereabouts of the other gajillions of dollars doled out in bailout funds? What’s to become of Timothy Geithner? And how about those warm New Year’s wishes that winged their way to the people of Iran from the U.S. and Israel?

Posted on Mar 20, 2009 READ MORE  |  6 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Economic Blues, Obama’s Successes

Has there been any good news in recent days? Robert Scheer thinks so and says why on this week’s “Left, Right & Center.” Arianna Huffington, meanwhile, has some questions about Barack Obama’s economic decisions, while Tony Blankley wonders if there aren’t too many banking types in the new government.

Posted on Mar 6, 2009 READ MORE  |  5 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Obama’s Budget, Jindal’s Debut

Disagreement abounds on this week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center,” especially when it comes to President Obama’s budget plan and the origins of the economic crisis it’s intended to remedy. Who’s the moderator again? And is Bobby Jindal done for?

Posted on Feb 27, 2009 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: More Banking Shenanigans, Forestalling Foreclosure

This week’s episode of “Left, Right & Center” finds the full lineup of co-hosts—Matt Miller, Tony Blankley, Arianna Huffington and Robert Scheer—debating the latest developments in the unholy marriage between big banks and the U.S. government, speculating about what might be done about the American auto industry and doing a little on-the-fly analysis of comparative economic systems. Listen and learn.

Posted on Feb 20, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


Left, Right & Center

‘Left, Right & Center’: Are We Stimulated Enough Yet?

Everyone’s a Captol Hill critic these days. Here we have a handful who might just know what they’re talking about when it comes to the stimulus debate: Arianna Huffington, Tony Blankley, Robert Scheer and Matt Miller do their darndest to sort out where the money should go.

Posted on Feb 7, 2009 READ MORE  |  3 COMMENTS


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