Hey everybody. I’m Farron Cousins, and this is The Daily Left – your interactive source for progressive news and commentary. Thanks for joining me.

Remember that moronic chant that the Republicans started during their convention, something like Let’s Drill Baby, or Drill Drill Drill…Ah, thank you, Sarah. Anyway, it turns out that while Americans were distracted with news about our terrible economy, the GOP made good on their promise, and the drilling has begun. The Bush Administration has begun the process of oil exploration off the coast of Virginia, and debate over the issue has officially been closed. The Department of Interior is now set to lease 2.9 million acres of the ocean to oil and natural gas companies, less than 50 miles off the coast of Virginia. The administration’s own best estimates show that this area could contain about 130 million barrels of oil, which amounts to a little less than a week’s worth of oil for the United States, at current consumption rates. The incoming Obama administration will now have to tackle this issue head on upon taking office, and the Bush crew is working tirelessly to make sure the drilling process begins before Obama can be sworn in.

Mike Papantonio of GoLeft TV and Air America's Ring of Fire talks with Matthew Filipowicz, founder of HeadzUp.tv, about this week's most absurd news stories that the corporate media wouldn't cover.

Mike Papantonio of GoLeft TV and Air America's Ring of Fire talks with award-winning author Ron Suskind about his new book "The Way of the World," where he talks about the forgeries committed by the White House in order to build their case for the Iraqi War.

From Ron Reagan:

Tonight's the last presidential debate and I'm here in New York City for Air America's special events coverage.

First, the latest stump speeches. . . and then I'll be joined in studio with Politically Direct's David Bender.

And later, we'll have the enlightened reactions from our very own: from the Hofstra University debate, Air America Chairman Charlie Kireker, plus Ron Kuby, Lionel, Thom Hartmann, Mike Papantonio, Mark Green, Jon Elliott , and Rachel Maddow.

And we'll be taking your calls all evening.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

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Ring of Fire's Mike Papantonio and fellow Air American Sam Seder run down this week's stories that the corporate-controlled media missed, including the fact that 1 in 4 mammals are facing extinction, and how Wall Street is cashing in on the financial crisis.

A message from Chris Owens:

This week, things have gotten a little ugly in the presidential campaign, from threats and innuendo to guilt by association...

I'll take up just one part of this topic with Isabel Macdonald, communications director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and one of the authors of the “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes spread fear, bigotry and misinformation,” a profile of the “Dirty Dozen” 12 worst offenders of smearing American Muslims. http://www.fair.org/index.php

And I'll speak with Van Jones, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the new book, The Green Collar Economy. We're talking about what "green jobs" really are and what new money Americans could be making when they shift their priorities on the environment. www.vanjones.net

September 1, 2008

I got up at 5:00 am this morning. It takes me a bit longer than it should to get out of the house – just like I pack a little more than I should when traveling – and I had a train to catch. I was going to Chicago and then, after a short layover, onward to New York City.

My job was to get the Southwest Chief at 7:45, which meant that my checked baggage had to be at Union Station in Kansas City by 7:00 am. Well, thanks to Jan, we made it with no problem. Of course, we had to check with CNN first to see how Gustav was doing. Things did not look good.

It is Labor Day – a day that has come to mean many things in my life. Most notably, it is the day of the huge West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway back in Brooklyn, New York – the culmination of weeks of celebrations around independence and national pride. For people like me, the day is always burdened with a political responsibility – either I am marching with a candidate and/or an entourage or I am the candidate (only once so far.) As much as tourists flock to see the parade for the music and splendor, the politicians and their appendages are a critical part of what makes the parade a “must see’ event.

Last year, I was part of a rogue float sponsored by the Caribbean-American Weekly that hoisted a huge picture of Barack Obama with Calypso star The Mighty Sparrow and other community leaders. (The paper had already endorsed Obama.) Response to the float politely appreciative during that long, hot day. Many people, particularly Caribbean women, were enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. We were definitely “on the edge,” politically.

Well, I am missing this year’s parade, but I am sure the reaction is quite different – if there’s another float! And next Saturday I will march with working people in New York City to celebrate the now-deferred Labor Day.

August 31, 2008

If it’s Sunday in Kansas, it’s church day. Jan and her family members belong to a small local Baptist church and we attended the 11:00 am service. Prior to leaving the house, we were watching CNN’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav and the potential modifications being made by the Republican Party to their convention plans. I don’t know what to think.

The Democratic Convention was so important to the party; it’s hard to imagine the Republicans being helped in any significant way by this change. But they may not be hurt. I think the low-key approach is appropriate and potentially beneficial. They just announced that Bush and Cheney won’t be attending. That’s unfortunate for US! The Republican Party just got off the hook for part of its legacy!

The church was nice with good, clean modern lines. The people were all very friendly and welcoming (though some assumed that both Jan and I were visitors, despite her long-time membership – Jan’s husband is white). The church appears to do some good outreach work to the poor, including those in other nations.

There was the requisite overhead electronic screen to guide congregants through hymns. There was the requisite band to provide that soft rock feel to the music. Jan’s son, Jeremy, was playing the piano with the band on this day. And there was the requisite blonde, thin-voiced soprano to lead the songs of praise with a level of passion I simply cannot define (let’s leave it at that).