Politically Direct with David Bender Blog

Why Knot?

David Bender — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:22:20 -0500

When Pastor Rick Warren steps up to the microphone to deliver the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th President of the United States, the world's television cameras will pan the surrounding dignitaries--Senators, members of Congress, diplomats--then they'll focus on the faces of the crowd, millions of Americans crammed together in the winter cold, straining to witness this historic event.

Here's what they'll see: pinned to the lapels of the overcoats of every man, woman and child that is willing to wear one will be a small white ribbon, tied into the shape of a knot. One, after another, after another, after another, these white knots will bear silent but eloquent testimony to a future America where marriage equality is a reality. These white knots will represent hope, just as Barack Obama does.

The White Knot is the brilliant brainchild of Frank Voci, who I interviewed several weeks ago here on my Air America Radio program, "Politically Direct." At the time, I thought the notion of displaying a small symbol of support for marriage equality was the ideal reaction to the horrific passage of Proposition 8 in California. I suggested to Frank that the Obama inauguration would be an excellent opportunity for a quiet affirmation that was non-political, yet visually--and numerically--effective. It seemed like the perfect day to demonstrate support for for a new beginning in America.

Politically Direct with David Bender Sunday 12-21-08

Scott Millican — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:28:37 -0500

This Sunday on Politically Direct we are going to be discussing two issues that seem to be on everybody's mind: Caroline Kennedy as a potential Senator from New York State, what do you think, is this dynasty politics?And what about Rick Warren delivering the Invocation at Barack Obama's Inauguration, is this the first chink in Barack Obama's progressive armor?

All this and your calls, this weekend on Politically Direct with David Bender.

On Air Number 866-303-2270.

December 14th, 2008: Al Giordano; Michael Wolff; and Anne Kronenberg

David Fazekas — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:01:49 -0500

This week, I'll be joined by Al Giordano, journalist/blogger at "The Field". Then, Michael Wolff, Vanity Fair columnist, and author of "The Man Who Owns The News" (biography of Rupert Murdoch). And in our last hour, Anne Kronenberg, aide to Supervsior Harvey Milk.

And of course your calls: 866-303-2270.

This Sunday on Politically Direct 12-07-08

Scott Millican — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:05:49 -0500

Today on Politically Direct my guests will be Tony Winner Marc Shaiman creator of "Prop 8: The Musical," the great new viral video that's exploding across the internet. Then, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black will join us to talk about his important and extraordinary new movie, "Milk." All this and your calls at 866 303 2270 today on Politically Direct, right here on Air America Radio and airamerica.com

MILK city release schedule

November 26:

11/26/2008 ATLANTA

11/26/2008 BOSTON

11/26/2008 CHICAGO

11/26/2008 DALLAS

11/26/2008 DENVER

11/26/2008 DETROIT

11/26/2008 JACKSONVILLE

11/26/2008 LOS ANGELES

11/26/2008 MINNEAPOLIS

11/26/2008 NEW YORK

11/26/2008 PHILADELPHIA

11/26/2008 PORTLAND

11/26/2008 SAN FRANCISCO

11/26/2008 SEATTLE

11/26/2008 ST. LOUIS

11/26/2008 WASHINGTON

November 28:

11/28/2008 SAN FRANCISCO

December 5:

12/05/2008 ATLANTA

12/05/2008 CHICAGO

12/05/2008 CINCINNATI

12/05/2008 DALLAS

12/05/2008 JACKSONVILLE

12/05/2008 LOS ANGELES

12/05/2008 NEW YORK

12/05/2008 SALT LAKE CITY

12/05/2008 SAN FRANCISCO

12/05/2008 WASHINGTON

December 12:

12/12/2008 ALBANY

12/12/2008 ATLANTA

12/12/2008 BOSTON

12/12/2008 BUFFALO

November 30, 2008: Gore Vidal

David Fazekas — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:29:35 -0500

Legendary
author and historian Gore Vidal will make a rare in-studio appearance
today on Politically Direct with David Bender. In a broadcast coup, Vidal,
whose extraordinary career as a novelist, essayist and playwright has
spanned six decades, has agreed to take calls from Air America's
national listening audience for the full three hours. This
special edition of Politically Direct with David Bender will originate
from the Los Angeles studios of KTLK. Call the Great Man at 866
303-2270!

This Sunday: Gore Vidal on Politically Direct

Air America — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:33:50 -0500

This Sunday, Politically Direct with David Bender will have author, Gore Vidal. Gore Vidal will take your calls for three hours. Yes, that’s THREE hours. Make sure you get in line for the chance to talk to him. Call 1866-303-2270

This Weekend on Politically Direct 11-23-08

Scott Millican — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:40:24 -0500

David Bender is back from the Air America Cruise and is coming live to you from the Ring of Fire Studios in Pensacola Florida. Stopping by today, Mike Papantonio, co-host of Ring of Fire with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And speaking of Kennedy's, Bobby's brother Max will be here to discuss his new book, "Danger's Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her." We will also have renowned author Jay Parini in the third hour to talk about his new book "Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America". And we will be taking your calls at 866-303-2270.

Progressive Book Club

This Sunday on Politically Direct 11-16-08

Scott Millican — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:07:05 -0500

This weekend "Best of Politically Direct with David Bender" airs some of our favorite interviews leading up to the election. We will look back at interviews from Jonathan Alter, Jeffrey Toobin, Joe Klein and Legendary Recording Artists David Crosby and Graham Nash, while David is on the Air America Cruise. Don't worry, we will be back next week with a live show that you don't want to miss. Maybe David will even post some pictures from his vacation!

Dean: Scream On

David Bender — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:59:23 -0500

When Howard Dean became chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2005, the Republican Party controlled the Senate, the House and the White House.

Politically Direct Sunday 11-09-08

Scott Millican — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:30:02 -0500

Hi, it's David Bender....well, our long national nightmare is finally over. The election of Barack Obama as our nation's 44th President is now official. But what does it mean? What change will he really bring? This Sunday on Politically Direct we'll break down the election returns and look ahead to the Obama Administration with two of the country's smartest political insiders, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter and former West Wing writer and producer Lawrence O'Donnell. O'Donnell, Alter and your calls - this Sunday on Politically Direct, right here on Air America Radio and Air America Dot Com.

For more information on the Al Franken for Senate recount, click here.

Bender: Crystal Ball

David Bender — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:17:50 -0500

You've seen all the predictions about the electoral vote, the popular vote and the number of Democratic pick-ups in the Senate and House. That's already old prognostication. I mean, even Nostradamus supposedly called it for Obama more than 500 years ago.

This Sunday on Politically Direct 11-02-08

Scott Millican — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:17:19 -0400

Today on Politically Direct we'll be live with all the latest news from the campaign trail including our own Rachel Maddow in her first interview following her one-on-one sit down with Barack Obama in Florida this past week. And, speaking of Florida, the Sunshine State's own rock legend Stephen Stills will join me to talk about what's happening in the swingingest of swing states. All this and we'll be taking your calls at 866 303-2270 today on Politically Direct!

This Sunday on Politically Direct 10-26-08

Scott Millican — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:24:52 -0400

Hi it's David Bender. Well, with just over a week to go in the election we're going to get the latest perspective on the campaign from someone who has a great view of what's going on...Joy Behar, co-host of The View, will be joining me today on Politically Direct. Also from the campaign trail we will be joined my Democratic Senate Nominee from Oregon, Jeff Merkley. And then we'll be focusing on the battleground states...Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio...we'll be looking at the state of the race and the Democrats' effort to get to the magic number of 60 Senate seats...is it really within reach? Tune-in and find out!

This Sunday on Politically Direct 10-19-08

Scott Millican — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:37:07 -0400

16 Days and counting! Today on Politically Direct my guests are the brilliant and dynamic mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, former Nixon White House counsel, John W. Dean, whose NY Times bestseller, "Broken Government," is just out in paperback, actor Toby Jones who stars as Karl Rove in Oliver Stone's new movie. "W," and, as always, Farron Cousins, co-anchor of the Daily Left at GoLeft.tv will be hear to tell us about an important story that the mainstream media has NOT reported, all this and we'll be taking your calls at 866 303-2270!

Link to Equality California discussed in the Gavin Newsom interview on today's show

Puttin' on Ayers?

David Bender — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:03:11 -0400

On the eve of the third and final presidential debate, Republican McCain (by the way, I firmly believe that "Republican" should become the Arizonan's only first name over the next 21 days, replacing "John" or "Senator") has yet again telegraphed his next punch. Speaking today on St. Louis radio, Republican McCain said "I was astonished to hear [Obama] say that he was surprised I didn’t have the guts” to bring up Bill Ayers directly to his face at the debate last week. Republican McCain went on to say that this "probably ensures" that he will raise the subject tomorrow night.

The problem for Republican McCain is that he is now portraying himself as a "fighter" who cannot afford to look weak in the clinch. Yet no smart boxer would announce his ring strategy in advance. That's not rope-a-dope, it's just dopey.

Seriously, what we are now seeing is the true essence of Republican John McCain; he's no more a maverick than I am an astronaut. The modern Republican playbook -- authored by Lee Atwater and updated by Karl Rove--requires fear-based, ad hominem attacks on your opponent in the closing days of an election. Republican McCain is now desperate and he's on the defensive. Cornered by the polls and by his own bad judgments, I predict that he will swing wildly tomorrow night, hoping to land a rhetorical haymaker on the chin of the Kid from Illinois.

Politically Direct Sunday 10-12-08 The Attack of the Killer B's!

Scott Millican — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:36:20 -0400

It's The Killer B's this week on Politically Direct as Bender is joined by Begala, Brock and Bobby Kennedy in our countdown to the Big Vote. Author and political strategist Paul Begala ("Third Term: Why George Bush Loves John McCain"), Media Matters for America founder and CEO David Brock and Ring of Fire's Bobby Kennedy, Jr ("Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s American Heroes: Robert Smalls, the Boat Thief") will all BE here to share their views about the campaign in general and Republican John McCain specifically. We will also talk to Variety Magazine's Editor at Large Ted Johnson and legendary rock and roll artists David Crosby and Graham Nash will be here so don't miss this weeks Politically Direct!

helpful links:

Progressive Accountability mentioned by David Brock on today's show.

Crosby and Nash concert dates

This Weekend on Politically Direct with David Bender 10-05-08

Scott Millican — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:37:57 -0400

Hi it's David Bender....well she didn't say "I can see Russia from my house," but Sarah Palin's debate performance this week was almost a comedy routine...replete with smiles, winks and the occasional verbal pratfall. This Sunday on Politically Direct, we'll be talking about the Grating Debater with Newsweek's Jonathan Alter as well as with America's greatest man of letters, the incomparable Gore Vidal. All this and your calls, this Sunday on Politically Direct, right here on Air America Radio and Airamerica.com.

You can purchase Jonathan Alter's new book, Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture here.

Politically Direct 9-28-08

Scott Millican — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:01:54 -0400

Well, John McCain blinked and unsuspended his not-really suspended campaign. So join me this Sunday on Politically Direct when we'll deconstruct the first presidential debate with political strategist Joe Trippi, scholar and author of the Political Brain Drew Westen, environmental activist Van Jones and GoLeft TV's's Farron Cousins...all this and your calls, this Sunday on Politically Direct right here on Air America Radio and airamericaradio.com.

Politically Direct with David Bender 9-21-08

Ring of Fire — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:11:09 -0400

This week on Politically Direct, David Bender will be joined by actor and producer Robert Gant on his new film "Save Me". Save Me is a deft exploration of the controversial ex-gay movement. The story follows Mark (Chad Allen), a drug-addicted young man who overdoses and finds himself at the mercy of his disapproving family. Their solution to Mark's problems is to check him into a Christian run ministry overseen by Gayle (Judith Light), who believes she can help cure young men of their 'gay affliction' through spiritual guidance. And as he does every Sunday, our friend Farron Cousins of GoLeft.TV will also be here with an important story that somehow the mainstream media just doesn't cover. All this and your calls at 866 303-2270 today on Politically Direct.

Politically Direct with David Bender 9-14-08

Ring of Fire — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:57:04 -0400

Today on Politically Direct we've hit the Trifecta with three smart guests: Time Magazine's Joe Klein, the New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin and actor and activist Hal Sparks. They'll all be here to give us their perspective on this increasingly close presidential race and the impact that the unbearably light Sarah Palin has had on this contentious campaign. And as he does every Sunday, our friend Farron Cousins of GoLeft.TV will also be here with an important story that somehow the mainstream media just doesn't cover. All this and your calls at 866 303-2270 today on Politically Direct.

If you're a music fan and live in the San Francisco Bay area, Bear Kittay, National Director of Music for Democracy will also be calling in to tell us about their big event in Oakland this Tuesday.

September 7th, 2008: Kenny Laguna and Farron Cousins

David Fazekas — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:31:42 -0400

This week we'll be talking about the upcoming presidential elections, Obama, McCain and Palin, with musician, producer and activist Kenny Laguna; Farron Cousins; and you, call us at 866-710-6883.

Politically Direct with David Bender 9-7-08

Ring of Fire — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:22:50 -0400

Convention Hangover? Join David Bender this weekend on Politcally Direct where we will have a little "Hair of the Dog" to help cure that pounding headache from the RNC. As always we will be taking your calls at 866-303-2270. We want to hear your take on both conventions as we get ready for the upcoming Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates.

Palin!?

Ring of Fire — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:01:34 -0400

Today Politcally Direct airs live straight from the Lion's Den. David Bender will be in Minneapolis where he will be recapping this weeks Democratic National Convention in Denver, and giving his expert analysis on what we can expect from the Republican National Convention. From John McCain's VP pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to President Bush and Vice President's no show at the Republican National Conventiion, there is plenty to talk about this week so give David a call toll free at 866-303-2270.

August 17th, 2008: David Crosby; Dan Gilgoff; Farron Cousins; and your calls

David Fazekas — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:36:48 -0400

This week we will talk to David Crosby, about the elections. Then Dan Gilgoff, politics editor at Beliefnet.org and contributing editor at U.S. News and World Report, on Saturday's Saddleback Civil Forum. Then Farron Cousins; and of course, your calls, 866-303-2270.

August 9th, 2008

David Fazekas — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:40:09 -0400

This week we'll be talking about John Edwards and him finally admitting to having an affair, and we'd love to hear what you have to say about this, 866-303-2270. Then in the third hour, Farron Cousins; Huffington Post blogger, Marty Kaplan; and Air America's own, Lionel on his new book, "Everyone's Crazy Except You and Me . . . And I'm Not So Sure About You"