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Transcript from the Hall of Shame portion of my show regarding the IOC-Sochi Olympics

Again, this starts here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/09/29/michael-reagan-on-obamacare-william-hartung-on-iran at the 54:42 mark

In second place for even Worse nonsense this week we have the International Olympic Committee

That might sound strange to some of you but bear with me

You can understand a politician or organization making a mistake on an issue if something like that issue had never come up before.
In the runup to the 1936 Olympics, among members of the International Olympic Committee there was a debate as to whether the Olympics should be moved from Berlin to another country because of Germany’s anti-Semitism. Among those who were thinking along those lines was Avery Brundage, president of the American Olympic Committee (AOC). Back during that debate, Mr. Brundage stated:

"The very foundation of the modern Olympic revival will be undermined if individual countries are allowed to restrict participation by reason of class, creed, or race."

After a brief and tightly managed inspection of German sports facilities in 1934, Brundage stated publicly that Jewish athletes were being treated fairly and that the Games should go on, as planned.

We now know that was a mistake, but we have the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. Few people knew in 1936 and in the runup to those Olympics what would happen to Jews in Nazi Germany. The rhetoric was there, there were some abuses, and the Nuremberg laws had been passed a year earlier, but the Holocaust and final solution were five plus years away. With the benefit of history, some may look back and can say, the world should have seen it coming, but that really is a viewpoint aided with the knowledge of history.

We can forgive Brundage and various other IOC officials for their failure to predict what was to come in Germany.

What I cannot understand is for today’s IOC to be so willing to give sanction to the Sochi Olympics with the history of the 1936 Olympics as a guide.

The treatment of those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community in Russia right now is uncomfortably similar to the treatment of Jews in Germany in 1936. In some cases, it’s actually worse. I don’t recall members of the clergy in the mid 1930’s in Germany joining in joyously in physical attacks on Jews. That is happening today in Russia. Hatred towards and attacks against LGBT people has been given sanction by the Russian Orthodox Church. Indeed there are multiple reports of Russian Orthodox Church priests and bishops taking part in crowds physically attacking gays in Russia and Georgia. Combined with the laws passed targeting the gay community in Russia, and those persecuting gays have been given both legal and moral ecclesiastical sanction to their attitude and actions. That sanction having been given, it’s not hard to see why many of us, me included, believe some wide ranging pogrom against gays in Russia is very likely.

It is therefore difficult to believe the recent stamp of approval given the Sochi games by Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission.

As reported by the CBC, Killy said the commission considered the issue carefully and in the end was fully convinced that Russia will respect the Olympic charter, which prohibits discrimination of any kind. He said the IOC had received written assurances from Russian officials there would be no discrimination.

"The Olympic Charter states that all segregation is completely prohibited, whether it be on the grounds of race, religion, color or other, on the Olympic territory," he said in French. He went on to say "That will be the case, we are convinced. Another thing I must add: the IOC doesn't really have the right to discuss the laws in the country where the Olympic Games are organized. As long as the Olympic Charter is respected, we are satisfied, and that is the case."

Again, I just have to point out, this sounds very similar to the statements by various Olympic committee members in the run-up to the 1936 Olympics. The words of George Santayana echo loudly here. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

The International Olympic Committee is runner up this week in our hall of shame for infamous nonsense.

David Corn of Mother Jones: "Should Obama bring out some anger in response to shut down..."

David Corn of Mother Jones asked the question on his FB Page, should President Obama bring out some anger regarding what is happening with the shut down and debt ceiling to which I replied:

"No need. All the polls are telling us that the American Public will overwhelmingly blame the Republicans for what is happening with the shut down. When your opponents are engaging in a circular firing squad, don't distract them or get in the way."

If you want to hear me call out the IOC in my Hall of Shame for signing off on Sochi

Click here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/09/29/michael-reagan-on-obamacare-william-hartung-on-iran

and fast forward in the scroll bar to 54:42

Again, the transcript will be online tomorrow night.

My show this week: Michael Reagan and I spar on ACA/Obamacare, William Hartung on Iran

Don't miss Making Sense with Steve Leser this week!
Michael Reagan, Ronald Reagan's son joins me to debate Obamacare and the Ted Cruz filibuster and William Hartung from the director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy joins me to discuss Iran.

We also have our trademarked weekly hall of fame and shame for those politicians who made great sense, or shameful nonsense respectively!

The show will air Sunday September 29th at 7pm Eastern time on Blogtalk Radio at the below link and it will air at 2pm Pacific time on Monday September 30th on KCAA 1050am in Inland Empire California.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/09/29/michael-reagan-on-obamacare-william-hartung-on-iran

Am on Justice with Judge Jeanine tonight vs Scottie Nell Hughes re: ACA/Obamacare

Am going to be live tonight discussing the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare with Scottie Nell Hughes on the Justice with Judge Jeanine (Pirro) show on Fox News at 9pm Eastern time.

Heads up. The IOC makes the Hall of Shame on my show this week.

The show airs this Sunday at 7pm Eastern time on Blogtalk radio at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/09/29/michael-reagan-on-obamacare-william-hartung-on-iran

and Monday at 2pm Pacific time on the NBC Radio affiliate KCAA 1050am in inland empire California

Edited to add: I will post a transcript of this part of the show here Monday evening.

This week on my show, me vs Michael Reagan on Obamacare & Sen Ted Cruz and William Hartung on Iran

Huge week on Making Sense with Steve Leser this week!

Michael Reagan, Ronald Reagan's son joins me to debate Obamacare and the Ted Cruz filibuster, and William Hartung the director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy joins me to discuss Iran.

The show airs this Sunday at 7pm Eastern time on Blogtalk radio at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/09/29/michael-reagan-on-obamacare-william-hartung-on-iran

and Monday at 2pm Pacific time on the NBC Radio affiliate KCAA 1050am in inland empire California

IRV poll I created for the 2016 Democratic Presidential Nomination

I will create a new one every few months or so. I thought it might be interesting to see what an Instant Runoff Voting poll would yield as far as preferred Presidential Candidate. If you are interesting in participating, below is the link and the candidates for this poll.

http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=2016poll1

Candidate: Hillary Clinton
Candidate: Joe Biden
Candidate: Martin O'Malley
Candidate: Elizabeth Warren
Candidate: Howard Dean
Candidate: Andrew Cuomo
Candidate: Tim Kaine
Candidate: Mark Warner
Candidate: Amy Klobuchar
Candidate: Jim Webb
Candidate: Kristen Gillibrand

Jon Stewart vs. Ted Cruz on the "filibuster". Best political takedown ever. This is it. Period.