(Don't miss our interview with John Nichols on Friday at 5:00PM EST)

"John Nichols' compact, scathing book on Richard Cheney takes as a given that the Vice President controls the Bush White House....In Nichols' portrait, Dick is a power-obsessed, conniving, not particularly competent, and generally nasty fellow....Nichols, The Nation's Washington correspondent, describes a Vice President who has benefited hugely from his man-behind-the-curtain persona. Dick is a frightening and witty book that does much to reveal the inner Cheney." Anna Godbersen, Esquire...

Multi-Millionaire Jimmy Walter Funds Nationwide Ad Campaign to Re-Open 9/11 Investigation

(Don't miss our interview with Jimmy Walter on Thursday at 5:00PM EST.)

Spending over $1,500,000, California-based Jimmy Walter has launched advertising blitzes in America's most prominent newspapers and magazines, including full-page color ads in Business Week, Forbes, Newsweek, the New York Times, Washington Post, Readers Digest, New Yorker, etc., entitled "Are We Safer Now? The 9/11 Report has been published, but some very troubling questions remain unanswered." (walden3.org) ...

by RUSS BAKER

The Nation [Reprinted by permission | September 29th, 2004]

(We interviewed Russ about this article prior to publication. So, be sure to listen to the repeat of Conversations- until 4:00PM EST Thursday. GS)

A new source has emerged with what she says is personal knowledge about why George W. Bush prematurely left his Texas National Guard unit in 1972--because nerves, fear and a possible drinking problem were affecting his ability to pilot his F-102A plane. If true, this information further confirms a growing body of evidence that Bush has not been candid about his departure from his unit. At various times the President and his spokespersons have offered shifting rationales, from the planned eventual mothballing of the F-102As, to his doctor's unavailability to give him a flight physical, to a professional opportunity in another state. ...

2004 Iconoclast Presidential Endorsement

The Lone Star Iconoclast | Crawford, Texas | W. Leon Smith, Publisher

(Note: Mr. Smith will be on Conversations for an interview today (Tuesday) at 4:40PM EST / 3:40 PM CST)

Few Americans would have voted for George W. Bush four years ago if he had promised
that, as President, he would:

• Empty the Social Security trust fund by $507 billion to help offset fiscal irresponsibility and at the same time slash Social Security benefits.
• Cut Medicare by 17 percent and reduce veterans' benefits and military pay.
• Eliminate overtime pay for millions of Americans ...   more »

An Inequality Briefing Book - July, 2004

(We will be interviewing Jim Lardner, Founder and director of Inequality.org on Conversations at 5:00 PM EST for the full hour, Thursday September 16th. GS)

Source: Parade Magazine, "What People Earn," March 14, 2004.

   more »

by RUSS BAKER

The Nation [Reprinted by permission | September 14th, 2004 issue]

(Russ Baker will be with us on "Conversations" on Radio Left, Friday Septemer 17th at 5:00PM EST for the full hour. Don't miss this live interview! GS)

Growing evidence suggests that George W. Bush abruptly left his Texas Air National Guard unit in 1972 for substantive reasons pertaining to his inability to continue piloting a fighter jet.

A months-long investigation, which includes examination of hundreds of government-released documents, interviews with former Guard members and officials, military experts and Bush associates, points toward the conclusion that Bush's ...   more »