I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.
If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, you can check out last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like. That's the show which is the most listened to grass roots progressive podcast in the country.
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Wow, that Jenn is a sad callous woman. You probably know that people like Jenn cannot be convinced of the things we believe in or even swayed a tiny bit. (My parents are like Jenn, I love them, but their attitudes are sickening.)
You did a great job in that debate. You're well versed in debate technique and quite skilled at it. I applaud you. In addition, not only did you accurately state relevant facts, but you were versed in their "facts," like the myth surrounding moving WMD to Syria.
The only thing I noticed was that Jenn said a few times in the Iraq sequence that she agreed with some of your assertions (after she had mocked them.) You could have capitalized a bit more on that, by repeating her capitulation.
The other thing is that out here in radio land, those few people who can be swayed by this debate reject the ugliness of her attitude. Allow her wallow in it.
Jack, I only recently started listening to your podcast, but this debate has made you my new hero.
While I agree with most of Cay's comment, I don't think you needed to capitalize on any of Jenn's flip-flops as she did a great job of looking foolish without your help. Although she acknowledged that she wasn't on her A-game due to personal circumstances, it obviously didn't damper her misguided convictions... but STILL she had no sensible reply to most of your points.
My favourite moment, by far, was when she was so clearly in the wrong (and so clearly recognized it) that she was reduced to uttering one mere meaningless word, "Whatever." And the slight awkward pause that followed was brilliant... really allowed it to sink in how pathetic her stance was.
"Whatever." It's what young children say in a playground when walking away from a fight over an action figure. As a word, it means nothing, it achieves nothing, it only serves to dismiss.
Congrats on backing a right-winger into a corner she couldn't counter with logic or fact, but could only dismiss.
Well done, Jack I've been listening for over a year now and this was a great display of your grasp of the facts. You left her flailing. I'd be happy to hear another debate with her or other right wingers. I noticed on her website she doesn't have the debate anywhere. Gee I wonder who she thinks won.
A small observation. I went over to Jenn's blog. She is very fond of heaping tons of vitriol on the people to the left of her.
Her blog also plays music. The music? Pearl Jam! The band led by anti-war, anti-Bush Eddie Vedder. The Eddie Veder who sangs some great songs at Ralph Nader's rallies. Who speaks/sings at many anti-war rallies. At the end of the Peal Jam song she tells of a fond memory of meeting Veder (and doing drugs with him)!
The significance? I am not sure. But I find it ironic that the right doesn't have to much music to put to their politics. I will listen to Hugh Hewitt, and his bumper music is Bruce Coburn who sang so powerfully against U.S. intervention in Central America.
Nothing about this says that a the Left perspective is correct, and the Right is wrong. But it must mean that the Left has better artists!
Hey righties, get your own music! Have fun only listening to Ted Nugent and Charlie Daniels, and some country (and we still have some country music on our side)!
And while listening to this debate, Jenn seems to just want to emulate Ann Coulter.
Two softballs that Jack really could have hit out of the park:
1. She said that her parents paid into Medicare so they deserve the service. Except they didn't they paid the benefits of the people receiving Medicare while her parents were working.
2. She stated that if you can't afford Healthcare don't have children. Which is opposite to every other right winger, since that would require objectionable birth control (RU-486, condoms, and the pill).
I understand Jack had a really short amount of time but these two incidences of right wing hypocrisy got me yelling at the computer.
Two softballs that Jack really could have hit out of the park:
1. She said that her parents paid into Medicare so they deserve the service. Except they didn't they paid the benefits of the people receiving Medicare while her parents were working.
2. She stated that if you can't afford Healthcare don't have children. Which is opposite to every other right winger, since that would require objectionable birth control (RU-486, condoms, and the pill).
I understand Jack had a really short amount of time but these two incidences of right wing hypocrisy got me yelling at the computer.
wow !!! great job. I am always open to listen to right wingers, but she said nothing of substance. You buried her. Awesome job. You taught us how to blast the right and you lead by example. Fantastic, you're my hero! Vince
I was open minded looking forward to hearing the other side of the debate,since I am well versed with Jacks views and not always in agreement.I found Jenn lacking in substance and faltering in her ideology.Her final reaction to Jacks strong delivery was`whatever.....`. She did not draw me nearer to her viewpoint with any of her comments. Her apathy towards her fellow man showed quite clearly .She only cares about herself and what she needs and wants and is prepared to pay for. Final score,Jack 10,Jenn 3.I would not waste my time listening to round two,since she is no opponent for Jacks debating skills. Carole,UK listener.
Great debate with Jungle Jenn. I thought you were very kind and understanding of her plight (i.e. her being displaced by the CA wildfires). I also think she would've been beaten like a gong by your logic and facts even if she was 100%. She might've even been at 100%, her comments and lines of thought seemed consistent with those on her awful website.
Towards the end of the debate Jenn refuted your points by telling you to "get your head out of your @$$." Later, she playfully (?) called you a "moonbat".
I think it is the result of moral and idealogical bankruptcy that causes people like Jenn to resort to name-calling; they can't refute factual evidence; they can't claim moral justification for their actions; so they smear. I share many of your views, so I guess to Jenn I'm a moonbat with his head up his @$$ and a danger to America too. I KNOW that's BS in your case and mine, and I'm sick and tired of being labeled as such.
Like many of the other commenters, I feel its a waste of time trying to convince Jenn of the truth. She's one of the "conversatives without a conscience" that John Dean wrote about. However, some of her listeners might be regular folks who can make up their own minds and engage in critical thinking--and I think it is for these people's sake that you do your debates with conservatives. name-callers. Hopefully every debate like this will win you some new listeners and the country new progressive voters.
Keep up the great work, Jack! And thanks a million for everything you do.
I felt a little bad for Jenn, the poor little right winger seemed a little unprepared… and crazy. Uninsured, smoker . . . Maybe she’ll join our side when she develops cancer and needs a doctor. & Nice job Jack! You destroyed her in a very nice professional way. I salute you!
Jack cut this vicious little right-wing sociopath to pieces. He masterfully took apart all her empty neocon talking-points with detailed facts. What a skillfull debater. I wish Jack could get more mainstream media attention.
Jack
Clark documents the right's wars on the poor,
civil liberties, the right of workers to organize
at work and obtain a decent working wage and work
conditions, and against other countries who refuse
to accept American domination. Jack provides all
the sources so that you can see for yourself how
the right is out to enrich itself at the expense
of everyone else. Great job, Jack!
Submitted By: magyarbill
awesome
show
Clark
always backs up his statements against
the right wing with fact and data, which
gives him all the more credibility.
As conglomerate media controlled by
politics clouds the mainstream news
media, Jack Clark, along with NPR and
Democracy Now! have become my primary
news source. Awesome podcast!
Submitted By: jgates118
In-Depth,
Meaty, Hardcore Knowledge
This
podcast is not just entertainment, humor,
chimp-bashing, or gee-whiz recap of
the weeks events. Instead, it hits hard
and in-depth on the world economic situation
and how right-wing policies impact the
poor and less advantaged all over the
world. He examines Americas support
of the World Bank, IMF,multinational
corporations, etc., and connects the
dots. This is a podcast for grown-ups.
He gives good reasons why the right
wing is NOT living up to its precious
Bible, without putting down the Bible.
As a Jesus-loving Christian and moderate
Democrat, I respect this podcast for
its subject matter. The grown-up manner
of the speaker is just icing on the
cake. He IS funny, but hes not trying
to be, he just has a deadpan delivery
but doesnt have to make jokes to make
it interesting. The facts make it interesting
and devastating.
Submitted By: ebrenn1
A
Breath of Fresh Air
Jack
Clarks Blast the Right podcast is truly
a breath of fresh air when it comes
to political commentary. Jack is not
like some commentators who simply climb
on their soap box and state their own
opinions as fact. Instead, Jack welcomes
competent challenges to his way of thinking,
and with logical analysis and sound
research, debunks the lies, distortions,
and self-deceptions of the right wing.
I strongly recommend Blast the Right
for people who seek the truth and care
more about the long term health and
well-being of the whole citizenry than
the short term personal gain advocated
by modern conservatives. Listen as Jack
carefully shows how the high-sounding
"God and country" rhetoric
of the right wing is really just a smokescreen
for policies that ultimately lead only
to the increased misery, suffering,
and death of the less fortunate for
the particular benefit of the wealthy
and the well-connected. And, if you
find yourself in agreement, return to
Podcast Alley to place your vote! Thanks!
