New Podcasts

I had grown a bit bored by my collection of hard-core political podcasts so I recently decided to broaden my horizons. In doing so, I found two wonderful podcasts which aptly illustrate the wide range of subjects covered by podcasting as well as, perhaps, the unusual range of my own hobbies.

My new found interest in vegetable gardening is being fed by Emma Cooper at her podcast, Alternative Kitchen Garden. Emma lives in Oxfordshire, England with her husband and her two chickens, Hen Solo and Princess Layer. She covers a great many useful and informative subjects in a very entertaining way.

I am also listening to Bird Dogs Forever, which, as it's name implies, is all about bird dogs and upland hunting. Since it is now pheasant season, the most anticipated time of the year here, this podcast has me in a fine froth. Dogs, guns and birds - it doesn't get much better than this.

Surely, these podcasts will cure me of my political ennui.

There May Be Hope For Congress After All

I have to admit that I am a bit behind on listening to my podcasts. However, I was awestruck by one I heard earlier today which was recorded at The Heritage Foundation on August 1 entitled "When Do You Know You're Winning? Combating Insurgencies - Past, Present and Future". Congressional Representative Thadeus McCotter (R-Michigan) was the guest speaker and I particularly liked this exchange (emphasis added):

Question - "How do you gauge your caucus’s temperature on Iraq? Do you think it is going to stay together in September?"

Answer - "I earlier advocated and I continue to advocate that this is not a political matter for our party. That if we descend to the level where national security and elemental questions of right and wrong become an issue where we can be coursed or cajoled then we have not done our jobs as the representatives of the sovereign American people and we will descend to the level of those that view everything as a political matter in relation to your national security.

When your nation is engaged in warfare overseas you retain your right to descent. But you also have the responsibility to put forward constructive solutions to further the cause of victory. If you do not like what the President is doing then you should tell the President how we can best achieve our goal, be victorious and allow our troops to come home to their loved ones. I think that when you treat this as political matter you stray from that fundamental principle and you get into all sorts of trouble.

So we have not whipped our caucus on this and we will not. It is a matter of conscience and we believe that, in the end, this is the best way to approach this because it is the right way to approach this. I know how I will be voting; my constituents will know how I will be voting; and I think that is right and proper and anyone that asks me will be told. But if they do not ask, I will not force it upon them."

Just when I began to think Congress was nothing more than a collection of blithering idiots this man comes out and very concisely articulates my very feelings about how the liberals have come perilously close to treasonous behavior regarding the war. All I want to know is if/when he will consider running for higher office. I think he just might have a future.

Victor Davis Hanson

Blog Week In Review for March 3, 2007 has an excellent interview with historian and scholar Victor Davis Hanson. I can not recommend the podcast highly enough as it touches on many current issues from the perspective of the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as providing some great insights.

Please take 30 minutes of your time and listen to this - it's important.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

I just listened to a podcast from The American Enterprise Institute titled "Infidel". Ayaan Hirsi Ali gives her fascinating, almost feminist, views on Islam from her own very unique perspective. This is one brave and intelligent woman. She also offers some interesting insights about the United States as well.

I have not read her book but after listening to this podcast it is definitely on my list now.

iPod Madness

I finally succumbed to an overwhelmingly irresistible urge to own an iPod. At last count, I have downloaded 179 podcasts which translates into slightly less than a weeks worth of listening and I have only had the little beast for five days! The Heritage Foundation and The American Enterprise Institute have proven to be treasure troves of podcasts on a truly remarkable range of subjects. If you thought I was wonky before – just wait.

Also, be on the lookout for podcast recommendations from yours truly. You can listen to them on your computer if you don’t already own one of these contraptions. As a matter of fact, here are a few from The Heritage Foundation to get you started:

“America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It” – a great speech by Mark Steyn about his most recent book which I just read and heartily recommend.

“A Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater’s Presidential Campaign and the Origins of the Conservative Movement”

““24” and America’s Image Fighting Terrorism: Fact, Fiction or Does it Matter?” begins with a brief speech by then Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff,
followed by a panel discussion with some think tank folks, the creators/writers of 24 as well as President Logan, Tony Almeida and Chloe! The panel’s moderator is none other than Rush Limbaugh.

You can get these by subscribing to The Heritage Foundation Event podcasts via iTunes. And, of course, they are free.