Blast Off! Radio today at 4:00 pm EDT: Days of swine and roses

Saturday marked the 135th "Run for the Roses," the Kentucky Derby, an event that Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Dementia) surprisingly missed, given that he's a Kentuckian presumably running for reelection ... although it looks more like retirement is in the offing. On the other hand, maybe the senator merely was being prudent and avoiding crowds who may be infected en masse with the swine flu. So, there's your "day of swine and roses" ... get it?

Well, what you really ought to get is in front of a computer at 4:00 Eastern today for another exciting edition of Blast Off! Radio. Today we'll talk about that crazy swine flu scare and how it reflects Republican strategy (believe me, there's a connection -- and it's not that the GOP caused swine flu, despite the pigs they keep choosing as officeholders), and we'll also see how those nutty Republicans, led by none other than Jeb! Bush, are trying to "restore the luster" to their increasingly marginalized party, especially following the defection of Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to the Democratic side of the aisle.

Naturally, we'll discuss some topics of Florida interest as well, including a look back at the recent contentious budget struggles in Tallahassee: what passed and what didn't? And why exactly do Republicans want to keep the electorate stupid and ill-informed? (I'll bet you can answer that one on your own ...) And I'll have a look back at my trip last week to New Orleans, with some discussion of how the city is coping with life nearly four years after Katrina.

You'll get all that and more on the show today, plus of course your phone calls, emails, and chatting. And it's so very easy to listen and participate:

TIME: 4:00 pm Eastern TODAY

Click here to listen

Call in number: (646) 716-7543

E-mail: blastoffradio-at-gmail-dot-com

As far as I know, the swine flu can't be transmitted through the internets ... so there should be nothing stopping you from listening today to Blast Off! Radio! Hope you'll join me this afternoon ...

(cross-posted at FPC Blog)

Gates confirmed, 95-2 - but it's the "2" that worry me

As you probably know, Robert Gates sailed through his Senate confirmation vote yesterday. But what struck me was who voted against him and why:

Two Bush allies, Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky., voted against Gates, citing his criticism of the war and his view that the U.S. should engage Iran as part of a solution.

"Mr. Gates has repeatedly criticized our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan without providing any viable solutions to the problems our troops currently face," Bunning said. "We need a secretary of defense to think forward with solutions and not backward on history we cannot change."

Let me get this straight, Sen. Bunning: we should, essentially, "stay the course," but not look backward? This guy gives "screwball" an entirely new meaning.

Santorum, who lost his re-election bid last month, mocked the idea of engaging dictators and talked at length of the evils of "radical Islamic fascism." When it comes to reaching out to Iran to discuss the security of Iraq, Santorum said of Gates, "I think he is in error."

Yep, let's forget about diplomacy and invade Iran. After all, that strategery has worked so well in Iraq.

Hey, Ricky - there's a reason you lost. Look in the mirror, pal.