Dear Mr. Thom Hartmann.....

[trumad]

Let me begin by saying that I listen to your show on my Sirius radio on a daily basis.

I consider you a true Progressive and one brilliant Son of a Gun.

You forget more in one day than I've remembered in a lifetime.

Me--- I'm just a keyboard douchebag on the Nets causing my usual trouble and trying to keep an edge by mixing it up with like minded rabble-rousers.

I've been here since almost the beginning--- 11 years give or take a few days. How I've survived is beyond me and I expect someday my wife will be posting my croak notice if she can figure out how to log on.

As noted, I have listened to your show for the last several years and know that you have given shout-outs to DU which I am sure that the Admin at DU is quite appreciative.

Which brings me to the point of my note to you.

I believe your last shout out---the one where you took some members to task for what you perceived to be misinformation about the Supreme Court---well--- I think that was in bad form.

First off--- you used the members names.

Nothing really wrong with that if you intended to give those members equal time for rebuttal on your show.

OR--- if you cared to reply in the threads discussing this issue.

We appreciate your posts here on DU. We really do.

But I notice on each of your posts or threads that you never reply to the members posting in your threads.

We have a name for that. It's called "Hit and Run" posts.

We members take each other to task on a daily basis. That's what makes this place a great Progressive site.

We post---we get rebuttals and opinions, we fight, we hash it out, and we come away with a better understanding of the issues at hand.

I guess what I am asking is-- if you post something, follow up and offer a few replies--- if you disagree with DU members on your radio show and mention their names--- give them a chance to rebut... it's only fair.

Peace

trumad

[spanone]

1. k&r...

[TheMastersNemesis]

2. Hartmann A Brilliant Voice Surprised At His Criticism.

I was surprised about Thom's criticism. I listen to him every day and have met him in person two or three times. He is a very intensel and dedicated individual who has done a lot in getting progressive messages out.

As much as I support time I am surprised that he let's some of these conservative goofballs on to debate. He is far to nice to people who accost him. Even though Thom likes debate there is really no debate with these conservatives. They always filibuster and shout and act rude. I would be nasty to them myself.

[TomClash]

3. I couldn't agree more

Plus he was sacking most of the constitutional rights we take for granted. Imagine if the Supreme Court had no judicial review; the Koch Brothers and their allies bought enough Senate votes, they could stop anything from being declared unconstitutional. Say good bye to your civil liberties.

By the way, Thom Hartmann has a few strange bedfellows who do not believe in judicial review - like Newt Gingrich, for one.

[Casandia]

4. Very well said

I am fairly new here. I am now a member BECAUSE of Thom Hartmann. I listen to him as much as possible. I have gained so much knowledge because of his books and radio show. He mentions DU frequently - which is how I found out about this website.

I rarely make posts here on DU but I read as many comments as I can. If and when I post, I welcome a discussion that involves opposing views, rebuttal, and support. I would like to think that I will not be attacked, that my view is as important as any other person who posts.

The LAST thing I want is for my comments to be lifted off of this discussion board and used as an example in a negative way in a national platform.

Thom - if you are reading these posts - please know that I think you have set a higher standard than other hosts for talk radio. I am impressed that you treat guests on your program with courtesy, no matter how different or strange the guest's viewpoint might be. Even though members on DU do not use their real names, the same courtesy should be extended.

Peace and love
Casandia from Michigan

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. K & R. n/t

[Javaman]

6. K & R. nt

[JNelson6563]

7. Well done.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I clicked on this OP. I think you did a fine job Trumad, well said!

Julie

[trumad]

8. Does anyone know what to expect when they click on a thread of mine?

[JNelson6563]

12. lol Probably not.

[rug]

41. Well, "keyboard douchebag" is not entirely unexpected.

[Blue_Tires]

9. Thanks for this, Trumad

[dicksmc3]

10. Thom Hartmann is the constitutional authority!!

Thom once again proves he knows the constitution inside and out. He makes Judge Napolitano over at Fix so-called news look like a congressional page learning what the document actually says. We all need to thank Thom for his intellignece when it comes
to constitutional matters. Watch his programs and enlighten yourself with his facts.

[trumad]

11. Uh---OK...

[WilliamPitt]

16. Yeah, what's wrong with you, anyway?

P.S.

[JNelson6563]

15. I believe Trumad invited him to join us more often.

Seems to me Trumad recognized Mr. Hartmann's intelligence and abilities. The issue was that he started a discussion here at DU, others joined the discussion here but Mr. Hartmann continued the discussion on his show, where the other participants could not join the discussion.

I don't see anyone claiming any bad things about Tom Hartmann, seems we're all in agreement that he's smart and on our side.

Welcome to DU!

Julie

[KG]

25. respect his authoriteh!

[trumad]

14. You sure you're posting in the right thread?

[thomhartmann]

17. My reply

Didn't mean to have offended you - I'll drop in this weekend when the 13-hour days slow down, and post some responses...

Thom

[mackattack]

18. +1

I personally loved the segment. Well done indeed.

[WilliamPitt]

23. Cheers!

[trumad]

24. Looking forward to it.

BTW: I'm not offended.

Tru

[liberalmike27]

26. Undue Whining

It isn't as if he can't start numerous threads, perhaps a different one than this, putting his own ideas on line.

I love the show, and would trust anything you said over someone here. I think he, or any host that mentions the site on the left, is honoring it, and bringing new visitors here, which is a good thing.

[Gold Metal Flake]

27. Also, 1-866-987-THOM three hours a dday, five days a week.

I mean, if someone really needs to get something off their chest.

[Casandia]

31. Thank you Thom

You are the best radio/internet tv host out there. IMO - a national treasure

[bleever]

35. While it was an incisive and informative segment,

I think that trumad's comments about the importance in a community like ours of give-and-take is very much in line with your own philosophy, Thom.

I don't think people were offended so much as they felt that the circle of discourse was incomplete.

Thanks.

[trumad]

38. +1

[Ellipsis]

49. Yes indeed... your point is the crux of the matter.

Thom has a National soapbox... and DU has become a "legitimate" forum but the individuals here still deserve to keep a low profile regardless, even when they're incorrect.

[chknltl]

39. An educational event not to be missed!

Thank you for Friday's live shout-out, honor to us. Like many of our fellow DUers, I look forward to seeing Thom Hartmann in action debating here with some of the best of the best!

[fascisthunter]

44. Hi Thom!!!!

[Zorra]

46. No offense taken here.

I'm thrilled that there's finally some debate about the omnipotence of the SCOTUS.

Thanks for writing "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights". Great book, great info.

And for Michael, too.



☮ccupy

[A Simple Game]

19. Wow something someone said on the internet got out into the general public!

Last edited Fri Mar 30, 2012, 11:55 AM - Edit history (1)

Don't people know the unwritten rules?

Rule 1: Don't say anything on the internet that you wouldn't say to your mother and want the world to hear you when you say it. I know, I know this is my variation.

Rule 2: If you don't want people to know who you are, don't publish your real name and your address.

Rule 3: Know what you are talking about before you say it.

It's the internet, if it makes you cry, stop using it.

[trumad]

22. Pretty lame

[matmar]

20. Thom Hartmann is THE best political show anywhere...

Not just radio...anywhere.

I recommend his program to anyone of any political stripe.

Absolutely educational, entertaining and insightful.

[classof56]

28. Thumbs up to that!

Thom, we miss you here in Oregon. You made our state a better place for being one of its citizens!

Keep up the good/excellent work!

[chknltl]

40. +1. n/t

[SidDithers]

21. Welll said...

Sid

[EC]

29. I'll bet it's an aide to Hartmann that

posts his posts just to get subject matter for his show.

[Ruby the Liberal]

30. Well said, Trumad.

That was a cheap shot and landed him on my ignore list along with 3 other "post a video driveby" members. Unfortunate that as I enjoyed his program.

Hopefully, he will change his approach and actually interact with people here rather than just using them for fodder for his program.

[Cleita]

32. He didn't do a hit and run post or call out members on this board.

He did it on his show, not on the website. If you are going to criticize him at least keep the facts straight. How is he supposed to give those people equal time if there is no way to invite them to rebut? You know that it is a call in show and if those DUers want to rebut what he accused them of, they can call in and do so.

[trumad]

34. Please read my Op again

I know how he did it.

[Cleita]

37. Tune in. He's going to talk about it on his show today,

he just announced. You can call in if you want to.

[randome]

33. What? People still listen to radio?

News to me.

[backscatter712]

42. I stream my radio over the Internet.

That's technology for you - using the millions of microscopic transistors in your computers and smartphones to emulate a century-old analog receiver.

[sudopod]

36. It seems like famous people, in general, have no time to converse with we internet people.

All communication is a one way broadcast, imparting their wisdom (I suppose).

[Bluenorthwest]

43. Well said.

Most of all it was the 'a clip somehow wound up on DU' line that got me. He put it here. That sort of crap I did not expect from him.

[one_voice]

45. Nicely said!....

Also, Kudos to Mr. Hartmann for acknowledging the thread!

[Gregorian]

47. I appreciate this thread. I think a new level of participation is what this forum needs.

I don't have a good way of saying this. But it feels like we're a small group. And we're outside of a bigger sphere. I don't mean to diminish the level of discussion here. I do wish there were more people discussing. Maybe they do have the responsibility of doing shows that require long days. Maybe it's unreasonable to expect. But I still think that is what this forum is about. It could bring a dynamic to this group that might do more than motivate.

[ErikJ]

48. Hit and Run? GIVE ME A BREAK.

He even does that on his own website and nobody there complains. He works 11 HOURS A DAY doing his 3 hour radio show and one hour TV show. He's working on his 25th book at the same time.
Do you think he could possibly have time to post replies for a couple hours a day too? GET REAL! We're lucky he posts here at all.

[Canuckistanian]

50. He mentions DU posts all the time

Mostly lauding their points of view. AND he posts here. He obviously has time to review the posts.

Is it too much to ask that he respond? Even to a few responses? I don't think his busy schedule is the problem here.

[bluestate10]

51. It is hit and run.

Hartman is surely a busy person, but even he admitted that he visits DU more that once a day. Hartman said that when he called DU members out. Hartman surely has aides that can post on DU, Hartman from his own mouth said that DU was important enough to him for him to check in regularly.

[fasttense]

52. I disagree with you.

First off, if Thom gave rebuttal time to everyone who criticizes him here on DU there would be no time left on his radio show for the interesting stuff. Would you rather he did not mention their screen names? Then why have screen names? Or would you rather he not mention DU at all?

Second, I don't know what posts or threads you read but I've seen Thom (or someone calling themselves by the same name) reply in his threads. True they are not real frequent but what do you expect? Alan Grayson does about the same frequency.

Third, so to get time on Thom's show all you have to do is disagree with him? Wait, he does that already. If you call in and say you disagree with him you go to the head of the line. So, if these posters want air time, all they have to do is call into the Thom Hartmann show.