John Flannery, “LET FREEDOM RING”

There is a pressing question about what we do for solar development to assure environmental quality while conforming with tried and true rural Virginia values. John Flannery, Area II Chair, introduced a panel of talented experts in the field - Scott Cameron, as Chair, Judy Dunscomb, Zach Jacobs and Skyler Zunk. This discussion goes to how we get there from here - and we thought we should discuss that now so we may implement what is necessary. JPF

I haven't been doing a podcast because of other demands. But I had to speak to the failure of our government to save our children from avoidable gun violence made possible by our elected officials. John Flannery (@jonflan, jonflan@aol.com)

In the context of a violent Russian invasion, what does the law teach us about the danger to civilization when the chaos of an autocrat is favored over the plain meaning of international law and treaties? Host: John P. Flannery, II, Esq. (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan).

On the national and international level, the democracies are not handling bullies very well. Let's talk about that. John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan).

I thought it might be of use to look at whence Crimea arose, what happened in Ukraine in 2014, and 2022, and what needs to be done once we escape this rupture in world peach - if we do. John P. Flannery, II, Esq. (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan )

Ukraine President Zelensky spoke to the nations of the world and made points about this world crisis not stated so plainly and effectively as he did. John P. Flannery, II (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

This is a short for Black History Month, focusing on Aretha Franklin and her contribution to equal justice as a performer and a person. John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

I've selected what I think are key stories from the Sunday edition, like I might have done when a student at Columbia on a Sunday at a local coffee shop - so we could discuss the news. For better or worse, I think I know more now, and I've offered a few comments about the approaching Ukraine invasion, and more. John P. Flannery, II (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

What has happened in other nation states that we have told ourselves couldn't or wouldn't happen here - is happening. We have to fight for our Republic or risk losing it to Toxic Trump autocrats - John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan )

I present this as an exercise of what we may have to do if some of wacko governors have their way and limited an High School student's access to information about slavery and discrimination in America. Or any other topic. One thing we can do is read the textbooks on Zoom or some similar podcast source, read to the next generation about any topic, and let them figure what to make of the facts, rather than keep them in the dark about the bad, the good and the ugly, by withholding from them what happened in American History. The text book I used was the one I used in Advance Placement History in High School. I recommend you get a young-un to listen and see what they think of this abbreviated class, and how they think of it as an alternative or supplemental vehicle of instruction. And yes I did teach High School a long time ago. John P. Flannery, II, Esq (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

We have two times in American History that must be regarded as linked, when MLK was fighting for equal justice and now when we are fighting a Republican party that has lost its way - what can be done - after the Hill, well then it's the ballot box. John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

We are at a critical point, when we either fight for our democracy, or accept the possibility that we may lose our democracy. The key is to give a reckoning for those responsible, not just the rioters, but their overseers, starting with No. 1, Trump himself. John P. Flannery, jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan.

How we talk about the mid-terms may make all the difference to the outcome - so think about the truth and stay close to those princ9ples you had that are the best that can be said of your character and of our nation's promise. John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonlfan)/

We are all suffering from too much of our unceasing contact sport, politics. So how about a few poems from Robert Frost - for a change - John P. Flannery, jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan

The Republicans used school boards and children as foils for their political strategies in this year's elections. They were conducted at the expense of good school policy and the dignity and education of our children. They were brutal and effective. These devices were the run up to the mid-terms and the presidential election. Dems have to get in the game and combat this cynical campaign. This short podcast is an effort to underscore what and why the Republicans did what they did. John P. Flannery (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan)

From January 6th on we knew that we were dealing with an enemy within from the oval office and Trump reaching out in every direction to ignore the electoral defeat of Trump and steal the election from Biden. Rogue Rudy Giuliani advised Trump, "Just Say We Won." They set out to do just that and lied and cheated in almost any way possible, so arrogant, they wrote memos on how they were going to take over the government. I'm taking a verbal walk through the powerpoint to show the fascist design on our democracy and the most recent statement talking about troops to take over the government in 2024 or sooner. John P. Flannery, jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan

Our daily dose of dreary political infighting and congressional paralysis might lead us to fail to appreciate that there are "heroes" that dwell among us - but perhaps they are not to be found in politics. So I decided upon this occasional podcast, ON HEROES, to talk about those shining lights that have traditionally inspired us and that may fairly be considered "heroes" in their way of work. This episode, our 2nd, takes a look at the arts to consider the contributions of the late Stephen Sondheim, who died recently, and an amazing actor and vocalist, D'Jamin Bartlett, who sang a song Sondheim entrusted to her in the musical, "A Little Night Music." The song was "The Miller's Son." I think it's true that through her eyes you can underestand Sondheim and what it meant to find your way to Broadway and the Shubert Theater. Let us know if you enjoyed taking this step away from the steamy seamy side of politics. John P. Flannery, II (jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan).

On December 1st, the Supreme Court will hear argument on the Mississippi statute that limits abortions to 16 weeks instead of the 24 weeks set by the pertinent precedent, Roe v. Wade. I have some comments on how we got to this place and how it is political and not about the law. John P. Flannery, II, Esq., jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan.

Our greatest failing as a government is that there has been no reckoning for those who tried to overthrow our government. Article 14, Section 3 of the US Constitution provides a remedy to oust such officials and/or bar them from office. It's high time we consider this and other remedies. John P. Flannery, II, Esq. (jonflan@aol.com, @jonlfan)

The Republican MAGA Moms (and some Yahoo Dads) are attacking school boards across the nation in their political campaign to discourage racial tolerance, and thus to suppress the black vote. They had some success with this technique in the recent Virginia election. So they are taking these practices on the road for the mid-terms and, no doubt, the presidential race in 2024. This podcast seeks to underscore the who and how of the latest assault on government institutions and equitable policy, and what we should do about it. John P. Flannery, jonflan@aol.com, @jonflan.