Monday, July 31, 2000

• Jim Nicholson

  Amy interviews Jim Nicholson, Chairperson of the Republican National Committee. [includes rush transcript]

• Billionaires for Bush...Or Gore

  A lot of money is pouring into Philadelphia this week. More than 240 corporations, government agencies and other sources have poured in more than $40 million for the Republican National Convention. Bell Atlantic gave $3 million. AT&T gave a million dollars. Microsoft a half-a-million dollars. Tobacco giant Phillip Morris pumped in quarter of a million dollars, Weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin doled out $100,000. [includes rush transcript]

• A Reality Tour Through Philadelphia

  Continuing with the discussion on money in politics, the City of Philadelphia gave a whopping $7 million to the Republican National Convention. [includes rush transcript]

• Philadelphia: A Legacy of Police Brutality

  Most people are aware of the recent police beating of Thomas Jones here in Philadelphia, but fewer people remember the police beating of Delbert Africa in 1978 caught on videotape and broadcast worldwide. This incident prompted the Department of Justice to file the first ever lawsuit against a city for police brutality. In 1985, the police dropped C-4 plastique from a state helicopter on the MOVE house resulting in the death of eleven people including five children. Sixty-one homes were burned to the ground. Ramona Africa emerged from the flames and still carries the scars from that day. Our guests will discuss the history of police brutality in Philadelphia. [includes rush transcript]

• Act Up Unfurls Banner

  Early this morning, ACT UP activists dropped a giant banner on a major billboard in Philadelphia to demand that George W. Bush take a stand against high drug prices that, they say, result in the deaths of millions of people with HIV in Africa and worldwide. The banner read: “BUSH AND DRUG COMPANY GREED KILLS: GENERIC AIDS DRUGS FOR AFRICA NOW!”

• Shadow Convention: Mccain Reiterates Support for Bush

  While the Republican National Convention officially begins today, an alternative gathering called the “Shadow Convention” kicked off yesterday at the University of Pennsylvania. The Shadow Convention is being sponsored by a number of groups concerned with issues like campaign finance reform, money in politics, the war on drugs, and poverty. Groups like--United for a Fair Economy, Common Cause and National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support. This convention is being held every day before the official convention begins. Its line up of speakers this week include people like Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Jim Wallis of Call to Renewal, Jesse Jackson and Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange. But this so-called alternative convention is by no means what could be described as a progressive event.

• The Oiligarchy: Bush and Enron

  One of the wealthiest companies in Houston, Texas is the Enron company. It is also one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the city. Enron is also the single largest contributor ($555,000 and counting) to the political ambitions of Texas Governor George W. Bush, Republican Candidate for President of the United States. Kenneth Lay, the chief executive of Enron, has personally given over $100,000 to Bush’s political campaigns, more than any other individual. He is also one of the “Pioneers”–a Bush supporter who has collected at least $100,000 in direct contributions of $1,000 or less. Enron is best known as the largest buyer and seller of natural gas in the country. Its 1999 revenues of $40 billion have made it the 18th largest company in the United States. Enron is invested in energy projects around the world including the UK, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, India and Mozambique. Texas activists say that this tight connection between Bush and Enron bodes ill for the country, if Bush is elected.

• The Tale of Two Cities - Camden

  The city of Camden, New Jersey is on the river that separates New Jersey from Philadelphia. Camden is a city like so many in the US, divided down racial and economic lines. The black and Latino part of Camden is appallingly impoverished.