The John Batchelor Show

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Air Date: 
June 17, 2014

Photo, above: 

JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW

Co-host: Larry Kudlow, CNBC; and Cumulus Media radio

Hour One

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 1, Block A: Larry Kudlow, CNBC. James Pethokoukis, AEI.amzn.com/k/3GAUfqxXQ_-6… A total cessation of American innovation would have sent the Continent into a long slump.Here are the states that small business owners love and hate  James Pethokoukis | June 13, 2014, 3:18 pm  SF Fed declares the ‘end of exceptional growth’ for America  James Pethokoukis | June 13, 2014, 1:06 pm

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 1, Block B:  continued. 

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 1, Block C: Larry Kudlow, CNBC. Lanhee Chen, Hoover.

REPUBLICANS Immigration Reform Didn't Die With Cantor Loss 5 JUN 12, 2014 10:34 AM EDT By Lanhee Chen Immigration reform is dead. That’s the prevailing view after House majority leader Eric Cantor’s loss in the Republican primary in Virginia on Tuesday. After all, Cantor was seen as willing to agree to immigration reform legislation, and any on-the-fence Republicans will now be scared off by his stunning defeat.It’s safe to say that nothing will pass this year. With the midterm elections just five months off, it’s unlikely that any incumbents will step out in faith to engage on one of the nation’s touchiest subjects. Passage of an immigration reform bill this year, even had Cantor won, was a low-probability event anyway.But I’m not convinced the conventional wisdom is right with respect to what happens in 2015 and beyond. Cantor’s loss could create a greater likelihood that immigration reform succeeds in the future. Why?First, Cantor’s stance on the issue was confusing at best. While pro-reform forces saw him as an ally, the primary campaign he waged suggested otherwise. He was focused on shoring up his conservative bona fides with voters by emphasizing his opposition to “amnesty” or a comprehensive approach to solving the problem. So his loss doesn’t necessarily leave the cause without a Republican champion. Indeed, it may clarify things since both Speaker John Boehner and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy have repeatedly stated their desire to see the House pass immigration reform measures.Second, it’s possible that Cantor’s loss will put another pro-reform member in the leadership of the House Republican Conference -- assuming Boehner remains speaker, McCarthy moves up to majority leader, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington becomes majority whip. Of course, we’ll likely see challenges for all three leadership positions. McMorris Rodgers herself may decide to run for majority leader. But Boehner, McCarthy and McMorris Rodgers all have substantial support from within the conference, and it isn’t clear that Tea Party-affiliated Republicans will be able to align behind a single challenger for each of the posts.Third, the fundamental dynamic that haunted Republicans in 2012 still exists: Unless they are able to demonstrate some leadership on immigration reform, they risk forfeiting the Latino vote in 2016. Even if a perceived moderate on the issue, such as Jeb Bush or Rick Perry, ends up being the Republican presidential nominee, the party will be held liable for inaction. This will have consequences for the nominee and candidates in states with sizable Hispanic populations.Finally, the likelihood that President Barack Obama considers a compromise with Republicans will increase in 2015 as his attention turns entirely to legacy-building after the midterms. He will be more interested in accomplishing what he can, rather than holding out for a solution that meets all his criteria.Republican Senator Rand Paul noted on Wednesday that Cantor’s loss shouldn’t end the conversation about immigration reform. I think that’s telling. When someone who rose to power with significant Tea Party support says the door to legislation is open, it is premature to write its obituary.Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 1, Block D: Larry Kudlow. CNBC.However, during the late stages of his primary campaign, Brat railed against immigration reform and hammered Cantor on the issue. On this subject, he’s not my kinda guy. He is violating his free-market economic principles.Read my full column here.

Hour Two

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 2, Block A:  Stephen F. Cohen

Blast hits key Ukraine gas pipelineA major pipeline in Ukraine carrying gas from Russia to the rest of Europe is hit by an explosion, with Ukraine calling it a possible "terrorist attack".

Breaking News: Russia Has Sent Tanks to Ukraine Rebels, U.S. Says

http://t.co/EFbpO89GuN

Russia sends Iskander and S-400 Triumph systems to Minsk to take part in parade

Agreement on South Stream construction in Serbia to be signed by end of June

The tender results are expected to be announced by the end of June 2014 and a relevant agreement will be signed after that, Gazprom says

Russia

Russian PM says Ukraine’s authorities are to blame for Russian reporter’s death

All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) has confirmed the death of its journalist Igor Kornelyuk near Luhansk

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 2, Block B: Steve Cohen.

Russian PM says Ukraine’s authorities are to blame for Russian reporter’s death

All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) has confirmed the death of its journalist Igor Kornelyuk near Luhansk

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 2, Block C:  Steve Cohen.

Donetsk, Luhansk leaders say contacts with presidential settlement envoy are impossible

“I will speak to her only when Ukraine withdraws its troops from our territory,” the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic says

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 2, Block D:  Steve Cohen.

Poroshenko offers condolences over death of Russian journalists in Ukraine

Putin calls on him to take measures to ensure security of journalists

Gazprom has no problems in Iraq but does not rule out tighter security measures

 

Hour Three

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 3, Block A:  Thomas Joscelyn, FDD

US seizes Benghazi raid 'ringleader'

Abu Khattala's capture is an I-told-you-so moment for ...

Washington Post ‎- 2 hours ago

The weekend capture of Ahmed Abu Khattala, one of the suspected ringleaders of the Sept. 11, 2012, assaults on a U.S. diplomatic compound ...

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 3, Block B: Jed Babbin, American Spectator Iraq Breaks Apart | The American Spectator .

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 3, Block C: John Bolton, AEI

Unfortunately, there is no chance Obama will adopt anything like this strategy. Indeed, given the president’s limp June 13 statement, it is doubtful Washington will even perform coherently in the months ahead. It is not a matter whether Obama’s Iraq “policy” is correct, but whether he is even interested. 

Possibly, Iraq’s potential disintegration, together with the broader collapse of U.S. influence and interests now unfolding, could give impetus to a major national debate, long overdue, about America’s proper place in the world. Let it begin now, whether Obama is inclined to participate or not.


John Bolton is a Fox News contributor, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN. Click here to read this article online.

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 3, Block D: Kamran Bokhari, Stratfor.com

•   Iran Is the Biggest Loser in Iraq

•   
Daily Beast‎ - 2 days ago

•   Iraqi Military Makes Gains North of Baghdad in Conflict With ...


Wall Street Journal‎ -

Hour Four

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 4, Block A: George Vecsey, Author

Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer by George Vecsey

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 4, Block B: Bob Zimmerman, BehindthebBlack.com

JUNE 17, 2014 AT 8:59 AM

In an editorial today the Washington Times labels SLS “the rocket to nowhere” and condemns Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) for trying to sabotage the new commercial manned space companies in order to fund it.As I’ve said for the past two years, the high cost and slow development of SLS will increasingly make it a loser in its political battle with the new commercial companies. Eventually legislators will recognize its impractically and unaffordability — especially if the commercial companies continue to meet their milestones and achieve success, as they have been doing. When that happens, the influence of individual senators like Shelby to shovel pork to their particular states or districts will be outweighed by the overall political benefits for everyone in Congress to get American astronauts into space quickly and cheaply on an American-built spaceship.

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 4, Block C: Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

Tuesday   17 June 2014/ Hour 4, Block D:  Men Out: The True Story of America's Heroic Final Hours in Vietnam by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

 

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Music

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