Ian Punnett

[Agent : Orange]

Fascinating show so far, I loved the other shows on the fix

[valdez]

     I couldn't stay ahead of the static and missed a lot of the show, but I did hear a caller relate his anger towards God for allowing his son to become incapacitated, and he wondered if he, because of the anger and hate that he felt, was susceptible to possession. Matt Baglio (who was on to talk about exorcisms) seemed uncomfortable with the depth of the guy's torment, and offered little solstice, and I figured that Ian, since he is a deacon, and has attended seminary, and has at times been known to be somewhat eloquent and thoughtful, would be a little more helpful, but Ian said nothing and went to the next call.  Very odd.  Maybe I expect too much from him. 
 

[anagrammy]

     I couldn't stay ahead of the static and missed a lot of the show, but I did hear a caller relate his anger towards God for allowing his son to become incapacitated, and he wondered if he, because of the anger and hate that he felt, was susceptible to possession. Matt Baglio (who was on to talk about exorcisms) seemed uncomfortable with the depth of the guy's torment, and offered little solstice, and I figured that Ian, since he is a deacon, and has attended seminary, and has at times been known to be somewhat eloquent and thoughtful, would be a little more helpful, but Ian said nothing and went to the next call.  Very odd.  Maybe I expect too much from him. 
 

I hear you, Valdez, but you know that religious people have no good answers to the incomprehensible fact that we have a God who does less about the violence and pain in this world than the aliens who disabled the nukes.  The problem of evil simply cannot be explained and it tortured me for years.  Only agnosticism and atheism brought me relief from my cries of "Why God, why?" after my son died needlessly.  Did God let my son die?   Did God allow 9/11?  Yes, he did.  So... we have a God who finds people's car keys but allows children to starve to death and be mutilated?  The Occam's Razor answer is obvious.  The playing field is leveled and we have no Diety to accuse of cruelty and injustice when we realize there is no anthropomorphic Diety reaching down to help you find a parking place and ignoring your pleas to allow your child to live.

I thought I would be very lonely without a God to "turn to."  But the truth is, this capricious God who doesn't share my values --it's a great relief to be without him/her.  Without a God, there is just the horizon and the random acts of violence and stupidity which take people's lives.  You might say, there's no one to blame and I experience that as relief.

A God who demands that a life be sacrificed to make up for sin (Jesus) and also allows a tiny innocent tot to be raped and murdered?  It just doesn't make sense--this is not a God of justice as advertised.  This is a sadist.  A God who hides his presence to force people to have "faith" is a trickster who is unworthy of worship.

Anagrammy

[Marc.Knight]

Anagrammy,

If there is a God as we can possibly define one, then you are a little closer to realizing its nature in relation to us than most.  The benefit of contemplating the existence or nature of a God is to ascertain the highest qualities that humans should strive for.  The highest Good, the highest Truth, Love, and other philosophical absolutes are projected godly attributes.


Reaching a high level of rationalization whereby God does not determine reality is commendable, and does not negate spirituality. 

[b_dubb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy

my best guess is that the big lessons are the ones that hurt the most.  otherwise we never learn.  but i'm someone who's practically an aetheist.  i'm only a tad bit agnostic. 

this is a subject that could easily become a site in and of itself if it were adequately discussed

[SheilaVG]

I love Ian but get a little frustrated when he stutters and seems hesitant, I think, to say what he is thinking which seems to be something along the lines of, "Will you just answer the question." If he could get out of the habit of being overly apologetic, he'd be perfect.

Another thing I really like about him is when he riffs on a caller's quesiton about religion. I think what makes him so good is that he hasn't been national for, comparatively, very long, and this causes him to still be good at asking questions the average Joe would. I am never disappointed when I listen to him and spend far less time thinking about what I'd like to hear from the guest becasue he has already asked it or is just about to and I sort of rely on that. I remember him early on though and do miss extended versions of crypto news and listener emails. If he were on more, he'd give those more time but I think he does not because he has a genuine intellectual interest in his guests and wants to share the good stuff.

Hey, Kudos to him for having exoricists on. Talk about a host willing to look at different views. Very fair guy.

Yes, I know he doesn't exactly have the same style as Art, and he does do some very silly shoes, but he does ask some hard questions.  If his guests are waffling, he'll call 'em out.  In fact, he might actually be a bit better at exposing his guests than Art is.  Perhaps that's why some of the more frequents guests that GN (or Ass Hat, as I like to call him) has on don't get Ianized.

That said, I wish he treid a little harder during the first hour.  Still, I appreciate his midwestern sense of humour, that I know some others don't get.  I really like that he's freindly and rigorous at the same time.

What do y'all think about Ian?  I was really hopeful that he'd have been Art's replacement.  I occasionally listen to GN/AH shows when he's got an interesting guest, but can be heard to groan outloud whenever he asks one of his patently dumb questions.  It's like tortue, unless the guests actually make fun of him (George Ure and Cliff from 4 March 2008 leap to mind) and he doens't even get that he's just been smacked down.  Unlike GN/AH, that's good stuff.

You know, I'd really like to have Ian interview the banned guest, David John Oates.  I saw him shortly before he was banned and, I thought it was fascinating.  Some of his reversals of Bush Jr. and Cheney are super creepy.

[b_dubb]

You know, I'd really like to have Ian interview the banned guest, David John Oates.  I saw him shortly before he was banned and, I thought it was fascinating.  Some of his reversals of Bush Jr. and Cheney are super creepy.

what's a reversal?

[Silent]

what's a reversal?

He's the guy who would play speech in reverse to reveal messages.  They had an interview of his on SIT recently I think.  Why was that guy banned?  He seemed like a nice guest.  Is there a recording of the show where something happened that caused this?

[ArtBellFan]

Oates along with Robert Stevens were the guys who accused Art of raping a young girl while he was working in Montery, Ca., Art sued them and it was ultimately related to one of the times Art left the air.  None of it was true, if memory serves Rense was involved in this also.  Art won that case.  I don't remember any more details, I was shocked when Coast aired that show on Somewhere in Time. Roberts, Stevens and Rense are scum.

[The General]

Oates along with Robert Stevens were the guys who accused Art of raping a young girl while he was working in Montery, Ca., Art sued them and it was ultimately related to one of the times Art left the air.  None of it was true, if memory serves Rense was involved in this also.  Art won that case.  I don't remember any more details, I was shocked when Coast aired that show on Somewhere in Time. Roberts, Stevens and Rense are scum.

Oh!  Thanks for clearing this up.  I knew about the accusation, and I knew Oates was banned, but I never knew that the two stories were related.  At the time, I heard it that Oates had insulted other guests or called them liars and that's why he was banned.

[TaoOfLuxLisbon]

Oates along with Robert Stevens were the guys who accused Art of raping a young girl while he was working in Montery, Ca., Art sued them and it was ultimately related to one of the times Art left the air.  None of it was true, if memory serves Rense was involved in this also.  Art won that case.  I don't remember any more details, I was shocked when Coast aired that show on Somewhere in Time. Roberts, Stevens and Rense are scum.

What do you think the motive behind that was? Simply trying to bring down the nation's number one late night host, or something more nefarious?

[ArtBellFan]

What do you think the motive behind that was? Simply trying to bring down the nation's number one late night host, or something more nefarious?

You bet it was, and of course Rense is the biggest wanna be out there, he has never quite made it, now has he.  There are always those out there who want to bring others down, we live in a sick world.

[Agent : Orange]

You bet it was, and of course Rense is the biggest wanna be out there, he has never quite made it, now has he.  There are always those out there who want to bring others down, we live in a sick world.

I've heard of Rense before but never heard one of his shows. I went to his website to see what he was about and it was full of links to "ZIONIST CONSPIRACIES" and "FREEMASON NWO" and "BLAME TEH JEWZ!". I never had much interest after finding out he was one of *those* nuts.

Has anyone here given his show a chance? Is it all purely political (or "alternative media") stuff?

[ArtBellFan]

I've heard of Rense before but never heard one of his shows. I went to his website to see what he was about and it was full of links to "ZIONIST CONSPIRACIES" and "FREEMASON NWO" and "BLAME TEH JEWZ!". I never had much interest after finding out he was one of *those* nuts.

Has anyone here given his show a chance? Is it all purely political (or "alternative media") stuff?

I listened to him many hears ago a couple of times, would never today, he is anti-Semitic and since I am Jewish I won't give him the time of day.  Aside from trying to bring Art down he is bitter because he never got the job at Coast to Coast the times that Art left, I don't think he was ever in the running with good reason.

[Silent]

Oates along with Robert Stevens were the guys who accused Art of raping a young girl while he was working in Montery, Ca., Art sued them and it was ultimately related to one of the times Art left the air.  None of it was true, if memory serves Rense was involved in this also.  Art won that case.  I don't remember any more details, I was shocked when Coast aired that show on Somewhere in Time. Roberts, Stevens and Rense are scum.

Oh wow.  After recently hearing that SIT show that's all a little shocking.  I've heard allusions to that situation of Art's but never any details.  Who is Robert Stevens?  I'd try google but with a name like that I doubt I'd find what I'm looking for.  And Rense I take it is another radio broadcaster?

[Silent]

Did anyone else hear last weeks show on demonic possesion?  I thought it might be a good one for Ian but something just wasn't clicking and I couldn't finish the full 4 hours.  It's gotta be tough to follow up the previous weeks schizophrenic guest.  That was his best show in months I think.

I think his best shows are when he seems personally interested in the topic of the night.  One little quirk, or tell, of his that I've noticed after listening to so many of his shows is that he will take in a deep, audiable, breath in when an interview isn't going how he would like it.  It is usually heard while the guest is going off into left field with wild assertions or a rambling.  It seems like these shows are 'work' for Ian instead of an enjoyable interview.  I think my tastes are similar to his own and almost always hear this on shows which I don't care so much for.  Unlike Ian I have the luxery of just skipping to the next show on my mp3 player.  Ian is at least professional enough to make the best of these shows and continue it as an interview and not a podium for the guest to rant.  There's just something lost when he's not genuinely interested.

[RealCool Daddio]

I heard the show, and would agree it wasn't a slam dunk classic.  But I am sure it was better than whatever was on Monday to Friday  :

I have also noticed the "deep sigh" when things are bogging down in the interview, but as you say, Ian is a pro, and will keep asking questions instead of letting the guest shill away for three hours.  It's too bad that he will be backing off on the number of shows he does...

[Lena]

my suggestion to improve C2C:

get rid of Punnett, and give the Spot to Knapp,
if Knapp doesnt want to work on Saturday, give the spot to anybody else (personally I could imagine a young guy like Jason Bermas),
take 1 weekday from Snoory and give it to Knapp.

Peter Dale Scott {In-Studio} on Alex Jones Tv with Jason Bermas 1/3:Line In The Sand!
THE INFOWARRIOR with Jason Bermas:CIA Admits It Trained Oswald in 1957!!

[anagrammy]

Me likey.  Jason Bermas has passion, he is accumulating data in his head that he can bring forth in an articulate manner to ADD to the interview.  I'd like to run Lena's video side-by-side with Noory "phoning in" his interview on the subject of Oswald.  An infuriating string of non sequiturs and HOT AIR. 

"Thanks, Alex, there's a lot of sides to the whole Oswald angle, aren't there?"

"Guess our generation will never have the whole story, will we Jerome?"

"So it looks like there could have been people on that grassy knoll, right William?"

What a contrast.  C'mon artbellfan and you other people with friends in high places--send Clear Channel both shows and let 'em see what we are talkin' aBOUT!

Thanks, Lena, now THAT's what I'm wanting to hear.

Anagrammy

[marklancedance]

Oh wow.  After recently hearing that SIT show that's all a little shocking.  I've heard allusions to that situation of Art's but never any details.  Who is Robert Stevens?  I'd try google but with a name like that I doubt I'd find what I'm looking for.  And Rense I take it is another radio broadcaster?

Im sorry what SIT show? And the art thing, does anyone know the name or date of that show?

[marklancedance]

I forgot to mention that Ian is doing a show about Scientology this week. Marc Headley is with the same guest from last year, and that show was really good. (or at least I think so) I believe I mentioned it in an earlier post. Are you reading this Ian 

[valdez]

I forgot to mention that Ian is doing a show about Scientology this week. Marc Headley is with the same guest from last year, and that show was really good. (or at least I think so) I believe I mentioned it in an earlier post....

It was good then and still had me riveted last night.  This Scientology stuff is a real freak show.  How could someone be a part of a religion for 15 years and not know exactly what its all about?  And you have to pay to move up in levels of understanding?  Some lady called in an said she left the organisation with no problems whatsoever.  The thing is, she sounded like a very polite zombie.  freaky.  Another good show from Ian.

[Silent]

I forgot to mention that Ian is doing a show about Scientology this week. Marc Headley is with the same guest from last year, and that show was really good. (or at least I think so) I believe I mentioned it in an earlier post. Are you reading this Ian 

The show from last year was very good.  I just finished the recent one and it was just as good.  I don't remember Marc going into the culture of secrecy and fear as much in the last one.  Having experienced the military it was scary how similar the two cultures are.  They're not an exact parallel of course but I can understand how people feel trapped in Scientology after hearing this show.

[TaoOfLuxLisbon]

     It was good then and still had me riveted last night.  This Scientology stuff is a real freak show.  How could someone be a part of a religion for 15 years and not know exactly what its all about?  And you have to pay to move up in levels of understanding?  Some lady called in an said she left the organisation with no problems whatsoever.  The thing is, she sounded like a very polite zombie.  freaky.  Another good show from Ian.

It was funny how she also refused to address Marc, only Ian. Apparently Scientologists are not allowed to speak to him, and after she denied she was one, she still didn't address him.

[James G.]

I gave up on Ian Punnett after hearing him hark on-and-on about his injured foot, and how it was supposedly "hanging off" his lower leg.

If Mr. Punett's limb was that bad off, it would have probably led to a below-the-knee amputation. Which didn't happen. But it's what happened to me. His doctors would have recommended that. So, how bad off could it be? Give me a break.

Yet, himself and his Conservatives allies speak so boldly about how "American" they are. And resolute. And "hard-working." And tough. And so on.

It's those who talk so big about themselves that show they can't handle the slightest duress. And make mountains out of molehills when they feel the simplest of pain or discomfort.

I got tired of it. And excluded Mr. Punnett from my radio listening since.

[TaoOfLuxLisbon]

Yet, himself and his Conservatives allies speak so boldly about how "American" they are. And resolute. And "hard-working." And tough. And so on.

I'm sorry, but what makes you think he's a conservative? This is a guy who protested outside the RNC in Minnesota for in support of "social justice".

I'm totally fascinated how people seem to randomly accuse Ian of being a liberal or a conservative.

As far as the whole thing about his foot, I don't often hear Ian going on about pulling oneself up by his bootstraps. I think he's pretty clearly mocking himself and what a wuss he can be when he talks about his foot.

[b_dubb]

yeah i don't think Ian is super conservative.  he strikes me as a centrist/moderate ... maybe even somewhat Left-y

[DoYouThinkItWasAngels]

I hear you, Valdez, but you know that religious people have no good answers to the incomprehensible fact that we have a God who does less about the violence and pain in this world than the aliens who disabled the nukes.  The problem of evil simply cannot be explained and it tortured me for years.  Only agnosticism and atheism brought me relief from my cries of "Why God, why?" after my son died needlessly.

Polytheism seems like the obvious answer.  The problem of theodicy is specific to monotheism, which bombastically pronounces their God to be omnipotent and exclusive.  Therein lies the flaw.

[HAL 9000]

I see Ian has as his main guest, S. Mostofi. OK, I'll say it... she's a hottie.

She is an author, and originally from Iran.

Let's pretend she and I went on a date. After the date, I walk her to her door... my fantasy response from her would be, "Would you like to come in and see my Persian rug?"

So many beautiful woman, and yet, here I sit on my towel... see reference:

http://www.coastgab.com/index.php/topic,2261.msg34383.html#msg34383

[valdez]

...S. Mostofi. OK, I'll say it... she's a hottie.

     First he has on a couple of writers, Dan O' Brien and Micheal Swaim, from Cracked.com (jeez, it's been a long time since I've held one of those mags, I use to dig them, now its website, everything is a website) who wrote a book called You Might Be A Zombie, but neither of them had the book on hand for the interview.  "This isn't gonna go well" says Ian, but he still gives them a little air time before his interview with S. Mostofi, who I suppose is a hottie, and spoke about being a woman in the Islamic world.  They also spent some time on the failed attempt to rescue the America embassy hostages in Iran oh so long ago and the possibility that the Russians may have sabotaged the mission with a missile.  Here's the thing: they make Carter look bad by screwing up the rescue, adding to an already humiliating situation, thus paving the way for the Reagan presidency that topples thier sorry Soviet asses. Thats karma.