2-22-11 - Talking Wisconsin, the Middle East and Cuts in Early Intervention

In case you missed it...

JEANNIE'S NIGHT OUT AND ROSIE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON GLEE
Rosie and the staff started today's broadcast talking about how the snow feels never-ending in New York this year.  Jeannie had her family in the studio with her today and talked about the fun night she had with Lou on Saturday!  Jeannie, Lou, Lou's girlfriend Maral and Jeannie's husband Dan all went to a bar in New York City.  She said they had a "rip-roaring, pants-wetting good time." Jeannie's mother also broke her ankle this weekend after she slipped on the stairs and will need to have surgery.

Rosie asked the staff if they had seen the McGhee Sextuplets on Oprah yesterday.  She said this last year of the Oprah Winfrey Show is so moving it should be sponsored by Kleenex. 

Rosie wanted to MAKE IT CLEAR that she doesn't think Ashley Fink, the actress from Glee, is ugly.  She said she loves that show, it's a favorite of hers and she watches it with all her children!  What happened was, a heavy-set reporter interviewed her last week and asked her about the character on the show and the press has twisted her words.  Rosie told the reporter that every overweight person she knows has a severe reaction to the  story-line of the heavy character.  Rosie then quoted what Janette said and all the headlines read, "Rosie slams Glee!"  She said that's the OPPOSITE of what she said.  Janette agreed and said she was the one who made the comments about Glee, NOT Rosie.  Rosie adores Ryan Murphy, the show's creator and knows he has a direction for this character as he does with all his characters in his shows.  She said she feels very connected to Ashley Fink as an actress because they both struggle with their weight.   Janette was the one who thought the character could have been played by a prettier heavy person like an Adele or Brooke Elliot.  Rosie then talked briefly about how much she loves Adele's new album 21 and mentioned how she's breaking records.  Rosie said she was sick of being slammed for something Janette had said.  Janette, who was a very overweight teen, said everyone who watches the show and has had a weight issue brings their own neurosis to the analysis of it.  Janette said she was Lauren in school and she experienced her own anger issues when watching Glee.  She remembered never being noticed and a specific time she was sitting next to another girl who was heavy but prettier and a kid came up to them and said, "Well you're both fat but at least Sally is pretty."  Janette admitted she had trouble understanding this other reality where a kid like Puck would be interested in a girl like her.  Rosie and Janette both believe that Ashley Fink can probably sing very well and know that Ryan Murphy has something great in store for the character because he's a genius at what he does. 

ROSIE ON BEHAR AND WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
Rosie talked very briefly about her interview with Joy Behar that aired last Thursday night.  She thought it was funny that Joy asked her if she's still gay at almost 50 years old.  She said there was a weird vibe in the beginning between Joy and herself but said she felt like it was edited well.  Rosie looked great on the program and she said Helene did her hair and makeup!  She also said Joy has great lighting on her show. 

Rosie tweeted while watching Who Do You Think You Are last week.  She said she couldn't get over the fact that she had such bad roots and needed a haircut.  She also said she looked like Buddy Hackett.  I just had to go look him up because I didn't know who that was and NO, SHE DOESN'T!  k...I'm calmer now.  She said she loved tweeting during the show and said it's her new favorite thing to do.  She's also enjoying her fake Twitter feud with Piers Morgan.  She assured fans the feud is jovial, entertaining, and has no negative feelings behind it.  Rosie said Piers is so full of himself that makes him endearing to her.  Rosie said she promised to do Piers' show if he stops asking every person he interviews "if they've ever been properly in love" or "if they could relive one moment what would it be."  Rosie said if he stops asking those questions she'll do his show in September before she goes to OWN. 

ROSIE ON THE MIDEAST AND THE WISCONSIN PROTESTS
Rosie then wanted to talk about the enormity of what is going on in the Mideast and how it relates to what is happening in Wisconsin.  They talked about the many countries that are erupting now in protest including  Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen.  Rosie said she's frustrated with how Fox News provides biased coverage of what is happening in Wisconsin and said so are the protesters!  She played the audio of the clip below....

Fox Lies

Rosie thought the video was profound and said she loves it.  She is sick of Fox News lying and presenting their lies as facts.   Rosie took a caller who is disappointed at the Governor's budget amendment bill and that he's essentially dismissed collective bargaining rights to "balance the budget."  She felt his policies created the huge budget deficit in the first place!  Rosie took another caller who was a Union representative who is worried if his budget amendment passes there won't be any money left for any social causes in this country.  Rosie agreed and thought it was ironic that the Teabag protesters were there protesting on a Saturday.  She said the only reason they're allowed to be there on a Saturday and not out working is because UNIONS fought for the right to a 40-hour work week!  Rosie does take issue with Unions that support tenure for bad teachers.  However, she said to take away collective bargaining destroys the foundation of Democracy!  Janette said if what happens in Wisconsin passes other states like Ohio are considering the same thing.   Rosie took another caller who wanted to make the point that the Koch Brothers didn't put the Governor in office, the people did.  Rosie did not agree entirely with that argument because the Koch Brothers are such a huge donor for the Tea Party Movement.  Pete pointed out that the Governor barely won the majority vote.  Either way, Rosie said what's happening in Wisconsin is inspiring to her.  

PETE DOMINICK FROM SIRIUS POTUS
Rosie then introduced Pete Dominick who hosts Stand Up with Pete Dominick on Sirius 110/XM 130 weekdays from 3-6pm.   Rosie started the interview by asking Pete, "Who is Governor Walker?"  Pete said Walker is a former County Executive in Wisconsin who supports the Tea Party Movement.  Pete said the Koch Brothers are huge contributors to Walker's campaign.  The Koch Brothers own Koch Energies and Consumer Products and a lot of what they produce needs oil.  Pete said they are "very anti anything that's pro-climate and pro-science."  They do not want rules and regulations that prevent them from being able to pollute and employ how they want.  Walker entered into his position with a financial surplus for the state.  Even though there was a projected budget shortfall, Walker made it worse because he cut taxes for the wealthiest citizens and the Corporations.  Taxes are revenue for the state and he didn't replace the revenue so he made the shortfall worse than it was.  Pete said the people paying for the problems of the state are not the ones who created the problem in the first place.  The people who created the problems are on Wall Street.  Pete said the one and only special interest that cares about Middle Class, 90% of Americans, are Unions. If Unions aren't spending money on political campaigns there won't be anyone advocating for the Middle Class. Pete said Unions make the Middle Class a stronger voice.  Pete also said if Unions no longer exist the Democratic party is finished and if this doesn't get worked out other states are next!  Rosie asked why the perception is that Unions are the bad guys nowadays?  Pete said it's because Unions have become an anecdote for everything that is wrong.  Everyone knows a story of a deal where a Union worker is getting paid more than they should, where they cannot be fired no matter how bad of an employee they are, etc.  And those negative anecdotes are dominating the conversation. 

Rosie felt in some cases, like in the Teachers Union, the Union can do harm.  Rosie expressed her frustration that we cannot fire horrible teachers because of the Unions.  Rosie loves teachers and was saved by a public school teacher but she does think Unions need to make some concessions.  Pete said it's really about politics not economics.  He said no one is advocating for teachers and what they need because there's no profit in public good.  He said politicians are owned by the special interests which cater to corporations. 

Rosie had a HUGE problem with the way our media is portraying governments of other countries as evil when OUR government has huge problems itself!  Pete agreed!  He said we should protest our government because it's not representing the majority of Americans. 

Rosie and Pete then got into a HEATED debate over whether or not our media is spending enough time highlighting what is happening in Wisconsin.  Rosie doesn't think it's getting much coverage on any of the networks and Pete completely disagreed.  They then got into a heated debate over what sells in newspapers.  Rosie is frustrated that the American media isn't spending more time on the problems of our nation and Pete said that's because it doesn't sell!  He said as long as news is for profit they will cover the stories that sells advertising. Rosie said we need to stop pointing to the "boogieman" again and again in other countries and focus on our own issues.  Pete said the boogieman sells and he asked Rosie why they don't have the New York Times in the checkout line at the grocery aisle.  He said because it's the glossy magazines that sell, not the news.

In the end Pete said if the Unions go away, no one will be advocating for the Middle Class. Rosie then yelled, "That's because FOX NEWS LIES and that channel is bullshit!"   Rosie was very frustrated that we don't have enough honest discussion about political issues anymore.  She said no media person has the weight or the power anymore and there's no freedom of the press.  Pete said that's partly because we have 1000 different choices for media and news today.  He said Americans need to turn off their TV's and radios and read the newspapers again. He said we're living in an atmosphere of 140 characters and people need to learn to read the whole story about what's going on.  Pete expressed his frustration that young Americans don't care about things affecting them.  Rosie said that's because Regan allowed the monopolization of the media and young people today don't see their voice as having any power! 

Pete recommended listeners listen to Sirius as a source for news because Sirius doesn't have to worry about ratings and sponsors.

Rosie was VERY fired up during this conversation.  She was yelling with passion!  Pete said he was so nervous afterward he was shaking.  I got all fired up listening too and needed to get up and pace around for a minute.  It was a passionate conversation.  Hope I did a good job recapping it for you all. 

JEANNIE ON THE CUTS IN EARLY INTERVENTION
Jeannie, who is a speech-language pathologist and works with kids under the age of 3 doing early intervention, had a topic she wanted to discuss.  She talked about the importance of early intervention and how the foundations of language learning are laid in the early years of life.  She referenced the Individuals with Disabilities Act and the cost benefit analysis that proves that early intervention is very cost effective.  Jeannie said she loves her job and mentioned a wonderful case she was working on recently that reminded her why she was called to do it.  She's been working with a preemie who was born at only 1.5 pounds between 5 and 6 months gestation.  This little girl is now 18 months old and not speaking at all.  Jeannie said after working with her for only a short time she's now learned to sign and imitate animal sounds!  This particular case reminded her how much she loves what she's doing. 

The next day she got an urgent email about Governor Cuomo's budget proposals that will threaten early intervention services.  Jeannie said she's a contract for service professional and only paid when she works.  She's basically an independent contractor who hasn't received a cost of living increase in 7 years!  In April of 2010 in  her profession they took a 10% decrease in pay.  Now, this new budget proposes an additional 10% decrease!  That's a 20% decrease in a 12 month period!  Jeannie said no other state agency has been hit that hard.

Jeannie said this proposal may force her to leave her profession completely.  She is already working even harder to recoup the first 10% decrease and with no cost of living increase, it will be impossible for her to continue to do her job. 

Janette asked what they can do.  Jeannie said lots of emails are going around from people in her profession and she mentioned a website for children's therapy professionals that suggested writing letters in protest of the budget proposal.   Jeannie asked listeners if they're a parent, a therapist or have are a friend of a family whose benefited from early intervention services, to write a letter or make a phone call.  Jeannie said they live paycheck to paycheck and these proposed cuts will make it impossible for them to make ends meet.  

CALLERS WEIGH IN

• Rosie took one caller from a listener in Canada who was a child who benefited from early intervention service.  She was shocked at the proposed cuts and said she now works in the school system as an aide.  She said  they shouldn't take away the funding because the children really need it. 
• Rosie took another call from a listener whose background is in special education.  She said you can drastically see the differences between children who get services early and those who don't.  She warned if we privatize our services only children that can get afford to pay for it out of pocket will get it. 
• Rosie took a call from a listener who was blind and also benefited from early intervention. 
• She took a call from a listener who said that early intervention saved her daughter.  Her daughter was  mildly Autistic and thanks to early intervention she has been basically cured from all the symptoms. 
• Rosie took a call from a listener who said cutting services will do a great disservice to children that need services.  She said the children will be the ones to suffer in the long run. 
• Rosie took a call from a listener who is a speech therapist by profession.  She said 2 of her 3 kids have qualified and needed speech therapy themselves.  Both her kids have been put on wait-lists of over 100 kids. 

 
LISTEN TO JANETTE ON LIVING TODAY ON MARTHA RADIO!
Janette announced that she'll be hosting Living Today on Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius 112/XM 157 from 2pm-4pm for the rest of this week!  She said she's going to be talking about things that are of interest to her.  She was very excited!  You can see a schedule of her week HERE!  Love you, Janette!  Good luck and we're listening!! 

FOR TOMORROW'S SHOW
For tomorrow's show, Rosie said she wanted to discuss last Friday's Oprah Winfrey Show about a boy with bipolar disorder.   Rosie said she thought it was the most amazing show Oprah's ever done and said she can't wait to talk about it tomorrow.

Rosie reminded listeners to watch Glee tonight and closed the show.

Rosie posted this on her Twitter after today's show...

and that's what you missed -kw