Jordan Birnbaum

If Ignorance Is Bliss, You Must Be Miserable.

May 15, 2013

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Stage· 132 messages
May 15, 2013
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Scott Stenholm · 12:44 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“if ignorance is bliss, i don't even want to know how a professional researcher must feel...”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

Mr. Stenholm, I presume?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:00 AM

Good evening from Los Angeles/West Hollywood, all
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

hi there! And careful, Rachael - if you stick around you might find out
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

ok - so for any newcomers to Tawkers
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

here's how you can participate - by listening to the other audience members, you'll see their comments
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

Voting on them makes them visible to Scott and me
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

And we want to hear from you, so don't be shy!
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

All right, Scott. The purpose of our Tawk tonight is to gather a community of people who are burdened as a result of being aware and engaged in the world.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

Can you speak briefly how this has played a role in your life and career?
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Engaged? I thought we were just dating.”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:04 AM

I was the kid in 5th grade who was ridiculed for bringing the newspaper to school -- so I made a career out of it
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

Is part of your daily routine getting enraged as you read the news?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:05 AM

Enraged is a strong word - with all that I read and view, it would be counter productive to be so easily affected
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:06 AM

All right - let's take a look at wha6t's going on right nhow and get your take on it. Let's begin with the DOJ seizure of phone records from the AP.
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Scott Stenholm · 1:07 AM

Well we are in the early stages of that inquiry (unlike the IRS scandal which seems pretty cut and dry)
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Scott Stenholm · 1:07 AM

But my initial impressions are that this is exactly what the Obama admin didnt need
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Scott Stenholm · 1:08 AM

Talk about throwing lighter fuel on a fire for conservatives and tea partiers
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Scott Stenholm · 1:08 AM

This is their wet dream - governments overreach, and against them no less
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Scott Stenholm · 1:10 AM

If I had the IRS admin here, I would lambast them for fucking with the dems chances to take back the House in the midterms and painting the Obama WH in such a way that feeds into the stereotypes that Dems often garner unfairly
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:11 AM

OK. On a practical, non-political level, do you think it is reasonable to hold Obama personally accountable for everything that happens in a DC-based governmental organization?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:12 AM

I'm sorry for jumping from the IRS to the AP DOJ scandal (so many problems for the WH this week)
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Scott Stenholm · 1:12 AM

to answer your question - yes and no
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:12 AM

related though, so it still works
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Scott Stenholm · 1:13 AM

The buck stops with him and the point of being an effective President is having a well run fed govt
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Scott Stenholm · 1:13 AM

and this Admin has been less than warm with the media, ironically
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:14 AM

★ Spotlighted from Kenna James

“Imagine someone in politics being held accountable...sounds like an oxymoron”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:15 AM

Should he know every nook and cranny? No but when it comes to major policy, he and his cabinet, advisors, admins, directors etc should be accountable
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

Sorry I have to take a step back to clarify if we're talking about the DOJ or the IRS.
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Scott Stenholm · 1:15 AM

Both
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Scott Stenholm · 1:16 AM

but more so the DOJ
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Scott Stenholm · 1:16 AM

at this point, he may have to bring in Eric Holder and say, "Now, why am I keeping you on, friend?"
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Scott Stenholm · 1:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“Do you think he had any inkling that was going on?”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

Do you think that progs' reluctance to validate Republican charges keeps them from holding the Obama admin accountable?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:18 AM

We dont know yet Rachael, as far as the IRS is concerned. But it seems unlikely that his admin new nothing of the DOJ pressuring the AP
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Scott Stenholm · 1:19 AM

Not the smartest ones, Jordan
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

so back to that question - are progressives too reluctant to hold Obama's feet to the fire because they don't want to validate the hypocritical charges agaiunst him?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:20 AM

Most true progs wants what is best for the future
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Scott Stenholm · 1:21 AM

But even more than that, we liberals spend so much time pulling our hair out when repubs fuck up and their backers (fox, tea party, etc) seem blind deaf and stupid to their actions
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

makes me think we'd be better off ignoring republicans and focusing on holding Dems accountable
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Scott Stenholm · 1:22 AM

so when it is our turn to call out our guys, when justified - we jump at it cause we cant stomach the hypocrisy
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Scott Stenholm · 1:22 AM

No, because thats giving up - and we have made progress in the push back
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Scott Stenholm · 1:23 AM

look at where gay rights is now vs. 6 years ago
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

excellent point
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

OK - let's shift to some other major crises, both actual and fabricated. Benghazi and Syria.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

should have said Syria and Benghazi.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

How are you responding to the mnedia coverage you're seeing for both?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:26 AM

The GOPs reaction to Benghazi has ranged from tepid inquiry to outright bipartisan overzealousness (see Sen. Inhoff suggesting the pres be impeached and that it is the worst scandal in decades)
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Scott Stenholm · 1:27 AM

it should be noted that during the Bush years, there were some 50+ attacks on US consulted, embassies, etc that sometimes resulted in the deaths of american patriots, there were 3 quiet hearings - so what is good for the goose is not good for...
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Scott Stenholm · 1:27 AM

...the gander here
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Kenna James

“"Better off ignoring republicans...." - there's the ignorance is bliss coming into play!! I like Jordan's comment because it focuses on accountability of an issue rather then a party. Party politics sucks!”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:28 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Stenholm

“more to come on IRS/DOJ, etc. Any thoughts on American "spy" in Russia?”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:29 AM

I appreciate your point Kenna but lets come back to earth - if you want to get things done you cant roll over and just focus on one side
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Scott Stenholm · 1:29 AM

issues are given by party politics, sadly
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Scott Stenholm · 1:30 AM

Eric - its a good sign that he was returned to US authorities
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

Well - I think there's a certain perspective / frustration that there is only one side, and the partisanship is what allows them to get away with murder.
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Scott Stenholm · 1:31 AM

and we should have the CIA in Russia, they have loose nukes, an extremist muslim problem to the south as boston showed us and putin is a hair better than a nice dictator
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

OK- I saw a comment earlier that made me laugh but I thought evoked an important idea.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“I like this title because it compliments those who it addresses, and the others don't get it...”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:32 AM

well said, Ian
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:33 AM

How much of a problem is the intellectual gap in this country relative to the democratic process?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:33 AM

Oh it is about as bad as the income gap (and sometimes they are related)
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:33 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“At least the AP was on the Unlimited Plan.”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

Is that an infinite existential problem (the intellectual gap)? You can't say "let the smart ones decide" because they mayy not be moral?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:36 AM

No - but I usually equate true intelligence with a good moral compass, if you are informed about the plights of others and have an overall high intelligence that I wonder about the legitimacy of that if your brain can maintain compassion
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Scott Stenholm · 1:37 AM

cant*
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:37 AM

Machiavelkli was a smart son of a bitch
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Scott Stenholm · 1:37 AM

I hope that made sense
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

It did. It wish it was true. The list of evil geniuses is long.
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Scott Stenholm · 1:38 AM

yes, it is long
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Scott Stenholm · 1:39 AM

but the brain that a capacity for genius and hope for the common good will always be a more impressive one that usually ALL areas of what nature gave him or her
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

going back to thye spy issue...
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Stenholm

“This so called spy was in southern russia with a makeshift blonde wig and tons of cash. If this is the US brilliant plan to find out what happened with Tamerlan, we have a problem.”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

Nothing Bruce Willis can't handle
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Scott Stenholm · 1:40 AM

exactly
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“His real name is Tupac Jordan!”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:41 AM

well Panetta is a good CIA dir and its always easy to knock an agency that is never able to boast about what it does RIGHT
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:42 AM

good retort, bro!
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:42 AM

OK -let's move to a mutual passion
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:42 AM

You have written quite a bit about the climate change denial movement
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Scott Stenholm · 1:42 AM

holy hell we are already 45 mins in?!
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Scott Stenholm · 1:43 AM

yes i ahve
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Scott Stenholm · 1:43 AM

have
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

and the LACK of environmental progress.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

Just how screwed are we?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:43 AM

we are wildly screwed
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

care to elabiorate?
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Kenna James

“Time goes quick when you have a lot to say!”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

dickies - hang in - just saw your comment -will go back to it
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Scott Stenholm · 1:44 AM

last summer/fall we had all these never before seen types of weather occurances
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

sry scott - keep going
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

is that the new normal?
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Scott Stenholm · 1:46 AM

i compare it to this: climate change deniers/skeptics are like a person diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 cancer by 98% of the leading doctors in the world, but he doesnt feel sick yet, personally so he wont believe them
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:46 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“you guys should really watch Lee Camp's latest MOC - he talks about this topic”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:46 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9rH1Lv3u6w&feature=youtu.be”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:47 AM

eventually, when he starts to cough up blood (hurricane sandy, last summers droughts), he finally says, hmm maybe I should go back to the hospital
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Scott Stenholm · 1:47 AM

problem is, eventually it will be too late
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:47 AM

Yeah - it never ends well for that guy
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Stenholm

“I came on here at the last minute and I have a family connection (obvi), but this idea ain't bad, ain't bad at all. BETA”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:48 AM

right now, the acid i our oceans will continue to grow for the next 70+ years thanks to our pollution - even if we were to stop all greenhouse gases tomorrow
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Scott Stenholm · 1:49 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“when is eventually Scott?! WHEN?!?!”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

OK -we both decided that we would come out of discussing all this awful stuff and explaining why we were still optimistic nonetheless. I really hope the audience will particpate as well.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“rachael,pick a date far into the future...and it'll probably be then”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:50 AM

When it starts to impact everyday lives of americans - which it is rapidly starting to
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

Scoptt -why don't you start -why are you optimisitc despite all this bad stuff?
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

You too, audience!
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Scott Stenholm · 1:52 AM

Besides there being no alternative - its because I know that there are too many wonderful people in this world to ever be overtaken by the bad and the ugly
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

I AM OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESS I HAVE SEEN IN MY OWN LIFETIME
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Scott Stenholm · 1:53 AM

look at it this way: the boston bombings - the bombers represent what is often wrong with the world but the first responders always out number them
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

I am optimisitc because there are people lioke us who can create a community through ideas
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Scott Stenholm · 1:54 AM

on 9/11, a terrible thing happened, we all remember that but the stories on love and aide drastically out numbered the evil ones
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“slowly but surely the world is changing - THAT is why i am optimistic. i am a part of that”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:54 AM

its a simple view but some of the most profound things are just that simple
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Scott Stenholm · 1:55 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eric Stenholm

“I agree that climate change is very important, but I don't know what can be done to reverse it. Aren't we too far gone? Can we realistically get all large nations on the same plan/idea in time? costs money to change”

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Scott Stenholm · 1:56 AM

Lastly, eric, we have no choice - climate change, when we are older playing with each others grandkids, will have been the most important issue of our generation and the next 3 to come (hopefully), more than guns, gay rights, war, elections
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Scott Stenholm · 1:57 AM

immigration and a myriad of other issues comined
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Scott Stenholm · 1:57 AM

im done the research, we can do enough to sustain life on earth
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:57 AM

money is paper that only has value because we BELIEVE it does. water is real.
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Scott Stenholm · 1:57 AM

ive
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Scott Stenholm · 1:57 AM

exactly jordan!
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

All right - obviously we have to pick this up again in the near future. Especially so I can answer this:
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“But is it for the better?”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

But for now I think we'll say good night. Scott - you are the man. This is as fun as I thought it could be!
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Scott Stenholm · 1:58 AM

ha! yes we do - lets have a talk on climate change solely next time
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Scott Stenholm · 1:59 AM

follow me on twitter friends, @scottstenholm :)
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Scott Stenholm · 1:59 AM

goodnight from LA!
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

And if any of you play poker, Kenna James and Blake Ian are hosting an amazing Tawk RIGHT NOW! Check it out.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

Scott and I will see you soon. Thanks for being here.
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Scott Stenholm · 2:00 AM

Thank you for having me sir!
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

And if any of you are coming after the fact, click the "top" button in the upper left to pick this up from the beginning.
Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 3:20 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“thanks guys. in my next life i'm coming back as a tea partier, where the livin' is easy.”

Jordan Birnbaum

Jordan Birnbaum · 3:20 AM

★ Spotlighted from Kenna James

“So glad we have a platform like tawkers to put a voice to our individual point of views and debate them.”