Lieberman: Qaddafi in 2009 “Odd, Brutal” and an Ally

by John Dankosky -

The deposed Libyan leader Mummar Qaddafi has been on the run from rebel fighters, helped by US and NATO forces. According to The New York Times, rebel leaders believe they have him surrounded in a town 150 miles from Tripoli. The end of his regime comes only two years after a meeting with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, in which the senator called the Libyan leader an ally.

A recently leaked WikiLeaks cable details the meeting between Lieberman and Qaddafi in Libya in 2009.

Speaking on WNPR’s Where We Live, Lieberman said that the US had caught Qaddaffi “red handed” looking for materials to build his own nuclear weapons.  Lieberman said the leader got “scared” that his country might be invaded like Iraq had been, and began cooperating with US officials.

The meeting was in the leader’s tent, and it also included Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins. Lieberman admitted that during that meeting, he told Qaddafi that Libya was an important ally in the war on terror.

“He was always odd, he was always brutal, it was always therefore uncomfortable for us to be doing that, but what I meant that day, and what was really true (was) he feared al-Qaeda because he thought they were a threat to him. And, of course, we were fighting al Qaeda, and as I said to him that day, ‘sometimes when you have common enemies, you can develop an alliance even if you don’t have a lot in common’ and that’s where we were then. But, it was a weird meeting,” Lieberman said.

The cable also said that during the meeting, Senator McCain suggested that the U.S. would provide military support to Qaddafi. Lieberman said that he had “no recollection,” of that.

Only two years after that meeting, Lieberman and McCain signed a resolution supporting the use of US force against Qaddafi’s forces.

Looking back at the storm #ctirene

by Gabriel Sistare -

Following Hurricane Irene’s path through New England, Where We Live spoke to WNPR reporters Jeff Cohen, Lucy Nalpathanchil and Uma Ramiah, along with Susan Campbell from the Hartford Courant. Each shared their own eyewitness accounts of damage across the state.

People are still recovering from Hurricane Irene, which passed through Connecticut on Aug. 29. Damage across the state was varied with heavy flooding in areas like Bristol and moderate after-effects elsewhere.

Twitter activity was frequent yesterday and it continued today, with #ctirene collecting reactions from citizens all over Connecticut.

“	Generator just went off at firehouse where E Haven meeting is going on. People are lining up to be let back into their homes. #ctirene
	campbellsl August 29, 2011

“	We”ve surpassed the outage record set by Hurricane Gloria in 1985! 486,000+ customers now without power #CTIrene
	CTLightandPower August 28, 2011

“	RT @nhregister: Report problems and travel hazards around Greater New Haven http://t.co/9bOZzVA #SeeClickFix #NHV #ctirene
	newsgirlct August 29, 2011

Hartford Courant columnist Susan Campbell, who spoke to Where We Live this morning, was very active on Twitter yesterday, observing the impact of Irene in East Haven.

“	White-helmeted building inspectors are going from house to house in damaged E Haven. #cthurricane #ctirene
	campbellsl August 28, 2011

“	The Cosey Beach Ave house that was destroyed by #ctirene has collapsed in on itself. #cthurricane
	campbellsl August 28, 2011

Look through some of her photos of the event at her blog.

Local media were quick to observe and report on the damages in their respective communities.

“	44% of Meriden (12,203 customers) still without power Monday at 10:03 a.m. Monday. #Irene #ctirene #meriden
	MeridenPatch August 29, 2011

“	What is the worst damage you’ve seen from #Hurricane #Irene in Litchfield County? #ctirene
	RegisterCitizen August 29, 2011

“	Rep. @jahimes will be in Bridgeport today, assessing #ctirene damage with @MayorBillFinch.
	connpost August 29, 2011

“	The Meriden Public Library’s open! #Irene #ctirene #meriden
	MeridenPatch August 29, 2011

We’ll continue to add to this story with further post-Irene coverage. For now, listen to the show.

Where We Live: After Irene | yourpublicmedia.org Depending on where you live, this storm was either all hype or a major disaster Depending on where you live, this storm was either all hype – or a major disaster. If you had power yesterday, and no trees came down in your backyard, you might have thought – “what’s all the fuss?”

Coming Up! August 29 to September 2, 2011

By Catie Talarski

Monday’s show will either be about Alzheimer’s Disease, a rerun on Google, or about how Connecticut is in a state of panic and disarray post-Irene. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure except we have no control because we live in the CONE OF UNCERTAINTY. (cue horrifying music.) Be safe, everyone.

MONDAY: After Irene
Coverage of the after effects of Tropical Storm Irene.

TUESDAY: Lieberman
Senator Joe Lieberman is starting to wind down his political career. While candidates start vying for his senate seat, Lieberman is reflecting on his career and in particular, his observance of the Sabbath in Washington. We talk with Sen. Lieberman about his new book, “The Gift of Rest.”

 WEDNESDAY: Foreclosures
Coming up we’ll talk about new legislation enacted to help Connecticut residents struggling through foreclosure. And we’ll check in with a ProPublica reporter about their latest investigations in the  “Eye On Loan Modifications” series.

THURSDAY: The Future of Business Leadership
Steve Jobs’ departure from Apple is causing people to question the future of the powerhouse company. Jobs made such an impact at Apple not because he’s a good computer programmer, but because he’s been able to transform a successful business several times through the force of personality and the will to succeed.  Today we’re looking at what makes an effective business leader. To some, it means getting an MBA, and becoming armed with the skills necessary to succeed in the business world. (Jobs was a college drop out.) To others, it means vision, charisma and leadership. Can you teach these skills? Should there be a new model for business leadership?

FRIDAY: Still Recovering From Irene
Five days ago, Tropical Storm Irene battered Connecticut and put nearly a million utility customers in the dark. Still, Governor Dannel Malloy says the biggest issue facing the state is “power, power, power, power.” Homes from Bristol to East Haven have been destroyed by flooding. Outages have pushed back school openings by more than a week in some districts. Today, an update on recovery efforts in the region. We’ll check in with Governor Malloy and Attorney General George Jepsen about where we stand today on issues of power and prices. We’ll also hear from a reporter in Vermont who has been covering the devastating flooding in that state.

It’s Our Party. And You’re Invited!

By Catie Talarski

Can you believe we’ve been making radio shows for 5 years?! It’s true. And we couldn’t have done it without you.

Join the WNPR and Where We Live crew, along with our favorite guests and listeners as we raise a glass and toast to 5 years of creating “radio with a sense of place.”

Hooker Brewing Company is brewing a special batch of top secret “Where We Live” beer, Plan B is providing delicious appetizers, and String Theorie – just voted “Best New Band” by Hartford Advocate – will be jamming.

We’re asking each attendee for a donation of $5 or more to reserve your spot.

Please register here.

In honor of our anniversary, you may have noticed we’ve rolled out a snazzy new logo. It was designed by the amazing Peter Good and Jan Cummings.

And now, a photo gallery of (really good looking) folks who have been a part of Where We Live over the years. (Warning and Apology: I stole most of these photos from Facebook.)

After a long career at WNPR, doing a million different things, Evette Cook became THE original producer for Where We Live.

At one time Diane Orson was a producer for The Faith Middleton Show. She lent her expertise in getting Where We Live off the ground.

If you started at WNPR as an intern, chances are that George Goodrich taught you all you know. He was our original technical director. George traded in his microphone for a stethescope. He is now a nurse.

Melissa Branzburg was the first intern-turned-producer for Where We Live. She loves Japan and flamingos. Melissa left us to get her MBA. Smart woman.

Libby Franklin came to us from the Documentary Studies program at Duke. She produced more "future of" shows than anyone in the history of talkshow production. Libby left us to move with her hubby to St. Louis, where she works on another radio show.

Josie Holtzman was a fellow Salt Institute Alumna. She made the move back to Connecticut from the BIG city. Josie produced some of our best music-themed shows. She is now back in NYC doing radio magic.

And that brings us to now:

Catie, Senior Producer of making coffee and bossing people around

Our newest addition to the team, Tucker Ives. He was a former intern and a radio pro at Ithaca College.

and of course... Dankosky

Coming Up! August 22 to 26, 2011

By Catie Talarski

Hi Friends. Mark your calendars on Thursday, September 15th for the Where We Live 5 year anniversary bash, taking place at the Hooker Brewing Company. More details to come. Here is what’s happening this week:

MONDAY: The Independent Voter
A Pew survey from earlier this year shows that a growing number of Americans are choosing not to identify with either party. These so-called “independent” voters are thought to be key to the President’s re-election, and control of congress. But in another Pew poll conducted in late July, only about a third of independent voters said they wanted President Obama to be reelected. And for the first time, a majority of independents disapproved of the job he’s doing. Maybe the lack of success has to do with a misunderstanding of what an independent voter really is.  Are they really centrist? Today, where we live, political reporter Anna Sale of WNYC’s “It’s a Free Country” joins us to talk about what she’s been learning about indie voters.  We’ll also hear what’s happening with some national organizations trying to coalesce support around independents.

TUESDAY: Libya, UConn Sports, Sugar
It’s a magazine show. We’ll check in with our national security expert Scott Bates who has been in the Middle East on over two dozen missions in the past four years working on democracy assistance projects. He’ll give us the latest update on Libya. Then we’ll hear from reporters covering the “retirement” of UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway. And finally, a few sugar experts will tell us where we went wrong on our recent show.

WEDNESDAY: Pelto/Scully Smackdown
Right now, Jonathan Pelto and Patrick Scully are not best friends. They’ve been going back and forth in their blogs and newspaper columns over their criticism/support of Governor Malloy. Now they’ll take it to their airwaves. Today, Pelto and Scully will be in-studio for a discussion about their feud, the SEBAC deal and Democrats in Connecticut.

THURSDAY: Ted Koppel
Ted Koppel, former “Nightline” anchor and contributor to NPR was at Hartford’s Mark Twain House last week, for the annual “Clemens Lecture.” Our own John Dankosky was the moderator. If you missed it, today we’ll broadcast the highlights.

FRIDAY: Susan Herbst
UConn president Susan Herbst sits down with us for the hour.

 

Who/Where are the independent voters? #wherewevote

Where We Live talked about independent voters in Connecticut and the country. We spoke with Anna Sale from WNYC, Renny Fulco from Trinity College, Alan Abramowitz from Emory University, Debbie Hauser of No Labels, and Denise Merrill, Connecticut’s secretary of state.

Kicking off the #wherewevote series, Where We Live host John Dankosky, WNYC reporter Anna Sale, and a host of professors and politicians looked into the elusive independent voter.

People were quick to claim their lack of affiliation to any major party.

“	@wherewelive – I am an unaffiliated voter. Never want to be forced to vote by party lines. Make my own decision per vote.
	JoshFinnie August 22, 2011

“	@wherewelive I’m registered unaffiliated. I’d rather vote for the candidate than the party. And I didn’t feel educated enough at 18 to pick.
	kdinctPE August 22, 2011

The Pew Research Center issued a recent report that shows independent support for President Obama dropped by 10% from May to July. A large part of Obama’s initial success was from independent voters, though.

Obama Loses Ground in 2012 Reelection Bid | Pew Research Center for the People and the Press The sizeable lead Barack Obama held over a generic Republican opponent in polls conducted earlier this year has vanished as his support among independent voters has fallen off.Currently, 41% of registered voters say they would like to see Barack Obama reelected, while 40% say they would prefer to see a Republican candidate win in 2012.

The show featured audio from It’s a Free Country reporter Anna Sale’s recent trip to Colorado where she spoke with many people who defend their electoral independence.

The Brian Lehrer Show – Anna and the Independent Voter: In the Granite State It’s a Free Country reporter Anna Sale returns to discuss how the GOP candidates are trying to woo the famously independent New Hampshire voter. → Add Your Comments, Listen and Read a Recap at It’s A Free Country

Emory University Professor of Political Science, Alan Abramowitz, claimed that few, if any, moderate Republicans still exist. In a recent column of Abramowitz’s, he writes that independent voters are still crucial for success in the 2012 elections.

Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball » Setting the Record Straight: Correcting Myths about Independent Voters Alan I. Abramowitz, Senior Columnist July 7th, 2011 There they go again. The presidential campaign season is barely under way but already pundits and pollsters are making misleading claims about independent voters and the role they play in presidential elections.

One listener believed that in Connecticut, to have any contribution to state politics, party affiliation is a must.

“	@JudgingJane @wherewelive In all of connecticut, if you’re interested in actively participating by voting, you should choose a party.
	brendanmahoney August 22, 2011

There were others who wanted to join a major party, but they felt either Democrats or Republicans would preoccupy themselves with fighting with each other rather than compromise.

“	@wherewelive I would have no problem belonging to a party, if one exsisted that worked for its goals and not to merely ruin it’s opponent
	fmatthisfoxct August 22, 2011

At the end of the show, Trinity professor, Renny Fulco, emphasized that a distinction should be made between unaffiliated, independent, and third party voters, all of which are their own story.

Where We Live: The Independent Voter | yourpublicmedia.org Where We Live: The Independent Voter Where We Live: The Independent Voter A Pew survey from earlier this year shows that a growing number of Americans are choosing not to identify with either party. These so-called "independent" voters are thought to be key to the President’s re-election, and control of congress.

Pelto and Scully Will Be In-Studio…Together.

By Tucker Ives

Right now, Jonathan Pelto and Patrick Scully are not best friends. They’ve been going back and forth in their blogs and newspaper columns over their criticism/support of Governor Malloy. It started back in July when Pelto wrote:

I am  disgusted by the Malloy Administration’s failure to do the right thing…

And I want my 2010 gubernatorial vote back.

Foley instead?  At least with Foley we would have had a Legislature Branch of Government that was willing to stand up and do the right thing.  Now we don’t even have that.

On August 7, Scully wrote a column for the Hartford Courant titled, “Malloy Labor Critics Should Count Blessings.” He specifically called out Pelto for his criticism of Malloy:

Former state Rep. Jonathan Pelto is a thoughtful and accomplished media relations professional who is deserving of being heard on the issues facing the state. He and other critics, however, are also hopelessly disconnected from the average Connecticut citizen and continue to wallow in the failed, far-left, now-fringe policies of 1970s.

George McGovern is no longer relevant, nor are his policies. Today’s Democrats (myself included) are in the camp of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and, yes, Dan Malloy.

Of course, Pelto fired right back with a LONG rebuttal on his blog. Most of this was a defense of George McGovern but at the end, he addressed the current situation:

I appreciate Mr. Scully’s right to criticize me and others for our criticism of Dan Malloy and I certainly understand his concern that now is not the time to “wallow in the failed, far-left, now-fringe policies of 1970s.”

But that said, I’m pretty sure that fighting against a senseless war, preserving programs like food stamps, revamping the tax structure to support not punish working families and working to end hunger here and abroad don’t count as “failed, far-left, now fringe policies”.

I don’t doubt that there are “Good Democrats” who support both President Obama and Governor Malloy.  I too consider myself a “Good Democrat” and in that capacity I believe we have an obligation to speak out when it appears that either of them have stumbled from the path that got them elected – or even more importantly – are failing to implement the most fundamental principles and values that we Democrats stand for.

Scully seemed annoyed with Pelto’s fixation on what Scully called a “throwaway line” about McGovern:

Instead of countering my argument, Pelto launched into a lengthy defense of George McGovern. Pelto started with “My response [to Scully’s column] is rather long, but I hope you’ll take the time to read it in its entirety.” Not a chance. I started to doze after the first five or six paragraphs. I did notice Pelto saw the need to question my age—always an effective debating tool.

Next Wednesday (8/24), Pelto and Scully will be in-studio for a discussion about their feud, the SEBAC deal and Democrats in Connecticut…and I’m sure George McGovern will be mentioned at least once.

Pelto. Scully. Where We Live. August 24th at 9am.

This should be fun.

Coming Up! August 15 to 19, 2011

By Catie Talarski

MONDAY: Combating Food Allergies (rebroadcast)
Thirty years ago, food allergy was extremely rare. Today, about 5.9 million U.S. children under 18 suffer from this potentially life-threatening condition. That’s 1 in every 13 children. Or, to look at it another way, one student per classroom has a food allergy. What’s more, nearly 2 out of every 5 affected children suffer from a severe food-allergy. Researchers from Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago conducted a recent online allergy study of almost 40,000 parents, released this month in the journal “Pediatrics.”  They found that food allergies are growing more common and more severe. Today, where we live, we revisit a problem that has many parents concerned – including one of our own reporters. And we’ll explore how doctors are using oral immunotherapy to help tame some of the allergic symptoms.

TUESDAY: Sugar Rush
People put sugar in their coffee, cake and cookies. But do we really think about where the sweet stuff comes from? Coming up, we’ll talk about the rise and fall in sugar’s popularity over the years with the author of The Sugar Barons. And some researchers are saying sugar is actually toxic, so are artificial sweeteners the way to go? You might want to hold off on that 2^nd spoonful of sugar in your morning cup of joe – until you listen to this show.

WEDNESDAY: City Rebranding
Hartford is talking about the city’s latest effort to “brand” and “market” itself with a snazzy new slogan, logo and signage.  But how well do efforts like this work?  We’ll hear from other cities who’ve been trying to remake their image – and we’ll get an update on what’s next for “New England’s Rising Star.” 

THURSDAY: Cheating Schools
An investigator for the State Department of Education has begun to question teachers and staff at a Waterbury elementary school about suspected cheating on the 2011 Connecticut Mastery Tests. Waterbury’s investigation follows widespread cheating scandals uncovered in the District of Columbia, Baltimore and Atlanta…just this year. Coming up, we’ll talk to a professor who says the rise in cheating by teachers and school staff parallels the rising pressures kids face with high stakes testing. What does this say about our education system, and what does it mean for your child’s education?

FRIDAY:  Living with Hypochondria
Our health is all over the news these days: whether it’s the contentious debate on American health reform, the latest study on cell phones and cancer, or advances in genetic testing that can pinpoint who’s at risk for which disease. This focus on health care motivates some people to eat right, exercise, and stay in good medical shape.  But others grow to fear everything that could possibly go wrong with their body – and in some cases, they imagine that it already has. Today we’ll hear a documentary on “Living with Hypochondria: The Real Costs of Imagined Illness”

Coming up! August 8 to 12, 2011

By Catie Talarski

Happy Monday! Here’s what’s on for the week:

MONDAY: Income Tax Hike
Some Connecticut residents are seeing their taxes go up as the state tries to fill its fiscal hole.  Today, Where We Live, we talk to Ben Barnes, Secretary of OPM, State Representative Larry Cafero and Keith Phaneuf of the Connecticut Mirror about who’ll be paying more – and where Connecticut’s headed with its tax policy.

TUESDAY: Fracking
Today, the controversy over the natural gas extraction method known as “fracking” has divided communities in New York and Pennsylvania where rich reserves are found.  But what about the growing need for natural gas in New England, where it powers some 40 percent of our power plants.

WEDNESDAY: Connecticut’s Civil War History
April 12, 2011 marked the 150^th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, and the state of Connecticut is paying tribute. Join us as we talk to historian and author Bill Hosley about his upcoming tour of state Civil War collections and sites.

THURSDAY: Previewing New Haven Mayoral Debate
Thursday night, August 11, The New Haven Independent is partnering with WNPR and other media outlets to present a multi-media New Haven mayoral debate.  Today, Where We Live, we’ll preview the debate, and find out more about the major issues facing the Elm City.

FRIDAY: Animal Rights (rebroadcast)
Michael Vick is once again a star in the Nike universe – only a few years after serving time for his role in a dog-fighting ring. Vick’s “redemption” is in part due to his resurgence on the football field, of course, but also in part due to his work with the Humane Society of the US.  He’s toured the country, speaking with the Society’s president, Wayne Pacelle to try and keep kids away from the bloodsport he grew up with. This has been just one battle for the nation’s largest animal protection organization.  The Humane Society is working beyond its traditional role of advocating for house pets to try and stop inhumane conditions on factory farming floors, and testing on animals in corporate labs. Today, Where We Live, New Haven native Wayne Pacelle talks about the deep links between humans and animals, and his new book The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them.

Adventure Theater: Campfire Edition

By Catie Talarski

Tent. Check.
Marshmallows and Painstakingly Scavenged Roasting Stick. Check.
Cooler Full of Beer. Check

RVWithTito, Creative Commons

Bring your Swiss Army Knife, folding chair and a headlamp. It’s Radio Adventure Theater – Campfire Edition! Come sit around the “fire” (and the radio) for stories of ghosts, wild animals and woodsy lore; an audio tour with sonic contributions from public radio producers, musicians and artists. Acoustic musical accompaniment by the amazing folk singer Kate Callahan. (Per orders of the camp director, there will be no singing of Kumbaya.)

Don’t know what to expect?! Think: old-fashion variety show meets This American Life; Listening session meets jam session.

Join me this Thursday, August 4th at 7PM – It’s all part of the MASHUP at Billings Forge! Grab dinner and drinks at Firebox, Stick around for Indie Night after RAT. Have a drink with the WNPR crew. $10 gets you into my event and all others. All proceeds benefit Billings Forge.

******