Completely Conspicuous

Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss the sad state of political discourse. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Paul Banks, Cat Power, Aimee Mann and the Electric Six. Show notes: - Election year's in high gear - Local elections provide personal access - My kids are scaring Phillion away from fatherhood - Blown off by the lieutenant governor - Mass. senate race has been heated - The power of SuperPACs - Candidates are puppets of the money behind them - Dumbing down the message - Mass. voters went for Republican governors from '91 to '07 - Big speeches with no substance in them - All political claims need to be fact-checked - Tough times for journalism - Dealing with political posts on Facebook - The conventions are cheerleading camps - Most voters have already made up their minds - Do the Republicans really want to win in 2012? - Congress sucks, too - Can the government actually get anything done? - It's not as simple as red state vs. blue state - Facebook post