Janet commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.21.12
Whose version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame played at the end of the interview? It is awesome. Thanks.

Linda commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.17.12
Hi, I had just seen "The Iron Lady" when I came home yesterday to watch the NEWS HOUR and GREATER BOSTON. I watched Emilys interview with Elizabeth Warren and cringed. I support Warrens candidacy but could see she needs to correct her posture and her voice. She comes across as a wellmeaning neighbor or aunt with a highpitched midwestern nasal voice. She could take a lesson from Margaret Thatchers political friends who helped transform her into a more authoritative without being overbearing figure. I will look forward to Emilys future joint interviews with Sen. Brown and Prof. Warren. Sincerely, Linda Rakowski Falmouth, MA

Lynne commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.15.12
The dilemma that Truro faces has everything to do with compliance with zoning and building laws. The Kleins knew before they began actual construction that a court case challenging the use of the alteration permit for their very large project was being contested in the courts. According to a Globe article, they commenced building their home on a delicate sand dune with full undertanding that the court could rule against them. Eventually, the court did rule against them they essentially gambled and lost. Every town government and resident in the commonwealth needs to know that zoning and building regulations will be adhered to no matter how wealthy or influential a person or business is. Those laws help protect the environment, town planning, the health and safety of residents as well as historic and natural assets. The court decision says it all. The building does not comply with the permit that they pulled for the project. It follows that the house must be reduced in size so that it does comply or be torn down. Anything less will be setting a poor precedent sending the message that anything goes.

Ellen commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.08.12
We have NOT been killing Coyotes in MA over the last 10 years, and theyve grown tremendously in numbers during that time. While killing coyotes may increase their population , it seems quite clear that NOT killing them will also continue to increase their numbers. Coyotes are learning to live with us, and learning to fear us and our noise and houses less and less. Im not any faster than an injured deer, and its likely that coyotes will eventually figure that out, too. I plan to buy an airhorn for nighttime walks, but Im guessing theyll figure out its bark is only a bark, sooner than later Reports are prevalent that banging pots does not work. Coyotes have been seen in my Newton Highlands neighborhood as late as 10am and as early as 4pm. Id like to see new thinking on this problem weve been told for years now that loud noises and keeping our cats inside would make coyotes retreat from human habitation. And for several years now, most cats ARE kept in for their safety. With cats indoors, rabbit and chipmunk populations have rocketed, likely feeding the coyote population. Maybe its the rabbit population we need to go after. Pellets treated with a rabbit contraceptive?

Don commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.23.12
Re MurrayMcLaughlin Number of calls since 2008 51 calls. Do reporters who cite figures such as this similar to number of calls between Herman Cain and his alleged mistress have access to info on call length, so that they can reasonably conclude that there were this many substantive conversations. Or might figures such as this merely indicate "telephone tag", with far fewer real conversations? Ive never seen this addressed in any article about political scandals that suggest lots of communication between 2 people who probably shouldnt have had a lot of contact.

michael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.17.12
Hi Emily, I love your show and your tell it like it is attitude, but I am surprised by your comments on Steven Colbert. I think that Colbert is educating not only the adult voter but the future voter on the hypocrisy of government and elections, among other things. You said he "made you cringe" when he pushed the edge with his comments. Well, funny is a matter of taste, but when a satirist can make you cringe, hes done his job to make you question what you think you know about the world. Colbert and Stewart provide a lot people with with the opportunity to be curious about stuff they otherwise would never have cared about. They also provide an important if unconventional civics lesson that is sometimes very challenging, especially Colbert. Dont like challenging humor? It seems that satire that elbows our idea of what is poor taste Is the only way to get through to some people and to the truth.

alice commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.06.12
Thumbs down on the T fare increases and reduced scheduling. The reason this is a one year fix only. By the next fiscal year, there will be a deficit again. This needs a more basic and long lasting fix that is, more revenue to support public transportation/ The T is a public service for commuters, lowincome people, young and old. It is an engine for our economy and important for reducing car emissions the major environmental polluter. The T cannot be financially sustained or its service improved without action to take some debt load off the ts present income. Alice Wolf State Representative Cambridge

Michael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.30.11
On todays show, a guest mentioned that "The World had a great piece" about sexual harassment in Egypt, when discussing CBS reporter Lara Logans sexual assault during your YearInReview panel. That piece was Daniel Estrins "Sexual harassment in Egypt," and can be found here audio and transcription http//www.theworld.org/2011/02/sexualharassmentegypt/

jb commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.24.11
Interesting program on Iraq yesterday. Prof. Bilmes is the author of the "Three Trillion Dollar War" book with Joseph Stiglitz and is the authority of war costs she seems to conclude that the biggest costs of the war are the veterans costs medical, disability payments, unemployment compensation and so on and costs of the debt to pay for US military operations. This may be "technically" correct but neither she nor Ambassador Burns focused on the costs to Iraqi society, which has been completely decimated by the war, and probably lost a whole generation. This is the real true cost of the US mistake.

Connie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.09.11
Regarding the uproar over Bob Krafts contribution to build a casino in Foxboro First, I dont think a casino should be built anywhere except in Nevada, and possible Atlantic City. Too late for that. But instead of contributing such a huge amount to encourage the vice of gambling what if Mr. Kraft contributed that money directly to the Massachusetts higher education system UMass and the community colleges which are grossly, woefully, embarrassingly underfunded? Our public education system should be the "jewel in the crown" of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the "Common" Wealth. Fund education not gambling! Second how many of our Patriots are part of the 1? How many of any group of high paid athletes got their start playing high school sports in public schools? Would they really miss a contribution or even a tax to "give back" a very small percentage of their milliondollar plus salaries to public education, both K12 and higher ed? Wouldnt that be "patriotic"? I would suggest the same for highly paid entertainers. Contrary to the Republican reticence to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 because they argue it would hinder job creation somehow, for the most part, I dont think athletes and entertainers are small business entrepreneurs. This is all related fund education! it is THE most important investment in our future.

Mike commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.07.11
Emily! Most Tow Trucks have only a REPAIR License Plate. Thuss not paying State Sales Taxes, City Excise Taxes. Ask them about their Trucks~

David commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.02.11
You all forgot to actually do your research. The Boston Board of Health did NOT ban electronic cigarettes. They restricted the sale of them to people 18 and over. And they restricted the use of them in the workplace and other places where cigarette smoking is already restricted. ecigarettes vaporize cartridges of nicotine when heated and inhaled. They are completely unregulated and there is not quality standards so you dont actually know what you are inhaling and how much of it. A 5 year old could buy an ecigarette and use it. Cartridges claim to contain 20 mg nicotine a cigarette usually has 1 mg. 10 mg can kill a small child. This is a perfectly reasonable position for a Board of health to take. There were dozens of youth at the hearing who applauded when the amended regs were passed because they had done their research.

judy commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.02.11
emily, re election day. It is not the first Tuesday of November, it is the day after the first Monday in November.

Bob commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.22.11
REMIT’s ‘Frustrated’ Jonathan Gruber On The Merits Of The Individual Mandate Here’s a real world example of how the Massachusetts health insurance system doesn’t work as it was originally intended and in particular doesn’t make health insurance affordable. My wife and I are both 53 years old with no dependants. I was recently laid off from my job. My wife is not eligible for her employer’s health insurance because she is a per diem employee. If I have to buy insurance through Commonwealth Choice the premium will be $795.35 for the cheapest plan, which has high copayments and high deductibles. The deductible is $4000/family. The annual out of pocket expense limit is $10000/family. Hospital stays are covered at 80 after the deductible. This isn’t affordable insurance nor is it affordable health care if we need to use it. I am not eligible for the Medical Security Plan through the state’s unemployment office because it has a six month income lookback and a six month lookahead with a $59000 threshold to be eligible. It will take several months to reach that threshold since I was making a reasonable income just a short time ago. If I can’t qualify for subsidized health insurance through Commonwealth Care then I’m forced out of the market. Annual income over $44136 means no Commonwealth Care. If my income is over $44136 but under $86607 then by the states own definition an “affordable” premium for a couple is $586/month. But as I said the cheapest plan offered by Commonwealth Choice is $795.35. The good news is that I don’t think I will have to pay a penalty on my MA State Income Tax Return for not having health insurance. The Massachusetts state government has taken away all of my option. I am not allowed to arrange my affairs in a way that is optimal for me. I’m stuck with only the limited choices that the State has decided to let me have. I have no truly affordable choices for health insurance. The State used to allow people to buy catastrophic care health insurance and pay a tax penalty but has even taken away that option away. The individual mandate in the so called Obamacare system is clearly unconstitutional even though Jonathan Gruber thinks it’s silly to think that it’s unconstitutional. The fact that the whole health care affordability act crumbles without the individual mandate doesn’t make it constitutional. The federal government can’t make a private citizen purchase a product from a private company even though the purchase is a good idea. And the Commerce Clause doesn’t even apply because in Massachusetts at least, I can’t cross state lines to buy health insurance so it can’t be characterized as interstate commerce. If government controlled health insurance isn’t working in Massachusetts then it will not work on a national level.

patricia commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.18.11
Emily Rooney got a job, as a woman, she was able to do that because we fought against discrimination against women being hired. Yet now that shes in the door... she asks Where does anti discrimination stop?...cant we exclude the trans gender, or the obese. I would like to believe that she is juystg being the devils advocate... but she does this kind of thing so often... I see her as the haves demonizing the have nots, and she is enough to make me change channels. Also as a Nurse... she could, if she wanted to know what is true, as opposed to conservative ideology research the genetic markers for trans gendered people.. Choice... give me a break? And, I am not trans gender... just not ignorant.

Tracy commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.08.11
Emily Sorry for the loss of your father. I was introduced to 60 Minutes by my father and we watched Andy many, many times together. 60 Minutes will not be the same without him!

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.07.11
Sorry Gentlemen, but there is a huge difference between consensual “relations” such as those between Bill Clinton and Gennifer Flowers and the “up against the file cabinets” sexual harassment exhibited by Herman Cain. There was a FNANCIAL SETTLEMENT in the Cain affair, whereas Gennifer Flowers came forward to advance her “modeling” career.

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.07.11
Sorry Gentlemen, but there is a huge difference between consensual “relations” such as those between Bill Clinton and Gennifer Flowers and the “up against the file cabinets” sexual harassment exhibited by Herman Cain. There was a FNANCIAL SETTLEMENT in the Cain affair, whereas Gennifer Flowers came forward to advance her “modeling” career.

Chris commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.11.11
Just recently started listening to The Emily Rooney Show. Much better topics and balanced coverage on current issues than other shows it will be my goto site from now on. Thansk!

Fred commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.21.11
Interesting discussion on sperm donation. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a predominance of opinion guiding the discussion between the ethicist and Emily. I would appreciate more of the logic behind the opinions. People are desperate to have a child and cheap and anonymous sperm donation can play a big role. While it would be nice to have donors be identified, many of Seislers kids might not have been born and those families might be childless if sperm was less available. Is that a better outcome than anonymous donation? I dont know but it seems worth discussing instead of bland statements that the current system isnt ideal.

Steven commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.11.11
Very good show today, especially enjoyed your comments and also Kevin Cullens. Did not enjoy that snide guy from the Phoenix. Bush did more than a few things right. Also, there was no, repeat no, real discrimination against muslims, as there would have been in any other nation on earthafter being brutally attacked on innocent unarmed men women and children. There should have been no partisan politics on todays show...

Danny commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.09.11
The difference between DiMasi and armed robbery is no one can get shot with these crimes. Armed robbery always carries the risk of death, and as such it is stupid to compare whitecollar crimes and violent crimes.

Nicole commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.25.11
I would have been heartbroken if I didnt have a girl but never would have sex selected. I agree with the guests ideas but also mothers have a lot of power in the US and without a girl who do you watch Sound of Music with for the first time, enroll in ballet, talk about first crush. So many things as we as mothers want to relive with our chidren. Its not all economics. Kara your a great host!

Scott commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.23.11
A great example of Media Pandering to its advertisers is the slanted reporting recently on the IBEW CWA unions strike against Verizon. Strike coverage was obviously edited to provide access to Company information that made the strike appear to be baseless...no commentary about how Verizon went to court to prevent the strike only coverage that made the striking union members seem overpaid and getting exhorbitant benefits packages..scott allan Upton

Nick commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.15.11
Wow! Here you are talking about Rick Perrys twang, how the candidates dress, and other trivial atmospherics, and not a peep that Ron Paul missed winning the Iowa straw poll by 152 votes! Im no Ron Paul supporter, but he takes a number of principle stances on a number of issues that deserve to be heard and discussed. But, yet again, the mainstream media—and, yes, NPR has really become just another appendage of the corporate media—seems to willfully avoid mentioning ideas that threaten the established order. What other reason could there be for failing to even mention Pauls performance in the poll?

david commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.12.11
I was surprised to hear so little support for the striking Verizon workers. The story didnt adequately mention that although the strike is about healthcare costs, its also about Verizon sending jobs overseas, cutting pay and benefits, breaking its committments to retirees, interfering in organizing the wireless side of the business and more. When would be a better time to stand up for the middle class than now, while the very foundations of our economy are under attack? Unions in America had to fight tooth and nail to achieve decent wages, benefits, the 40 hour work week and overtime pay, just to name a few. Corporate America didnt give those things up out of the kindness of their hearts. All working Americans that have those things should be thanking a Union Member for raising the living standards for all. These are working men and women, with families that are the backbone of America, the middle class, which is under attack at a time when corporations are reaping huge windfalls and cutting pay, jobs and benefits in what can only be seen as pure unbridled greed.

Lisa commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.04.11
The prominent play that Ms. Farleys study on the sex industry got in Newsweek surprised me. Farley is not a journalist or a scientist, but an advocate who, for that matter, was arrested 13 times for defacing bookstore copies of Penthouse. I guess Id expect an editor to give greater scrutiny to a story on, say, factory farming greater scrutiny when they find out the author is a member of PETA, but sadly it looks like the United States culture of sex panic and sex scandal negatively affects the critical thinking skills of otherwise highly savvy editors.

Linda commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 07.27.11
Its so fascinating to hear the various reactions to the Pew Report on wealth disparities. This morning the guy on The Take Away couldnt seem to get over his shock, shock!, at the figures. And now I tune in again just in time to hear Kara Miller 1 try to dismiss the discussion around why having ones wealth concentrated in home ownership costs black folks and Latinos to lose so much more than whites, 2 suggest that black folks might still be "living large" despite the figures I was glad to hear Mr. Blow call her on this insinuation that were all out here buying flat screen televisions on credit while our children have no college funds and 3 suggest the issue was not one of structural inequalities or historical buildups of wealth or even geographical location but "financial literary." In other words, black people and Latinos got hit in this recession because we dont know how to handle our money right. I guess this is why I usually wait until 1 p.m. to turn my radio on again.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 07.19.11
Im 58, Ive been a gym rat for decades, and Im disciplined and methodical, a no nonsence, gung ho manic, literally. The gym keeps me grounded and out of jail. Pull ups are my favorite exercize and you aint got nothin on me. Ive got wings on my back and you can play handball off it. Forty pound dumbbell curls are my other favorite. Im at my best if the gym has lots of females. I loathe gay gym rats, and if one is watching me, my workout is ruined. My gym on Lansdowne Street in Boston has far too many guys, so sometimes my workouts can be very boring. If, however, there are some females, I brighten up and Im at full throttle.

Pete commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 07.08.11
As for your thumbs up or down segment on whether the government should be charging Roger Clemens, the same criticism comes up with the Lance Armstrong performance enhancing drug questions. Consider what retired Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford had to say on fairness and the rules of the game during his 7/6/11 weekly NPR three minute commentary http//www.npr.org/series/4499275/sweetnessandlight Also, Dan Shaughnessy had a good 7/6/11 piece on why Clemens trial did not have to happen but for Clemens own doing http//www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/07/06/clemens_already_in_a_jam_before_start/ Long time fan of your Greater Boston and now the radio show... you and your staff keep up the excellent work!

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 07.07.11
I dont view crime reports and prosecutions and my disinterest in Casey Anthony is a healthy position. This subject is the exclusive interest of hapless, dysfunctional, and angry individuals in search of a target, on venting against someone in a dismal situation and readily available, a person experiencing wide scale scorn such as Anthony. The ensuing hostility following her acquital is unsurprising but alarming. It reflects a mean spirited, depraved orientation I loathe. This element derives great pleasure at viewing suffering, and if the U.S., for example, maintained stadium sized arenas for public executions, it would be filled to full capacity at such abhorrent events. Spectators would pay top dollars to attend them. Why did the media reserve an inordinate amount of coverage on the trial? because they represent this element and they nourished the demented spectators with their relentless coverage. The evidence is clear that Anthony did not kill her child. Thank God the jury concurred. Had a guilty verdict transpired, she would have been electrocuted and this "evil" element would have enjoyed it. From the 14th century to the late 18th century, the common method of execution in Europe was impalement on a stake, a barbaric action these creeps would attend.

William commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.30.11
Emily, Call me old fashion but I remember vividly back in 1972, when our country was bombing and killing with Napalm. It doesnt matter who we are bombing, lets face it, there was not threat of the Vietnamese coming over and bombing US elementary schools as we did to the farmers over in Vietnam. As a child, I played with GI Joe and had one of the first Johnny Seven OMA, "One Man Army". All by Mattel who by the way contributed in making the light weight AR15 to become the M16 machine gun. I signed up for service, selective service, but was not called to duty, good thing. At the time I was young and gungho. I went to Norwich University, a all male military University in Vermont at the time. I even graduated, but never went into active service. My friends went in and many are no longer with us, due to accidents and alcoholism. My point to all of this background is about tonight. I cannot remember the show, I was working and I keep your station on as I would have coffee in the morning, its a staple in our family. When I was in the music business I even donated a grand piano for your auction and enjoyed the promotion. At the time I did business with Patricia Kaufman and I think his name was David Shorey, if my memory serves me correctly. Nice guy, had a grand piano and started a family in Marblehead. Back to my point, I could not believe for the life of me how calm and collected the lady was, so articulate and so matter of fact, no emotion. So Stoic, maybe that is why I cannot remember her name. She was interviewing a gentleman, young man about his operating of Predator Drones. He described how he took out bases, people, groups and targets in a very cavalier way. He said, "Yeah I killed and bombed, then went home to dinner and baked cup cakes." I then caught myself in conscientious moral brain freeze. Wait a minute, I said to myself. If this played back in the 60s 70s my family would have been shocked beyond belief. They would say what ? Did he just say he matter of fact bombed targets, killed people and then went home to dinner and then played with his daughter as if nothing happened at all ? I then went back to the visual in my mind of that little girl, naked running down the road with the clothes burned right off of her in Vietnam. Could I, Bill go into a room and kill people just because my government says that they are bad people and might come over and bomb our railroads? No of course not, I cannot even fathom what my conscience would do, or how messed up I would be. No matter how you slice it, its murder of some person in a far away place ie their backyard. Plainly, I could only kill if I was threatened with immediate bodily harm or if my daughter was being attacked. I have to say that even with my stellar performance at a military college, my training was at Ft. Devens and I trained with the 10th special forces group, 1st airborne division, I believe they are out of Kentucky now. I could not and cannot endorse our behavior since 911. I thought we were better than that, but I can see even by the way we report war in this country that our society has devolved, has a certain sense of depravity, because its all about things and advertising things. When my father was at an Italian wedding last year in Pistoia, the discussion was concerning, what is American Culture, what defines their values? One Italian stood up and said this, and he was waving an American dollar in the air. How do you think my mother and father felt, they are in their late 80s and what they have lived through, my father served in WW2 in the Army Air Corps., they felt ashamed of their country, can you imagine what we have done to this country. I just feel sorry for my son and daughter that they have to live in a country which thrives on minority rule, the courts have taken over the role of the legislature and in some aspect the executive branches. We no longer have representative government, by the people and for the people. The arrogance and the hubris of our leaders who have the audacity to say that they know what is best for their constituents and will vote according to their conscience. This next election I am after 40 years of being a republican, changing to independent. Why? Because the republican are no longer republicans and the democrats are no longer democrats. I have to say that things were not perfect under Reagan and Tip ONeil. But I enjoyed how those two got along and could arrive at a consensus when they had to. Someone asked me the other day, "Whats it like over in Iraq or Afghanistan when our planes or missiles bomb villages, houses, buildings ie targets, whats it like? I could only describe to them, Lets say the Chinese did not like what our government was doing to us. Lets say the United States was involved in economic slavery and that we had an economic dictatorship. The Chinese thought, believed with all of their heart that this was a threat to the Chinese people and their homeland security? So, they came over and bombed our government buildings, sent paratroopers and ground forces to occupy your home, accidentally killed your mother and a stray bomb killed your sister. For the rest of your life how would you, your family and friends regard the Chinese ? What we need to convey to personalize war is to tell a story of how we would react if all these wars were in our backyard, on our streets and in our homes. That is the only way one can understand war. I think we do not do enough to personalize war and I believe in the draft and not the volunteer military because we need a mandate that the Congress, Senate and all government officials have their children on the ground, in harms way. If the people who wage war, did it with their own families, children and friends, they would be a little more reluctant in pulling the trigger on going to war. We would not go so quickly to war, if we brought back the draft. Everyone in America out of High School should give at least two year of service to their country. Whether as nursing assistants, social work, helping the inner city, the poor or woking on our infrastructure with a form of Domestic SeaBee operation. To end our deficit problem and balance our budget, we need to abandon our tax laws and go with a simple VAT as far as income taxes are concerned. To fund healthcare all we have to do is impose a National Sales Tax. To keep funding Medicare and offer medicare to those age 55 and over we can do that with taxing all internet sales by using the same software we use to track terrorists through IP identification. Locate and require companies to submit manifests on all shipments transacted through the internet. We can pay for schools by assessing a 2 tax on all credit card, not debit card but credit card transactions done in the US and abroad. Consumption taxes are the fairest of all Taxes and I dont know why the media does not hammer our government officials on this. I understand why President Obama would like to tax the rich more, he should. Greed has run rampant in this country for too long and it is only a small minority who controls all of the wealth in this country and that is where I feel the minority rules the most, in the area of economics and corporate wealth accumulation and not reinvested back into the economy. For our security, jobs, and a better and more efficient government we need to control the internet and free global trade. The banking controls of the 60s lead to a stable and safe banking system through regulation. We need more regulation, not less. When ATT ran all of our phones, my phone bill was $19.95 per month. Some industries have to be regulated by the government plain and simple. The same goes with healthcare, we need to have a one payer system for all. Not the hypocritical system we now have, where our senators and congress people have the best healthcare benefits in the world ! Thats all from this nutty guy ! By the Way, I am no longer in the music business, due to Mitt Romneys ownership of Guitar Center, Music Arts Music 123, Musicians Friend, Woodwind and brass wind, all under the Bain Capital umbrella, who I sold my company to. As they told me, either sell to us or well put you and your company out of business. Enough is Enough, Ted Coles Music of Salem, MA is now one of the last little music stores out of business, not due to the economy but due to the Bain Capital Group who has driven all of the Mom Pop music stores out of business. Now I am really done, Thank you and I love your shows and everything you do, just try and have a little more heart, please ?

Nathan commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.28.11
Emily [et. al.] the introduction track/song you used for what was truly SUPERENJOYABLE your Best Of summer series on songs just a moment ago, who is that!? I can barely remember where Ive heard it other than as a closing/outro on the Brak Show an episode circa 2002/3 [on adultswim] what track is that? It has a banjo ? and sounds vaguely like CCR... please let me know, any who read this and know of the song Im thinking of! it belongs on the list, just as it was used to open the segment... D also, if were adding our picks... it has summer in its title... for even more bonus points... Pink Floyds "Summer 68". One of few penned by the late great Richard Wright, this track is immortallygenius. Even though Floyds Gilmour disowns Atom Heart Mother the album this track is on... which I think... is a great album and should still be praised. Also, Beach Boys, yes yes Andrew W.K., Bloc Partys Silent Alarm, Modest Mouses Good News For People Who Love Bad News, "Hailin From the Edge" off of Apparats brilliant album Walls, of course more Pink Floyd all of it? ... dont forget Zeppelin, and finally, SUBLIME. Thanks Emily, a great segment today, and thanks both Steves. XD n

Michael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.23.11
So now that most of Whiteys enablers are dead or in jail per Howie Carrand Osama was taken off the 10 most wanted by the Navy, the FBI needs some glory for itself.

William commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.02.11
Hi Emily, It would be great if yourself and your group, Dan Kennedy etc.., Could encourage or do a study as to what the real unemployment rate is? Just follow this link http//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110602/ap_on_bi_ge/us_economy_missing_workers Bill Scotti

Kathy commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.26.11
In regards to what happens to people who are found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity juries are generally unwilling to find people are NGRI Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity because Judges do not instruct them about what happens to a defendant after this finding. In Massachusetts, a defendant who is found NGI is sent by the Court to either Bridgewater State Hospital or one of the dwindling number of Department of Mental Health hospitals for a 40 day mental health evaluation where their risk and dangerousness will be assessed. Then, if they are deemed to be at risk, a petition is submitted to the Court for commitment. The commitment has to be reviewed every year. This is why the Courts and DAs do not "like" NGRI verdicts they lose complete control of the case to the mental health system.

Scott commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.23.11
Whenever I look at Mitt Romney all I can think of is "used car salesman".

Lesley commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.20.11
You agree with the Perp Walk. I hope no one ever has you falsely arrested. My exhusbands girlfriend had me arrested, accusing me of trying to run her down with my truck. I was arrested, chained to a wall in the police station, kept in a cell for 6 hours I had to use my 1 phone call to call a friend to pick up my sonand finally released. My name not hers was published in the paper. I lost clients and work because of this. The case went to court after causing me intense stress, being an English woman who would be deported even if they charged me with Misdemeanor instead of Felony Assault and was thrown out. There was not one shred of evidence on which to arrest me. The fact that the case was thrown out never appeared in the paper. As far as many people are aware, I am a mad deranged woman who attacked a poor innocent girl. In England, even accused murderers are taken into court with a blanket over their head, because in England, people truly are innocent till proved guilty.

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.13.11
Emily, a correction Ruth Balser did NOT lose her state congressional seat shes still there. It is a question why Deval Patrick outed Setti Warren with his "Setti is definitely in the Senate race" comment a few months ago maybe it was to clear the gubernatorial field for Tim Murray. But it is doubtful that Warren has the full backing of the MA Democratic machine, or they would have hired him better campaign staff.

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.06.11
Regarding cheering the death of Bin Laden, it seems most of those cheering were young adults who were kids when the towers fell. They grew up thinking of Bin Laden as a boogey man who ruined lives, ruined THEIR lives, created chaos in America, caused the US to be involved in 2 wars, and they were excited about it. I don’t think you can really fault them. There weren’t masses of suburbanites out partying in the street – they were kids who saw their country upended by one fanatic. I think most of America, and by most I mean 99.99, acted very respectfully about the whole event.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.06.11
I believe Ive finally figured out why this website is not programmed to accept all punctuation and multiple paragraphs the nuts will commandeer the website and write long and nutty essays. I inserted a colon after paragraphs. Im wondering if it will be accepted. Setting that aside, I propose the U.S. determine where all of Pakistans nuclear weapons are secreted and secure them by U.S. military action. At this juncture, and in light of Pakistani intelligence ISI knowledge of Osama bin Ladens house in Abbottabad, and where OBL was plotting to attack U.S. cities and rail systems, it is clear Pakistan is more of a threat to us than North Korea and Iran. So lets stop hesitating and get it over with before it is too late. One nuclear device can easily destroy Boston, New York, or Washington, DC, and that is as alarming scenario.

Paul commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.04.11
CORRECTION FROM PAUL Ive erroneously blamed the Globe for the comments of Mr. Pallay. I had been reading his piece on line and did not realize it was a LETTER TO THE EDITOR. My apologies. It does remain, however, an incredibly narrowminded piece,and its dissappointing the Globe honored it by illustrating it with a photograph.

Paul commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.04.11
Emily, I have long counted on you for critiques of Boston journalism, and I wanted to report to you what I believe is a pretty substandard opinion piece in the Globe Monday. I like to hope that commentary in the Globe might direct us to the substance of controversies rather than deliver hackneyed jeering. The commentary "NURSES’ STRIKE LOOMS Local action appears to be part of national push" is stunningly simplistic and narrow in its perspective, and its author Geoff Pallay fails to reveal his potential bias his wife is a resident at Tuft University Medical Center. http//ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/BallotpediaGeoff_Pallay I wrote the following as an online comment and also as a letter to editor. "Geoff Pallays arguments sadly represent kneejerk unionbashing that hardly makes sense. 1 He implies that the virtue of nurses is contaminated because they may have consulted with other nurses across the nation. Does he, or anyone else seriously believe that the corporate hospital managers dont consult their colleagues nationwide? Doesnt he suspect that lowering the nursetopatient ratio was a strategy discussed and plotted among them nationwide? Cant we expect those who write in the Globe to be sophisticated enough to at least mention this aspect? 2 Its absurd to suggest that nurses enganger the safety of patients by given ample warning that they will strike for one day. Its like suggesting police shouldnt carry guns or the Navy SEALs shouldnt have flown helicopters in Pakistan. Its all a matter of judgment and balance. As a former and probable future patient in Boston Hospitals, I totally support the nurses action and totally accept it is a reasonable and unavoidable risk to take for the greater good. I can only wonder what motivates Pallay."

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.02.11
I assume you will be addressing the Bin Laden news today. Pakistani intelligence ISI have been aware of Osama Bin Ladens whereabouts for years and I have always argued this. I have argued as well that they provided a sanctuary and furnished him intelligence on U.S. operations in the region. Today the ball in Obamas court and its time for him to stop ignoring the Pakistani treachery on the war on terrorism and act decisively against Pakistan for their long collaboration with al Qaeda and the Taliban. Pakistan is a populous country with a large radical islamic element, and the government has nuclear weapons. It is far from being a civilized country. There are many nuts there and some of them retain high ranking positions in government and the military. Pakistan is a monster, and in these times, an alarming threat to the U.S.. Now that the Pakistani government complicity with Osama Bin Laden has been exposed, they are more dangerous and their covert actions in the deception against the U.S. will escalate. But egually disconcerting, they will flaunt their arrogance and reveal their true and callous attitude toward the U.S. and inclined to compromise the security on their nuclear arsenal, with an expectation, or in a conspiracy with al Qaeda, to relingish some nuclear weapons to al Qaeda operatives.

Larry commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.01.11
I was bemused by your comments on Fridays show about the Royal Wedding Music. You mentioned that the music sounded like a funeral dirge. While I can appreciate that you have likes and dislikes I hope you dont think that anybody in the music world would take you seriously. The selection you mentioned and played an excerpt from was written by Sir Charles Parry. It was written especially for the royal familys coronations and other state events. Sir Charles was the president and director of the Royal Academy Of Music in London for many years.turn of the century He was a well respected and highly appreciated musician by most music lovers from around the world. The selection you played was from his composition entitled "I was Glad" A real favorite of the British population and akin to God Bless America in many ways. You childish comments proves to me that regarding music, you are totally clueless. Apparently your uneducated, crass and vulgar regarding anything artistic. Perhaps it would be best to leave anything to do with culture and art to more perceptive and enlightened commentators. Laura Carlo, a commentator on your sister stations All Classical Music broadcasts,WCRB springs to mind as a sensitive, knowledgeable musician whose listeners appreciate and respect for her enlightened commentary. What spewed from your mouth about Sir Parrys music was childish, ignorant and thankfully, only YOUR thwarted opinion. Now heres a little education for you listening? Just because you like or dislike a pc. of music doesnt mean that your opinion has any value or worth. It is merely an uneducated opinion. Maybe it would be best if you left those types of comments regarding anything sensitive, loving, enduring or anything of real value, to the more perceptive and talented commentators. To me, it seems your best at speaking about politicians, criminals and other cold and heartless aspects of our society. Leave the artistic comments for the nice people will you?

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.27.11
Oh, what a nasty comment. Emily is a great radio and television talk show host, and Im not patronizing her. If you dont approve of her, dont listen to her. She couldnt care less about your opinion. Did you forget to take your antidepressants on the day you posted this? I suspect youre acting in collusion with MAD, the initials of the woman who sent Emily the email criticizing her patronizing interview of Buddy Cianci who, incidently, is a great guy. Perhaps you are MAD herself. Regardless, you clearly have some unresolved mental health issues that need addressing. That being said, try to focus on your weaknesses and leave Emily alone.

Benjamin commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.23.11
I had to turn my radio off again on Friday because of the nonesense I heard on Ms. Rooneys show. I live in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, but used to live in Providence. A few days ago Ms. Rooney interviewed Buddy Cianci, the former mayor of Providence. The introduction to the interview was so tasteless, I had to turn off the radio. Then, Friday, Ms. Rooney and her cohost wasted air time berating a former Providence Journal reporter that commented on the Cianci show. But the Journal reporter wasnt there, and wasnt able to defend herself. These are the tactics used by Fox News, not NPR. Rooney further stated "Providence journalists hate him Cianci" and the cohost added "but the people worship him." YOU ARE WRONG!!!! I am embarassed by Cianci and so are the vast majority of my Providence, Rhode Island friends. This type of gutter journalism has no place on National Public Radio. I wish you would get rid of these unprofessional hosts. And I sure wish my AM radio worked in the car so I wouldnt have to listen to WGBH. WRNI is far more professional.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.19.11
I grew up on the news that included Robert MacNeil and his newscast with Jim Lerher on PBS. His last name is almost identical to mine with the exception of the fourth letter following Mac, the first capital letter of the second syllable that rhymes with Neil and indiviuals frequently mistake as MacNeil. Adding to this, bureaucrats always record the first letter of the second syllable of my last name as lower case, which is incorrect and an irritating anomaly. The first letter following Mac is almost always a capital. This all started when immigrants, legal and illegal, inundated the U.S. and wholly ignorant on the spelling of American names, particularly Irish and Scottish, the ethnicity that represented most Americans until recently. I, for instance, was born and raised in Portland, Maine, in the fifties and sixties and the majority of Maine natives were Irish, Scottish and English, and there were many Macs in Portland. Coincidently, when I was in university in the mid to late seventies, I did a sociology paper on Autism. However, today Im unable to recall any of it.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.16.11
I love myself Dan Rea, the narcissistic buffoon of Boston talk radio, got a 2 second compliment from Emily on Wednesday. But Ill pardon her imprudent comment given that she is Scottish. Being Scottish myself, I will argue with numerous convictions that putting our foot in our mouth is genetic. Nonetheless, to make a stinging correction, she should have designated Rea "toxic waste". This guy is such an obnoxious egomaniac, and his annoying propensity to interrupt a caller to inject a complimentary comment about himself has got to alienate many innocuous listeners. I dont view television at all excluding the news stations at my gym on Lansdowne Street in Boston Ill occasionally view during my evening workouts, so, on infrequent occasions, when Im very bored and unable to sleep, at 8 PM, Ill relunctantly listen to this weirdo for about 30 minutes, which is all I can tolerate. I have neurologic issues that will react adversely if I read or write after 7 PM and trigger a switch that will keep me awake for most of the night. I have to shut down my brain by 7 PM and go to bed by 8 PM to ensure a restful night, though my strategy frequently fails.

Ross commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.13.11
Re todays program on radio comedy I recall Bob and Ray, but before them, there was Fred Allen, who is cited as a pioneer wit, topical commentator a favorite of FDR and a precursor to Stan Frieberg, Steve Allen "man on the street," Johnny Carson "mightly carson art players" etc. Fred became a regular on TVs "Whats my line?", whereas, on radio, Fred was regularly censored regularly, but popular, as the comedians comedian. Any comments?

Michael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.13.11
Regarding the upcoming show today I have to put in a plug for WCAS during the 1970s. A small AM station in Cambridge, with only a daylight license, it had an album oriented format, playing contemporary rock and country rock. They also aired episodes of the Lone Ranger for a while.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.04.11
Your website, Emily, isnt programed to accept all punctuation, semicolons and hyphens in particular. If you examine my below comments, you will notice punctuation errors I did not do. My comments on Dan Rea, for instance, the most dangerous nutcake on Boston talk radio, have several punctuation errors. Ouch!

Bill commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.04.11
Sorry Emily but I do think that hunters and shooters do find your only reason to buy a gun comment offensive. Its amazing that so many gunbiased people cant define criminal activity for what it is. Id also think if you interviewed the Doctor at Mass General who was attacked by her patient with a knife and rescued by a gun owner, and the survivors of the two recent random home invasions in NH CT, and the one in Chelmsford MA before that, you should be able to recognize that there are times when you do have to defend yourself, whether you want to or not!

David commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.25.11
Shame on you Emily for a very biased view point on Fidelitys decision to move out of the Marlborough facilities. I can say without hesitation that those buildings are absolutely disgusting I spent 9 years employed there prior to being moved to the Smithfield location. A longer commuting time is not too much to ask to work for a great employer who has continually tried to do what is best for itself as well as its associates. As a resident of Smithfield, RI I also find your snooty and outright condescending tone in regards to our little piece of suburbia to be INSULTING! My apologies if someone you know has to come down from upon the high mountain that is Boston and intermingle with those of us in bumpkin RI. SHAME on you for such a truly biased and clearly slanted and skewed perspective. Did you once ask someone who was/is positively affected by such a move who they felt about it? Did you actually ever speak to someone who worked in the Marlborough facilities? Or did you instead ASSume what those conditions were like.

jennifer commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.22.11
The Dark Horse Republican? Scott Brown, for all the obvious reasons. I wish it wasnt so, but lets face it. Hes cute

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.15.11
I have extensive experience with lawyers and the courts, both civil and criminal, and the system is a festering wound of alarming proportions. There are far too many lawyers and if you go solo, it can be a costly and time consuming business. Contradictions abound and the higher the court, the more likely a case will be politicized, particularly if it is a criminal one. The U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court are the most political. Though Ive been uninformed on court issues for a decade or so, if I remember correctly, The Ninth Circut Court of Appeals is the most liberal and the Fourth or the Federal circuit are the most conservative. Believe me, I know the frustrations in litigation and it sickens me. The law profession sucks. I suggest the wannabe lawyers try creative writing its much more fun.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.10.11
Yes, its been an unpleasant week for NPR. Last night Dan Rea, the Boston radio talk show host of WBZ 1030 AM Nightside, was fully loaded and engaged in a ruthless, mean spirited bashing of NPR that emanated from the saddened and unfortunate incident involving NPR executives and hostile opponents revealed by the media two days ago. Despite Reas objection to federal funding of NPR and his caustic characterization of some of NPRs icons as too liberal and influential, NPR is the most informative, enlightening and entertaining network on radio and the talent and programing at the socalled traditional radio and television networks, CBS included Rea is employed by, are mediocre and pale in comparison to NPR and PBS. I view Rea as self centered and temperamental, and an annoying confrontationist a sometime frightening nutcake, and his virulent posturing last night in the studio presense of a WCVB TV 5 news crew heightens my contempt for this kook. Postscript Reas executive producer, Bradley Jay, who is from N.H., is a frightening nutcake as well two nuts in a shell, so to speak...

Tim commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.06.11
I have a high level of respect for you Emily, but you disappointed me to no end with regards to your interview with Howard Bryant. He has every right to represent his side of the story, and I applaud you for allowing him to do so. But shame on you for not pushing the fact that he put his hands on his wife. You dont touch a woman ever. You should have followed that up far more than you did. Instead you did what you so often despise...conducted an interview that represented law enforcement and race. Please dont allow the real issue of domestic abuse get lost is the rhetoric. Please follow up this story with a more balanced and more indepth approach...a journalist of your caliber should not let friendship slant the story. One of the very few interviews I was disappointed in, and I felt strongly enough to comment.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.06.11
U.S. Senator Scott Browns senate seat is Martha coakleys. Given his penchant to address his personal issues publicly as though he is auditioning for Man of the Year, he has illuminated an eccentricity that is repungnant to men and women in general and he would be an easy win for Martha. Martha needs to react quickly and restart a senate campaign.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.01.11
I dont subscribe to Howard Byrants trivial portrayal of his public display of wanton violence against his wife, "in the presence of his 6 year old son", and his subsequent arrest minutes later. His argument that "aggression over dialogue" prevailed when approached and handcuffed by police is humorous and vindictive, and, of course, contradictory. This guy has a whining, high pitched voice a short temperament and is argumentative. He appears to be a controlling cry baby, an adult boy, a text book batterer. And in the photograph of him posted here, he appears to pluck his eye brows. But setting the latter aside as irrelevant, I hope Mrs. Bryant is a realist and perceives the threat that this guy is to her preservation and eject him from her life without delay. His demonstrated violence and unpredictability are precursors to murder. When I was incarcerated, for decades, I saw many inmates with his psychological profile serving life sentences for killing their wives and girlfriends. Cops arrest these guys all the time, sometimes after the murder, and they loathe the type so their reaction to approaching him is fully understood. If I was the the arresting cop, I would have tasered him the moment I had him in full view and cuffed and shackeled immediately...

Lesia commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.01.11
Howard Bryant repeatedly stated how upset he was because the police were violent with him and wanting to know why they were so in front of his son. He complains that "the police chose agression over dialog". Had he not acted the same way? Had he not just roughed up his wife in front of their 6 year old son? Phone calls to the police were rightly made by the witnesses who were most likely frightened of what could happen next. Disgustingly, Howard excuses his behavior but complains about others.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.28.11
Why the continuing bizarre obsession in eulogizing the scandalous Kennedys? The most socially prodigious family in American politics but far short on intellect and common sense. It is a very strange phenomenon that compromises traditional American morals the authorities expect us insignificants to embody and demonstrate but suspend when one of these obscenely and grossly over rated juvenile delinquents are caught red handed gleefully engaged in debauchery, for example. This crew of elitist brats encircle the errant 9 year old adult and sanitize the controversy and the authorities endorse whatever argument this family retain. Not to diminish their philanthropy, theyre still the great imposters in American politics and today not untouchable given the public vilification for John Edwards, for instance, for his shameful infidelity, which pales in comparison to John, Ted and Bobby.

A.R. Bobby commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.25.11
With regard to your interviews of kids of incarcerated parents, yes, kids are victims as well, helpless and alone in acclimating themselves to their dysfunctional family and the societal stigma of having an incarcerated parent. It is a trauma a young child is unlikely to recover from entirely but compelled to struggle with and endure nonetheless. The mental strength to endure is, of course, incumbent on the childs psyche and the weakened ones will likely succumb to aberrations that could include juvenile delinguency and substance abuse. Having served 20 years plus in high security state and federal prisons, at Walpole and SouzaBaranowski, Lewisburg and Leavenworth, to name just a few of the many I was at, though being childless, I know the prison system and the exacerbation the system will instill on the inmates families. This phenomenon, however, is the stark reality of incarceration and the conflicting elements within, prison personnel and inmates, essentially are unhelpfull and incapable of altruistically addressing the kids needs and they, in essence, are on their on.

A.R. "Bobby" commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.18.11
Senator Scott Browns public disclosures of personal issues in his autobiography diminished his credibility and it strongly reflects mental instability and unresolved mental health issues. Henceforth, it is unlikely that he will be entrusted at the very least with sensitive national security issues and he will be relegated to benign senate matters assuming that his public disclosures did not ensure an end of his young senate career. Sadly enough, he self destructed with his bizarre candor and his credibility and senate career will languish in irrelevancy. In summary, Senator Brown is now irreparably tainted as a nutcake...at his own will...

charlie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.17.11
Emily, I just listened to you with Ellen Rogers and the helping hands monkey story. I wonder if you have heard about the Chinese Healing energy modality called Tong Ren. There is a Tong Ren healing session, Sundays at 530 pm to 630 pm each week, 8th floor at Spaulding Rehab Hospital ... Nashua Street, Boston. I would encourage you to go attend the session sometime. While there, you could speak with a pediatric endocrinologist who attends weekly. After a year of being in hemiplegic, in a wheel chair after a massive stroke, he is walking again after about 3 months of attending the sessions. If you dont get there sometime, call up former Governor Benson, from NH, who healed his near fatal cardiac problem with Tong Ren, and ask him his thoughts. Ellen Rogers could learn Tong Ren to help her son repair his nerves. Call me if you want more information. Charlie Smigelski, RD Arlington. 617 877 2982. Thank you for your attention.

Gerald commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.14.11
Blood Libel is not as you said some strange “biblical reference” but rather is in fact the claim through the middle ages until even today that Jews kill young Christian [or nowadays Muslim] children in order to use the blood in the manufacture of Passover Matzoth. That is why the use of Blood Libel in a totally extraneous fashion by Palin and earlier in the WSJ opinion column is so offensive. The fact is that Muslim leaders in countries we think of as allies today do indeed incite the “Arab street” using exactly such claims. I would have thought better of Andy Rooney’s daughter! You did indeed show true ignorance by totally misstating what “Blood Libel” means and its usage and then saying you knew nothing about it. So why put both of your feet in your mouth? Consciousness That annoying time between naps. ================================

Bill commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.10.11
I meant to say the "liberal ivory towers of ..." and I forgot this site drops punctuation so am missing parentheses around "Colt Glock for example". Sorry.

Bill commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.10.11
I caught the last 20 minutes of todays show and forgot how some of your guests are lost in the ivory towers of Cambridge, Newton and the Back Bay, etc. The show you really need to do is to talk about that bastion of gun ownership, one of only two states with NO STATE GUN LAWS!!! Vermont. Talk to some native Vermonters and explain to them how adopting the gun laws of Mass would be in their best interests. Our hard to decipher laws, and "corrupt" licensing procedures. A "helpful" Attorney General limiting what brands I can own Colt Glock for example for my own safety when half the police forces of the state probably carry Glocks. I saw Howard Dean on Charley Rose a few years ago and he said the NRA loved him. I do not agree with the current Republican rhetoric on much of anything and plan to write in "Barbara Bush" in the next primary but my owning firearms, of any type or magazine capacity is not the cause of the AZ shooting. Regards,

Scott commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.09.11
When the program of 1/9/11 is aired, please consider talking about the shootings in Arizona and if members of Congress mostly Republicans like Boehner who upped their antiDemocratic rhetoric actually caused the shootings and should resign. Then can civilians like Sharon Angle 2nd amendment remedies and Sarah Palin crosshairs on photosbe considered to have incited a crime?

Deborah commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.03.11
The citizens of Massachusetts pay fulltime salaries for parttime legislatures even while aid to cities and towns have suffered draconian cuts. An example? I got this from the Herald last year. It makes the case that Mass taxpayers are paying way too much for way too little "Scott Brown has cashed in on more than 130 taxpayerfunded daily travel allowances to the State House this year, a Herald review shows. Brown ranks ninth among state senators who took socalled “per diems” last year, the review shows, even as he raked in some $80,000 from his private law practice and also pocketed an extra $15,000 in a taxpayerfunded stipend as an assistant minority whip. So Senate salary $77,000 A. Minority Whip $15,000 Travel money $3,538 Money from State of Mass $95,538 for a parttime job Private law practice 80,000 And dont some Boston City Councilors have other jobs, too? John Connolly has a law practice and maybe others have other jobs. Most people make parttime pay for almost fulltime jobs. But legislators and City Councilors? Nice work if you can get it.

Annie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.16.10
Dear Emily Rooney, Love your show. I write in regards to Prfessor Ray Madoffs opinions on estate taxes, though, I did just hear the last 10 miniutes. I truly do not understand the idea behind estate taxes, for what I I have understood, inheriting wealth, can be against our democratic ideals, for we Americans do not want any concentration of wealth. This sounds as a very socialist concept, indeed. Im a registered Democrat, but more an Independent these days, for penalizing the maintenance of wealth, hopefully within a family setting, usually by saving, rather then spending, especially when we are all talking about our countrys and individuals indeptedness as being bad for the economy, is quite distrubing. If the federal government does not want people to get wealthy, then increase the income tax rate, and not punish those that have saved all their lives. And as for giving a bad example, by giving to ones children, even to the point that they do no longer have to work let me put it this way not having to work makes that person the most free, not so? Is it a sin not working? To be able to think of other things then make our way through the jungle of finding a well paying job. I personally spent over $100,000 for my education, in international affairs and MBA, but was never able to obtain a position that paid more than 36K/yr. Should I be reinbursed? Or is it just tough luck? In fact I see it this way I let others more in need take positions I was quite qualified for, but because I was privileged, that was the least I could do. Ha! If this jungle of money making is what makes this country great, then believe it should be stated outright! When I tell French friends what our tax system is, they are stupified. France does have an estate tax, but it is valued by the number of children meaning 1 child 50, 2 children 33, 3 children 25, and so on. France believes in family values, do we? My French grandparents paid estate taxes so that my mother, a naturalized American citizen, could benefit from my grandfathers hard work, and savings mentality, and she may now have to pay estate taxes upon her death, from money derived in France, for the U.S. tax code includes global holdings, not just what was produced in the United States. So which country is more against savings our indeptedness? If I was very wealthy, which Im not, I might honestly consider becoming a resident of Costa Rica for example of course for the time desired 10 years. Is this why the most wealthy have legal residence in Monaco for example? And how about the 40,000 Americans who have secret bank accounts in Switzerland? Is it all drug money? I think not. To be considered Is it a reason why the very wealthy want to be even more wealthy, knowing that at the end they will have to pay up to 55 ? This makes them even more ruthless, investing outside this country, as in China for example, to the detriment of our working class? So how about taxing estates on the number of children that are to inherit, and/or that their investments be based on where they invest their socalled unearned wealth. And should not monopoly rules be inforced, as possibly against Microsoft, as Europe has tried to do? And how about Chiquita and Dole bananas? Are they not an oligopoly? I was once involved in international trade, and let me tell you ... Only the top 100 corporations have benefite, not we small deal makers. Pleas ask Professor Madoff what she thinks of Exclusivity Agreements. The devil is, indeed, in the details. If you ask most small business owners, it is not so much the taxes that is killing them off, but competion from large corporations that have sweetheart deals in low wage countries. This is what has killed our Middle Class, not estate tax relief. Ask Murdock spelling? what he thinks about competition? Having been in business, and not just academia, the aim of all businesses is to reduce competion, and it is the the government to make sure that they do not get what they want. That, is what the common man can relate too, not the in the clouds, billion dollar deals concocted at Wall Street. In other words, can I start a family grocery or retail store, when just down the street, Walmart has been given the go ahead? So now one must become an employee of an out of reach corportation, headquartered in London, England, for example. As my gandfather said in his last days, "I could not have done what I was able to do today." Democracy? The Yankee spirit of independence is quite dead, unless one wants to live by the fortunes of daytoday living. Small farms, small manufacturing companies? And as for startup hightech firms, they had all needed large capital investments, which often comes at a very high price. This too, I could tell you a few stories, as what entails franchising. I apologize for this lengthy comment, but could not do otherwise. Yours, most truly, Jane Doe A.B., M.A. Diplomacy World Affairs, M.B.A. Certificate in International Trade Law, A.B.D. International Prognostication.

Sheryl commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 12.08.10
gj

Jane commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 11.09.10
Emily, why didnt anyone mention that the reason Matt Lauer and NBC got the Bush interview is because NBC gave his daughter Jenna BushHager a job as a correspondent on their Today Show, where Lauer is a host? And that Bush knew he wouldnt be seriously challenged as a result. Why didnt the so called media experts see this as plain as I can?

james commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.26.10
When Jill Stein said last night that the solution to violence in the inner cities was not more police presence, but to relieve the oppression of the people in the cities it was the most poignant comment I heard from all four candidates. Unfortunately, civilisation is not yet to the point of addressing the root of social problems, rather the temporary bandaid to buy more time.

Stewart commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.15.10
Emily Please leave Jill alone. I am a one percenter, and proud of it. The GreenRainbow party is my party, and Jill Stein is my candidate, and November second is November second. News people please stop trying to queer the election before it happens. I admire her courage, tenacity and honesty, which are qualities I find deficient in most professional politicians and big party functionaries. We few, we small party of Greens, have as much right as any Republican or Democrat to be counted as individual citizens. When you change the game, by calling the game, you in the press, function more as agents of special interest than conveyers of relevant content. Ask yourself, if you were not obsessed with being on the winning team, and were denied prior information regarding which team was going to win, which team would you vote for? stewart mcgaw

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.12.10
Emily, I heard the rebroadcast of your Alan Khazei interview, and your comment regarding how angry people are because others have more than they do. Your characterization of the general populace could not be more wrong, and seems to be coming from your own guilty psyche. People have seen their savings wiped out, their house’s value plummet, their jobs evaporate. And yes, people like me are angry to see publiclybailedout Wall Street tycoons getting huge bonuses, not because they have more, but because they scammed the system. You are obviously enjoying a nice life style, and you work hard and you deserve it. But please don’t mischaracterize or minimize the angst that other hardworking people are feeling.

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.06.10
Lobel is losing it Liverpool is IN the Premier league. They are having a bad year and may be relegated, but Lobels information is incorrect. And GO REVS!!

Regina commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 10.01.10
How did Tim Cahill surround himself with so many losers? First his campaign director dumps him and talks about it, now his runningmate does the same. What jerks. They had to have known it was going to be a tough slog for an independent run. Too bad. Tims a decent guy.

raiene commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.08.10
on congressional debate for 10th CD the comments about Delahunt gaining discounts on heating oil for the poor in Massachusetts from Hugo Chavez always surprises me. No one ever acknowledges that the US buys oil from Chavez and has for many many years. Apparently many just do not want the cheap oil!

Steven commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.03.10
Todays show was a rerun, but I caught a part that I hadnt heard the first time around regarding the markup on correctional lenses and frames. Emily complained about the price of frames, prescriptions etc. www.zennioptical.com = prescription glasses starting at $8.00. Pretty sure this is a Romanian company.

Mari commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 09.02.10
I was listening to the Last Chance for Summer Music on the Emily Rooney Show with great pleasure today when guest and music writer Steve Almond made the aggressive comment that he "cant stand the Red Sox or their fans" and that he expected hate mail for that statement. I am a loyal Red Sox fan, and I was flabbergasted. After I turned off the radio in disgust for the first time in my many years of commuting, I thought to myself that he indeed deserved at least ONE piece of hate mail. Here it is, and its a paraphrase of the talented Danielle Doyle Steve, you get "the biiird, the bird".

Lisa commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.30.10
Im one of the parents Monty and Ruth referenced who is worried about the way testing is driving the curriculum, especially in writing instruction. Its definitely gotten worse since my 17yearold son was in elementary school. Even if, as Susan says, high schools still offer a rich and varied curriculum, its a problem if the elementary schools, which provide a foundation for high school, are as obsessed as they are with test prep. I think my sons sixth grade class year spent far too much time doing five paragraph essays, at the expense of looking at all the different facets of teaching students to think and write well. Not only does this fail to develop children into competent writers, it makes writing much more boring than it should be. Lisa Guisbond Citizens for Public Schools http//www.citizensforpublicschools.org

Daniel commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.23.10
I feel this show can be more conservitive than I would expect from an NPR show. And some of the things said about the so called Mosque at ground zero makes me sad to be an american let alone a supporter of NPR. I would think that NPR would be a little more supportive of our first amendment rights. I have since stopped listening to this show.

Jim commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.21.10
Great to have more thoughtful conversation about local issues on the radio, but can you stop breaking up the podcast into segments? Or maybe offer the fulllength recording in addition to the separate files? Its super annoying to download and queue up the files individually.

David commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.12.10
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Alicia commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.09.10
Just listened online to the segment re Silly Bandz. A very quick Google inquiry would have shown that the Bandz have been banned in many places. A wee bit of research could have helped this segment.

Jonas commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 08.05.10
As usual, you miss the point. Some terrorists attacked the WTC. Because they claimed to be muslims, now muslims are required to bend over backwards to make sure the rightwing sensibility is not offended by their presence. This is similar to Euroamericans demanding that interracial couiples do not "offend" their sensibilites by kissing in public. Or rightwing christans demanding that gay people not hold hands in public. I have an idea since the Soutern Baptist Convention supported first slavery and then segragation, shouldnt they be prohibited from building churches near any palce where Afroamericans live? Or near any site where segragattionists arrested and beat civil rights demonstators? It wasnt muslims attacking "us". It was terrorists attacking everyone who was in lower Manhattan. Muslims are not outsiders they are people who live here with as much right to call themselves "us" as newt or froxman. And, by the way, who is foxman to decide who is or isnt a moderate? He is an extremist who repeatsand parrots the policies of thew most extreme Israeli/zionist positions. How in the world can anyone claim that a american religious organization can be called on the carpet because Newt is islamophobic?

Frannie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 07.28.10
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commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.25.10
Regarding Emily Rooneys ruminations about Eliot Spitzer and Al Gore... The show was aired today, June 25, 2010 (I heard it on the radio), and I found it ridiculous and very troubling. Thats not what I expect from WGBH. I am baffled by Emilys strange preoccupation with sexual lives of public figures, and using her program to judge them. That useless subject pops up every now and then in her pronouncements (its like she has an antenna for that topic), and always makes me think "Why does she assume that anyone who listens to public TV/radio cares about this?" Perhaps Ms. Rooney is concerned that Eliot Spitzer will actually have something interesting and intelligent to say as a commentator on CNN? As for Al Gore, the man has done more for the future of this Earth than the Emily Rooney Show ever will. Please have decency to respect that and leave him alone. I dont need any trashy, "sexsational" tabloid talk on WGBH be it TV or radio. BTW, I want to thank the other female participant on the show (I think it was Kara Miller, but Im not sure), who indirectly reminded Emily Rooney that she should have used the word "alleged" when she was referring to "reports" about Al Gores interaction with a masseuse. But Emily responded with indignation, insisting that the word "reports" always refers to allegations. Wrong! Reports can be factual or not confirmed or unconfirmed and worthy of talking about on public TV/radio or NOT. Someone of Ms. Rooneys stature should know that.

Hilton commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.25.10
On the topic of distributing condoms to grade school kids. Everyone on your panel totally missed the point. If a 10 year old tells the school nurse he wants condoms because hes sexually active the first question should be with whom. A ten year old is below the age of consent. Did it ever occur to anyone on the panel he might have been prompted by a pedophile to acquire some condoms for his protection? And, for that matter how loony has society become that we hold parents responsible for the safety of their children while telling them the sexual health of their underage kids is not their business.

Lester Edgar commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.17.10
A wet shelter means that people who are intoxicated can have a place to stay, not that they drink at the shelter. Its not a "liberal Cambridge" only policy, its an ethical imperative for a population that has a correlation with some substance abuse.

Scott commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.04.10
Re 6/4/10 show Al Tipper Gore. Why hasnt anyone commented on the assault of traditional marriage? A man and a woman divorcing makes the institution of marriage weaker. Even worse is that there are many people in society who would like to be married but cant be and theyre just tossing marriage away as if theyve outgrown it or have no more use for it.

Peter commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.04.10
I stopped listening to sports radio when they started talking about politics. It is a painful experience listening to Gerry Callahan elucidate his audience about immigration policy. I had the same reaction with todays show as someone who may have trouble finding first base discussed Galarragas nearly perfect game.Heres a suggestion Research your subject before you get on the air. I turned the show off when the definition of a perfect game was "onetwothree, onetwothree." Looking on the bright side, it may serve as a modern version of "Whos on first." Google Abbot, Costello, Baseball.

Dan commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.02.10
I missed most of the segment of the conversation with Alan Dershowitz today, but what I caught at the end was as pathetic a consideration of what happened to the ships challenging the Israeli blockade of Gaza as could be conceived. Ms. Rooney challenged her guest with the forcefullness of a callin "dittohead" on a Rush Limbaugh program. Could she really have said that she hoped they might find weapons on board one of the raided ships? And her collegial agreement with her guest that, of course, concrete must be banned as a "nonhumanitarian" material because it could be used to build factories or "create tunnels" through which bombs and rockets are smuggled in...?...Did Mr. Dershowitz write her dialogue for her? Has Emily Rooney decided to flush away all of her critical faculties here? Any recollection of how much of the Gaza strip was destroyed by the Israeli bombardment that killed 1,400 Palestinians last year? Might concrete been necessary for building houses?...for infrastructure? Is housing or infrastructure then to be considered nonhumanitarian because they can contribute the production of conditions necessary for the creation of bombs? Isnt this a material that might be used to create tolerable and humane living conditions? Egypt opened up one of the main crossings into the Gaza strip today, and the rush of bodies from Gaza into Egypt is as clear an indication that the squalor and unlivable conditions the Israelis maintain in the Gaza are working perfectly to transfer the population. Its sad. But Ms. Rooney decided to chat up her famous guest like a fluffy fawning Charlie Rose. Anyone who followed the crushing and arbitrary criteria employed by the United States in enforcing the embargo on Iraq knows that if it is necessary to maintain the humiliation and powerlessness of a population, regardless of the stated political goals, even ASPIRIN would qualify as a potential tool of terrorism and be turned back. Ms. Rooney should stay local. Thats where her strength lies. Thank you.

Maura commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.02.10
I echo the prior commentator about todays program. Ms Rooney demonstrated her ignorance saying that she knew nothing of this flotilla and went on to say that she hoped that it was carrying weapons. I thought I was listening to Right Wing Radio and not an PBS affiliate. Rooney clearly does not read newspapers or journals from the rest of the world and this laziness was apparent in her interview. Alan Dershowitzs commentary about Hamas "bums" is both ignorant and inflammatory. Perhaps, Ms Rooney should take some cues from Tom Ashbrook who also had a program on the flotilla today that was thoughtful, insightful and had many voices. Ms Rooney should stick to issues in Boston and not wander into areas that are clearly outside her expertise.

michael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 06.02.10
In discussing today the Israeli boarding of ships aiming to break the Gaza blockade, Emily Rooney in effect stated that she hoped the ships were carrying weapons rather than humanitarian aid as claimed. What possible explanation could she have for wishing those who opposed the blockade were lying and deceitful? Regardless of ones views of the conflict in the Middle East a hosts statement of this sort without even an effort at explanation, call Ms. Rooneys fairness into serious question.

Hughes commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.25.10
I cannot believe the ignorance of the host, Emily Rooney, when talking about allergies. I have been allergic all of my life, and developed food allergies a few years ago. I had to be treated in an emergency room for anaphylactic shock. I, and most people I know with allergies, are not proud of them and are generally embarrassed by them. I have sometimes put myself in danger because I was embarrassed to call attention to my allergies. People like Ms. Rooney reinforce my feelings of shame. If I had any other affliction would I be made to feel this way. You are really an incredibly smallminded and ignorant person, Ms. Rooney!!

Raphael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.21.10
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal had a more illustrious role model for his Vietnam story than the ones mentioned on your Friday program. As president, Ronald Reagan told the then Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres, that during WWII he rescued Jews from concentration camps. Reagan just failed to mention that the rescue operation took place in a Hollywood studio. What Blumenthal failed to learn from that example was that it is preferable to lie when in office, than when running for office

John commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.04.10
Steve Almond made the most sense I have heard on the radio in a long time. I will now search for anything he has written based on his statements and how well he spoke. Thank you for having him on the show.

Aoife commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.03.10
Emily, I enjoy listening to your show but I must take you to task on your suggestions that the Walk for Hunger be moved to Hyde Park or Fields Corner. This statement definitely strikes of classism, and perhaps racism as well. The WFH raises not only money but awareness about the ongoing problem of hunger. Every year these thousands of people walk through Newton (the 2nd wealthiest city in the nation) and into the center of our capital. Hopefully the people who live and work in this area (of which I am one) can deal with the inconvenience for a day and be thankful for their good fortune. Your suggestion that the walk be moved to a less visible, lowerincome area reflects the attitude that the welltodo have always chosen to ignore the problem of hunger and hope it will go away. How many years have thousands of people walked for hunger? I dont see the route getting any shorter...

K commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.03.10
The snide comments about water panic showed a great deal of ignorance on the part of the host. Water is required for life. Water and water rights are the foundations of civilization and the formation of the first human governments based on written law. You are sentenced to read Lewis Mumfords "The City in History".

Jane commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.03.10
Hellooooo, Oklahoma City was a car bomb. Just thought Id mention it.

Lisa commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 05.03.10
To my mind, "panic is the new normal" is not due the effect of 9/11 its due to the effect of Katrina. I think a lot of us took a lesson from that, and the lesson was the government cant or wont come and help in a disaster...you and your neighbors are on your own. The good news about this particular problem is that Massachusetts did show itself ready to address an urgent problem in a way thats professional, organized, and smart.

Christine commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.20.10
Thank you for your interview with James Scahill. It is refreshing to hear a Catholic priest speak the truth and demand accountability from the churchs hierarchy. He clearly understands the experience of clergy abuse victims. Speaking as one who was raped by a priest as a child (a priest who was known to be raping kids and was protected), I appreciate his focus on the facts and his clear voice. In my experience, very few priests have vocally and actively support victims. How sad that James Scahill is so rare. How sad that so few priests have displayed the same integrity, knowledge and dedication to justice. Lets hope that more priests shed their fear and take a stand.

Lissa commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.20.10
i just wanted to highlight emily rooneys comment today regarding priests sexually abusing children in the catholic church. her comment suggested that one of the reasons this might be going on is that gay men are suppressed in the catholic church and that preying on children might be an outlet for their sexual frustration. this comment seemed inappropriate because it appeared to be scapegoating gay men for the problems of the priesthood. why is it that intelligent americans (of whom presumably emily rooney is one), automatically associate perverse sexual misconduct with homosexuality? please correct her comment, by perhaps offering a context or a huge qualifier for it or even statistics (good luck). my fear is that if it goes unaddressed, people who listen will not question that association, and the emily rooney show continues to reinforce the negative connotations people have of gay people.

JIm commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.14.10
In your conversation yesterday you stated the need to call out those so called leaders of the Tea Bagger movement for the more outrageous statements they are making. Yet while agreeing with you about the outrageous, down right mean spirited ( I might add scary), your guest, an elected MA official, would not call them out. He wants it both ways. He kept talking about representing those other good hard working elements of the TB. He is trying to ride the middle, this is outrageous and dangerous, this middle ground becomes mob rule. Why did you not push him harder to denounce those statements made by your previous guest on your show Monday?

Rafael commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.13.10
I enjoy your shows and the tenor of your discussions, and today was no different. We deserve better public servants than the caliber exhibited lately, specially the lady that has attracted so much undeserved attention in the media lately Sarah Palin.

Jonas commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 04.09.10
Come on this was an alltime low in factual acuracy even for your show. Cant you find guests who dont think that Stevens cast the deciding votew in gore v bush (after all, his DISSENT claimed that the biggest loser in the decision was the US that must give some hint as to where he stood). Then there is the guest expert who believes that there are "a lot" of Mass judges who are ninety years old. He clearly was making up facts that he had no idea about in order to make some point. Then when he was corrected he immedaitely claimed that were a lot ninety year old judges on the Mass federal benchequally wrong and equally demonstrative of a complete lack of literacy.

Karen commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.30.10
Sorry ... posting again as I feel like my previous comment came across as a little hysterical (or perhaps like I dont have children, which I do). The point I was trying to make is this not only is it important to know what the school administration knew ahead of time, but whether they contacted the parents, and if so, what was the result. I would have liked to have heard more discussion about that on the show.

Karen commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.30.10
I cant remember the name of the host filling in for Emily Rooney today (or yesterday), but with regard to the Phoebe Prince tragedy, why doesnt the discussion include what the bullies *parents* knew and why they werent pulled in sooner to put a stop to it? I find it despicable that children can be so hurtful, and simply dont buy the "teenagers will be teenagers" argument. I understand why youre asking about what the teachers and school administrators knew, but what about the parents??

Dee commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.24.10
In todays conversation with David Ropeik, Emily resorted to using an example in the flight/fight reaction of a white woman confronted by three african american youths in hoodies. What a missed opportunity to turn things around and see scary situations for AfricanAmericans that might cause flight/fight reactions. Take it up a notch. Often your show is one note shy of water cooler gossip, for my taste, and not just on days when discussing celebrity culture.

Nancy commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.16.10
I find Emily to be very opinionated. This may be OK and enables her to be direct and clear in her questioning. However, when the guest then gives a coherent answer that contradicts Emilys opinions, Emily just sticks to her opinions and says something like "Well, we differ on that". This makes her sound ignorant and puts her in the same camp as people who dont believe in evolution or climate change. It makes me switch the station. She doesnt have to be won over, but if she is going to continue to differ in the face of a convincing counter argument, she has to address the points raised in the counter argument. To say "We differ" may work when trying to maintain social harmony on differences on nonintellectual issues, but not when trying to have an intellectual discussion. To say "We differ" is about as good as saying "My Daddy said so". Id like a topic one day to be on how Emilys behavior of sticking to her opinion (without additional argument) after hearing a convincing counter argument from her guest is different than the behavior of people who deny evolution.

William commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.15.10
Emily Rooney just minimized what Cardinal Ratzinger did, or failed to do, while in Munich. She said something to the effect of "that was the way it was done back then" as if that excused transferring a pedophile priest to another parish. She then claimed " I dont mean to minimize it". That is exactly what she attempted to do. I ask myself, why am I listening to her show when I could be listening to Here and Now on WBUR?

Barbara commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.09.10
Emily, I have looked forward to your radio show. But I am disappointed. You come across as rather aggressive with your guests, and seem to feel that it is necessary that you inject your point of view into the discussion . This was very evident in todays show with Judith Warner. I question whether it should be your role to put your guests on the defensive.

Maura commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.05.10
Emily, thank you for giving us such a great alternative to Robyn Young at noon!

Marion commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.04.10
My gripe for todays show (or question for Fridays Beat the Press) is the lack of coverage of the death of Ray Smith by the Boston Globe. I cant believe that there wasnt an obituary in the paper.

Robert commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 03.03.10
Hello Could you please provide me with a list of the health care plans of the members of the Boston Foundation board? I just took a look at the Boston Foundation website and read their brief biographies. I am pretty sure that the great majority of the board members have very generous benefits packages. I get annoyed when folks who work for prestigious law firms (Michael B. Keating, Esq.) or venture capital firms (Richard M. Burnes) or real estate empires (Richard DeWolfe) want to take away benefits from working people. Once again, we have the folks on top commenting on the excess privileges being given to common folk.

Richard commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.20.10
Wow Ms Rooney, may I sincerely thank you for your comments on male figure skaters in the Olympics. As a viewer of you WGBH TV program, I’ve always admired your straightforward, direct delivery of important issues and you always have interesting panelists and experts as well. I’m thanking you because up until now I was a supporter of your program and recently your radio show. I like to know some basic attitudes of the hosts of opinion shows I listen to and your vile, ignorant and completely irresponsible comment that “all figure skaters are gay” if the fodder of far more low market shows usually found on the AM dial. Not to mention your sorry attempt at fashion criticism when it comes to costume design, you know the saying about glass houses, Diane Vreeland you ‘aint dear. Perhaps if the skaters could tone down their youthful exuberance and creativity and designed some gray flannel or tweed numbers that you seem to favor in your own personal style, you would be more comfortable, not a very feminine look Em by the way, people might think you’re lesbian Allah forbid, perhaps a little more pink and ruffles in your own appearance would do the trick. As for feeling “uncomfortable” with gays or people you assume to be gay well it wasn’t that long ago that many were “uncomfortable” with woman who strayed outside the domain of kitchen and children much less have talk shows that were anything more than “lady chat”, think Virginia Graham. You’re a smart woman I think you know where I’m going with this. So again thanks for revealing something about yourself. I for one am exceedingly “uncomfortable” supporting a person with personal views (read provincial gender identity hangups) like yours and if an issue that interests me comes up and I do tune into your show again, I”ll know where you’re coming from now. Here’s idea for a future show, “I’ve heard all woman in contact sports are lesbians and they flaunt it by not acting feminine enough on the field” go for it Em. Rich

Peter commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.18.10
It literally makes my blood run cold to hear this kind of Rush Limbaughesque, antirational, homophobic nonsense on NPR (of all places). Earth to Emily... figure skaters wear COSTUMES! Yup. In figure skating, its about showmanship, as women figure skaters have long recognized. To limit the creativity of a male skaters costume in the name of some medieval definition of "masculinity" is narrowminded thinking of the worst kind. And, Emily, if your homophobic screed wasnt bad enough, consider the previous postings statement, "We all know theyre gay... do we have to be subjected to seeing them parade about in such a way?" Holy smokes. People are actually still saying things this in 2010. What a perfect example of how ignorance burns long and catches like wildfire. Whats worse, the damage it causes is dangerous, hurtful and devoid of critical thinking. First of all, we most certainly DO NOT KNOW all male figure skaters are gay thats a preposterous, sweeping generalization. Then, the idea that people should be restricted to living their lives in a way that doesnt make others feel "uncomfortable" is selfcentered, narrow and bigoted. Why should these Olympians or anyone else for that matter be required to make Emily Limbaugh or some suburban house frau feel comfortable? The idea is patently ridiculous and narcissistic. Not coincidentally, its also the same type of illogical bigotry that has been used against antigay discrimination laws and gay marriage the concept that people have a right to BE gay in private, but they do not need to FLAUNT IT. So its perfectly fine for gay people to be subjected to seeing heterosexual sex on every prime time cable TV show 365 days a year but poor Emily and her fans are uncomfortable being forced to watch a figure skater in a COSTUME that includes a leather bustier? Id like to note that Matthew Sheppard apparently made his attackers feel "uncomfortable"... so they murdered him. You want comfort? Stay home and let Mr. Weir wear whatever the hell he wants. There is a silver lining in all of this for supporters of Mr. Weir and his colleagues he looks a whole lot better in that bustier than Ms. Rooney could even dream about. Envious, Em?

melanie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 02.17.10
Wow. Emily really hit the nail on the head regarding the male figure skater’s outfits. BRAVO!!! I could not agree with her more!! She said exactly what I, and I’m sure what many other people are thinking about what is going on with men’s figure skating outfits. I just did not know others were thinking the same thing! The question I had in my mind while watching the men’s skating last night was, “WHY do they have to wear such ridiculous outfits?!” I mean, I believe their ridiculous outfits actually take AWAY from the amazing physical acts they are doing by subconsciously causing us to be “turned off” by their appearance. We know they’re gay… but do we have to be subjected to seeing them “parade” about in such a way? Save that for the gay parade!! We want to see the men dressed as MEN… not trying to compete with the women’s figure skating outfits!! So ridiculous!! Thank you for the unexpected confirmation of what I was thinking. It’s enough to make me want to turn off the TV and not even watch the men’s skating event (even though they are doing such amazing physical acts!). Thanks Emily!

Jim commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.30.10
Thank you for your discussion of the need for alimony reform in Massachusetts. As a current payor of alimony (and child support) I live in fear of a lifetime alimony judgement once my current decree expires in a few years. My nonworking ex spouse has no incentive to work, and claims bipolar condition precludes any job search. This uncertainty affects my social life. I hesitate to even date women with income or assets equal to or greater than mineout of concern it could lead to my remarriage, and thereby a greater combined income target for a future alimony award. I have even considered retirement in another countrybut would stand lose any Social Security benefits, as well as Medicare. We desperately need alimony reform in Massachusetts. House Bill 1785 gives us hope.

Sherrie commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.29.10
Glad to hear additional coverage of a very important issue here in Massachusetts, the need for Alimony Reform. I am a second wife, and have learned very quickly the laws related to alimony in Mass and how they impact everyone. In the interview I believe I heard a couple of references the first to alimony awards and that there aren’t that many, I wouldn’t know the facts on this, however even if this were true, there are still people out there living a life sentence, the number of people affected doesn’t excuse the fact that these alimony laws are unfair and are truly hurting people. The second reference I heard was related to if a spouse had died the surviving spouse would get at least 1/3 of the material assets. I too have personal experience in this area as well, my first husband passed away 9 years ago. I did receive our material assets, and our four children received Social Security benefits until they each reached the age of 18. However, I personally did not receive additional funding because I was working and the government has a threshold on the amount I could make for me to have Soc. Sec. benefits, totally understandable. Where I’m going is that after my first husbands death I wasn’t compensated for the rest of my life to keep me at the “standard of living” we had during our marriage, I did receive support for a specified period of time (until each of my children reached the age of 18) noting this Soc. Sec. alone did not keep us at the same standard of living we had prior to my husbands death, it simply assisted us. What I don’t understand is why the state feels the need to demand exspouses to keep the other spouse at the same standard of living they had during their marriage. Life isn’t fair and some partnership or agreements we enter into don’t always workout the way we planned or hoped for, thats part of life. Therefore we have to pick ourselves up and work hard to get back on our own two feet… I do believe in the initial financial assistance however we shouldn’t expect others to carry us forever.

Jim commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.28.10
Thank you for addressing Alimony Reform.The current, outdated case law creates an incentive for lowerearning spouses to walk away from marriages and receive lifetime alimony payments to pay for their decision to walk away. These lifetime payments are in addition to splitting all the marital assets and the retirement accounts. Worse, the current alimony laws create a disincentive for the alimony receiver to remarry or to become selfsufficient. Why should the higherearning spouse pay for the unilateral decision of the walkaway spouse to a) abandon the marriage and b) then to decide not to remarry or become selfsufficient? Why, as Steve Hitner mentioned, should second wives have to also pay alimony to these walkaway first wives? The current alimony system does not recognize that 50 of the workforce is composed of women. Women are no longer forced out of the workforce. Yet, outdated alimony laws create a a special class of men and women people who divorce from higherearning spouses who get to live comfortably from the ongoing hardwork of the higherearning spouse. This system under nofault divorce is plainly unfair to the higherearning spouse and his second wife.

Bob commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.28.10
Thank you for bringing up the topic for Mass Alimony reform. I believe house bill H1785 makes a lot of sense. Alimony should be considered as spousal support with limited duration but, not as if it were a pension under the current law in Mass..

jeru commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.25.10
just watched coakley and rooney whining about her failure in the election. they made every excuse they could think of, they played the gender card, the voter anger card, the obama cardmaybe us voters just dont agree with coakleys dem machine out of touch policies. what the dem machine pols like coakley dont "get" is that they are there to serve the people not their inflated egos. hey rooney how about a modicum of journalistic integrityoh i forgotjournalism died long agoits all infotainmentmy bad.

Brian commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.19.10
You say that Coakleys taking unfair damage for not knowing who Schilling is (and maybe she is), but dont forget that shes the one who initiated the theme of baseball loyalties the conversation was rolling along when she took a shot at Giuliani for being Yankees fan. If you cant handle the follow up questions, dont raise the subject.

Kathy commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.19.10
I wonder how much of Martha Coakleys struggles are due to the fact that shes a woman. Some people say she is cool and unresponsive. Women are damned if they do and damned if they dont in politics. If she acted warm and fuzzy or angry and passionate shed be called names reserved for women like shrew. If she wore a cardigan sweater and sat in her kitchen for an ad as Scott Brown does, shed be accused of being nonprofessional and playing the gender card (whatever that is.)

Tarryn commented on The Emily Rooney Show on 01.15.10
I am an independent, woman voter and have decided after hearing the debate on Monday, watching negative ad after negative ad, and listening to the democrat pundits really say nothing of substance, to vote for Scott Brown. I have heard yet again on this program from the democrat on the show the exact same quote re SB "he is in lockstep with bushcheney." This just doesnt resonate with me. How can a Massachusetts politican possibly be in step with them? Please give me specific examples of actual votes he has cast that puts him in this category. I am being given no real reason to vote for Coakley just a lot of talking points that quite frankly, I can see right through. And without a better argument, balance in government is a necessary thing, so I will vote solely based on that.