Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Mandy Connall Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
No, it's Mandy Connellyna KOAM ninety one.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Then God.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Can the nicety through three Mandyconnell.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Keithing sad thing.
Speaker 5 (00:27):
Welcome to the Mandy Connell Show.
Speaker 6 (00:29):
This is not Mandy Connell. I know we sound alike,
people say we even look alike.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Now I'm just kidding.
Speaker 6 (00:33):
This is Deborah Flora and I am so happy to
be sitting in here today for my good friend Mandy Connell.
And I just have to start by saying, Merry Christmas,
Happy Hanukkah, joyful season to every single one of you.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
We have a wonderful show coming up.
Speaker 6 (00:49):
We're going to talk about a couple serious things we're
gonna get in the spirit, and of course the through
line has to be what is your favorite Christmas movie?
Feel free to text that in always want to hear
from you at five six six nine zero. And we're
gonna have a couple of ringers in this conversation today.
A couple of my friends from my period of temporary
insanity when I was in Los Angeles. Yes, I am
(01:12):
from Colorado, grew up on Lowry Air Force base.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I am.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
I did have that temporary insanity, went to Hollywood.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
I'm a recovered actress and my left brain and my
right mind, as I like to say. But during that
time met my husband and believe in the power of
movies and storytelling. That's why it's important, because you really
do see as a friend of ours who unfortunately has
passed away. Andrew Breitbart used to always say to us,
(01:39):
you know, politics is downstream of culture. It's actually a paraphrase,
by the way, and we used to tease them about
this from Plato, which Plato would say, let me write
the ballads of a country.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
I care not who makes the laws. Why does that matter?
The ballads were the stories of.
Speaker 6 (01:57):
Plato's day, which would change the heart and minds of
the people, who would then in turn vote based upon
their new beliefs.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
So it is actually very true.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
So we're gonna have a lot of fun with it
this time talking about holiday movies. But I'm excited that
coming up after the break, you know, around the bottom
of the hour, we're gonna have John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
He's a dear friend. Many of you may know him.
He was Cliff Claven in Cheers.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
He was a voice in all of the Pixar movies
right up until Luca. He may or may not address this,
but it is when they started going incredibly woke. And
that's not John Ratzenberger. Many of you may know that
he did the show Made in America. He was actually
on President Trump's Apprenticeship Commission, a champion of.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
The working man.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
He's going to be joining us at the bottom of
the hour, and then in the next hour we're gonna
have Kevin Sorbo. Many of you may know him as Hercules,
but he's also the star of movies like God's Not Dead.
He and his wife Sam have been dear friends for
quite a while. He'll be with us then, and then
in the third hour. Won't want to miss it. We're
going to bring it home with a real meaning of
(03:06):
this season, and I'm going to have rich Sokel joining me.
He is a friend Colorado and Patriot. Also a huge
champion for Israel. He is a pro Israel activist and
lived in Israel for a while. We're going to talk
about Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, the meaning of this season,
and how, particularly in that area of the world, we've
(03:28):
gone from a period of amazing peace under President Trump's
first term, with the the Abraham Accords and the Hana
Kamial Miracle, to the horrors of October seventh over a
year ago, to hopefully.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Bringing that back again.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
So we're going to be talking about all these things,
and I want.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
To hear from you.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Five six six nine zero. Already got our first couple
of votes on favorite Christmas movies. Gremlins okay, always always
an interesting one. I don't know, something about those little
critters does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy.
But right on, we have another vote already favorite Holiday movie.
I watch twenty four hours of a Christmas Story every year.
(04:11):
Christmas Story one of the favorites for my husband and
our son, to say the least. And you know what, Yes,
the gauntlet will continue to be throad thrown down. Diehard
is not a Christmas movie. Feel free to argue with me,
but I have the microphone. Do text in at five
six six nine zero. You know, I want to talk
about a few other things. Let's talk about some headlines
(04:33):
before we begin to switch it up here again towards movies.
As we all know, this is the end of the year,
the end of the year brings up many things. And
by the way, I'll be with you in this chair
sitting in for Mandy next Monday the thirtieth, when we'll
talk about New Year's resolutions and all of those sorts
of things, So get ready with that. But I tell you,
(04:54):
I think the number one New Year's resolution we need
in our nation's capital is to balance the budget and
watch the spending one of the headlines. As many of
you know, last year, Congress was all set to pass
another continuing resolution. And then it's interesting to me when
there is a vacuum of leadership as there.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Is in DC right now with the current resident of
the White House.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
We'll talk leader in the show about how his administration.
There's actually calls for it to be investigating because they
are finally admitting that Joe Biden has been absent from
many major decisions going on from the commander in chief position,
most troublingly including the decision to flee Afghanistan in that debacle.
(05:43):
But in the case of the budget, because we'll get
to that other topic later in the show, in the
case of the budget, it is very interesting that when
there is no leadership in DC, it's not surprising that
Donald Trump, who is not in the White House yet,
and Elon Musk have a very big influence because there
(06:04):
is no one leading right now for the most part,
it seems like. So they were getting ready to pass
a spending bill last week when all of a sudden,
President Trump incoming President Trump and former President Trump and
Elon Musk, who has been appointed ahead the Department of
Government Efficiency, along with Vivek Ramaswami, how they both stood
(06:25):
up and said, wait a second, you can't pass that
because there is no spending limit. There's no raising of
the debt sailing, which they would prefer to have under
this ending of this administration. And it ended up putting
everything into a flurry of activity. Now, finally on Saturday,
there is a short term one hundred billion.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Dollar funding bill. Don't you just love the fact that.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
One hundred billion dollars is short term when it comes
to government economics for goodness sake, and it's good to not,
I believe, shut down the government over the holidays because
part of the who would be affected by that are
our amazing military and their families. We do not want
that happening over the holidays. However, while this has been
(07:09):
called the American Relief Act of twenty twenty five. It
has one hundred billion dollars for disaster aid. I do
think that is good. It extends funding for farmers because
they cannot seem to get the Farm Bill across the
finish line.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
But here's the other.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
Group of people that it is giving relief to. In
the fine print, from what I understand and a quick
reading of it, it looks like it may be allowing
for a raise an income increase for members of the legislature.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
I got to tell you, I really believe.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
That until they can actually do their job, which in
the Houses of Representative is to write and pass.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
A budget, which they.
Speaker 6 (07:50):
Have not done in years and years and years, they
shouldn't get a raise.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 6 (07:56):
Do you think that this American Relief should include relief
for Congress who is not doing a very good job
for the most part. Texts that to me at five
six six nine zero. This is Deborah Flora sitting in
for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Well, they did pass it. I do think it is important.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
And one of the things that Mike Johnson said, and
yes he's coming under a lot of fire. I got
to tell you that as one of the most thankless jobs.
I think that I could imagine when you have a
slim majority. But Mike Johnson basically said that this was
a necessary step to bridge the gap until in January
we will have the White House, the Senate, and the
(08:39):
House of Representatives all in the hands of the Republican Party.
You know, I always say, excuse me that I am
a constitutional conservative long before I am a party member.
But the Republican Party has been historically the party that
talks about smaller government, fiscal responsibility and restraint. Well, I
(09:01):
got to tell you, there's going to be a lot
of people watching in January and going forward, and I
sure hope that that is the case, because we cannot
have the Republican Party be the party that just raises
the debt a little less.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Because let's put that into perspective.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
By the way, the national debt has climbed over thirty
six trillion dollars.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Thirty six trillion dollars.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
Can't even actually imagine that amount of money, which is
probably why they get away with it for so long.
And the national deficit is over one point eight trillion dollars.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
One point eight trillion dollars.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Okay, so I'm voting for next week the New Year's
resolution for Washington, DC needs to be balancing the budget.
I got to tell you, I am first and foremost
a mom, and I do know like so many parents
this time of year, Well, we're looking at Christmas and
Christmas presents and expenses and year in giving and all
(09:59):
of that that.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
You know what, we know how to balance our budgets.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
About time that those we elect and hire to represent
us do the same.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Now let's bring it home.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Let's bring it to Colorado. What about the Colorado budget? Well,
I have some good news that's not really such good news. Okay,
here's the report from last week. Colorado's fiscal debt is
and I'm quoting this journalist quote just.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
A little less bad than we thought it was. Yeah,
Colorado's fiscal deficit. What does that mean?
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Well, the fiscal deficit for Colorado, our state, was anticipated.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
To be more than one billion dollars.
Speaker 7 (10:41):
With the bee.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Well, the good news, if you can call it good news,
is it's only going to be about six hundred and
seventy two million according to his projection.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
You know what, I am glad it's less, but that
is hardly good news.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
And I do think that Colorado has not caught up
with the rest of the country yet when it comes
to the fact that the bad policies that we have
been under under this administration here in Colorado are finally catching.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Up with us.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Because of our natural resources, because of the great Colorado people,
because of Tabor, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, We've actually
been immune for a while from the situation of our spending.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Well not for long, but we do have to be diligent.
Speaker 6 (11:25):
When I was last sitting in for Mandy, I had
Rose Pigles, the House Minority leader here in Colorado, on
the show, and we're going to have to be vigilant
helping make sure that we protect the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
In case you don't know what that is, and I'm
sure you do.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Tabor simply says, if you want
to raise taxes, you have to ask the Colorado people.
Sounds like a gentleman's agreement to me, and I'm all
for it, But of course they want to get rid
of it because they have big plans to spend more
of your and my money and it's just simply not there. Okay,
So those are two topics about overspending, but you know what,
(12:06):
not to be detourred. It is amazing that the White
House Chief of Staff, Jeff Zines I believe that's how
you say his name, is asking his team quote to
sprint to the finish line and spend as much money
as they possibly can before Biden is out of office.
I got to tell you that is just so incredibly irresponsible.
(12:30):
In fact, the government has already spent nearly ninety eight
percent of the funding they are legally allowed through October,
but they're looking to spend more now. I'm going to
talk more about this overspending as we continue, but I
want to transition now a little bit back to our
upcoming guests who I'm gonna really look forward to having
(12:50):
join us, and that is John Ratzenberger Cliff Claven from Cheers.
It's got some funny stories to tell you a little
bit of my background. I've come to know both Kevin
Sorbo and John Ratzenberger, who are going to be joining us.
Is while I was having temporary insanity in Los Angeles
and met my husband, who was a producer at Walt
Disney Studios. He was a producer there until finally we
(13:13):
just realized it got so woke that we couldn't go
along with the agenda anymore. And we had also started
our own production company as well. We do believe in
the power of film and stories. And by the way,
I am on every Friday with Ryan Schuling on the
sister station here and we were talking about this, how
Walt Disney's Studios is actually starting to turn it around.
(13:36):
They're one of the few corporations that has realized go woke,
go broke.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
In fact, Bob Iger who was hired to take over.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
From the former CEO, Bob Chapik, who took a fight
with Ron DeSantis and lost. Basically, he said early this
year two stakeholders who were getting ready to because at
the end of the day, it's about entertainment, it's about
bottom line also economically, he basically said that woke Disney
(14:08):
is over time to quote respect the viewers. Well, that's
good news because Disney was founded on the idea that
you could just entertain, you could just create great stories
for kids, predominantly that were not laden with agendas, and
I absolutely believe that's where we're getting back to. Well,
(14:30):
the good news is, oh my next guest coming up
after the break is actually a staple of.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Disney and Pixar.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
In fact, he was the lucky charm for Pixar movies
four years after being Cliff Claven and Shears. And that
is none other than John Ratzenburger. To kind of what
your whistle, I'm gonna play this clip. This clip is
if you all remember the end of Cars, Mack the
Truck voiced by John Ratzenberger is at a drive in
(14:59):
theater and he starts watching all of these clips of
Ham the Pig, or as we like to calm, slotted
pig out of toy story, or whether it was pt
Flee out of Bugs Life, or whether it was the
Abominable Snowman out of Monsters Ink, and he noticed something
similar about the voices of all of them.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
So Grant, why don't we play that clip?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I hate to bring up the road, really, guys, but.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
There birthday, that's the three o'clock.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Oh man, whoever does a.
Speaker 8 (15:27):
Voice of that Biggie truck, I'll tell you he's one
great actor. We banished genius stuck out here in this
waistline without change, like the Floomobiles in trouble. She needs
our help here stay all a lot blessings. Welcome to
the eye as she'll come. Oh, that abominable sawflow.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Is quite the comic, Despius. Just get in there, go
go go suck his cars? How can you be suck
his cars? He's and allowsiest is cause of the world.
And they're gonna make me wait a minute here, they're
just using a same actor over and over. What kind
of a good right production is this?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
That is John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
You're gonna recognize his voice when we head out to
the break and come back, and he's going to share
not only his favorite Christmas movie. And yes, I am
going to keep taking your Christmas movie suggestions. We'll share
them throughout the show here today already getting so many
coming in, including by the way, feel free to take
(16:35):
my dear that Diehard is not a Christmas movie text
me at five six six nine zero. But when we
come back and we talk to John Ratzenberger both about
you know his illustrious history in Hollywood, how he has
stood up and stood out as someone speaking for the
working man in Hollywood. Many don't know that he was
on President Trump's Apprenticeship Council and committee in his first term.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
He has a background as a carpenter, a craftsman.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
His show Made in America really highlighted the amazing people, and.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
We're going to talk about that. We're also going to
talk about how.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I think we all realized, by the way, with the
COVID shutdown, when you talk about essential workers, no, it
is not just the tattoo parlors and abortion clinics that
were left open while churches were closed.
Speaker 5 (17:27):
It was the very people that.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Make our country work and make our country run well.
John has been a huge voice for all of those folks.
And by the way, it's a timely conversation.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Many of you may know.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
I do a lot of work with school choice, education reform,
parential rights, and I think we're rethinking education completely, and
it's time that we begin to elevate honor and heighten
the need for people to go into the trades.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
We need that.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
That's a national security issue, that is an economy issue,
and John ras want me come back, is going to
talk about that, So don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah Flora
sitting in for Mandy Connell. Looking at the season and
the joy and the jolliness. A certain friend of mine
comes to mind, and that is John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Before the break, we shared a compilation.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Basically of him as Mac the Truck, making fun of
him doing the voice for pretty much all the other
well known roles.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
In Pixar movies.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
He's also known as Cliff Clavin from Cheers. John, thank
you so much for joining me today. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Yeah, don't have a happy Christmas. Debah.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Thank you, John. It's great to hear your voice. And
my wonderful husband says hello as well. We miss seeing you.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Oh you're still married to that guy?
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Yep, twenty four years later, I sure will well.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
John.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
Always great to talk with you, and we're gonna talk
a little bit about movies. But I know not a
lot of people know the story of how you got
the role as Cliff Cleven. And by the way, it's
a whole new generation watching Cheers. I watched it the
first time around, dating myself here. Why don't you give
listeners just an insight? Because your background was traveling and doing.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Theater all over Europe.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
You were just very good at improv, So why don't
you tell people what happened when you went into audition
for Cheers?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, the readers, I just version is as I walked in,
having never auditioned in my life, even though I was
working ten years straight in Europe doing my own improvised
timently show with my friend Ray Hassett, who went on
to become a highly decorated undercover cup. Well, anyway that aside,
(19:49):
Uh yeah, I just I walked in. I failed at
the audition, but on my way out the door, I said,
do you have a bar? No? It all, what are
you talking about?
Speaker 1 (19:59):
It?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And I just go and send to an explanation and
how the big pan was invented and because there was
one on the guy's deck, and so I just picked
up the pen and I launched into this little soliloquy
and got him laughing enough I could leave with my
dignity and they called it offered me the part.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
That's amazing, and I love that the role was created
because you did that.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
And by the way, did you actually know the history
of the big pen or did you just make it up.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
On the spot?
Speaker 9 (20:31):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
No, I knew it was two brothers, two French guys,
but their last name was and so I just took
off from that fact.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
That's fine, that's very fine.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
Well, obviously people know you from that and that is
that is a very fun story of how you got
that out of improv. People then of the next generation
also know you from all the Pixar movies, and we
played that clip from the end of Cars where or
you as an act the truck make so much fun
of all the other places. You know what kind of
bit rate operation is this? They just keep recasting the
(21:08):
same actor. You have done that for a long time.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
I was I was making fun of all the parts
I did.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
Yes, all right, right, yeah, do you have a favorite
out of all the Pixar parts that you did?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Well, yes, I go between p chiefly and having the pig.
But then you know, so many people have so many favorites,
becomes a favorite, yes, so uh yeah, even in Red
(21:43):
tattooing the waiter mustafa ye do it all. I just
I just like showing up and somebody paid me to
do all that.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
You even make an entire school of fish into a
one unified personality and uh uh finding Nemo, which it's
very fine. You know, John, there's been shifts back and
forth in Disney, and I was sharing before the break
that they're actually starting to come back up again now.
Once Bob Biker has said they're moving away from woke.
They're going back just to entertainment, which is what you know.
(22:15):
So much of the Pixar movies are about, and you
were in all of them up to Luca. Is there
anything you want to talk about as far as like,
you know, that change that happened and this ebb and
flow you're saying in Hollywood hopefully moving away from woke.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
As for kids, Hey, it did become a little bit
woke and out of hands, and so I didn't do
h was three or four of them I missed for
that reason.
Speaker 10 (22:41):
It just didn't sit right with me, because you know,
my kids are grown, but they've got kids, and you know,
the don't I have to explain to my grandkids, Oh,
it's not appropriate and.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
This and that. So I'd just rather not do it.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (22:58):
That's why I was sharing before or the break, why
my husband Johnthan left Disney, because there is a point
in time where you're like, you know what, he worked
on Star Wars and Marvel and all of those, but
when it starts to go a different direction, there's just
other things to do with time, which you do a
lot of other things, which I appreciate. I want to
talk about this aspect because not a lot of people
(23:18):
know that you served on President Trump's Commission for Apprenticeship
in his first term, and you've really been a champion
for getting shot back into schools, for elevating and encouraging
young people to go into that field. You know, what
do you think now when you look at all the
craziness that has gone on in the last year in
college campuses, the anti semitism and you know, versus encouraging
(23:43):
students who are gifted in a different way to pursue
you know, the different kinds of you know, the crafts,
the you know, welding, all of these different kinds of things.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Tell us about your thought on that in our country
right now?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Well, to me, there's a lot of honor, indignity and
getting your hands dirty. That means you're actually making something,
You're creating something, and that's really what built the civilization.
I mean when people talk about we need more factories,
and I kind of laugh a little, and I usual
to be saying, well, you know, you can build all
(24:22):
the factories you want, but you need people to InCom
to work in a factory, and so you better start
teaching them how how it all works at a younger age.
And I ain't you know seem to think, well, you know,
teach them who are eighteen. No, you teach them when
they're in middle school or a grammar school, or you
(24:43):
encourage your kids go build a treehouse and I'll pict
your old bicycle. You know, the make your mistakes. And
that's where that's where common sense comes from. As far
as I'm concerned, common sense doesn't come from a computer
or a lect sure from the stage. It comes from
putting your hands to something and digging into it. But
(25:07):
that's where common sense.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Is more well, and it's it's so important for our
country as well, because you actually had a very very
often quoted speech called the industrial Tsunami heading our way,
and this was about how the fact that you know,
if Pearl harbored happened again, you know, they rebuilt it
our entire fleet in a matter of months weeks. Actually
(25:32):
we couldn't do that today, and so it's a national security.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Issue as well.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Yeah, yeah, it's again that's just common sense. Anybody with
common sense is going to tell you, Look, if we're
going to need thanks or ships or artillery, someone has
to build that someone has to know how which metal
to use, how to melt the metal, how to cat Oh,
there's a lot to know. You know, the older people
(26:01):
they've retired or they're about to retire, and there's nobody
coming on path room. So it's always been a concern
of myself. See, I was a carpenter before I became
an actress. So my worldview is about that. It's put it,
put it in a good foundation. Yeah, and do your
(26:22):
job as though you're going to live in that house, right.
I mean now I've seen I've looked at your houses
and I'm a gas how badly they're built, because now
it just seems like they're handing on hammers just to say, okay,
you're a carpenter. Well, going through the training and the apprenticeship.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
Yeah, this is Debra Flora, by the way, sitting in
for Mandy Connell, my guess, John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven and
just about every character that you love from Pixar.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
I'm speaking of being a carpenter. John.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Every time I have you on, I have got to
ask you this story because I think it's hilarious. This
shows both your carpentry skill and your common sense.
Speaker 10 (27:02):
Back.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
I think it was twenty seventeen or so when Hillary
Clinton was wanting to have a museum.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
Built for Woodstock.
Speaker 6 (27:09):
You talked about how you actually helped build the stage
at Woodstock. You know that if the National Guard had
not arrived and rescued you know, all the as you said.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
The people that were there that were you know, sick
and you know, having all kinds of illnesses, that would
be a very different scene.
Speaker 6 (27:26):
Can you share for listeners what your nomination was for
this statue that should be at Woodstock.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
I had a laugh when Hillary Clinton suggested that. She
said there should be a statue commemorating this event, and
I said, well, it should be a statue, but it
should be in the National Garden feeding a crying hippie.
I was there. I mean I was a heavy equipment
(27:56):
operator in the carpenter. Yeah, so I was there oop
to nuts and that's exactly how happen. You know, the
press never mentioned the National Guard saving with me right,
absolutely occurred.
Speaker 8 (28:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
Well, and I think it's funny because you always described
to be like the pa to but instead of Marry
holding Jesus, it would be a National guardsman feeding a
tuna sandwich to you know, a crying hippie, which I
think is anything anything, you know, thinking about that and
the National Guard coming in.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
In the documentary that my husband I made, you know,
following Gary sonise around Lieutenant Dan Dan for the common
Good you talked about you know, it's different playing military
than being military. And you've always given honor where honors
do and I appreciate that. And anyone who hasn't doesn't
know John Raziber's full scope of work, you know, scores
(28:50):
of movies, you know, including A Bridge Too Far and
many others. But we're heading now to the break and
I want to switch it to the holiday season.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
John Pershial got two questions for you. Do you think
that die Hard is a Christmas movie?
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Die Hard?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Perfect answer? My friend, I have this argument all the time.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Well, who says Diehard Christmas movie?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (29:18):
Probably most of the textures I'm about to hear from
because they say it takes place at a Christmas time
and all of that. But I'm like, it was released
in July, and even Bruce Willis said it wasn't. So
I think your laughter says it all. What is your
favorite Christmas movie?
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Well, a matter of fact, I just returned from the
East coast. Yes, they just flew back here the home
while I was on the stage going playing the part
of Scrooge.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Oh neat.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
And uh, that's even the movie of that. You know,
there's so many of them be made, but that, especially
with tiny tim is is is done by a good actor,
right hearts. Yeah for a favorite Christmas movie, you know, well,
(30:10):
I've you know, stroking my beard about it. I say,
Christmas Carol.
Speaker 6 (30:16):
Yeah, yeah, I wish I couldn't have seen that performance,
my friend. Well, we're heading to the break, John Ransomer,
Merry Christmas to you, my friend. It's always great to
hear your voice. And I'm excited to hear that you're
playing Scrooge right now. And I encourage everyone to go
see so many of the great movies that you have made.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Okay, I'll go to Actually, I just I just really
saw the beginning episodes of Cheers because there was when
we were baking the Yes, I was putting my kids
to bed or on nine o'clock at night. So I'm
just kidding. I'm just seeing a lot of these shows
for the first time. Now.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Yeah, I would encourage everybody to watch them again, but
we're heading to a break.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Thank you so much, John, thanks for calling in. Merry
Christmas and God bless you. Okay, byba you too.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
Well.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
That was my guest, John Ratzenberger. Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
We'll be back shortly. I want to know what your
favorite Christmas movie is. I'm Deborah Flora sitting in for
Mandy Connell. That was an homage to the guest we
just had. John Ratzenberger, who is Cliff Claven on Cheers,
always has so.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Many funny stories.
Speaker 6 (31:24):
I could probably just do a three hour program with him,
but we will keep moving on. But he did share
the story if you missed it, about how he got
the job for Cliff Claven. He said, it's the first
time he ever auditioned his life. He was doing improv
all over Europe. He walked in, said he feels like
he tainked the audition. Before he left, he turned and
(31:47):
he looked at the showrunners.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Do you have a bar know it all? He asked,
And they did not know what that meant.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
So we picked up a big pin from one of
the producer's desks and then just started riffing on it
about where the big pen was made and its entire history.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
The rest is history.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
And if you are tired of Christmas movies I do,
which I'm not, by the way, I'm not encouraging that,
but if you are, or let's say, in the new Year,
I encourage you to watch Cheers again because it's having
a bit of a renaissance. It's one of those feel
good TV shows, just like the song where everybody knows
your name.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
But I did ask Cliff.
Speaker 6 (32:26):
Also known as John Ratzenberger, whether or not Diehard is
a Christmas movie. He actually couldn't even verbally answer. He
just started laughing and scoffing. So, hey, you know what,
I'm going to respond to some of the responses I'm
getting here through textures. Feel free to text it at
five six six nine zero. But according to my friend
John Ratzenberger, that.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Is a definitive no. Let's see some of the other
folks texting and.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Say, of course it is a Christmas movie. Ghostbusters two
is also a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
So I think I need to pause.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
I need to define what I consider to be a
Christmas movie, which is, yes, Christmas has to be in it. Okay,
so Diehard has that, but it also has to have
the feeling of Christmas meaning. You know, I don't get
warm and fuzzy feelings just when someone's thrown off the
Nagasaki building, even if.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
They are a bad terrorist. But hey, you know what
that might say Christmas is some people, and it sure
says justice to me. I like the movie. But as
we said, it was released July fifteenth.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
I believe it was, and even Bruce Willis said it
was not a Christmas movie. But I don't think this
will be the final word on that subject. In fact,
within our own home, my husband and our son think
it's a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
Our daughter and I do not. But let's see some others.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
That folks are saying made for TV movie. Yes, Virginia,
there is a Santa Claus. I remember that story. I
love that story. Richard Thomas, Charles Bronson, A nice adaptation
of what might be the most famous newspaper column ever written.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
That's great.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
There's also an older black and white version of that movie.
And one of the ones that John Rasmer shared is
one of his favorites was Scrooge was Christmas Carol. And
he just came back from playing Scrooge in the Christmas
Carol on the East Coast and he's back home on
the West Coast, and one of the listeners has texted
(34:22):
in says, my favorite Christmas movie is the nineteen seventy
Scrooge with Albert Finnie and Alec Guinness and perfectly captures
Victorian London.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
Well, those are some good ones.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
I'm definitely gonna keep sharing those as we go through
the hour. But I wanted to also share another story
we didn't have time with John Ratzenberger to talk about,
because one of the things that John has also done
ever since he did Made in America and being someone
who was a carpenter and worked in all kinds of
(34:54):
jobs like that, and he was talking about the dignity,
the dignity of working with your hands. I gotta tell you,
I believe it's time and one of the ways that
we can really continue what I think is a revolution
happening in our education.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
System, A much needed one.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
By the way, wouldn't it be great just to get
back to where in our classrooms we focused on reading, writing, arithmetic,
not social studies, which can mean a whole.
Speaker 5 (35:20):
Bunch of things, but civics.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
There's a reason why so many people don't realize that
America truly is exceptional and our constitution is something that
is wondrous and how durable it is. It's because they're
being taught social studies, which could be almost anything. It
could be Renaissance period, gender theory, and basket weaving, you
could call that social studies. Time to get back to
(35:46):
actually studying civics. But another thing is getting shop class
back into schools. In Douglas County, they've done this. That's
where my family lives, and they're having an entire different
legacy campus that's gearing people up to actually have productive jobs.
I think it's time also in this movement that I've
(36:07):
been involved in for quite a bit in school choice
and education freedom, to get.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
Back to what is actually the goal of education.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
It is number one to teach kids how to think,
not what to think, critical thinking, and to prepare them
for fruitful life ahead.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
In our society. No wonder you have so many.
Speaker 6 (36:30):
Co eds, particularly on these Ivy League campuses, who are
so angry. They are graduating with hundreds of thousands of
debt and degrees for which there is no job.
Speaker 5 (36:41):
It is time for this to turn around.
Speaker 6 (36:44):
So that's one of the things that we're going to
talk about when we come back.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
We were going to have Kevin Sorbo join us.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
He's going to join us instead next week Monday the thirtieth,
when I'm sitting again for Mandy. But when we come back,
we're going to talk about some New Year's resolutions that
I hope our government has, and that is raining in spending.
Wait till I'll tell you who's been giving gifts to
those who I don't think really need it. Don't go anywhere.
(37:10):
I'm Devera. Flora's sitting in for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
The Mandy Connell Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Well, no, it's Mandy Connell, Andy conn.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
On Ka.
Speaker 11 (37:27):
Nineteem God.
Speaker 8 (37:31):
Say, Kevin Ny Prey Bandyconnell keeping the sad Babe.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
Welcome to the Mandy Connall Show. This is Deborah Flora
sitting in for my friend Mandy. So good to be
here with you all. We've already had a.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
Lot of fun and we're going to talk about more
things Christmas. We're also going to talk about some of
the headlines and things that we are wishing for in
the new year, like fiscal restraint in DC. But before
I go there, I want to read some more of
the different texts that are coming in, feel free to
text us at five six six nine zero want to
(38:12):
hear from you. My guest in the first hour was
John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven from Cheers, also someone that you
know from the Pixar movie multiple voices there. Also someone
who has stood up very much for really things that
are made in America and all the great people who
make that happen. So when I asked him this question,
(38:33):
is die heard a Christmas movie? All he could do
was laugh and.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
Say, heck no. So there you go. I think it's definitive.
You know, we'll see. I'm going to read some of
these coming in.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
One Texter said, die hard Christmas movie hard, No good, Anya,
I agree with you. Talking about other favorite Christmas movies.
Of course it is a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
I read this one.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
Ghostbusters two is also a Christmas movie. Not sure if
that was facetious or not to take it in that vein.
Let's see there are some others talking about their favorite
Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (39:05):
One very very nice, thank you for saying it's nice
to hear me back on the radio. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
And it said this listener said her favorite Christmas movie
is It's a Wonderful Life.
Speaker 5 (39:17):
It's a heartwarming plot and the cast is phenomenal. It
makes me cry too.
Speaker 6 (39:23):
You know what, there is a great point for conversations
by what defines a Christmas movie? Because I agree, I
think It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas movie and
we usually watch it with our family after church on
Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. So the argument can begin,
why is that a Christmas movie when it's not necessarily
essential to the plot, which is to me one of
(39:45):
the things that defines a Christmas movie. In other words,
you could take die Hard and you could put it
at a big holiday or sorry, a big work party
where they met a particular benchmark and raising money, or
an anniversary of the company of the Naga Sambi Corporation.
It could be that you could put it somewhere else. Well,
(40:05):
you could do that with It's a Wonderful Life. But
here comes down the question does it have a Christmas feeling?
That unknown something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy,
and it's about redemption and pulls at your heart strings.
And yes, there is a moment when Bruce Willison's character
is reunited with his wife, whose name is Holly. Yes,
I do get that that's a point that is often made,
(40:27):
but it doesn't have to be Christmas. It doesn't really
have that Christmas feel. That's me and I'm sticking with that.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
But here we go one of the situations that we're
reading here. Others.
Speaker 6 (40:41):
Let's see Die Hard streams on more platforms and more
often in December than any other time of year.
Speaker 5 (40:47):
Further, networks have.
Speaker 6 (40:48):
Begun to play the movie in a loop all day
on Christmas Day. This person has a very lengthy argument,
and I appreciate that thoroughness.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Finally, the fact that.
Speaker 6 (40:57):
There is a vigorous debate as to whether it is
or is not only boasters its status as a Christmas
and or Christmas related its place in the pop culture sphere.
Is weeever now tied to Christmas? Well, yes, I think
it's also forever tie with lines like yippie kaya and
I will not say the rest of it, or finding
(41:19):
out that you know, certain people are not actually terrorists
and deserve the death that they receive in the end
of that movie. I kind of put it more with
dirty hairy movies than with it's a Wonderful life or
Christmas Carol.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But that is just me.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
And let's see a couple other things that will keep
going through this. Tell me your favorite Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
Go to five six, six nine zero and oh here's
another one, The Star The Nativity Story told through the
eyes of the animals that were there.
Speaker 5 (41:50):
I think that is a really charming movie.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
There's a movie that I really wished I had liked more,
and that is a movie called The Nativity. And because
there's very few that also tell you the real miracle
of Christmas, you know, which is Jesus being born, coming
to be the savior of mankind.
Speaker 5 (42:09):
And The Nativity was made by Christian Hardwick. She was
the director very you.
Speaker 6 (42:14):
Know, high high level cast Oscar Isaac's plays Joseph Keisha
Cassel Hughes plays Mary. What I think is interesting about
that movie is that it's understandable of the take that
they have on it. Catherine Hardwick was known for directing Thirteen,
which was all about kind of the angst of teenage girls.
(42:35):
And unfortunately Mary in that movie, I think really had
an angst about her. She was poudy that she was
going to get married and all of that she didn't
really want.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
To, which was actually the custom of the day.
Speaker 6 (42:48):
I think she was about fourteen and they're telling of
the story, and her mother had only been married and
had kids.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
By that point in time, so that didn't really fit.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
But if you want to see an amazing scene, I
do encourage you to watch it for Oscar Isaacs, who
as Joseph just has this moment when he says, I
wonder if I'll be able to teach him anything?
Speaker 5 (43:11):
Can you imagine? I love placing myself back in that.
Speaker 6 (43:15):
Moment in time, imagining what these two people that chose
to carry this literal burden for all of us, what
they were thinking. So, okay, that's the Christmas movie of
the Christmas story that I wanted to share. So want
to switch gears here because we have been talking a
little bit prior to that about as we get also
(43:35):
close to New Year's many of us are looking at budgets,
you're in donations.
Speaker 5 (43:40):
Where can we make New.
Speaker 6 (43:41):
Year's resolutions for the new year? Well, I got to
tell you, so it's time out on the first hour.
I have a wish that for our federal government, and
hopefully this is coming that their New Year's resolution probably
starting on January twentieth, is going to be balancing budget,
watching their spending as every single household has to do
(44:04):
or else they get the full weight of the government.
While it's time for the government to understand the full
weight of the citizens. And to put this into context,
our national debt has climbed to over thirty six trillion dollars.
National deficit is over one point eight trillion. I shared
something in the first hour where I was talking about
(44:26):
this stopgap spending measure, and I'm not a fan of
continuing resolutions. However, I don't want the government shut down
over the holidays when it would come to paying our
military and their families. But hidden in that nugget, which
was called the American Relief Act of twenty twenty five,
yes there's money for disaster spending related to Hurricane Helene.
(44:49):
There is money for farmers because since Congress can't pass
a budget, the farm bill is getting kicked down the can.
And I've had an opportunity, by the way, to talk
with so much any of the great farmers, agricultural folks,
ranchers in Colorado, both on the western slope and the
eastern plains, and they are dealing with the double whammy
(45:12):
of a government that can't get us act together on
top of the shutting down of the energy sector here
in Colorado, which is oftentimes a second source of income
to the great people that are out there. So I'm
happy about that. But also in the bill, and I
read it quickly, so you know this is approximate, there
was also in this American Relief Act relief for Congress
(45:36):
members themselves. It looks like they may be giving themselves
a raise and income increase.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
And when I said, how did that make you feel?
Speaker 6 (45:47):
One one listener texted in for sitting on their high
knees doing nothing.
Speaker 5 (45:53):
No raise for Congress.
Speaker 6 (45:55):
You know what I agree should be merit based pay,
pass a budget, which is your job and House representatives,
and then maybe we'll consider that as the American people.
But when I talk about budgets and overspending, I want
to share this clip with you because, as we all know,
the Kamala Harris campaign raised one point five billion dollars
(46:15):
some say two billion dollars and reported twenty million dollars
in debt. Now let's just remember, by the way, she
was only campaigning for ten months. I cannot do the
fast math of how much that was per month. But
that's a whole lot in ten months. Two million dollars
of debt each month.
Speaker 3 (46:33):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (46:34):
I was able to divide by ten and do it quickly.
Speaker 6 (46:37):
And someone who had been a top fundraiser for the DNC,
Lindy Lee, top Democrat National Committee finance member, dared to
question where the money went, the money that she helped raise.
And here she is on Pierce Morgan, uncensored. Let's play
that Lindy Lee clip.
Speaker 9 (46:55):
With Democrats, they pretend to be, you know, so loving
and caring and embraced of diversity. But all of a sudden,
when I dare to utter any criticisms of the Goddess
Kamala Harris, I get ostracized. Me after having raised tens
of millions of dollars for the party, and I'm being
called a grif German. All along, all these years, I've
(47:17):
said on TV, I've said to the press, I'm a
conservative Democrat.
Speaker 5 (47:22):
This is not a switch for me.
Speaker 7 (47:24):
This is just me.
Speaker 4 (47:25):
This is who I've always been.
Speaker 9 (47:27):
And also, my donors are pissed. They raised two point
five billion dollars across super Pack in the campaign. It's
my responsibility.
Speaker 5 (47:36):
It's my duty of care to ask what the hell
happened with that money?
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Why did we spend it? Why did we spend.
Speaker 9 (47:43):
Millions of dollars on five star hotels for campaign staffers.
Why did we spend five hundred thousand dollars essentially bribing
Al Sharpton moments before he interviewed Kamala and these are
legitimate questions. But no, in the cult, you can't ask
questions the Democratic Party. You're even questioning the Democratic Party.
Speaker 6 (48:04):
It's like leaving a coul Wow. Well, there it is
from Lyndy Lee. She was and I say that in
the past tense. Now a the Democrat National Committee finance
member and top d NC fundraiser. You know, it's interesting
to hear that because there is something I believe across
the entire spectrum that is troubling, which is the inability
(48:27):
to question anything and then getting shut down.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (48:31):
It kind of reminds me.
Speaker 6 (48:33):
Of when George Washington and his farewell speech warned that
the two party system would be the death of the republic.
Speaker 5 (48:41):
Now I'm a Republican.
Speaker 6 (48:43):
I'm actually though more a constitutional conservative because my allegiance,
so to speak, is in the order of my faith
the Constitution, then that protects the God given rights of
each individual through that. Politically, it would be the platform
(49:03):
of the Republican Party. Why because that is based on principles.
But the minute that there's an allegiance in this case
Lenny Lee talking to about the Democrat Party, if the
allegiance is to that party itself, then there is not
an ability to question.
Speaker 5 (49:19):
That's one of the marks of occult.
Speaker 6 (49:21):
It's interesting that she uses it that way, and that
is also part of what the problem is in our country,
the inability to ask questions. And I got to be honest,
this happens on both far ends of the spectrum. I
do believe it happens more on the left, but we've.
Speaker 5 (49:39):
Got to no matter where you are, remember it is
our God given right to ask questions. And that is
what she was kicked out for, for asking questions.
Speaker 6 (49:50):
About where did the money go? And by the way,
I believe it was in that clip. If it was not,
it was certainly earlier in it. Or she said we
we deserve to know meeting those who raise.
Speaker 5 (50:01):
Money, who gave money, why five.
Speaker 6 (50:04):
Star hotels were being used for campaign staff, Why where
did that money go?
Speaker 5 (50:13):
And here's the problem. I'm not a zero sum person.
Speaker 6 (50:16):
I believe that money is a wealth I should actually
say is created by the mind. You can keep creating it.
It doesn't mean because one person has it, someone doesn't. However,
when people give their funds to something they believe in,
and now granted I would not have given any money
to Kamala Harris or her campaign, and it is squandered
in that way, there needs to be questions, There needs
(50:38):
to be examination, and there needs to be the ability
to hold people accountable accountabilities, something we're going to talk
about when we come back, because, as you probably heard,
the Biden administration not only has pardoned a huge number
of people a single day record of how many sentences
(50:58):
were commuted, but they're also looking at pardoning certain people
in advance, which, first of all, I'm not even quite
sure how you do that, but they are talking about that.
This is on the tail end of Joe Biden pardoning
his son Hunter Biden, not just for what we know
that he did the things he confessed, but anything else
he might have done during that period that doesn't sit
(51:20):
right with justice. And because of this overspending, because of
this push to not ask questions. There is a movement
right now going on in the Biden administration to pardon
people in advance.
Speaker 5 (51:33):
When we come back, we're going to talk.
Speaker 6 (51:34):
About that because one of those people is a Republican. Yep,
feel free to take a guess at who that is.
Five six six nine zero. When we come back, we're
going to talk about that. We're going to continue to
talk about the need for accountability. That's really what pre
pardons are, by the way, are trying to get out
of accountability, which I do believe is coming January twentieth.
Speaker 5 (51:57):
So we come back, we'll talk about that.
Speaker 6 (51:59):
Who is a well known Republican that Joe Biden wants
to pardon in advance, or at least his team don't
know if Joe's really behind it.
Speaker 5 (52:07):
We'll talk about that as well.
Speaker 6 (52:09):
Don't go anywhere. When we come back, we'll continue. Feel
free to text. In five sixty six nine zero. I'm
DeBerg Flora, sitting in for Mandy Connell. We've been mixing
it up here. We've been talking about Christmas movies. We've
been talking about overspending in no not just our households,
although I believe most of us will watch our budgets
(52:30):
a lot more closely. But in DC and I tease
two things before the break, I've been getting some great texts.
Feel free to text in at five six six nine
zero number one, I talked about someone who is getting
a Christmas gift, which I don't really think.
Speaker 5 (52:45):
Is appropriate in this American Relief Act.
Speaker 6 (52:48):
We talked about how where there are needs for it,
and particularly making sure that our military and their.
Speaker 5 (52:54):
Families get paid.
Speaker 6 (52:56):
Shut down could impact that unless it's done correctly.
Speaker 1 (52:59):
I do.
Speaker 6 (53:00):
I think something needs to be done to stop this
relentless cycle of continuing resolutions. But in there was also
a excuse me a proposal for Congress to have a raise.
One listener texted and said, if Congress wants a raise,
it should be put before the voting population and not
be done by Congress. Here here who else gets to
(53:21):
just say, you know what, I want a raise. I
think that most moms out there I am a mom,
would say, hey, you know what, I've been working really
hard this year. I deserve a raise. Or who wouldn't
say that there is no accountability for them to give
themselves a raise.
Speaker 5 (53:35):
I agree with that.
Speaker 6 (53:37):
Another aspect of it is the fact that we were
sharing how the Biden administration, the White House Chief of
Staff is urging them to spend as much money as
possible before the gig is up January twentieth. Basically, Well,
someone who's getting in on that is not just Biden's administration,
but Nancy Pelosi. Here's a headline out of nine million
(53:59):
COVID bagel out money.
Speaker 5 (54:01):
Guess where that was given.
Speaker 6 (54:03):
It just happened to be given to a really ritzy
five star hotel and spot in Napa Valley. The rooms
routinely go for two thousand dollars a night. Now, if
you need to bail out, I might consider changing your
business model because if it's two thousand dollars a night,
there's a lot of people that cannot pay for that,
(54:25):
and you're only obviously really going after the ritziest. But
this Auberge du Solet hotel, I'm probably not saying that
all correct because I wouldn't pay two thousand dollars a
night for hotel, so I'm not going to say it correctly. Well,
guess who is one of the primary investors in that hotel.
That would be Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul, And
(54:46):
even though they have run a net loss in that
investment over almost all of the years. Guess what after
they worked to give your and my taxpayer dollars to
this resort in Napa Valley, of course, just a couple
hour drive from Nancy Pelosi's area that she represents of
San Francisco. Not Surprisingly, unfortunately, after doing that, their investment
(55:13):
Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul's investment actually surge to
a profit of one to five million dollars. You know what,
It's time for some accountability, it is, and perhaps that
is why they're trying to spend as much money.
Speaker 5 (55:27):
As they can before they leave office.
Speaker 6 (55:29):
And also Biden's team is actually looking at preemptive pardons
for their allies. Preemptive pardons, by the way, there is
something so wrong when you consider that our Bill of Rights,
one of the cornerstones is due process, actual responsibility for
(55:51):
the individual that does something.
Speaker 5 (55:53):
And jury by your peers, etc.
Speaker 6 (55:56):
But preemptive pardons just strike me as in incredibly unconstitutional.
Speaker 5 (56:01):
Be interesting to see if they hold up.
Speaker 6 (56:04):
I teased before the break that one of these preemptive
pardons that they're looking at. And by the way, this
is being led by White House counsel at Siskel. Basically,
I said one of them is going to a Republican,
that's who they're considering, and I asked for some guests.
One listener text said maybe it was Mitch McConnell. Well,
(56:25):
actually the answer is this. Here are the people that
they're considering right now for preemptive pardons on their way
out the door, Senator l like Adam Schiff, a Democrat,
doctor Fauci because there's all kinds of stuff coming up
now about the pharmaceutical deals behind the scenes, and the
Republican that they're considering giving this too is former GOP
(56:47):
Representative Liz Cheney. Now that may not surprise you, but
here's what's coming out. There is now information and evidence
that Liz Cheney allegedly has not.
Speaker 5 (57:02):
Been proved yet. I do believe in due process, but there.
Speaker 6 (57:05):
Is evidence that is coming out that seems to indicate
that Liz Cheney tampered with January six witnesses. Actually one
in particular, tampered with a January sixth witness in this manner.
And as we all may remember Liz Cheney, she was
(57:27):
served on the January sixth House Select Committee. And let
me just say this, by the way, if you break
the law, I believe you deserve and you should have
the consequence. So anyone who harmed police or anyone else
that night that day should have the repercussions, but it
should be measured and there should.
Speaker 5 (57:47):
Be a full investigation of all aspects of this.
Speaker 6 (57:50):
But here's what's coming out right now, and this is
from the House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight. Chairman that's represented
very louder Milk of Georgia said, based on the evidence
obtained by the subcommittee, there were numerous federal laws that
were likely broken by Liz Cheney. These violations should be investigated,
he is stating, by the FBI. And here's the evidence.
(58:13):
Many of us may remember Cassidy Hutchinson. She's the former
White House aide and was Liz Cheney's star witness at all.
Speaker 5 (58:21):
The nationally televised hearings.
Speaker 6 (58:23):
Well, what happened is there is evidence that Liz Cheney
was secretly communicating with this witness without her attorney. So
the accusation, the evidence that's coming out is there was
some sort of collusion going on, and it alleges that
Cheney encouraged false testimony about a handwritten document that Cassty
(58:45):
had produced. One of the points that they're saying is
casty was the one that basically said that former President
Donald Trump tried to commandeer his presidential limousine that day
to take it to the capital that was directly refuse
by the Secret Service. And Malling Hemingway, who was also
accused by Cassiy Hutchinson about her illegally obtaining classified information,
(59:10):
she just basically says, it's coming clear that there were
many lies about this and Liz Cheney might have been
behind tampering with a witness.
Speaker 5 (59:18):
Now I don't know if that's true. I don't, but
here's what I do know.
Speaker 6 (59:24):
It is about time we have accountability because when there
is an erosion of checks and balances, which is what
our entire gumery is based on, if there's a sense
among the American people that people in DC can do
whatever they want, like Nancy Pelosi diverting nine how much
(59:44):
was it nine billion?
Speaker 5 (59:46):
I think it was, yes, and funds.
Speaker 6 (59:50):
To a hotel nine million in funds to a hotel
that she was an investor in, and then there may
be tampering.
Speaker 5 (59:58):
With these witnesses evidence.
Speaker 6 (01:00:00):
We have to have accountability because if we do not
have accountability, we will lose all all confidence in our government,
and that is a huge problem. Well, we're gonna switch
from that when we come back. I'm gonna before we
go to the break, I'm gonna talk about some of
the texts that are coming in because I so appreciate that.
(01:00:21):
Feel free to text in at five sixty six nine zero.
That's five sixty six nine zero. And by the way,
if you don't think it's enough to go to California,
Biden loaned California fifteen billion dollars to upgrade their electrical
grill and fight climate change. I know firsthand that many
states like California, who far overspent what they had, would
(01:00:43):
have gone bankrupt without the COVID shutdown bill out while
they're getting more now on the way out the door.
That's the part that I had the biggest problem with.
So I'm gonna read some of these texts about some
of these topics, and then we're going to talk when
we come back a little bit more about who's really
responsible for all this, Because we've got some great, great
questions one listener, I'm going to read the ones that
(01:01:06):
disagree with me. Cheney held a conversation the horror. I
understand that that might seem like a small thing, but
it goes against our entire legal system. She had direct
contact with a witness and coached her according to text,
without her attorney's involvement. I believe we deserve better from
(01:01:31):
members of our government, and certainly not breaking the law
when it comes to witness tampering. That is something that
will undermine our entire judicial system. So when we look
at that, there is one comment another person said, I
heard President Biden just gave ten million to Iran. What
that listener's referring to is in this let's throughout lots
(01:01:52):
of money on the way out the door. Actually, what
Joe Biden did two days after the election on eleven
November seventh was basically gave Iran a wave on their
sanctions in the form of ten billion dollars. You know,
(01:02:13):
in the next hour, we're going to Rich Social join us.
And Rich is someone who I've talked with so much
ever since October seventh, and even before that. What is
shocking is that that could have been completely eliminated if
the sanctions of our duly elected officials in Congress had
been maintained. Instead, the biding administration time and time again
(01:02:36):
waived the sanctions, giving Iran that kind of money that
allows them to fund terrorism from Hamas to Hesbalah and
everywhere in between. So yes, that was a great point made.
It wasn't the money that was given, It was a
waiver on the sanctions. The sanctions were working. By the way,
if we all can just take a moment and remember
back when that was happening, Iran was starting to rumble
(01:03:00):
from within when the sanctions were being enforced. That is
one of the ways we can make a difference in
the world. For everyone who doesn't want our military all
over the place, which I don't. I grew up in
the military here in Lowry Air Force Base. My husband
is in the military, a second airborne veteran. I don't
want to see our military everywhere. But there are other
means by which we can achieve these goals, and sanctions
(01:03:23):
is one of them. So yes, as Christmas gifts are
being given out left and right by an administration walking
out the door, I'm not for it going to hotels
that charge two thousand dollars a night in our primary
investments of the pelosis, I'm not for it going to
Iran in.
Speaker 5 (01:03:40):
A waiver of their sanctions, and I'm not for.
Speaker 6 (01:03:44):
It going to California who need to get their own
house and or because by the way, at the end
of the day, those are.
Speaker 5 (01:03:50):
Your and my tax dollars.
Speaker 6 (01:03:52):
That's why we have such a situation with inflation and
so many people struggling and going paycheck to paycheck, and anyway,
I could go on and on.
Speaker 5 (01:04:01):
You get the point.
Speaker 6 (01:04:02):
When we come back, we're going to talk about another
thing that has been revealed.
Speaker 5 (01:04:07):
And it has to do with what a caller text
in and they said.
Speaker 6 (01:04:14):
I doubt Joe Biden really is doing much of anything
interesting transition to what we're going to get to. So
when we come back, I'm going to talk about that
something else that's being revealed, and we're also going to
continue our conversation about Christmas movies. Keep getting many, many
great recommendations. The Bishop's wife several like those us. A
(01:04:35):
few people have texted about Red One, the new movie
with JK. Simmons and Dwayne the Rock Johnson. We'll talk
about that when we come back as well.
Speaker 5 (01:04:42):
Don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell.
If you missed any of the show.
Speaker 6 (01:04:48):
Definitely listen to it later because in the first hour,
good friend John Ratsenberger joined the conversation even about Christmas movies.
John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven from Chairs of Voice.
Speaker 5 (01:04:58):
And many many pick sar movies.
Speaker 6 (01:05:00):
And when I asked him the gauntlet question, as I
call it, throw down the gauntlet, is Diehard a Christmas movie?
Speaker 5 (01:05:08):
He just laughed and said, why would it be a
Christmas movie?
Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
So there you go.
Speaker 5 (01:05:12):
You have the definitive answer.
Speaker 6 (01:05:14):
From someone who just got through playing a Scrooge in
a play in the Christmas Carol on the East Coast. Anyway,
I know that is debatable, and of course it's all
for fun, but I love how serious it gets people going.
Speaker 5 (01:05:28):
So we're going to talk about some more Christmas movies.
Speaker 6 (01:05:30):
I'll just just share a couple of my favorites, some
of the ones that listeners have meant mentioning It's a
Wonderful Life. I do believe it's a Christmas movie because
it is not only set around Christmas, but it has
that essential Christmas movie quality, hope, wonder redemption, family, you know,
(01:05:50):
And yes, some people do think that that warm and
fuzzy feeling.
Speaker 5 (01:05:53):
Comes from tossing people off the Nakatomi Tower building, but
a little bit different feel.
Speaker 6 (01:06:00):
Here's a new one this year, and that is Red
One Read One, starring JK. Simmons and Dwayne Johnson as
well as Chris Evans, and it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (01:06:11):
I mean, it's not a typical Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (01:06:13):
I have someone who chimed in a listener who said
that this is one of their new favorite Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (01:06:19):
It's not traditional, and you do have.
Speaker 6 (01:06:21):
To get used to a very fit pilates ready Santa
Claus and JK. Simmons, but hey, you know, he's been
around for a really long time, so he has to
stay fit. And if you work out with Dwayne Johnson,
you probably are going to.
Speaker 5 (01:06:35):
Be very fit. But it's an interesting take. What I
like about it is it is different.
Speaker 6 (01:06:41):
It's new, it's fresh, it's not cynical. By the way,
That's really one of the things that I appreciate when
there are new Christmas movies that can become Christmas classics.
A couple of others in that newer Christmas classic motif
I would guess to call.
Speaker 5 (01:06:57):
It is Christmas Chronicles.
Speaker 6 (01:07:00):
Not everyone likes it because the elves are a little
a little unusual looking, let me just say that. But
in Christmas Chronicles, Kurt Russell plays what we would call
Salty Santa. He's got a wonderful edge to him, but
so full of love and joy of the spirit and
has an amazing, amazing, redemptive story about I won't give
(01:07:22):
it away, but about his son and what he really
would always want to have said to his father. It's very,
very heartwarming. So let's see other favorite Christmas movies. Christmas Shoes,
that's an interesting one.
Speaker 5 (01:07:36):
We also have had The Battle of the Bulge. Well,
there you go.
Speaker 6 (01:07:42):
That is a military historian's favorite Christmas movie. It's actually
just said that it's not their favorite, but it is.
Speaker 5 (01:07:48):
A Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (01:07:49):
What that does remind me of I do love Christmas
movies that capture that moment in history where the real
medium Christmas transcends what's going on.
Speaker 5 (01:08:00):
We all know the famous story of the Two Sides.
I believe it was World War One on either.
Speaker 6 (01:08:06):
Side, and this is based on a true story, and
they were in the middle of one of the most
brutal battle fields really.
Speaker 5 (01:08:15):
In human history.
Speaker 6 (01:08:16):
When you think about what was going on at that time,
and they are on either side, and they suddenly realize
it is Christmas Eve, and for a few short hours
they stop the battling, They stop the fighting, They come
out of their trenches and actually play a game of
Christmas soccer. They sing a carol or two. Now, the
(01:08:38):
sad part of is it went back just to the
way it was before. And I think that is much
of the challenge of the Christmas season, because I do
think we have an opportunity to be a little different
at Christmas time. It reminds us, you know, part of
Red One, the new Christmas movie with Dwayne Johnson and JK. Simmons,
(01:08:59):
is basically one of the people that works closely with Santa.
I don't want to give the story away, but is
losing their ability to see the good in people and
therefore does not want to go on the job anymore.
Because this person sees in a mall people shoving and
grabbing things from one another, wrestling over packages, losing the
real meaning of the season. But then his ability to
(01:09:23):
see human beings in a different manner is restored. I
always think about this time of year is the time
that we can be the ones to do that. One
of my favorite texts that has come in so far.
Speaker 5 (01:09:34):
Thank you so much for sending.
Speaker 6 (01:09:36):
This in Merry Christmas from Parker, VFW Post four to
six six.
Speaker 5 (01:09:41):
Well, merry Christmas to you as well.
Speaker 6 (01:09:43):
You know this Christmas season and we'll talk a little
bit more about this before we wind up the show.
Speaker 5 (01:09:47):
But there's so many things we can do to be
a little different.
Speaker 6 (01:09:51):
We can actually, you know, take a pie or cookies
to your local firehouse. That's what we do with our
kids growing up, to the police station to those who
don't get a Christmas break because they're standing there always
ready to protect us in our homes. Maybe shovels someone's
yard next to you, particularly the person that maybe is
the neighborhood scrooge. Maybe an active kindness would you know,
(01:10:15):
make things a little easier. And no, granted there might
not be snow, so hey, at least bring their trash
cans up. Maybe drop off cookies to single mom and
offer to babysit. That's always a wonderful thing. If you
know of a military family, you know this time of year.
One of my earliest memories was my dad coming back
from Vietnam, and I remembered that boldly, and I remember
(01:10:37):
what it was like when he wasn't there. You know,
a military family somewhere around you, You could be the
one to spread that cheer and then the hope is
unlike the story from from World War One or the
next morning after Christmas they went back into their trenches
and started fighting all over again.
Speaker 5 (01:10:54):
Maybe we can change that.
Speaker 6 (01:10:56):
And you know, a texture just gave me the context
because it's one of my favorite stories is nineteen fourteen
Christmas Truths is between the British and German forces. Thank
you so much for that because I love that story.
Several movies have been made about it, so love hearing
about that. Let's see any other favorite Christmas movies that
(01:11:16):
we want to share. The Bishop's Wife has come up
a few times, which is good, and I'll just share
too a couple of my favorites. Speaking of instant Christmas classics,
you have to call out Elf. Elf is one of
those that just John Fevreau, the director, took it right
back to the wonder of Christmas. And I got to
(01:11:37):
be honest, every time I see Santa, I sound like Elf.
Speaker 5 (01:11:40):
Buddy, the Elf Santa I know him. See it lives
with you and sticks with you. Okay, we're gonna head
your break, will we come back. We're gonna bring it home.
Speaker 6 (01:11:50):
In the last hour, We're gonna talk about the real
meaning of the season. We're gonna have rich Sulka, We're
gonna talk about Hanukkah, Christmas, peace on Earth, goodwill to
it's all mankind.
Speaker 5 (01:12:01):
And we're also going to talk a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (01:12:03):
About a couple of headlines that we need to be
aware of as we prepare for a whole new season
and a whole new year. So don't go anywhere. I'm
Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 1 (01:12:14):
The Mandy Connall Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (01:12:19):
No, it's Mandy Connell.
Speaker 4 (01:12:24):
On Kla.
Speaker 11 (01:12:27):
Ninem, God Waken, Nicety through three Many Connall, Keith sad Bab.
Speaker 5 (01:12:42):
Welcome back to the Mandy Connell Show. This is Deborah
Flora sitting in for my friend Mandy Connall. I hope
you are getting ready to have an.
Speaker 6 (01:12:49):
Absolutely marry, merry Christmas and a happy Honukkah, whichever you
were celebrating this week as we were bringing this home
this last hour. I'm looking forward to a conversation we're
going to have at the bottom of the hour, we're
going to rich SoCal join us. He is a Colorado
patriotic American pro Israeli activist and supporter, and we've talked
(01:13:11):
a lot over the last year, ever since October seventh,
about that situation. But this year, Hanukah falls on December
twenty fifth, the same day as Christmas, and that's quite something,
and it's also something I want to talk about, you know,
after this next break, about some miracles that we've seen
around this time of year. But before we do one
(01:13:32):
last topical subject, I want to discuss, you know, we've
been getting in Christmas movies. Several of them have to
do with the military, which I'll talk about after the
next break, But I do have to share this headline
because growing up in the military. I grew up on
Lowry Air Force Base. My dad was a lieutenant colonel
in the Air Force. He went to Vietnam. My husband's
(01:13:53):
an eighty second Airborne veteran. I have many other veterans
in my family. When Afghanistan happened, when that that terrible
withdrawal occurred, that debacle where we acted as though we
were fleeing in surrender, was just a terrible day.
Speaker 5 (01:14:11):
In so many ways.
Speaker 6 (01:14:12):
First of all, it was that weakness that the Americans
showed that led an encourage really putent to invade Ukraine
and China to increase their aggression towards Thailand and other areas.
Speaker 5 (01:14:28):
And on top of it, we lost thirteen men and
women in uniform.
Speaker 6 (01:14:34):
We lost numerous of our allies in Afghanistan. And the
thing that has stuck with me to this point is
there has been no accountability. Growing up in the military,
I always understood that when you left a theater of engagement,
you always did in this order.
Speaker 5 (01:14:50):
You always did it in the.
Speaker 6 (01:14:51):
Order of first civilians, second, then equipment and third and
only then does the military relief. Under the Biden administration,
the first two were not even done. And by the way,
the billions of dollars of equipment and weaponry that we left,
some of it was within flying distance to fly our
(01:15:12):
black Hawks out to Syria, and that we could have
gotten out had we evacuate through Bogram Airbase. We've seen
much of that equipment now actually terrorizing the people of
Israel in the hands of really horrific terrorist organizations. We
know the Taliban became one of the most armed forces
in that region of the world and no one was
(01:15:34):
held responsible. That's unacceptable, to say the least. I've heard
from so many from Operation Pineapple Express and others where
great people in the military who were either retired or
worked behind the scenes managed to get by themselves and
with others who were focused without the help of the
American government, get many of our allies out.
Speaker 5 (01:15:56):
But the entire thing is a debacle, to say the least.
Speaker 6 (01:16:00):
Coming out now, many of us have known for a
while that Joe Biden was not fully present.
Speaker 5 (01:16:08):
Let's just be honest.
Speaker 6 (01:16:09):
That is not a dispersion, it is an observation and
a realization.
Speaker 5 (01:16:12):
What's coming out now.
Speaker 6 (01:16:14):
His age are beginning to detail how they propped him
up during his presidency, and when it comes to Afghanistan.
It has been stated by them that Biden was not
present for key moments of his presidency, including not being
involved in major decisions like the disastrous withdrawal of US
troops from Afghanistan in August of twenty twenty one. Instead,
(01:16:35):
who was making the decisions? It says an unknown team
of handlers made the decision to hastily pull out of
the region. Well, maybe that explains why it was done.
Speaker 5 (01:16:47):
So horrifically.
Speaker 6 (01:16:48):
Maybe that explains why the decisions were made in a vacuum.
Speaker 5 (01:16:53):
Of any good military strategy.
Speaker 6 (01:16:59):
It is stunning to me. I can't even tell you
how stunning that is to me. This is why we
need accountability. We need to know who was propping up
the commander in chief, and we are now hearing that,
on top of it, adding insult to injury, that the
gold star families of those thirteen servicemen and women who
(01:17:21):
were killed had to wait three hours for Joe Biden
to come down and be with them on the tarmac
where he was supposed to greet them. Why, you may ask, well,
one of the family members, the sister of Riley McCollum,
is just coming out now, said that she was told
by a military officer that Biden was taking a nap.
Speaker 5 (01:17:43):
He made them wait for three hours.
Speaker 6 (01:17:45):
And this is after a previous situation where he is
supposed to, with great dignity as the commander in chief,
be honoring the coffins of those that were unnecessarily lost
because of the way it was mishandled. And what did
he do in that situation looked at his watch. I
got to tell you, it is time for clarity. It's
(01:18:05):
time for some accountability. And as someone who has many,
many dear friends in the military and grew up in
the military, this was one of the most egregious examples
of dereliction of duty. And we are now finding out,
probably part of a media dump that is going on
(01:18:27):
over the Hollies hoping we won't notice that Joe Biden
wasn't even a part of that decision. His handlers were
doing it. And by the way, why does the leader
of the free world have handlers? Now we know when
Joe Biden had hot Mike moments and he would say
things like, well, they told me I couldn't take that question.
They told me to go over here, they told me
(01:18:49):
it's time to leave. Who was giving commands to the
commander in chief? Well, now we're finding out a couple
of his aides, a couple of his handlers. Okay, I
got that off my chest. We give you jolly again
when we come back, and I'm in a title together
with some Christmas movies that great listeners are texting in
five six six nine zero.
Speaker 5 (01:19:08):
That have to do with our military.
Speaker 6 (01:19:11):
And then we're going to talk about a couple of
miracles as We've prepared to have rich Socle join us
at the bottom of the hour. Don't go anywhere. I'm
Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell. What I wanted
to talk about in this segment. Some of the movies
that people are talking about are Silent Night.
Speaker 5 (01:19:27):
It takes place during World War two.
Speaker 6 (01:19:29):
Battle of the Bulge is actually based on true events.
You know, obviously noing knows exactly what happened, but it
was where opposing forces the Battle of the Bulge actually
paused for a moment as the rations were being basically
diminished on both sides.
Speaker 5 (01:19:47):
It was a freezing period of the war, to say
the least.
Speaker 6 (01:19:51):
And they actually came together and shared rations to make
one good Christmas meal. Pretty amazing. What can happen people's
arts and minds when we remember, first of all, we're
all human. For me, as a Christian, what Christmas means
is that God Emmanuel came down to be with us
(01:20:12):
as Jesus, to walk amongst us, to show his love,
be the light of the world, so that we can
now have that different way of looking at one another.
You know, the thing I love about the Constitution, why
because America was the only country in the history of
mankind made on one idea, which is a Judeo Christian
(01:20:33):
founding idea, that every person is created with intrinsic value
and therefore individual liberty.
Speaker 5 (01:20:39):
Government has one.
Speaker 6 (01:20:40):
Job to protect their rights and their safety, not to
tell us what to do and spend all our money.
But that is the kind of miracle when we pause
for a moment and realized we were all created in
God's image. Another movie that people been talking about, I
mentioned it, the Christmas Truth of nineteen fourteen, that shows
up in many different movies, was during World War One.
(01:21:01):
Those movies are Joyo Noel. I am not French, so
I apologize to everyone who knows how bad my accent was.
The Christmas Truth all is calm a moment where in
the trenches during World War One, a horrific time, the
rain was turning into cold and freezing, that there was
(01:21:23):
a pause, There was a hope that maybe it would
end at that time, and instead of fighting one another,
the German and the British forces ended up coming out
on top of that area between them only a matter
of yards, called no man's land.
Speaker 5 (01:21:40):
And they paused.
Speaker 6 (01:21:41):
They played a game of Christmas soccer. They probably called
it football, but you know what I mean, Christmas soccer
and they sang Christmas carols.
Speaker 5 (01:21:50):
That is.
Speaker 6 (01:21:53):
That is something that I hope we can all bring
to this moment, because no matter where you are, we're
not one another's enemies. Our neighbors are just at our neighbors.
We can disagree on certain things as long as we
stand up for one another's individual right to live free.
You know, there's another miracle that we're going to talk
about at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 5 (01:22:12):
When we have rich Sokle joining us. That's a miracle
of Hanukkah.
Speaker 6 (01:22:16):
When when the Menora stayed lit miraculously during a very
dark time. There's a miracle of Christmas. And that is
a true meaning of Christmas that I've shared as a Christian.
Speaker 5 (01:22:26):
That hope, that light, that knowing that God loves us
enough to.
Speaker 7 (01:22:30):
Be with us.
Speaker 5 (01:22:31):
But I also want to talk about another one.
Speaker 6 (01:22:33):
You know, it's interesting a caller texted in and said
something about how you know there's going to be all
these wars now that President Trump will be taking place
in office again. Well, you know it, Actually there weren't
wars when he was in office. And I'm not standing
up for anyone who does that. But we've had more
in the last four years with the horrors of October
seventh and the Ukraine wore, the debacle of Afghanistan. And
(01:22:58):
when we come back with Rich, we're going to talk
about what I call the Hana Kameracle. That was one
of the best things out of Trump's first administration, I believe,
where after passing the Abraham Accords, at the whaling Wall
of the Temple in Jerusalem, represents from UAE and Bahrain,
Arab Muslim countries help light the Menora with the Jewish
(01:23:22):
elders and rabbis that were there. That's what the season
can be about. That's what I'm hoping that we can
focus on. So we're going to head to the break.
When we come back, we'll have Rich circle with us
to bring it all home so we can remember the
real reason for the season and hopefully be inspired to
be that light to others and to be that peacemaker
to those around us. So don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah
(01:23:42):
Flora sitting in.
Speaker 5 (01:23:43):
For Mandy Connell.
Speaker 6 (01:23:46):
The lasting feeling that we take out of the season
movies are fun. We'll get back to that before the
very end of the show, but now I want to
take it really to the deeper meaning of faith and
hope and light in a very dark times. And the
person I'm so honored to have joined me in this
conversation as a dear friend, Rich Sokel.
Speaker 5 (01:24:05):
He is a fine American.
Speaker 6 (01:24:07):
He serves right here in Colorado as a South Metro
District treasurer.
Speaker 5 (01:24:12):
He's a pro Israel activist. We've stood together.
Speaker 6 (01:24:16):
Against those who had spread anti Semitism and hate and
you know, basically right in front of a CU regent's home.
He's someone who's always helping us keep our eye on
those who are dealing with much bigger things than we
are right now, Rich, thank.
Speaker 5 (01:24:32):
You so much for joining me on this show. I
really appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (01:24:36):
Good to be with you, dev and Merry Christmas and
has all your suitions.
Speaker 5 (01:24:41):
I'm going to let you say it. I just say it,
happy Hot.
Speaker 6 (01:24:43):
I messed up with French earlier also, so I love
how you say it instead. But happy Hot to get
to you, my friend, and Merry Christmas to everyone who's listening.
Speaker 5 (01:24:51):
You know, I think it's really important when we are,
you know.
Speaker 6 (01:24:55):
In this season, perspective is everything, Gratitude is everything. And
when we go to the mall and maybe you're attempting
to get upset if the latte isn't right, or if
somebody bought something we wanted. I always want to take
a moment to pause and remember our military receiving abroad
those who are in harm's way, and I want to
with you take a moment to remind our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:25:15):
That it has been four hundred and forty three days.
Speaker 6 (01:25:18):
Since October seventh, and the hostages were taken into the
Gaza Strip by just a terrible terrorist organization.
Speaker 5 (01:25:26):
Hamas, can you.
Speaker 6 (01:25:28):
Speak to that rich because I know you're in touch
with some of the families, and as Honic is approaching,
how can we be praying for them?
Speaker 7 (01:25:36):
Well, thank you Devi, and prayers are always gratefully accepted
from anyone at any time. So, as you said, whenever
I think I'm having a bad day, you know, every
time I wake up every morning, I remember that there's
one hundred hostages still in the tunnels of Gaza, living
into a poor and horrible conditions. Lots of reports that
they're undersed, lots of reports that they're not being taken
(01:26:00):
care of, they've not received any of their medication, the
Red Cross has not been allowed to visit them. And
as you said, it's been well over four hundred days
with no visits from the Red Cross. And you know,
we don't see people in the street protesting saying, hey,
how come AMASA isn't letting the Red Cross visit the hostages?
Silence from them. So every morning when I wake up, though,
(01:26:21):
I say a prayer for all the brave soldiers of Israel,
but more importantly that's all the hostages, that their chains
be broken, and that they be brought forth from darkness
into light and return to their homes. You know, you
and I wake up in a warm bed. Yes, these
people wake up in a dungeon, literally in a dungeon
every morning.
Speaker 10 (01:26:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (01:26:41):
And I always love reminding people that among the hundred hostages,
there are seven American citizens and they must feel abandoned.
It's disgraceful.
Speaker 5 (01:26:50):
Yes, indeed.
Speaker 6 (01:26:51):
And you know we were talking in we were talking
in the segment previously that that AIDS are starting to
admit that President Vine has not been present, let alone president,
of some of these moments. And he came out and
said recently that I think it was it was Hanukkah
reception at the White House that he had personally freed
one hundred out of two hundred hostages, when obviously we
(01:27:14):
know and that's not the case, and there are seven Americans,
And this is the thing. I want to see us
turning around our college campuses where instead they're saying, bring
the Americans home. And you and I talked about how
just a few weeks ago, Hamas just in another just
atrocious act, put a twenty year old or at no
twenty year old American young man on camera and had
(01:27:38):
him beg for his release, to which President Trump said,
if you don't release all of them by January twentieth,
there will be at double hockey sticks to pay. I
don't need to make like it light of it, but
tell us about that. Because our son is nineteen, our
daughter's twenty one, I can't even imagine what those parents
(01:27:58):
are going through.
Speaker 7 (01:28:00):
Thoughts about that, sure, Dad, and I think it's hard
for us to realize what those parents are going through.
And I met some of the parents when they actually
visited Denver a year ago at the start of the
legislative session, and I became friendly with two of the parents,
and I stayed in touch with them, and one thank
god the daughter was freed and a very daring Israeli
(01:28:23):
rescue operation. Her name was Noah Argamaani. For those of
you who follow it closely, the picture of her being
taken hostage and screaming she was on the back of
a motorcycle being driven by a Hamas terrorist. That sort
of became an iconic photo in Israel and around the world.
So thank god she was released and she's home, and
she got to go home right before her mother died
(01:28:45):
of cancer, so she got to see the mother literally
a few days before the mother passed, and of course
the mother's buying wish was to hold her daughter one
more time. Yeah, I'm also friends with a mom whose
son was killed at the music festival othern in Israel.
His body was on the side of the road and
then another Hamas terrorist pulled up. Two terrorists pulled up
(01:29:07):
in a car, opened up the trunk, threw his body
in and took it to Gaza. And if that's not
sickening enough, that the driver of the car and the
one who picked up the body is a UN employee
or was a UN employee. So all these people who
say the UN is a mutual organization that I mean
(01:29:27):
a lot of the un employees in Gaza, they work
for UNRA were complicit. And there's that. But what really
kills me if you think about this mom, Even though
the Israel military has told her that her son is dead,
she still thinks, well, maybe there's a mistake, maybe there's
a chance, maybe he's still alive. Yeah, And she's so
(01:29:50):
torn by this that she's devoted her life to trying
to get the hostages out. She travels around the world,
meeting with diplomats. But my heart goes out here. I
can't imagine this ecological burden of a mother. No, this
child is in a tunnel in Gaza. And I always
remind people that the youngest hostage taken on the terrible
(01:30:12):
day in October last year was nine months old. They
kidnapped a nine month old baby who's still being held captive.
We have no idea if he's alive or deck right.
What kind of animal? What kind of person? I even
hate to use the word person, but these are people
who did this.
Speaker 3 (01:30:29):
But their moral.
Speaker 7 (01:30:30):
Conscience is so twisted that they could do something like this.
You know, not only kill people in cold blood, not
only murd of parents in front of their children, not
only rape women, not only cut babies.
Speaker 3 (01:30:43):
Out of pregnant women's stomachs.
Speaker 7 (01:30:46):
The kidnap a nine month old baby, and still four
hundred days later, that baby's still being held hostage. Yeah,
you know, it does something like this happened.
Speaker 5 (01:30:55):
That's a great question.
Speaker 6 (01:30:56):
As you're listening, my guess is Rich so called derbrafloor
sitting it for Mandy conn On. The reason why we're
bringing this up is because sometimes if we maybe have
a hard time finding gratitude or where you know, it's
easy to just focus on the troubles we face.
Speaker 5 (01:31:08):
It's nothing, it's.
Speaker 6 (01:31:09):
Nothing compared to so many else around the world. Fortunately, God,
here's all of our prayers, no matter whether it's a
large problem or not, but really repositioning ourselves to realize
how blessed we are to live in this country, and
how we need to focus on those in need and
standing up and using our voices, and which when we
think about, you know, the meaning of this season, we're
(01:31:31):
going to.
Speaker 5 (01:31:31):
Be praying most definitely for that mom and others.
Speaker 6 (01:31:34):
And when you're talking about you know, we're trying about
four hundred and forty three days since the hostage were taken,
any parent understands if you don't know where your child
is for two hours, what that feeling is like, and
you're waiting for them to come home.
Speaker 5 (01:31:47):
So we need to be praying for all of those folks.
Speaker 6 (01:31:49):
But Freemi, you've always been so great to point out
that anyone who's listening who's.
Speaker 5 (01:31:53):
Not persuaded of where the barbarism is in this.
Speaker 6 (01:31:56):
Situation, Israel is a place where Muslims, Wish and Christian
folks as well as atheists all lived together in peace.
That Israel has so gone out of its way to
be humanitarian. They actually drop leaflets before they attack somewhere
so that civilians can.
Speaker 5 (01:32:13):
Get out of the way if the terrorists would let them,
which they don't. So I think that's very important to
keep in mind.
Speaker 6 (01:32:19):
You know, as we are looking at this and the
situation that we just talked about where the Hamas tried
to get this twenty year old to plead for Donald
Trump to release him, which is ironic because Biden is
in the White House and has done nothing in this front.
Do you think that there will be some changes coming
with a new administration coming.
Speaker 5 (01:32:38):
Back in.
Speaker 7 (01:32:40):
I totally hope. So, I mean Trump's election in the
middle East is a seismic shift, and we already see it.
You know, we saw that Israel and has Belah, soon
after Trump's election, entered into a peace agreement because has
Blah knows, you know, in Washington there's going to be
a new sheriff in town. And with the new sheriff
comes new rules and comes new actions. So what we're
(01:33:02):
hoping for if your listeners remember back to nineteen seventy
nine when we got the Iranian hostage crisis, when Iranians
took the fifty two Americans hostage, and the day that
Ronald Reagan took office, they were released, right, So we
are certainly hoping and praying that, you know, hopefully it's
tomorrow that the hostages are released. You know, as you said,
(01:33:23):
Trump has said that by the time he assumes the presidency,
if the Americans aren't released, there will be does he
so eloquently put.
Speaker 6 (01:33:31):
It, And I can't you can say the word, I'm
no and yeah, and I do believe there'll be a change.
And you know, I want to want to shift it
now as we're thinking about the miracles that this season
represents as a Christian, you know, for me, it represents
the miracles of Jesus' birth and I Manuel God with us.
Hanikah represents the miracle of the Menora that did not
(01:33:54):
go out during such a dark time, and there was
a miracle called the Hankah miracle December fifteenth, twenty two,
twenty after the Abraham Accords, where after this was orchestrated
the first such agreement between Israel and major Arab countries
since nineteen ninety four. Members of you Am Bahrain lit
the Menora along with the rabbis at the Whaling Wall.
Speaker 5 (01:34:16):
Can you talk about that and your thoughts about this Honikkah?
Speaker 3 (01:34:23):
Sure well?
Speaker 7 (01:34:24):
As a Jew, you know, we all yearned for peace.
And there's an old saying that was said by Ben Gurion,
the first Prime Minister of Israel, and he said that
any Jew that doesn't believe in miracles isn't a realist.
Speaker 3 (01:34:38):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (01:34:39):
We've seen so many miracles. Obviously with the Abraham Accords,
who thought there be peace between Israel and some belligerent
Arab nations? Right, you know, the tide is turning, and
I think, and I hope and I pray that the
people of the Middle East want piece as much as
the Israelis do. And they're willing to take concrete steps.
I don't know we're there yet. Obviously, the big goal
(01:35:02):
that we're all striving for is peace between Israel and
Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is important because it is the
leader of the Sunni Islam world as opposed to the
sea Id Islam world, which is led by Iran. So
we believe that if Israel can make peace with Saudi Arabia,
then all the other Sunni Arab countries will also make
(01:35:23):
peace yeah, with Israel. So they're kind of the lynchpin
that we're waiting on.
Speaker 5 (01:35:28):
Well, that is certainly the prayer.
Speaker 6 (01:35:30):
That is certainly the prayer, and certainly we know it's
peace through strength that you use. The Reagan example, that's
what brought down the Berlin Wall, and I was far
behind it on the other side when I was a
young woman over there and saw what that soul listeness produced.
Speaker 5 (01:35:45):
So we will be praying for that well, my friend.
Speaker 6 (01:35:48):
As we head into this week, we certainly want everyone
listening to be praying for the hostages in in Gazo.
We want them to be praying for the idea, praying
for peace, praying for our brothers and sisters and that
are Jewish at this time of year, And what is
your wish to listeners before before I let you go
(01:36:08):
before this holiday week?
Speaker 3 (01:36:11):
Thank you, roll.
Speaker 7 (01:36:11):
I just want to remind all your listeners because I
think this sheds light on Judaism, the religion of Judaism
and Jewish people that were celebrating Hanukkah. And for your
listeners that don't know the background, just very briefly, Hankakah
commemorates an event from about one sixty four BC, when
(01:36:31):
Greece was the greatest nation that controlled the known world
at that time, including the Middle East, and they forbade
Judaism to be taught I practiced in Israel, and the
Jews revolted, the Macabees, the listeners may have heard of,
revolted and overthrew the Greek oppressors. And when we went
back to the Holy Temple in the Old City of Jerusalem,
(01:36:55):
it had been defiled with all the Greek gods. Everything Jewish,
of course, had been destroyed and replaced with the statues
of Greek gods. So we had to repurify the temple.
And to do that, though, we needed eight days of oil,
and we only had the pure oil that could be
used on the holy manora in the temple to only
last one night, but it would take eight days to
(01:37:16):
make more oil that could be used for the purification ceremony,
and God made that one vial of oil meant for
one night to last eight nights. But what I find
really interesting, other than the parables of how it's up
to us to spread the light, and that's why we
light minoras, and it's contingent upon old Jews. When we
light the minor, it actually put it in our window
where it can be seen by people outside our homes,
(01:37:40):
so they too can see in the light. Is the
light hopefully spreads goodness throughout the world. What I find
really interesting about the Hanakahs story is though it was
a great military victory of a bunch of Jews against
a much bigger, mightier empire, kind of sounds familiar today,
by the way, you know, there's seven million Jews in
(01:38:02):
Israel and hundreds of millions of hostile our population surrounding it.
But what I find amazing about the Honkah story is
that all the prayers we say when we light the candles,
it has nothing to do with the military victory. It's
all giving thanks to God for lending us that we
were able to rebuild the temple and we start practicing
(01:38:24):
our religion once again. So it's a commemoration to God
the songs we sing, and nothing about the military victory.
Speaker 5 (01:38:30):
I think that is amazing, go ahead and.
Speaker 7 (01:38:33):
Emblematic of the Jewish people, because though we have to
fight military battles, we do it so in the service
of God and creating a relationship between us and God
and trying to spread God's light and the idea of
monotheism and one true God throughout the world. So that's
what we celebrate on, not the military victory.
Speaker 5 (01:38:51):
I love that well, thank you.
Speaker 6 (01:38:52):
And you know, as a Christian, I feel like an
extension of the Jewish faith, and so I love that
story as a part of you know, the history that
we share and the Judeo Christian founding of this country
that says that we are the ones to protect one
another's rights as individuals spread that light.
Speaker 5 (01:39:10):
It's a perfect, perfect way to wind this interview up.
Speaker 6 (01:39:15):
Thank you so much for that rich and for that idea,
because it is all about peace, spreading the light and
being that change to those around us in that way,
So thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (01:39:24):
God bless you, my friend. And happy Honkah to you.
Speaker 7 (01:39:28):
Thank you toos and Christians. We are bonded at the
hips again. We are indeed goodness and we appreciate all
our Christian friends and all who fight for good and
for truth.
Speaker 5 (01:39:38):
So thank you, You've got it. Thank you so much,
my friend, Happy Honkhah, and God bless you.
Speaker 7 (01:39:43):
I'm Merry Christmas to you.
Speaker 5 (01:39:45):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:39:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (01:39:46):
Well, that was my friend rich Sokel And just love
the fact that there is so much more that unites
us than divides us. And that's one of the things
I want to focus on it. By the way, I
want to say as we're closing out this show, I
always wind it funny when people say, oh I'm offended
if someone says Merry Christmas to me or happy Hanukah.
It is a wish of goodwill and we can be
(01:40:09):
the ones to spread that. You know, there's been a
tax in the past on saying Merry Christmas. There was
a case not too long ago about a retirement community
that was not allowed.
Speaker 5 (01:40:18):
To have Merry Christmas up there.
Speaker 6 (01:40:20):
You know, even if it is not what you celebrate,
it is coming from a place of goodwill, and I
think the key is this, whether it is speaking up
and standing up and reminding people where the barbarism is
in the Middle East, in Israel in that battle, whether
it's standing up against anti Semitism, what is just standing
up for one another.
Speaker 5 (01:40:42):
For one another's rice.
Speaker 6 (01:40:43):
Not to agree on everything, but to understand that the
very fabric of our country is that we believe every
person is created with unique intrinsic value and therefore individual
right and should be treated with dignity.
Speaker 5 (01:40:58):
That's the light that we can spread.
Speaker 6 (01:41:00):
If you're thinking of the Hanna Kamericle as a Christian,
that's the joy and the peace that we can spread.
You know, there is so many attacks against the very
things that bring us together.
Speaker 7 (01:41:12):
You know.
Speaker 6 (01:41:12):
I want to share because we've been talking a lot
about Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (01:41:14):
Thank you everyone who's chimed in on that.
Speaker 6 (01:41:17):
I'll be in this seat next Monday and we'll talk
about New Year's resolutions, so get ready.
Speaker 5 (01:41:21):
To send me those next Monday.
Speaker 6 (01:41:24):
But as we've been talking about Hollywood, as we've been
talking about movies, as we've been talking about all this,
I want to share a story of Denzel washington Man.
Speaker 5 (01:41:31):
If you may know him.
Speaker 6 (01:41:32):
And by the way, there's a blockbuster out right now,
Gladiator too. Not a Christmas movie because it's prior to
that period. However, he just became a minister, sixty nine
years old, just became a minister. And I find it
interesting what he said. He said quote it took me
a while, but I'm finally here. If God can do
(01:41:52):
this for me, then there's nothing he can't do for you.
The sky is literally the limit now.
Speaker 5 (01:41:59):
He said that.
Speaker 6 (01:41:59):
You know, and mely you can't talk about faith in
Hollywood necessarily, but he does. And I actually think that
that is really the way that each one of us
can be a light wherever we are. We can talk
about the things we can believe. We need to stop censoring.
We can wish someone merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. We
can talk about what we believe and what we think,
(01:42:21):
and we can do it in a way that helps
bring people together, that talks about the eighty percent that
we all agree on instead of always hyper focusing on that.
Speaker 5 (01:42:31):
Which separates us. That's my wish for you.
Speaker 3 (01:42:34):
You know.
Speaker 6 (01:42:34):
I had a great text from a listener who says
that one of the things that she does is she
gives little gift cards to the people that pick up
the garbage every week, just things like that. You know
often think about the word kind it's a four letter word.
I think it's actually one of the most powerful words
out there because of one of the most powerful acts
(01:42:55):
inspired acts of human kindness. One last movie I want
to share with you is a Klaus I hope you
watch it. It's a great, brand new classic. It's a
couple of years old, but it's a classic from the beginning,
and the through line is this, one true act of
human kindness always spurs another.
Speaker 5 (01:43:16):
I believe that, and I, in that way unabashedly say
to you, Merry.
Speaker 6 (01:43:22):
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, God bless you, and may you have
a beautiful, blessed week.
Speaker 5 (01:43:28):
Go out there and be that source of light and
peace to others. God bless you. I'm Deborah Flora, sitting
in for Mandy Connell.
The Mandy Connall Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
No, it's Mandy Connellyna KOAM ninety one.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Then God.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Can the nicety through three Mandyconnell.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Keithing sad thing.
Speaker 5 (00:27):
Welcome to the Mandy Connell Show.
Speaker 6 (00:29):
This is not Mandy Connell. I know we sound alike,
people say we even look alike.
Speaker 5 (00:33):
Now I'm just kidding.
Speaker 6 (00:33):
This is Deborah Flora and I am so happy to
be sitting in here today for my good friend Mandy Connell.
And I just have to start by saying, Merry Christmas,
Happy Hanukkah, joyful season to every single one of you.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
We have a wonderful show coming up.
Speaker 6 (00:49):
We're going to talk about a couple serious things we're
gonna get in the spirit, and of course the through
line has to be what is your favorite Christmas movie?
Feel free to text that in always want to hear
from you at five six six nine zero. And we're
gonna have a couple of ringers in this conversation today.
A couple of my friends from my period of temporary
insanity when I was in Los Angeles. Yes, I am
(01:12):
from Colorado, grew up on Lowry Air Force base.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I am.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
I did have that temporary insanity, went to Hollywood.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
I'm a recovered actress and my left brain and my
right mind, as I like to say. But during that
time met my husband and believe in the power of
movies and storytelling. That's why it's important, because you really
do see as a friend of ours who unfortunately has
passed away. Andrew Breitbart used to always say to us,
(01:39):
you know, politics is downstream of culture. It's actually a paraphrase,
by the way, and we used to tease them about
this from Plato, which Plato would say, let me write
the ballads of a country.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
I care not who makes the laws. Why does that matter?
The ballads were the stories of.
Speaker 6 (01:57):
Plato's day, which would change the heart and minds of
the people, who would then in turn vote based upon
their new beliefs.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
So it is actually very true.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
So we're gonna have a lot of fun with it
this time talking about holiday movies. But I'm excited that
coming up after the break, you know, around the bottom
of the hour, we're gonna have John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
He's a dear friend. Many of you may know him.
He was Cliff Claven in Cheers.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
He was a voice in all of the Pixar movies
right up until Luca. He may or may not address this,
but it is when they started going incredibly woke. And
that's not John Ratzenberger. Many of you may know that
he did the show Made in America. He was actually
on President Trump's Apprenticeship Commission, a champion of.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
The working man.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
He's going to be joining us at the bottom of
the hour, and then in the next hour we're gonna
have Kevin Sorbo. Many of you may know him as Hercules,
but he's also the star of movies like God's Not Dead.
He and his wife Sam have been dear friends for
quite a while. He'll be with us then, and then
in the third hour. Won't want to miss it. We're
going to bring it home with a real meaning of
(03:06):
this season, and I'm going to have rich Sokel joining me.
He is a friend Colorado and Patriot. Also a huge
champion for Israel. He is a pro Israel activist and
lived in Israel for a while. We're going to talk
about Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, the meaning of this season,
and how, particularly in that area of the world, we've
(03:28):
gone from a period of amazing peace under President Trump's
first term, with the the Abraham Accords and the Hana
Kamial Miracle, to the horrors of October seventh over a
year ago, to hopefully.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Bringing that back again.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
So we're going to be talking about all these things,
and I want.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
To hear from you.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Five six six nine zero. Already got our first couple
of votes on favorite Christmas movies. Gremlins okay, always always
an interesting one. I don't know, something about those little
critters does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy.
But right on, we have another vote already favorite Holiday movie.
I watch twenty four hours of a Christmas Story every year.
(04:11):
Christmas Story one of the favorites for my husband and
our son, to say the least. And you know what, Yes,
the gauntlet will continue to be throad thrown down. Diehard
is not a Christmas movie. Feel free to argue with me,
but I have the microphone. Do text in at five
six six nine zero. You know, I want to talk
about a few other things. Let's talk about some headlines
(04:33):
before we begin to switch it up here again towards movies.
As we all know, this is the end of the year,
the end of the year brings up many things. And
by the way, I'll be with you in this chair
sitting in for Mandy next Monday the thirtieth, when we'll
talk about New Year's resolutions and all of those sorts
of things, So get ready with that. But I tell you,
(04:54):
I think the number one New Year's resolution we need
in our nation's capital is to balance the budget and
watch the spending one of the headlines. As many of
you know, last year, Congress was all set to pass
another continuing resolution. And then it's interesting to me when
there is a vacuum of leadership as there.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Is in DC right now with the current resident of
the White House.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
We'll talk leader in the show about how his administration.
There's actually calls for it to be investigating because they
are finally admitting that Joe Biden has been absent from
many major decisions going on from the commander in chief position,
most troublingly including the decision to flee Afghanistan in that debacle.
(05:43):
But in the case of the budget, because we'll get
to that other topic later in the show, in the
case of the budget, it is very interesting that when
there is no leadership in DC, it's not surprising that
Donald Trump, who is not in the White House yet,
and Elon Musk have a very big influence because there
(06:04):
is no one leading right now for the most part,
it seems like. So they were getting ready to pass
a spending bill last week when all of a sudden,
President Trump incoming President Trump and former President Trump and
Elon Musk, who has been appointed ahead the Department of
Government Efficiency, along with Vivek Ramaswami, how they both stood
(06:25):
up and said, wait a second, you can't pass that
because there is no spending limit. There's no raising of
the debt sailing, which they would prefer to have under
this ending of this administration. And it ended up putting
everything into a flurry of activity. Now, finally on Saturday,
there is a short term one hundred billion.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Dollar funding bill. Don't you just love the fact that.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
One hundred billion dollars is short term when it comes
to government economics for goodness sake, and it's good to not,
I believe, shut down the government over the holidays because
part of the who would be affected by that are
our amazing military and their families. We do not want
that happening over the holidays. However, while this has been
(07:09):
called the American Relief Act of twenty twenty five. It
has one hundred billion dollars for disaster aid. I do
think that is good. It extends funding for farmers because
they cannot seem to get the Farm Bill across the
finish line.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
But here's the other.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
Group of people that it is giving relief to. In
the fine print, from what I understand and a quick
reading of it, it looks like it may be allowing
for a raise an income increase for members of the legislature.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
I got to tell you, I really believe.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
That until they can actually do their job, which in
the Houses of Representative is to write and pass.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
A budget, which they.
Speaker 6 (07:50):
Have not done in years and years and years, they
shouldn't get a raise.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 6 (07:56):
Do you think that this American Relief should include relief
for Congress who is not doing a very good job
for the most part. Texts that to me at five
six six nine zero. This is Deborah Flora sitting in
for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Well, they did pass it. I do think it is important.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
And one of the things that Mike Johnson said, and
yes he's coming under a lot of fire. I got
to tell you that as one of the most thankless jobs.
I think that I could imagine when you have a
slim majority. But Mike Johnson basically said that this was
a necessary step to bridge the gap until in January
we will have the White House, the Senate, and the
(08:39):
House of Representatives all in the hands of the Republican Party.
You know, I always say, excuse me that I am
a constitutional conservative long before I am a party member.
But the Republican Party has been historically the party that
talks about smaller government, fiscal responsibility and restraint. Well, I
(09:01):
got to tell you, there's going to be a lot
of people watching in January and going forward, and I
sure hope that that is the case, because we cannot
have the Republican Party be the party that just raises
the debt a little less.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
Because let's put that into perspective.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
By the way, the national debt has climbed over thirty
six trillion dollars.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Thirty six trillion dollars.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
Can't even actually imagine that amount of money, which is
probably why they get away with it for so long.
And the national deficit is over one point eight trillion dollars.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
One point eight trillion dollars.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Okay, so I'm voting for next week the New Year's
resolution for Washington, DC needs to be balancing the budget.
I got to tell you, I am first and foremost
a mom, and I do know like so many parents
this time of year, Well, we're looking at Christmas and
Christmas presents and expenses and year in giving and all
(09:59):
of that that.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
You know what, we know how to balance our budgets.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
About time that those we elect and hire to represent
us do the same.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Now let's bring it home.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Let's bring it to Colorado. What about the Colorado budget? Well,
I have some good news that's not really such good news. Okay,
here's the report from last week. Colorado's fiscal debt is
and I'm quoting this journalist quote just.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
A little less bad than we thought it was. Yeah,
Colorado's fiscal deficit. What does that mean?
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Well, the fiscal deficit for Colorado, our state, was anticipated.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
To be more than one billion dollars.
Speaker 7 (10:41):
With the bee.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Well, the good news, if you can call it good news,
is it's only going to be about six hundred and
seventy two million according to his projection.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
You know what, I am glad it's less, but that
is hardly good news.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
And I do think that Colorado has not caught up
with the rest of the country yet when it comes
to the fact that the bad policies that we have
been under under this administration here in Colorado are finally catching.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
Up with us.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Because of our natural resources, because of the great Colorado people,
because of Tabor, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, We've actually
been immune for a while from the situation of our spending.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Well not for long, but we do have to be diligent.
Speaker 6 (11:25):
When I was last sitting in for Mandy, I had
Rose Pigles, the House Minority leader here in Colorado, on
the show, and we're going to have to be vigilant
helping make sure that we protect the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
In case you don't know what that is, and I'm
sure you do.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Tabor simply says, if you want
to raise taxes, you have to ask the Colorado people.
Sounds like a gentleman's agreement to me, and I'm all
for it, But of course they want to get rid
of it because they have big plans to spend more
of your and my money and it's just simply not there. Okay,
So those are two topics about overspending, but you know what,
(12:06):
not to be detourred. It is amazing that the White
House Chief of Staff, Jeff Zines I believe that's how
you say his name, is asking his team quote to
sprint to the finish line and spend as much money
as they possibly can before Biden is out of office.
I got to tell you that is just so incredibly irresponsible.
(12:30):
In fact, the government has already spent nearly ninety eight
percent of the funding they are legally allowed through October,
but they're looking to spend more now. I'm going to
talk more about this overspending as we continue, but I
want to transition now a little bit back to our
upcoming guests who I'm gonna really look forward to having
(12:50):
join us, and that is John Ratzenberger Cliff Claven from Cheers.
It's got some funny stories to tell you a little
bit of my background. I've come to know both Kevin
Sorbo and John Ratzenberger, who are going to be joining us.
Is while I was having temporary insanity in Los Angeles
and met my husband, who was a producer at Walt
Disney Studios. He was a producer there until finally we
(13:13):
just realized it got so woke that we couldn't go
along with the agenda anymore. And we had also started
our own production company as well. We do believe in
the power of film and stories. And by the way,
I am on every Friday with Ryan Schuling on the
sister station here and we were talking about this, how
Walt Disney's Studios is actually starting to turn it around.
(13:36):
They're one of the few corporations that has realized go woke,
go broke.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
In fact, Bob Iger who was hired to take over.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
From the former CEO, Bob Chapik, who took a fight
with Ron DeSantis and lost. Basically, he said early this
year two stakeholders who were getting ready to because at
the end of the day, it's about entertainment, it's about
bottom line also economically, he basically said that woke Disney
(14:08):
is over time to quote respect the viewers. Well, that's
good news because Disney was founded on the idea that
you could just entertain, you could just create great stories
for kids, predominantly that were not laden with agendas, and
I absolutely believe that's where we're getting back to. Well,
(14:30):
the good news is, oh my next guest coming up
after the break is actually a staple of.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Disney and Pixar.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
In fact, he was the lucky charm for Pixar movies
four years after being Cliff Claven and Shears. And that
is none other than John Ratzenburger. To kind of what
your whistle, I'm gonna play this clip. This clip is
if you all remember the end of Cars, Mack the
Truck voiced by John Ratzenberger is at a drive in
(14:59):
theater and he starts watching all of these clips of
Ham the Pig, or as we like to calm, slotted
pig out of toy story, or whether it was pt
Flee out of Bugs Life, or whether it was the
Abominable Snowman out of Monsters Ink, and he noticed something
similar about the voices of all of them.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
So Grant, why don't we play that clip?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I hate to bring up the road, really, guys, but.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
There birthday, that's the three o'clock.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Oh man, whoever does a.
Speaker 8 (15:27):
Voice of that Biggie truck, I'll tell you he's one
great actor. We banished genius stuck out here in this
waistline without change, like the Floomobiles in trouble. She needs
our help here stay all a lot blessings. Welcome to
the eye as she'll come. Oh, that abominable sawflow.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Is quite the comic, Despius. Just get in there, go
go go suck his cars? How can you be suck
his cars? He's and allowsiest is cause of the world.
And they're gonna make me wait a minute here, they're
just using a same actor over and over. What kind
of a good right production is this?
Speaker 5 (16:13):
That is John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
You're gonna recognize his voice when we head out to
the break and come back, and he's going to share
not only his favorite Christmas movie. And yes, I am
going to keep taking your Christmas movie suggestions. We'll share
them throughout the show here today already getting so many
coming in, including by the way, feel free to take
(16:35):
my dear that Diehard is not a Christmas movie text
me at five six six nine zero. But when we
come back and we talk to John Ratzenberger both about
you know his illustrious history in Hollywood, how he has
stood up and stood out as someone speaking for the
working man in Hollywood. Many don't know that he was
on President Trump's Apprenticeship Council and committee in his first term.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
He has a background as a carpenter, a craftsman.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
His show Made in America really highlighted the amazing people, and.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
We're going to talk about that. We're also going to
talk about how.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I think we all realized, by the way, with the
COVID shutdown, when you talk about essential workers, no, it
is not just the tattoo parlors and abortion clinics that
were left open while churches were closed.
Speaker 5 (17:27):
It was the very people that.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Make our country work and make our country run well.
John has been a huge voice for all of those folks.
And by the way, it's a timely conversation.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
Many of you may know.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
I do a lot of work with school choice, education reform,
parential rights, and I think we're rethinking education completely, and
it's time that we begin to elevate honor and heighten
the need for people to go into the trades.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
We need that.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
That's a national security issue, that is an economy issue,
and John ras want me come back, is going to
talk about that, So don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah Flora
sitting in for Mandy Connell. Looking at the season and
the joy and the jolliness. A certain friend of mine
comes to mind, and that is John Ratzenberger.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
Before the break, we shared a compilation.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Basically of him as Mac the Truck, making fun of
him doing the voice for pretty much all the other
well known roles.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
In Pixar movies.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
He's also known as Cliff Clavin from Cheers. John, thank
you so much for joining me today. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Yeah, don't have a happy Christmas. Debah.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Thank you, John. It's great to hear your voice. And
my wonderful husband says hello as well. We miss seeing you.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Oh you're still married to that guy?
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Yep, twenty four years later, I sure will well.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
John.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
Always great to talk with you, and we're gonna talk
a little bit about movies. But I know not a
lot of people know the story of how you got
the role as Cliff Cleven. And by the way, it's
a whole new generation watching Cheers. I watched it the
first time around, dating myself here. Why don't you give
listeners just an insight? Because your background was traveling and doing.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Theater all over Europe.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
You were just very good at improv, So why don't
you tell people what happened when you went into audition
for Cheers?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, the readers, I just version is as I walked in,
having never auditioned in my life, even though I was
working ten years straight in Europe doing my own improvised
timently show with my friend Ray Hassett, who went on
to become a highly decorated undercover cup. Well, anyway that aside,
(19:49):
Uh yeah, I just I walked in. I failed at
the audition, but on my way out the door, I said,
do you have a bar? No? It all, what are
you talking about?
Speaker 1 (19:59):
It?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And I just go and send to an explanation and
how the big pan was invented and because there was
one on the guy's deck, and so I just picked
up the pen and I launched into this little soliloquy
and got him laughing enough I could leave with my
dignity and they called it offered me the part.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
That's amazing, and I love that the role was created
because you did that.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
And by the way, did you actually know the history
of the big pen or did you just make it up.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
On the spot?
Speaker 9 (20:31):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
No, I knew it was two brothers, two French guys,
but their last name was and so I just took
off from that fact.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
That's fine, that's very fine.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
Well, obviously people know you from that and that is
that is a very fun story of how you got
that out of improv. People then of the next generation
also know you from all the Pixar movies, and we
played that clip from the end of Cars where or
you as an act the truck make so much fun
of all the other places. You know what kind of
bit rate operation is this? They just keep recasting the
(21:08):
same actor. You have done that for a long time.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
I was I was making fun of all the parts
I did.
Speaker 6 (21:14):
Yes, all right, right, yeah, do you have a favorite
out of all the Pixar parts that you did?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Well, yes, I go between p chiefly and having the pig.
But then you know, so many people have so many favorites,
becomes a favorite, yes, so uh yeah, even in Red
(21:43):
tattooing the waiter mustafa ye do it all. I just
I just like showing up and somebody paid me to
do all that.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
You even make an entire school of fish into a
one unified personality and uh uh finding Nemo, which it's
very fine. You know, John, there's been shifts back and
forth in Disney, and I was sharing before the break
that they're actually starting to come back up again now.
Once Bob Biker has said they're moving away from woke.
They're going back just to entertainment, which is what you know.
(22:15):
So much of the Pixar movies are about, and you
were in all of them up to Luca. Is there
anything you want to talk about as far as like,
you know, that change that happened and this ebb and
flow you're saying in Hollywood hopefully moving away from woke.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
As for kids, Hey, it did become a little bit
woke and out of hands, and so I didn't do
h was three or four of them I missed for
that reason.
Speaker 10 (22:41):
It just didn't sit right with me, because you know,
my kids are grown, but they've got kids, and you know,
the don't I have to explain to my grandkids, Oh,
it's not appropriate and.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
This and that. So I'd just rather not do it.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Yeah, yeah, I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (22:58):
That's why I was sharing before or the break, why
my husband Johnthan left Disney, because there is a point
in time where you're like, you know what, he worked
on Star Wars and Marvel and all of those, but
when it starts to go a different direction, there's just
other things to do with time, which you do a
lot of other things, which I appreciate. I want to
talk about this aspect because not a lot of people
(23:18):
know that you served on President Trump's Commission for Apprenticeship
in his first term, and you've really been a champion
for getting shot back into schools, for elevating and encouraging
young people to go into that field. You know, what
do you think now when you look at all the
craziness that has gone on in the last year in
college campuses, the anti semitism and you know, versus encouraging
(23:43):
students who are gifted in a different way to pursue
you know, the different kinds of you know, the crafts,
the you know, welding, all of these different kinds of things.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Tell us about your thought on that in our country
right now?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Well, to me, there's a lot of honor, indignity and
getting your hands dirty. That means you're actually making something,
You're creating something, and that's really what built the civilization.
I mean when people talk about we need more factories,
and I kind of laugh a little, and I usual
to be saying, well, you know, you can build all
(24:22):
the factories you want, but you need people to InCom
to work in a factory, and so you better start
teaching them how how it all works at a younger age.
And I ain't you know seem to think, well, you know,
teach them who are eighteen. No, you teach them when
they're in middle school or a grammar school, or you
(24:43):
encourage your kids go build a treehouse and I'll pict
your old bicycle. You know, the make your mistakes. And
that's where that's where common sense comes from. As far
as I'm concerned, common sense doesn't come from a computer
or a lect sure from the stage. It comes from
putting your hands to something and digging into it. But
(25:07):
that's where common sense.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Is more well, and it's it's so important for our
country as well, because you actually had a very very
often quoted speech called the industrial Tsunami heading our way,
and this was about how the fact that you know,
if Pearl harbored happened again, you know, they rebuilt it
our entire fleet in a matter of months weeks. Actually
(25:32):
we couldn't do that today, and so it's a national security.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Issue as well.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Yeah, yeah, it's again that's just common sense. Anybody with
common sense is going to tell you, Look, if we're
going to need thanks or ships or artillery, someone has
to build that someone has to know how which metal
to use, how to melt the metal, how to cat Oh,
there's a lot to know. You know, the older people
(26:01):
they've retired or they're about to retire, and there's nobody
coming on path room. So it's always been a concern
of myself. See, I was a carpenter before I became
an actress. So my worldview is about that. It's put it,
put it in a good foundation. Yeah, and do your
(26:22):
job as though you're going to live in that house, right.
I mean now I've seen I've looked at your houses
and I'm a gas how badly they're built, because now
it just seems like they're handing on hammers just to say, okay,
you're a carpenter. Well, going through the training and the apprenticeship.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
Yeah, this is Debra Flora, by the way, sitting in
for Mandy Connell, my guess, John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven and
just about every character that you love from Pixar.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
I'm speaking of being a carpenter. John.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Every time I have you on, I have got to
ask you this story because I think it's hilarious. This
shows both your carpentry skill and your common sense.
Speaker 10 (27:02):
Back.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
I think it was twenty seventeen or so when Hillary
Clinton was wanting to have a museum.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
Built for Woodstock.
Speaker 6 (27:09):
You talked about how you actually helped build the stage
at Woodstock. You know that if the National Guard had
not arrived and rescued you know, all the as you said.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
The people that were there that were you know, sick
and you know, having all kinds of illnesses, that would
be a very different scene.
Speaker 6 (27:26):
Can you share for listeners what your nomination was for
this statue that should be at Woodstock.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
I had a laugh when Hillary Clinton suggested that. She
said there should be a statue commemorating this event, and
I said, well, it should be a statue, but it
should be in the National Garden feeding a crying hippie.
I was there. I mean I was a heavy equipment
(27:56):
operator in the carpenter. Yeah, so I was there oop
to nuts and that's exactly how happen. You know, the
press never mentioned the National Guard saving with me right,
absolutely occurred.
Speaker 8 (28:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
Well, and I think it's funny because you always described
to be like the pa to but instead of Marry
holding Jesus, it would be a National guardsman feeding a
tuna sandwich to you know, a crying hippie, which I
think is anything anything, you know, thinking about that and
the National Guard coming in.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
In the documentary that my husband I made, you know,
following Gary sonise around Lieutenant Dan Dan for the common
Good you talked about you know, it's different playing military
than being military. And you've always given honor where honors
do and I appreciate that. And anyone who hasn't doesn't
know John Raziber's full scope of work, you know, scores
(28:50):
of movies, you know, including A Bridge Too Far and
many others. But we're heading now to the break and
I want to switch it to the holiday season.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
John Pershial got two questions for you. Do you think
that die Hard is a Christmas movie?
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Die Hard?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Perfect answer? My friend, I have this argument all the time.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Well, who says Diehard Christmas movie?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (29:18):
Probably most of the textures I'm about to hear from
because they say it takes place at a Christmas time
and all of that. But I'm like, it was released
in July, and even Bruce Willis said it wasn't. So
I think your laughter says it all. What is your
favorite Christmas movie?
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Well, a matter of fact, I just returned from the
East coast. Yes, they just flew back here the home
while I was on the stage going playing the part
of Scrooge.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Oh neat.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
And uh, that's even the movie of that. You know,
there's so many of them be made, but that, especially
with tiny tim is is is done by a good actor,
right hearts. Yeah for a favorite Christmas movie, you know, well,
(30:10):
I've you know, stroking my beard about it. I say,
Christmas Carol.
Speaker 6 (30:16):
Yeah, yeah, I wish I couldn't have seen that performance,
my friend. Well, we're heading to the break, John Ransomer,
Merry Christmas to you, my friend. It's always great to
hear your voice. And I'm excited to hear that you're
playing Scrooge right now. And I encourage everyone to go
see so many of the great movies that you have made.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Okay, I'll go to Actually, I just I just really
saw the beginning episodes of Cheers because there was when
we were baking the Yes, I was putting my kids
to bed or on nine o'clock at night. So I'm
just kidding. I'm just seeing a lot of these shows
for the first time. Now.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Yeah, I would encourage everybody to watch them again, but
we're heading to a break.
Speaker 6 (30:58):
Thank you so much, John, thanks for calling in. Merry
Christmas and God bless you. Okay, byba you too.
Speaker 7 (31:05):
Well.
Speaker 5 (31:05):
That was my guest, John Ratzenberger. Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 6 (31:08):
We'll be back shortly. I want to know what your
favorite Christmas movie is. I'm Deborah Flora sitting in for
Mandy Connell. That was an homage to the guest we
just had. John Ratzenberger, who is Cliff Claven on Cheers,
always has so.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Many funny stories.
Speaker 6 (31:24):
I could probably just do a three hour program with him,
but we will keep moving on. But he did share
the story if you missed it, about how he got
the job for Cliff Claven. He said, it's the first
time he ever auditioned his life. He was doing improv
all over Europe. He walked in, said he feels like
he tainked the audition. Before he left, he turned and
(31:47):
he looked at the showrunners.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
Do you have a bar know it all? He asked,
And they did not know what that meant.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
So we picked up a big pin from one of
the producer's desks and then just started riffing on it
about where the big pen was made and its entire history.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
The rest is history.
Speaker 6 (32:05):
And if you are tired of Christmas movies I do,
which I'm not, by the way, I'm not encouraging that,
but if you are, or let's say, in the new Year,
I encourage you to watch Cheers again because it's having
a bit of a renaissance. It's one of those feel
good TV shows, just like the song where everybody knows
your name.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
But I did ask Cliff.
Speaker 6 (32:26):
Also known as John Ratzenberger, whether or not Diehard is
a Christmas movie. He actually couldn't even verbally answer. He
just started laughing and scoffing. So, hey, you know what,
I'm going to respond to some of the responses I'm
getting here through textures. Feel free to text it at
five six six nine zero. But according to my friend
John Ratzenberger, that.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Is a definitive no. Let's see some of the other
folks texting and.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Say, of course it is a Christmas movie. Ghostbusters two
is also a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
So I think I need to pause.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
I need to define what I consider to be a
Christmas movie, which is, yes, Christmas has to be in it. Okay,
so Diehard has that, but it also has to have
the feeling of Christmas meaning. You know, I don't get
warm and fuzzy feelings just when someone's thrown off the
Nagasaki building, even if.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
They are a bad terrorist. But hey, you know what
that might say Christmas is some people, and it sure
says justice to me. I like the movie. But as
we said, it was released July fifteenth.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
I believe it was, and even Bruce Willis said it
was not a Christmas movie. But I don't think this
will be the final word on that subject. In fact,
within our own home, my husband and our son think
it's a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (33:43):
Our daughter and I do not. But let's see some others.
Speaker 6 (33:46):
That folks are saying made for TV movie. Yes, Virginia,
there is a Santa Claus. I remember that story. I
love that story. Richard Thomas, Charles Bronson, A nice adaptation
of what might be the most famous newspaper column ever written.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
That's great.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
There's also an older black and white version of that movie.
And one of the ones that John Rasmer shared is
one of his favorites was Scrooge was Christmas Carol. And
he just came back from playing Scrooge in the Christmas
Carol on the East Coast and he's back home on
the West Coast, and one of the listeners has texted
(34:22):
in says, my favorite Christmas movie is the nineteen seventy
Scrooge with Albert Finnie and Alec Guinness and perfectly captures
Victorian London.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
Well, those are some good ones.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
I'm definitely gonna keep sharing those as we go through
the hour. But I wanted to also share another story
we didn't have time with John Ratzenberger to talk about,
because one of the things that John has also done
ever since he did Made in America and being someone
who was a carpenter and worked in all kinds of
(34:54):
jobs like that, and he was talking about the dignity,
the dignity of working with your hands. I gotta tell you,
I believe it's time and one of the ways that
we can really continue what I think is a revolution
happening in our education.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
System, A much needed one.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
By the way, wouldn't it be great just to get
back to where in our classrooms we focused on reading, writing, arithmetic,
not social studies, which can mean a whole.
Speaker 5 (35:20):
Bunch of things, but civics.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
There's a reason why so many people don't realize that
America truly is exceptional and our constitution is something that
is wondrous and how durable it is. It's because they're
being taught social studies, which could be almost anything. It
could be Renaissance period, gender theory, and basket weaving, you
could call that social studies. Time to get back to
(35:46):
actually studying civics. But another thing is getting shop class
back into schools. In Douglas County, they've done this. That's
where my family lives, and they're having an entire different
legacy campus that's gearing people up to actually have productive jobs.
I think it's time also in this movement that I've
(36:07):
been involved in for quite a bit in school choice
and education freedom, to get.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
Back to what is actually the goal of education.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
It is number one to teach kids how to think,
not what to think, critical thinking, and to prepare them
for fruitful life ahead.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
In our society. No wonder you have so many.
Speaker 6 (36:30):
Co eds, particularly on these Ivy League campuses, who are
so angry. They are graduating with hundreds of thousands of
debt and degrees for which there is no job.
Speaker 5 (36:41):
It is time for this to turn around.
Speaker 6 (36:44):
So that's one of the things that we're going to
talk about when we come back.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
We were going to have Kevin Sorbo join us.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
He's going to join us instead next week Monday the thirtieth,
when I'm sitting again for Mandy. But when we come back,
we're going to talk about some New Year's resolutions that
I hope our government has, and that is raining in spending.
Wait till I'll tell you who's been giving gifts to
those who I don't think really need it. Don't go anywhere.
(37:10):
I'm Devera. Flora's sitting in for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
The Mandy Connell Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Well, no, it's Mandy Connell, Andy conn.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
On Ka.
Speaker 11 (37:27):
Nineteem God.
Speaker 8 (37:31):
Say, Kevin Ny Prey Bandyconnell keeping the sad Babe.
Speaker 5 (37:43):
Welcome to the Mandy Connall Show. This is Deborah Flora
sitting in for my friend Mandy. So good to be
here with you all. We've already had a.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
Lot of fun and we're going to talk about more
things Christmas. We're also going to talk about some of
the headlines and things that we are wishing for in
the new year, like fiscal restraint in DC. But before
I go there, I want to read some more of
the different texts that are coming in, feel free to
text us at five six six nine zero want to
(38:12):
hear from you. My guest in the first hour was
John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven from Cheers, also someone that you
know from the Pixar movie multiple voices there. Also someone
who has stood up very much for really things that
are made in America and all the great people who
make that happen. So when I asked him this question,
(38:33):
is die heard a Christmas movie? All he could do
was laugh and.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
Say, heck no. So there you go. I think it's definitive.
You know, we'll see. I'm going to read some of
these coming in.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
One Texter said, die hard Christmas movie hard, No good, Anya,
I agree with you. Talking about other favorite Christmas movies.
Of course it is a Christmas movie.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
I read this one.
Speaker 6 (38:55):
Ghostbusters two is also a Christmas movie. Not sure if
that was facetious or not to take it in that vein.
Let's see there are some others talking about their favorite
Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (39:05):
One very very nice, thank you for saying it's nice
to hear me back on the radio. I appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (39:12):
And it said this listener said her favorite Christmas movie
is It's a Wonderful Life.
Speaker 5 (39:17):
It's a heartwarming plot and the cast is phenomenal. It
makes me cry too.
Speaker 6 (39:23):
You know what, there is a great point for conversations
by what defines a Christmas movie? Because I agree, I
think It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas movie and
we usually watch it with our family after church on
Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. So the argument can begin,
why is that a Christmas movie when it's not necessarily
essential to the plot, which is to me one of
(39:45):
the things that defines a Christmas movie. In other words,
you could take die Hard and you could put it
at a big holiday or sorry, a big work party
where they met a particular benchmark and raising money, or
an anniversary of the company of the Naga Sambi Corporation.
It could be that you could put it somewhere else. Well,
(40:05):
you could do that with It's a Wonderful Life. But
here comes down the question does it have a Christmas feeling?
That unknown something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy,
and it's about redemption and pulls at your heart strings.
And yes, there is a moment when Bruce Willison's character
is reunited with his wife, whose name is Holly. Yes,
I do get that that's a point that is often made,
(40:27):
but it doesn't have to be Christmas. It doesn't really
have that Christmas feel. That's me and I'm sticking with that.
Speaker 5 (40:35):
But here we go one of the situations that we're
reading here. Others.
Speaker 6 (40:41):
Let's see Die Hard streams on more platforms and more
often in December than any other time of year.
Speaker 5 (40:47):
Further, networks have.
Speaker 6 (40:48):
Begun to play the movie in a loop all day
on Christmas Day. This person has a very lengthy argument,
and I appreciate that thoroughness.
Speaker 5 (40:56):
Finally, the fact that.
Speaker 6 (40:57):
There is a vigorous debate as to whether it is
or is not only boasters its status as a Christmas
and or Christmas related its place in the pop culture sphere.
Is weeever now tied to Christmas? Well, yes, I think
it's also forever tie with lines like yippie kaya and
I will not say the rest of it, or finding
(41:19):
out that you know, certain people are not actually terrorists
and deserve the death that they receive in the end
of that movie. I kind of put it more with
dirty hairy movies than with it's a Wonderful life or
Christmas Carol.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But that is just me.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
And let's see a couple other things that will keep
going through this. Tell me your favorite Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (41:40):
Go to five six, six nine zero and oh here's
another one, The Star The Nativity Story told through the
eyes of the animals that were there.
Speaker 5 (41:50):
I think that is a really charming movie.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
There's a movie that I really wished I had liked more,
and that is a movie called The Nativity. And because
there's very few that also tell you the real miracle
of Christmas, you know, which is Jesus being born, coming
to be the savior of mankind.
Speaker 5 (42:09):
And The Nativity was made by Christian Hardwick. She was
the director very you.
Speaker 6 (42:14):
Know, high high level cast Oscar Isaac's plays Joseph Keisha
Cassel Hughes plays Mary. What I think is interesting about
that movie is that it's understandable of the take that
they have on it. Catherine Hardwick was known for directing Thirteen,
which was all about kind of the angst of teenage girls.
(42:35):
And unfortunately Mary in that movie, I think really had
an angst about her. She was poudy that she was
going to get married and all of that she didn't
really want.
Speaker 5 (42:45):
To, which was actually the custom of the day.
Speaker 6 (42:48):
I think she was about fourteen and they're telling of
the story, and her mother had only been married and
had kids.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
By that point in time, so that didn't really fit.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
But if you want to see an amazing scene, I
do encourage you to watch it for Oscar Isaacs, who
as Joseph just has this moment when he says, I
wonder if I'll be able to teach him anything?
Speaker 5 (43:11):
Can you imagine? I love placing myself back in that.
Speaker 6 (43:15):
Moment in time, imagining what these two people that chose
to carry this literal burden for all of us, what
they were thinking. So, okay, that's the Christmas movie of
the Christmas story that I wanted to share. So want
to switch gears here because we have been talking a
little bit prior to that about as we get also
(43:35):
close to New Year's many of us are looking at budgets,
you're in donations.
Speaker 5 (43:40):
Where can we make New.
Speaker 6 (43:41):
Year's resolutions for the new year? Well, I got to
tell you, so it's time out on the first hour.
I have a wish that for our federal government, and
hopefully this is coming that their New Year's resolution probably
starting on January twentieth, is going to be balancing budget,
watching their spending as every single household has to do
(44:04):
or else they get the full weight of the government.
While it's time for the government to understand the full
weight of the citizens. And to put this into context,
our national debt has climbed to over thirty six trillion dollars.
National deficit is over one point eight trillion. I shared
something in the first hour where I was talking about
(44:26):
this stopgap spending measure, and I'm not a fan of
continuing resolutions. However, I don't want the government shut down
over the holidays when it would come to paying our
military and their families. But hidden in that nugget, which
was called the American Relief Act of twenty twenty five,
yes there's money for disaster spending related to Hurricane Helene.
(44:49):
There is money for farmers because since Congress can't pass
a budget, the farm bill is getting kicked down the can.
And I've had an opportunity, by the way, to talk
with so much any of the great farmers, agricultural folks,
ranchers in Colorado, both on the western slope and the
eastern plains, and they are dealing with the double whammy
(45:12):
of a government that can't get us act together on
top of the shutting down of the energy sector here
in Colorado, which is oftentimes a second source of income
to the great people that are out there. So I'm
happy about that. But also in the bill, and I
read it quickly, so you know this is approximate, there
was also in this American Relief Act relief for Congress
(45:36):
members themselves. It looks like they may be giving themselves
a raise and income increase.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
And when I said, how did that make you feel?
Speaker 6 (45:47):
One one listener texted in for sitting on their high
knees doing nothing.
Speaker 5 (45:53):
No raise for Congress.
Speaker 6 (45:55):
You know what I agree should be merit based pay,
pass a budget, which is your job and House representatives,
and then maybe we'll consider that as the American people.
But when I talk about budgets and overspending, I want
to share this clip with you because, as we all know,
the Kamala Harris campaign raised one point five billion dollars
(46:15):
some say two billion dollars and reported twenty million dollars
in debt. Now let's just remember, by the way, she
was only campaigning for ten months. I cannot do the
fast math of how much that was per month. But
that's a whole lot in ten months. Two million dollars
of debt each month.
Speaker 3 (46:33):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (46:34):
I was able to divide by ten and do it quickly.
Speaker 6 (46:37):
And someone who had been a top fundraiser for the DNC,
Lindy Lee, top Democrat National Committee finance member, dared to
question where the money went, the money that she helped raise.
And here she is on Pierce Morgan, uncensored. Let's play
that Lindy Lee clip.
Speaker 9 (46:55):
With Democrats, they pretend to be, you know, so loving
and caring and embraced of diversity. But all of a sudden,
when I dare to utter any criticisms of the Goddess
Kamala Harris, I get ostracized. Me after having raised tens
of millions of dollars for the party, and I'm being
called a grif German. All along, all these years, I've
(47:17):
said on TV, I've said to the press, I'm a
conservative Democrat.
Speaker 5 (47:22):
This is not a switch for me.
Speaker 7 (47:24):
This is just me.
Speaker 4 (47:25):
This is who I've always been.
Speaker 9 (47:27):
And also, my donors are pissed. They raised two point
five billion dollars across super Pack in the campaign. It's
my responsibility.
Speaker 5 (47:36):
It's my duty of care to ask what the hell
happened with that money?
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Why did we spend it? Why did we spend.
Speaker 9 (47:43):
Millions of dollars on five star hotels for campaign staffers.
Why did we spend five hundred thousand dollars essentially bribing
Al Sharpton moments before he interviewed Kamala and these are
legitimate questions. But no, in the cult, you can't ask
questions the Democratic Party. You're even questioning the Democratic Party.
Speaker 6 (48:04):
It's like leaving a coul Wow. Well, there it is
from Lyndy Lee. She was and I say that in
the past tense. Now a the Democrat National Committee finance
member and top d NC fundraiser. You know, it's interesting
to hear that because there is something I believe across
the entire spectrum that is troubling, which is the inability
(48:27):
to question anything and then getting shut down.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
You know.
Speaker 5 (48:31):
It kind of reminds me.
Speaker 6 (48:33):
Of when George Washington and his farewell speech warned that
the two party system would be the death of the republic.
Speaker 5 (48:41):
Now I'm a Republican.
Speaker 6 (48:43):
I'm actually though more a constitutional conservative because my allegiance,
so to speak, is in the order of my faith
the Constitution, then that protects the God given rights of
each individual through that. Politically, it would be the platform
(49:03):
of the Republican Party. Why because that is based on principles.
But the minute that there's an allegiance in this case
Lenny Lee talking to about the Democrat Party, if the
allegiance is to that party itself, then there is not
an ability to question.
Speaker 5 (49:19):
That's one of the marks of occult.
Speaker 6 (49:21):
It's interesting that she uses it that way, and that
is also part of what the problem is in our country,
the inability to ask questions. And I got to be honest,
this happens on both far ends of the spectrum. I
do believe it happens more on the left, but we've.
Speaker 5 (49:39):
Got to no matter where you are, remember it is
our God given right to ask questions. And that is
what she was kicked out for, for asking questions.
Speaker 6 (49:50):
About where did the money go? And by the way,
I believe it was in that clip. If it was not,
it was certainly earlier in it. Or she said we
we deserve to know meeting those who raise.
Speaker 5 (50:01):
Money, who gave money, why five.
Speaker 6 (50:04):
Star hotels were being used for campaign staff, Why where
did that money go?
Speaker 5 (50:13):
And here's the problem. I'm not a zero sum person.
Speaker 6 (50:16):
I believe that money is a wealth I should actually
say is created by the mind. You can keep creating it.
It doesn't mean because one person has it, someone doesn't. However,
when people give their funds to something they believe in,
and now granted I would not have given any money
to Kamala Harris or her campaign, and it is squandered
in that way, there needs to be questions, There needs
(50:38):
to be examination, and there needs to be the ability
to hold people accountable accountabilities, something we're going to talk
about when we come back, because, as you probably heard,
the Biden administration not only has pardoned a huge number
of people a single day record of how many sentences
(50:58):
were commuted, but they're also looking at pardoning certain people
in advance, which, first of all, I'm not even quite
sure how you do that, but they are talking about that.
This is on the tail end of Joe Biden pardoning
his son Hunter Biden, not just for what we know
that he did the things he confessed, but anything else
he might have done during that period that doesn't sit
(51:20):
right with justice. And because of this overspending, because of
this push to not ask questions. There is a movement
right now going on in the Biden administration to pardon
people in advance.
Speaker 5 (51:33):
When we come back, we're going to talk.
Speaker 6 (51:34):
About that because one of those people is a Republican. Yep,
feel free to take a guess at who that is.
Five six six nine zero. When we come back, we're
going to talk about that. We're going to continue to
talk about the need for accountability. That's really what pre
pardons are, by the way, are trying to get out
of accountability, which I do believe is coming January twentieth.
Speaker 5 (51:57):
So we come back, we'll talk about that.
Speaker 6 (51:59):
Who is a well known Republican that Joe Biden wants
to pardon in advance, or at least his team don't
know if Joe's really behind it.
Speaker 5 (52:07):
We'll talk about that as well.
Speaker 6 (52:09):
Don't go anywhere. When we come back, we'll continue. Feel
free to text. In five sixty six nine zero. I'm
DeBerg Flora, sitting in for Mandy Connell. We've been mixing
it up here. We've been talking about Christmas movies. We've
been talking about overspending in no not just our households,
although I believe most of us will watch our budgets
(52:30):
a lot more closely. But in DC and I tease
two things before the break, I've been getting some great texts.
Feel free to text in at five six six nine
zero number one, I talked about someone who is getting
a Christmas gift, which I don't really think.
Speaker 5 (52:45):
Is appropriate in this American Relief Act.
Speaker 6 (52:48):
We talked about how where there are needs for it,
and particularly making sure that our military and their.
Speaker 5 (52:54):
Families get paid.
Speaker 6 (52:56):
Shut down could impact that unless it's done correctly.
Speaker 1 (52:59):
I do.
Speaker 6 (53:00):
I think something needs to be done to stop this
relentless cycle of continuing resolutions. But in there was also
a excuse me a proposal for Congress to have a raise.
One listener texted and said, if Congress wants a raise,
it should be put before the voting population and not
be done by Congress. Here here who else gets to
(53:21):
just say, you know what, I want a raise. I
think that most moms out there I am a mom,
would say, hey, you know what, I've been working really
hard this year. I deserve a raise. Or who wouldn't
say that there is no accountability for them to give
themselves a raise.
Speaker 5 (53:35):
I agree with that.
Speaker 6 (53:37):
Another aspect of it is the fact that we were
sharing how the Biden administration, the White House Chief of
Staff is urging them to spend as much money as
possible before the gig is up January twentieth. Basically, Well,
someone who's getting in on that is not just Biden's administration,
but Nancy Pelosi. Here's a headline out of nine million
(53:59):
COVID bagel out money.
Speaker 5 (54:01):
Guess where that was given.
Speaker 6 (54:03):
It just happened to be given to a really ritzy
five star hotel and spot in Napa Valley. The rooms
routinely go for two thousand dollars a night. Now, if
you need to bail out, I might consider changing your
business model because if it's two thousand dollars a night,
there's a lot of people that cannot pay for that,
(54:25):
and you're only obviously really going after the ritziest. But
this Auberge du Solet hotel, I'm probably not saying that
all correct because I wouldn't pay two thousand dollars a
night for hotel, so I'm not going to say it correctly. Well,
guess who is one of the primary investors in that hotel.
That would be Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul, And
(54:46):
even though they have run a net loss in that
investment over almost all of the years. Guess what after
they worked to give your and my taxpayer dollars to
this resort in Napa Valley, of course, just a couple
hour drive from Nancy Pelosi's area that she represents of
San Francisco. Not Surprisingly, unfortunately, after doing that, their investment
(55:13):
Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul's investment actually surge to
a profit of one to five million dollars. You know what,
It's time for some accountability, it is, and perhaps that
is why they're trying to spend as much money.
Speaker 5 (55:27):
As they can before they leave office.
Speaker 6 (55:29):
And also Biden's team is actually looking at preemptive pardons
for their allies. Preemptive pardons, by the way, there is
something so wrong when you consider that our Bill of Rights,
one of the cornerstones is due process, actual responsibility for
(55:51):
the individual that does something.
Speaker 5 (55:53):
And jury by your peers, etc.
Speaker 6 (55:56):
But preemptive pardons just strike me as in incredibly unconstitutional.
Speaker 5 (56:01):
Be interesting to see if they hold up.
Speaker 6 (56:04):
I teased before the break that one of these preemptive
pardons that they're looking at. And by the way, this
is being led by White House counsel at Siskel. Basically,
I said one of them is going to a Republican,
that's who they're considering, and I asked for some guests.
One listener text said maybe it was Mitch McConnell. Well,
(56:25):
actually the answer is this. Here are the people that
they're considering right now for preemptive pardons on their way
out the door, Senator l like Adam Schiff, a Democrat,
doctor Fauci because there's all kinds of stuff coming up
now about the pharmaceutical deals behind the scenes, and the
Republican that they're considering giving this too is former GOP
(56:47):
Representative Liz Cheney. Now that may not surprise you, but
here's what's coming out. There is now information and evidence
that Liz Cheney allegedly has not.
Speaker 5 (57:02):
Been proved yet. I do believe in due process, but there.
Speaker 6 (57:05):
Is evidence that is coming out that seems to indicate
that Liz Cheney tampered with January six witnesses. Actually one
in particular, tampered with a January sixth witness in this manner.
And as we all may remember Liz Cheney, she was
(57:27):
served on the January sixth House Select Committee. And let
me just say this, by the way, if you break
the law, I believe you deserve and you should have
the consequence. So anyone who harmed police or anyone else
that night that day should have the repercussions, but it
should be measured and there should.
Speaker 5 (57:47):
Be a full investigation of all aspects of this.
Speaker 6 (57:50):
But here's what's coming out right now, and this is
from the House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight. Chairman that's represented
very louder Milk of Georgia said, based on the evidence
obtained by the subcommittee, there were numerous federal laws that
were likely broken by Liz Cheney. These violations should be investigated,
he is stating, by the FBI. And here's the evidence.
(58:13):
Many of us may remember Cassidy Hutchinson. She's the former
White House aide and was Liz Cheney's star witness at all.
Speaker 5 (58:21):
The nationally televised hearings.
Speaker 6 (58:23):
Well, what happened is there is evidence that Liz Cheney
was secretly communicating with this witness without her attorney. So
the accusation, the evidence that's coming out is there was
some sort of collusion going on, and it alleges that
Cheney encouraged false testimony about a handwritten document that Cassty
(58:45):
had produced. One of the points that they're saying is
casty was the one that basically said that former President
Donald Trump tried to commandeer his presidential limousine that day
to take it to the capital that was directly refuse
by the Secret Service. And Malling Hemingway, who was also
accused by Cassiy Hutchinson about her illegally obtaining classified information,
(59:10):
she just basically says, it's coming clear that there were
many lies about this and Liz Cheney might have been
behind tampering with a witness.
Speaker 5 (59:18):
Now I don't know if that's true. I don't, but
here's what I do know.
Speaker 6 (59:24):
It is about time we have accountability because when there
is an erosion of checks and balances, which is what
our entire gumery is based on, if there's a sense
among the American people that people in DC can do
whatever they want, like Nancy Pelosi diverting nine how much
(59:44):
was it nine billion?
Speaker 5 (59:46):
I think it was, yes, and funds.
Speaker 6 (59:50):
To a hotel nine million in funds to a hotel
that she was an investor in, and then there may
be tampering.
Speaker 5 (59:58):
With these witnesses evidence.
Speaker 6 (01:00:00):
We have to have accountability because if we do not
have accountability, we will lose all all confidence in our government,
and that is a huge problem. Well, we're gonna switch
from that when we come back. I'm gonna before we
go to the break, I'm gonna talk about some of
the texts that are coming in because I so appreciate that.
(01:00:21):
Feel free to text in at five sixty six nine zero.
That's five sixty six nine zero. And by the way,
if you don't think it's enough to go to California,
Biden loaned California fifteen billion dollars to upgrade their electrical
grill and fight climate change. I know firsthand that many
states like California, who far overspent what they had, would
(01:00:43):
have gone bankrupt without the COVID shutdown bill out while
they're getting more now on the way out the door.
That's the part that I had the biggest problem with.
So I'm gonna read some of these texts about some
of these topics, and then we're going to talk when
we come back a little bit more about who's really
responsible for all this, Because we've got some great, great
questions one listener, I'm going to read the ones that
(01:01:06):
disagree with me. Cheney held a conversation the horror. I
understand that that might seem like a small thing, but
it goes against our entire legal system. She had direct
contact with a witness and coached her according to text,
without her attorney's involvement. I believe we deserve better from
(01:01:31):
members of our government, and certainly not breaking the law
when it comes to witness tampering. That is something that
will undermine our entire judicial system. So when we look
at that, there is one comment another person said, I
heard President Biden just gave ten million to Iran. What
that listener's referring to is in this let's throughout lots
(01:01:52):
of money on the way out the door. Actually, what
Joe Biden did two days after the election on eleven
November seventh was basically gave Iran a wave on their
sanctions in the form of ten billion dollars. You know,
(01:02:13):
in the next hour, we're going to Rich Social join us.
And Rich is someone who I've talked with so much
ever since October seventh, and even before that. What is
shocking is that that could have been completely eliminated if
the sanctions of our duly elected officials in Congress had
been maintained. Instead, the biding administration time and time again
(01:02:36):
waived the sanctions, giving Iran that kind of money that
allows them to fund terrorism from Hamas to Hesbalah and
everywhere in between. So yes, that was a great point made.
It wasn't the money that was given, It was a
waiver on the sanctions. The sanctions were working. By the way,
if we all can just take a moment and remember
back when that was happening, Iran was starting to rumble
(01:03:00):
from within when the sanctions were being enforced. That is
one of the ways we can make a difference in
the world. For everyone who doesn't want our military all
over the place, which I don't. I grew up in
the military here in Lowry Air Force Base. My husband
is in the military, a second airborne veteran. I don't
want to see our military everywhere. But there are other
means by which we can achieve these goals, and sanctions
(01:03:23):
is one of them. So yes, as Christmas gifts are
being given out left and right by an administration walking
out the door, I'm not for it going to hotels
that charge two thousand dollars a night in our primary
investments of the pelosis, I'm not for it going to
Iran in.
Speaker 5 (01:03:40):
A waiver of their sanctions, and I'm not for.
Speaker 6 (01:03:44):
It going to California who need to get their own
house and or because by the way, at the end
of the day, those are.
Speaker 5 (01:03:50):
Your and my tax dollars.
Speaker 6 (01:03:52):
That's why we have such a situation with inflation and
so many people struggling and going paycheck to paycheck, and anyway,
I could go on and on.
Speaker 5 (01:04:01):
You get the point.
Speaker 6 (01:04:02):
When we come back, we're going to talk about another
thing that has been revealed.
Speaker 5 (01:04:07):
And it has to do with what a caller text
in and they said.
Speaker 6 (01:04:14):
I doubt Joe Biden really is doing much of anything
interesting transition to what we're going to get to. So
when we come back, I'm going to talk about that
something else that's being revealed, and we're also going to
continue our conversation about Christmas movies. Keep getting many, many
great recommendations. The Bishop's wife several like those us. A
(01:04:35):
few people have texted about Red One, the new movie
with JK. Simmons and Dwayne the Rock Johnson. We'll talk
about that when we come back as well.
Speaker 5 (01:04:42):
Don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell.
If you missed any of the show.
Speaker 6 (01:04:48):
Definitely listen to it later because in the first hour,
good friend John Ratsenberger joined the conversation even about Christmas movies.
John Ratzenberger, Cliff Claven from Chairs of Voice.
Speaker 5 (01:04:58):
And many many pick sar movies.
Speaker 6 (01:05:00):
And when I asked him the gauntlet question, as I
call it, throw down the gauntlet, is Diehard a Christmas movie?
Speaker 5 (01:05:08):
He just laughed and said, why would it be a
Christmas movie?
Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
So there you go.
Speaker 5 (01:05:12):
You have the definitive answer.
Speaker 6 (01:05:14):
From someone who just got through playing a Scrooge in
a play in the Christmas Carol on the East Coast. Anyway,
I know that is debatable, and of course it's all
for fun, but I love how serious it gets people going.
Speaker 5 (01:05:28):
So we're going to talk about some more Christmas movies.
Speaker 6 (01:05:30):
I'll just just share a couple of my favorites, some
of the ones that listeners have meant mentioning It's a
Wonderful Life. I do believe it's a Christmas movie because
it is not only set around Christmas, but it has
that essential Christmas movie quality, hope, wonder redemption, family, you know,
(01:05:50):
And yes, some people do think that that warm and
fuzzy feeling.
Speaker 5 (01:05:53):
Comes from tossing people off the Nakatomi Tower building, but
a little bit different feel.
Speaker 6 (01:06:00):
Here's a new one this year, and that is Red
One Read One, starring JK. Simmons and Dwayne Johnson as
well as Chris Evans, and it's interesting.
Speaker 5 (01:06:11):
I mean, it's not a typical Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (01:06:13):
I have someone who chimed in a listener who said
that this is one of their new favorite Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (01:06:19):
It's not traditional, and you do have.
Speaker 6 (01:06:21):
To get used to a very fit pilates ready Santa
Claus and JK. Simmons, but hey, you know, he's been
around for a really long time, so he has to
stay fit. And if you work out with Dwayne Johnson,
you probably are going to.
Speaker 5 (01:06:35):
Be very fit. But it's an interesting take. What I
like about it is it is different.
Speaker 6 (01:06:41):
It's new, it's fresh, it's not cynical. By the way,
That's really one of the things that I appreciate when
there are new Christmas movies that can become Christmas classics.
A couple of others in that newer Christmas classic motif
I would guess to call.
Speaker 5 (01:06:57):
It is Christmas Chronicles.
Speaker 6 (01:07:00):
Not everyone likes it because the elves are a little
a little unusual looking, let me just say that. But
in Christmas Chronicles, Kurt Russell plays what we would call
Salty Santa. He's got a wonderful edge to him, but
so full of love and joy of the spirit and
has an amazing, amazing, redemptive story about I won't give
(01:07:22):
it away, but about his son and what he really
would always want to have said to his father. It's very,
very heartwarming. So let's see other favorite Christmas movies. Christmas Shoes,
that's an interesting one.
Speaker 5 (01:07:36):
We also have had The Battle of the Bulge. Well,
there you go.
Speaker 6 (01:07:42):
That is a military historian's favorite Christmas movie. It's actually
just said that it's not their favorite, but it is.
Speaker 5 (01:07:48):
A Christmas movie.
Speaker 6 (01:07:49):
What that does remind me of I do love Christmas
movies that capture that moment in history where the real
medium Christmas transcends what's going on.
Speaker 5 (01:08:00):
We all know the famous story of the Two Sides.
I believe it was World War One on either.
Speaker 6 (01:08:06):
Side, and this is based on a true story, and
they were in the middle of one of the most
brutal battle fields really.
Speaker 5 (01:08:15):
In human history.
Speaker 6 (01:08:16):
When you think about what was going on at that time,
and they are on either side, and they suddenly realize
it is Christmas Eve, and for a few short hours
they stop the battling, They stop the fighting, They come
out of their trenches and actually play a game of
Christmas soccer. They sing a carol or two. Now, the
(01:08:38):
sad part of is it went back just to the
way it was before. And I think that is much
of the challenge of the Christmas season, because I do
think we have an opportunity to be a little different
at Christmas time. It reminds us, you know, part of
Red One, the new Christmas movie with Dwayne Johnson and JK. Simmons,
(01:08:59):
is basically one of the people that works closely with Santa.
I don't want to give the story away, but is
losing their ability to see the good in people and
therefore does not want to go on the job anymore.
Because this person sees in a mall people shoving and
grabbing things from one another, wrestling over packages, losing the
real meaning of the season. But then his ability to
(01:09:23):
see human beings in a different manner is restored. I
always think about this time of year is the time
that we can be the ones to do that. One
of my favorite texts that has come in so far.
Speaker 5 (01:09:34):
Thank you so much for sending.
Speaker 6 (01:09:36):
This in Merry Christmas from Parker, VFW Post four to
six six.
Speaker 5 (01:09:41):
Well, merry Christmas to you as well.
Speaker 6 (01:09:43):
You know this Christmas season and we'll talk a little
bit more about this before we wind up the show.
Speaker 5 (01:09:47):
But there's so many things we can do to be
a little different.
Speaker 6 (01:09:51):
We can actually, you know, take a pie or cookies
to your local firehouse. That's what we do with our
kids growing up, to the police station to those who
don't get a Christmas break because they're standing there always
ready to protect us in our homes. Maybe shovels someone's
yard next to you, particularly the person that maybe is
the neighborhood scrooge. Maybe an active kindness would you know,
(01:10:15):
make things a little easier. And no, granted there might
not be snow, so hey, at least bring their trash
cans up. Maybe drop off cookies to single mom and
offer to babysit. That's always a wonderful thing. If you
know of a military family, you know this time of year.
One of my earliest memories was my dad coming back
from Vietnam, and I remembered that boldly, and I remember
(01:10:37):
what it was like when he wasn't there. You know,
a military family somewhere around you, You could be the
one to spread that cheer and then the hope is
unlike the story from from World War One or the
next morning after Christmas they went back into their trenches
and started fighting all over again.
Speaker 5 (01:10:54):
Maybe we can change that.
Speaker 6 (01:10:56):
And you know, a texture just gave me the context
because it's one of my favorite stories is nineteen fourteen
Christmas Truths is between the British and German forces. Thank
you so much for that because I love that story.
Several movies have been made about it, so love hearing
about that. Let's see any other favorite Christmas movies that
(01:11:16):
we want to share. The Bishop's Wife has come up
a few times, which is good, and I'll just share
too a couple of my favorites. Speaking of instant Christmas classics,
you have to call out Elf. Elf is one of
those that just John Fevreau, the director, took it right
back to the wonder of Christmas. And I got to
(01:11:37):
be honest, every time I see Santa, I sound like Elf.
Speaker 5 (01:11:40):
Buddy, the Elf Santa I know him. See it lives
with you and sticks with you. Okay, we're gonna head
your break, will we come back. We're gonna bring it home.
Speaker 6 (01:11:50):
In the last hour, We're gonna talk about the real
meaning of the season. We're gonna have rich Sulka, We're
gonna talk about Hanukkah, Christmas, peace on Earth, goodwill to
it's all mankind.
Speaker 5 (01:12:01):
And we're also going to talk a little bit more.
Speaker 6 (01:12:03):
About a couple of headlines that we need to be
aware of as we prepare for a whole new season
and a whole new year. So don't go anywhere. I'm
Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell.
Speaker 1 (01:12:14):
The Mandy Connall Show is sponsored by Belle and Pollock
Accident and Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 2 (01:12:19):
No, it's Mandy Connell.
Speaker 4 (01:12:24):
On Kla.
Speaker 11 (01:12:27):
Ninem, God Waken, Nicety through three Many Connall, Keith sad Bab.
Speaker 5 (01:12:42):
Welcome back to the Mandy Connell Show. This is Deborah
Flora sitting in for my friend Mandy Connall. I hope
you are getting ready to have an.
Speaker 6 (01:12:49):
Absolutely marry, merry Christmas and a happy Honukkah, whichever you
were celebrating this week as we were bringing this home
this last hour. I'm looking forward to a conversation we're
going to have at the bottom of the hour, we're
going to rich SoCal join us. He is a Colorado
patriotic American pro Israeli activist and supporter, and we've talked
(01:13:11):
a lot over the last year, ever since October seventh,
about that situation. But this year, Hanukah falls on December
twenty fifth, the same day as Christmas, and that's quite something,
and it's also something I want to talk about, you know,
after this next break, about some miracles that we've seen
around this time of year. But before we do one
(01:13:32):
last topical subject, I want to discuss, you know, we've
been getting in Christmas movies. Several of them have to
do with the military, which I'll talk about after the
next break, But I do have to share this headline
because growing up in the military. I grew up on
Lowry Air Force Base. My dad was a lieutenant colonel
in the Air Force. He went to Vietnam. My husband's
(01:13:53):
an eighty second Airborne veteran. I have many other veterans
in my family. When Afghanistan happened, when that that terrible
withdrawal occurred, that debacle where we acted as though we
were fleeing in surrender, was just a terrible day.
Speaker 5 (01:14:11):
In so many ways.
Speaker 6 (01:14:12):
First of all, it was that weakness that the Americans
showed that led an encourage really putent to invade Ukraine
and China to increase their aggression towards Thailand and other areas.
Speaker 5 (01:14:28):
And on top of it, we lost thirteen men and
women in uniform.
Speaker 6 (01:14:34):
We lost numerous of our allies in Afghanistan. And the
thing that has stuck with me to this point is
there has been no accountability. Growing up in the military,
I always understood that when you left a theater of engagement,
you always did in this order.
Speaker 5 (01:14:50):
You always did it in the.
Speaker 6 (01:14:51):
Order of first civilians, second, then equipment and third and
only then does the military relief. Under the Biden administration,
the first two were not even done. And by the way,
the billions of dollars of equipment and weaponry that we left,
some of it was within flying distance to fly our
(01:15:12):
black Hawks out to Syria, and that we could have
gotten out had we evacuate through Bogram Airbase. We've seen
much of that equipment now actually terrorizing the people of
Israel in the hands of really horrific terrorist organizations. We
know the Taliban became one of the most armed forces
in that region of the world and no one was
(01:15:34):
held responsible. That's unacceptable, to say the least. I've heard
from so many from Operation Pineapple Express and others where
great people in the military who were either retired or
worked behind the scenes managed to get by themselves and
with others who were focused without the help of the
American government, get many of our allies out.
Speaker 5 (01:15:56):
But the entire thing is a debacle, to say the least.
Speaker 6 (01:16:00):
Coming out now, many of us have known for a
while that Joe Biden was not fully present.
Speaker 5 (01:16:08):
Let's just be honest.
Speaker 6 (01:16:09):
That is not a dispersion, it is an observation and
a realization.
Speaker 5 (01:16:12):
What's coming out now.
Speaker 6 (01:16:14):
His age are beginning to detail how they propped him
up during his presidency, and when it comes to Afghanistan.
It has been stated by them that Biden was not
present for key moments of his presidency, including not being
involved in major decisions like the disastrous withdrawal of US
troops from Afghanistan in August of twenty twenty one. Instead,
(01:16:35):
who was making the decisions? It says an unknown team
of handlers made the decision to hastily pull out of
the region. Well, maybe that explains why it was done.
Speaker 5 (01:16:47):
So horrifically.
Speaker 6 (01:16:48):
Maybe that explains why the decisions were made in a vacuum.
Speaker 5 (01:16:53):
Of any good military strategy.
Speaker 6 (01:16:59):
It is stunning to me. I can't even tell you
how stunning that is to me. This is why we
need accountability. We need to know who was propping up
the commander in chief, and we are now hearing that,
on top of it, adding insult to injury, that the
gold star families of those thirteen servicemen and women who
(01:17:21):
were killed had to wait three hours for Joe Biden
to come down and be with them on the tarmac
where he was supposed to greet them. Why, you may ask, well,
one of the family members, the sister of Riley McCollum,
is just coming out now, said that she was told
by a military officer that Biden was taking a nap.
Speaker 5 (01:17:43):
He made them wait for three hours.
Speaker 6 (01:17:45):
And this is after a previous situation where he is
supposed to, with great dignity as the commander in chief,
be honoring the coffins of those that were unnecessarily lost
because of the way it was mishandled. And what did
he do in that situation looked at his watch. I
got to tell you, it is time for clarity. It's
(01:18:05):
time for some accountability. And as someone who has many,
many dear friends in the military and grew up in
the military, this was one of the most egregious examples
of dereliction of duty. And we are now finding out,
probably part of a media dump that is going on
(01:18:27):
over the Hollies hoping we won't notice that Joe Biden
wasn't even a part of that decision. His handlers were
doing it. And by the way, why does the leader
of the free world have handlers? Now we know when
Joe Biden had hot Mike moments and he would say
things like, well, they told me I couldn't take that question.
They told me to go over here, they told me
(01:18:49):
it's time to leave. Who was giving commands to the
commander in chief? Well, now we're finding out a couple
of his aides, a couple of his handlers. Okay, I
got that off my chest. We give you jolly again
when we come back, and I'm in a title together
with some Christmas movies that great listeners are texting in
five six six nine zero.
Speaker 5 (01:19:08):
That have to do with our military.
Speaker 6 (01:19:11):
And then we're going to talk about a couple of
miracles as We've prepared to have rich Socle join us
at the bottom of the hour. Don't go anywhere. I'm
Deborah Flora sitting in for Mandy Connell. What I wanted
to talk about in this segment. Some of the movies
that people are talking about are Silent Night.
Speaker 5 (01:19:27):
It takes place during World War two.
Speaker 6 (01:19:29):
Battle of the Bulge is actually based on true events.
You know, obviously noing knows exactly what happened, but it
was where opposing forces the Battle of the Bulge actually
paused for a moment as the rations were being basically
diminished on both sides.
Speaker 5 (01:19:47):
It was a freezing period of the war, to say
the least.
Speaker 6 (01:19:51):
And they actually came together and shared rations to make
one good Christmas meal. Pretty amazing. What can happen people's
arts and minds when we remember, first of all, we're
all human. For me, as a Christian, what Christmas means
is that God Emmanuel came down to be with us
(01:20:12):
as Jesus, to walk amongst us, to show his love,
be the light of the world, so that we can
now have that different way of looking at one another.
You know, the thing I love about the Constitution, why
because America was the only country in the history of
mankind made on one idea, which is a Judeo Christian
(01:20:33):
founding idea, that every person is created with intrinsic value
and therefore individual liberty.
Speaker 5 (01:20:39):
Government has one.
Speaker 6 (01:20:40):
Job to protect their rights and their safety, not to
tell us what to do and spend all our money.
But that is the kind of miracle when we pause
for a moment and realized we were all created in
God's image. Another movie that people been talking about, I
mentioned it, the Christmas Truth of nineteen fourteen, that shows
up in many different movies, was during World War One.
(01:21:01):
Those movies are Joyo Noel. I am not French, so
I apologize to everyone who knows how bad my accent was.
The Christmas Truth all is calm a moment where in
the trenches during World War One, a horrific time, the
rain was turning into cold and freezing, that there was
(01:21:23):
a pause, There was a hope that maybe it would
end at that time, and instead of fighting one another,
the German and the British forces ended up coming out
on top of that area between them only a matter
of yards, called no man's land.
Speaker 5 (01:21:40):
And they paused.
Speaker 6 (01:21:41):
They played a game of Christmas soccer. They probably called
it football, but you know what I mean, Christmas soccer
and they sang Christmas carols.
Speaker 5 (01:21:50):
That is.
Speaker 6 (01:21:53):
That is something that I hope we can all bring
to this moment, because no matter where you are, we're
not one another's enemies. Our neighbors are just at our neighbors.
We can disagree on certain things as long as we
stand up for one another's individual right to live free.
You know, there's another miracle that we're going to talk
about at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 5 (01:22:12):
When we have rich Sokle joining us. That's a miracle
of Hanukkah.
Speaker 6 (01:22:16):
When when the Menora stayed lit miraculously during a very
dark time. There's a miracle of Christmas. And that is
a true meaning of Christmas that I've shared as a Christian.
Speaker 5 (01:22:26):
That hope, that light, that knowing that God loves us
enough to.
Speaker 7 (01:22:30):
Be with us.
Speaker 5 (01:22:31):
But I also want to talk about another one.
Speaker 6 (01:22:33):
You know, it's interesting a caller texted in and said
something about how you know there's going to be all
these wars now that President Trump will be taking place
in office again. Well, you know it, Actually there weren't
wars when he was in office. And I'm not standing
up for anyone who does that. But we've had more
in the last four years with the horrors of October
seventh and the Ukraine wore, the debacle of Afghanistan. And
(01:22:58):
when we come back with Rich, we're going to talk
about what I call the Hana Kameracle. That was one
of the best things out of Trump's first administration, I believe,
where after passing the Abraham Accords, at the whaling Wall
of the Temple in Jerusalem, represents from UAE and Bahrain,
Arab Muslim countries help light the Menora with the Jewish
(01:23:22):
elders and rabbis that were there. That's what the season
can be about. That's what I'm hoping that we can
focus on. So we're going to head to the break.
When we come back, we'll have Rich circle with us
to bring it all home so we can remember the
real reason for the season and hopefully be inspired to
be that light to others and to be that peacemaker
to those around us. So don't go anywhere. I'm Deborah
(01:23:42):
Flora sitting in.
Speaker 5 (01:23:43):
For Mandy Connell.
Speaker 6 (01:23:46):
The lasting feeling that we take out of the season
movies are fun. We'll get back to that before the
very end of the show, but now I want to
take it really to the deeper meaning of faith and
hope and light in a very dark times. And the
person I'm so honored to have joined me in this
conversation as a dear friend, Rich Sokel.
Speaker 5 (01:24:05):
He is a fine American.
Speaker 6 (01:24:07):
He serves right here in Colorado as a South Metro
District treasurer.
Speaker 5 (01:24:12):
He's a pro Israel activist. We've stood together.
Speaker 6 (01:24:16):
Against those who had spread anti Semitism and hate and
you know, basically right in front of a CU regent's home.
He's someone who's always helping us keep our eye on
those who are dealing with much bigger things than we
are right now, Rich, thank.
Speaker 5 (01:24:32):
You so much for joining me on this show. I
really appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (01:24:36):
Good to be with you, dev and Merry Christmas and
has all your suitions.
Speaker 5 (01:24:41):
I'm going to let you say it. I just say it,
happy Hot.
Speaker 6 (01:24:43):
I messed up with French earlier also, so I love
how you say it instead. But happy Hot to get
to you, my friend, and Merry Christmas to everyone who's listening.
Speaker 5 (01:24:51):
You know, I think it's really important when we are,
you know.
Speaker 6 (01:24:55):
In this season, perspective is everything, Gratitude is everything. And
when we go to the mall and maybe you're attempting
to get upset if the latte isn't right, or if
somebody bought something we wanted. I always want to take
a moment to pause and remember our military receiving abroad
those who are in harm's way, and I want to
with you take a moment to remind our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:25:15):
That it has been four hundred and forty three days.
Speaker 6 (01:25:18):
Since October seventh, and the hostages were taken into the
Gaza Strip by just a terrible terrorist organization.
Speaker 5 (01:25:26):
Hamas, can you.
Speaker 6 (01:25:28):
Speak to that rich because I know you're in touch
with some of the families, and as Honic is approaching,
how can we be praying for them?
Speaker 7 (01:25:36):
Well, thank you Devi, and prayers are always gratefully accepted
from anyone at any time. So, as you said, whenever
I think I'm having a bad day, you know, every
time I wake up every morning, I remember that there's
one hundred hostages still in the tunnels of Gaza, living
into a poor and horrible conditions. Lots of reports that
they're undersed, lots of reports that they're not being taken
(01:26:00):
care of, they've not received any of their medication, the
Red Cross has not been allowed to visit them. And
as you said, it's been well over four hundred days
with no visits from the Red Cross. And you know,
we don't see people in the street protesting saying, hey,
how come AMASA isn't letting the Red Cross visit the hostages?
Silence from them. So every morning when I wake up, though,
(01:26:21):
I say a prayer for all the brave soldiers of Israel,
but more importantly that's all the hostages, that their chains
be broken, and that they be brought forth from darkness
into light and return to their homes. You know, you
and I wake up in a warm bed. Yes, these
people wake up in a dungeon, literally in a dungeon
every morning.
Speaker 10 (01:26:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (01:26:41):
And I always love reminding people that among the hundred hostages,
there are seven American citizens and they must feel abandoned.
It's disgraceful.
Speaker 5 (01:26:50):
Yes, indeed.
Speaker 6 (01:26:51):
And you know we were talking in we were talking
in the segment previously that that AIDS are starting to
admit that President Vine has not been present, let alone president,
of some of these moments. And he came out and
said recently that I think it was it was Hanukkah
reception at the White House that he had personally freed
one hundred out of two hundred hostages, when obviously we
(01:27:14):
know and that's not the case, and there are seven Americans,
And this is the thing. I want to see us
turning around our college campuses where instead they're saying, bring
the Americans home. And you and I talked about how
just a few weeks ago, Hamas just in another just
atrocious act, put a twenty year old or at no
twenty year old American young man on camera and had
(01:27:38):
him beg for his release, to which President Trump said,
if you don't release all of them by January twentieth,
there will be at double hockey sticks to pay. I
don't need to make like it light of it, but
tell us about that. Because our son is nineteen, our
daughter's twenty one, I can't even imagine what those parents
(01:27:58):
are going through.
Speaker 7 (01:28:00):
Thoughts about that, sure, Dad, and I think it's hard
for us to realize what those parents are going through.
And I met some of the parents when they actually
visited Denver a year ago at the start of the
legislative session, and I became friendly with two of the parents,
and I stayed in touch with them, and one thank
god the daughter was freed and a very daring Israeli
(01:28:23):
rescue operation. Her name was Noah Argamaani. For those of
you who follow it closely, the picture of her being
taken hostage and screaming she was on the back of
a motorcycle being driven by a Hamas terrorist. That sort
of became an iconic photo in Israel and around the world.
So thank god she was released and she's home, and
she got to go home right before her mother died
(01:28:45):
of cancer, so she got to see the mother literally
a few days before the mother passed, and of course
the mother's buying wish was to hold her daughter one
more time. Yeah, I'm also friends with a mom whose
son was killed at the music festival othern in Israel.
His body was on the side of the road and
then another Hamas terrorist pulled up. Two terrorists pulled up
(01:29:07):
in a car, opened up the trunk, threw his body
in and took it to Gaza. And if that's not
sickening enough, that the driver of the car and the
one who picked up the body is a UN employee
or was a UN employee. So all these people who
say the UN is a mutual organization that I mean
(01:29:27):
a lot of the un employees in Gaza, they work
for UNRA were complicit. And there's that. But what really
kills me if you think about this mom, Even though
the Israel military has told her that her son is dead,
she still thinks, well, maybe there's a mistake, maybe there's
a chance, maybe he's still alive. Yeah, And she's so
(01:29:50):
torn by this that she's devoted her life to trying
to get the hostages out. She travels around the world,
meeting with diplomats. But my heart goes out here. I
can't imagine this ecological burden of a mother. No, this
child is in a tunnel in Gaza. And I always
remind people that the youngest hostage taken on the terrible
(01:30:12):
day in October last year was nine months old. They
kidnapped a nine month old baby who's still being held captive.
We have no idea if he's alive or deck right.
What kind of animal? What kind of person? I even
hate to use the word person, but these are people
who did this.
Speaker 3 (01:30:29):
But their moral.
Speaker 7 (01:30:30):
Conscience is so twisted that they could do something like this.
You know, not only kill people in cold blood, not
only murd of parents in front of their children, not
only rape women, not only cut babies.
Speaker 3 (01:30:43):
Out of pregnant women's stomachs.
Speaker 7 (01:30:46):
The kidnap a nine month old baby, and still four
hundred days later, that baby's still being held hostage. Yeah,
you know, it does something like this happened.
Speaker 5 (01:30:55):
That's a great question.
Speaker 6 (01:30:56):
As you're listening, my guess is Rich so called derbrafloor
sitting it for Mandy conn On. The reason why we're
bringing this up is because sometimes if we maybe have
a hard time finding gratitude or where you know, it's
easy to just focus on the troubles we face.
Speaker 5 (01:31:08):
It's nothing, it's.
Speaker 6 (01:31:09):
Nothing compared to so many else around the world. Fortunately, God,
here's all of our prayers, no matter whether it's a
large problem or not, but really repositioning ourselves to realize
how blessed we are to live in this country, and
how we need to focus on those in need and
standing up and using our voices, and which when we
think about, you know, the meaning of this season, we're
(01:31:31):
going to.
Speaker 5 (01:31:31):
Be praying most definitely for that mom and others.
Speaker 6 (01:31:34):
And when you're talking about you know, we're trying about
four hundred and forty three days since the hostage were taken,
any parent understands if you don't know where your child
is for two hours, what that feeling is like, and
you're waiting for them to come home.
Speaker 5 (01:31:47):
So we need to be praying for all of those folks.
Speaker 6 (01:31:49):
But Freemi, you've always been so great to point out
that anyone who's listening who's.
Speaker 5 (01:31:53):
Not persuaded of where the barbarism is in this.
Speaker 6 (01:31:56):
Situation, Israel is a place where Muslims, Wish and Christian
folks as well as atheists all lived together in peace.
That Israel has so gone out of its way to
be humanitarian. They actually drop leaflets before they attack somewhere
so that civilians can.
Speaker 5 (01:32:13):
Get out of the way if the terrorists would let them,
which they don't. So I think that's very important to
keep in mind.
Speaker 6 (01:32:19):
You know, as we are looking at this and the
situation that we just talked about where the Hamas tried
to get this twenty year old to plead for Donald
Trump to release him, which is ironic because Biden is
in the White House and has done nothing in this front.
Do you think that there will be some changes coming
with a new administration coming.
Speaker 5 (01:32:38):
Back in.
Speaker 7 (01:32:40):
I totally hope. So, I mean Trump's election in the
middle East is a seismic shift, and we already see it.
You know, we saw that Israel and has Belah, soon
after Trump's election, entered into a peace agreement because has
Blah knows, you know, in Washington there's going to be
a new sheriff in town. And with the new sheriff
comes new rules and comes new actions. So what we're
(01:33:02):
hoping for if your listeners remember back to nineteen seventy
nine when we got the Iranian hostage crisis, when Iranians
took the fifty two Americans hostage, and the day that
Ronald Reagan took office, they were released, right, So we
are certainly hoping and praying that, you know, hopefully it's
tomorrow that the hostages are released. You know, as you said,
(01:33:23):
Trump has said that by the time he assumes the presidency,
if the Americans aren't released, there will be does he
so eloquently put.
Speaker 6 (01:33:31):
It, And I can't you can say the word, I'm
no and yeah, and I do believe there'll be a change.
And you know, I want to want to shift it
now as we're thinking about the miracles that this season
represents as a Christian, you know, for me, it represents
the miracles of Jesus' birth and I Manuel God with us.
Hanikah represents the miracle of the Menora that did not
(01:33:54):
go out during such a dark time, and there was
a miracle called the Hankah miracle December fifteenth, twenty two,
twenty after the Abraham Accords, where after this was orchestrated
the first such agreement between Israel and major Arab countries
since nineteen ninety four. Members of you Am Bahrain lit
the Menora along with the rabbis at the Whaling Wall.
Speaker 5 (01:34:16):
Can you talk about that and your thoughts about this Honikkah?
Speaker 3 (01:34:23):
Sure well?
Speaker 7 (01:34:24):
As a Jew, you know, we all yearned for peace.
And there's an old saying that was said by Ben Gurion,
the first Prime Minister of Israel, and he said that
any Jew that doesn't believe in miracles isn't a realist.
Speaker 3 (01:34:38):
I love it.
Speaker 7 (01:34:39):
We've seen so many miracles. Obviously with the Abraham Accords,
who thought there be peace between Israel and some belligerent
Arab nations? Right, you know, the tide is turning, and
I think, and I hope and I pray that the
people of the Middle East want piece as much as
the Israelis do. And they're willing to take concrete steps.
I don't know we're there yet. Obviously, the big goal
(01:35:02):
that we're all striving for is peace between Israel and
Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is important because it is the
leader of the Sunni Islam world as opposed to the
sea Id Islam world, which is led by Iran. So
we believe that if Israel can make peace with Saudi Arabia,
then all the other Sunni Arab countries will also make
(01:35:23):
peace yeah, with Israel. So they're kind of the lynchpin
that we're waiting on.
Speaker 5 (01:35:28):
Well, that is certainly the prayer.
Speaker 6 (01:35:30):
That is certainly the prayer, and certainly we know it's
peace through strength that you use. The Reagan example, that's
what brought down the Berlin Wall, and I was far
behind it on the other side when I was a
young woman over there and saw what that soul listeness produced.
Speaker 5 (01:35:45):
So we will be praying for that well, my friend.
Speaker 6 (01:35:48):
As we head into this week, we certainly want everyone
listening to be praying for the hostages in in Gazo.
We want them to be praying for the idea, praying
for peace, praying for our brothers and sisters and that
are Jewish at this time of year, And what is
your wish to listeners before before I let you go
(01:36:08):
before this holiday week?
Speaker 3 (01:36:11):
Thank you, roll.
Speaker 7 (01:36:11):
I just want to remind all your listeners because I
think this sheds light on Judaism, the religion of Judaism
and Jewish people that were celebrating Hanukkah. And for your
listeners that don't know the background, just very briefly, Hankakah
commemorates an event from about one sixty four BC, when
(01:36:31):
Greece was the greatest nation that controlled the known world
at that time, including the Middle East, and they forbade
Judaism to be taught I practiced in Israel, and the
Jews revolted, the Macabees, the listeners may have heard of,
revolted and overthrew the Greek oppressors. And when we went
back to the Holy Temple in the Old City of Jerusalem,
(01:36:55):
it had been defiled with all the Greek gods. Everything Jewish,
of course, had been destroyed and replaced with the statues
of Greek gods. So we had to repurify the temple.
And to do that, though, we needed eight days of oil,
and we only had the pure oil that could be
used on the holy manora in the temple to only
last one night, but it would take eight days to
(01:37:16):
make more oil that could be used for the purification ceremony,
and God made that one vial of oil meant for
one night to last eight nights. But what I find
really interesting, other than the parables of how it's up
to us to spread the light, and that's why we
light minoras, and it's contingent upon old Jews. When we
light the minor, it actually put it in our window
where it can be seen by people outside our homes,
(01:37:40):
so they too can see in the light. Is the
light hopefully spreads goodness throughout the world. What I find
really interesting about the Hanakahs story is though it was
a great military victory of a bunch of Jews against
a much bigger, mightier empire, kind of sounds familiar today,
by the way, you know, there's seven million Jews in
(01:38:02):
Israel and hundreds of millions of hostile our population surrounding it.
But what I find amazing about the Honkah story is
that all the prayers we say when we light the candles,
it has nothing to do with the military victory. It's
all giving thanks to God for lending us that we
were able to rebuild the temple and we start practicing
(01:38:24):
our religion once again. So it's a commemoration to God
the songs we sing, and nothing about the military victory.
Speaker 5 (01:38:30):
I think that is amazing, go ahead and.
Speaker 7 (01:38:33):
Emblematic of the Jewish people, because though we have to
fight military battles, we do it so in the service
of God and creating a relationship between us and God
and trying to spread God's light and the idea of
monotheism and one true God throughout the world. So that's
what we celebrate on, not the military victory.
Speaker 5 (01:38:51):
I love that well, thank you.
Speaker 6 (01:38:52):
And you know, as a Christian, I feel like an
extension of the Jewish faith, and so I love that
story as a part of you know, the history that
we share and the Judeo Christian founding of this country
that says that we are the ones to protect one
another's rights as individuals spread that light.
Speaker 5 (01:39:10):
It's a perfect, perfect way to wind this interview up.
Speaker 6 (01:39:15):
Thank you so much for that rich and for that idea,
because it is all about peace, spreading the light and
being that change to those around us in that way,
So thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (01:39:24):
God bless you, my friend. And happy Honkah to you.
Speaker 7 (01:39:28):
Thank you toos and Christians. We are bonded at the
hips again. We are indeed goodness and we appreciate all
our Christian friends and all who fight for good and
for truth.
Speaker 5 (01:39:38):
So thank you, You've got it. Thank you so much,
my friend, Happy Honkhah, and God bless you.
Speaker 7 (01:39:43):
I'm Merry Christmas to you.
Speaker 5 (01:39:45):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:39:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (01:39:46):
Well, that was my friend rich Sokel And just love
the fact that there is so much more that unites
us than divides us. And that's one of the things
I want to focus on it. By the way, I
want to say as we're closing out this show, I
always wind it funny when people say, oh I'm offended
if someone says Merry Christmas to me or happy Hanukah.
It is a wish of goodwill and we can be
(01:40:09):
the ones to spread that. You know, there's been a
tax in the past on saying Merry Christmas. There was
a case not too long ago about a retirement community
that was not allowed.
Speaker 5 (01:40:18):
To have Merry Christmas up there.
Speaker 6 (01:40:20):
You know, even if it is not what you celebrate,
it is coming from a place of goodwill, and I
think the key is this, whether it is speaking up
and standing up and reminding people where the barbarism is
in the Middle East, in Israel in that battle, whether
it's standing up against anti Semitism, what is just standing
up for one another.
Speaker 5 (01:40:42):
For one another's rice.
Speaker 6 (01:40:43):
Not to agree on everything, but to understand that the
very fabric of our country is that we believe every
person is created with unique intrinsic value and therefore individual
right and should be treated with dignity.
Speaker 5 (01:40:58):
That's the light that we can spread.
Speaker 6 (01:41:00):
If you're thinking of the Hanna Kamericle as a Christian,
that's the joy and the peace that we can spread.
You know, there is so many attacks against the very
things that bring us together.
Speaker 7 (01:41:12):
You know.
Speaker 6 (01:41:12):
I want to share because we've been talking a lot
about Christmas movies.
Speaker 5 (01:41:14):
Thank you everyone who's chimed in on that.
Speaker 6 (01:41:17):
I'll be in this seat next Monday and we'll talk
about New Year's resolutions, so get ready.
Speaker 5 (01:41:21):
To send me those next Monday.
Speaker 6 (01:41:24):
But as we've been talking about Hollywood, as we've been
talking about movies, as we've been talking about all this,
I want to share a story of Denzel washington Man.
Speaker 5 (01:41:31):
If you may know him.
Speaker 6 (01:41:32):
And by the way, there's a blockbuster out right now,
Gladiator too. Not a Christmas movie because it's prior to
that period. However, he just became a minister, sixty nine
years old, just became a minister. And I find it
interesting what he said. He said quote it took me
a while, but I'm finally here. If God can do
(01:41:52):
this for me, then there's nothing he can't do for you.
The sky is literally the limit now.
Speaker 5 (01:41:59):
He said that.
Speaker 6 (01:41:59):
You know, and mely you can't talk about faith in
Hollywood necessarily, but he does. And I actually think that
that is really the way that each one of us
can be a light wherever we are. We can talk
about the things we can believe. We need to stop censoring.
We can wish someone merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. We
can talk about what we believe and what we think,
(01:42:21):
and we can do it in a way that helps
bring people together, that talks about the eighty percent that
we all agree on instead of always hyper focusing on that.
Speaker 5 (01:42:31):
Which separates us. That's my wish for you.
Speaker 3 (01:42:34):
You know.
Speaker 6 (01:42:34):
I had a great text from a listener who says
that one of the things that she does is she
gives little gift cards to the people that pick up
the garbage every week, just things like that. You know
often think about the word kind it's a four letter word.
I think it's actually one of the most powerful words
out there because of one of the most powerful acts
(01:42:55):
inspired acts of human kindness. One last movie I want
to share with you is a Klaus I hope you
watch it. It's a great, brand new classic. It's a
couple of years old, but it's a classic from the beginning,
and the through line is this, one true act of
human kindness always spurs another.
Speaker 5 (01:43:16):
I believe that, and I, in that way unabashedly say
to you, Merry.
Speaker 6 (01:43:22):
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, God bless you, and may you have
a beautiful, blessed week.
Speaker 5 (01:43:28):
Go out there and be that source of light and
peace to others. God bless you. I'm Deborah Flora, sitting
in for Mandy Connell.
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