http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/As a journalist since 1969 (including a decade as CNN Radio's New York-based correspondent) I've reported, the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Now, as news and programming director at Paltalk.com I host a daily online show, News Talk Online, where I interview newsmakers and offer commentary. As with the show, this blog reflects my personal thoughts. I hope it stimulates rhetoric and debate. You are invited and encouraged to post comments.ennoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:45:40 PSTBlogger http://www.blogger.com2662125Gary,Baumgarten,Paltalk,News,Talk,Onlinenoreply@blogger.comnoGary,Baumgarten,Paltalk,News,Talk,OnlineGary Baumgarten's BlogAs a journalist since 1969 (the past decade as CNN Radio's New York-based correspondent) I've reported, the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Now, as news and programming director at Paltalk.com I host a daily online show, News Talk Online, where I interview newsmakers and offer commentary. As with the show, this blog reflects my personal thoughts. I hope it stimulates rhetoric and debate. You are invited and encouraged to post comments.http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/fort-hood-and-religion.htmlIslamGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkFort HoodPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:55:30 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8882011586677731856By GARY BAUMGARTENPaltalk News NetworkMuslim American groups are struggling with a possible backlash over the Fort Hood tragedy, even more so today than on Thursday as new details, and additional speculation, about the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, emerge.A devote Muslim, Hasan was reported to have shouted "God is great" in Arabic as he allegedly opened fire. Causing, for some, a 2http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-talk-online-november-6-2009.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkFort HoodPaltalkPresident ObamaNews Talk OnlineJames Hickmannoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:08:55 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-1279297475902013013By GARY BAUMGARTEN in New YorkWith additional reporting from JAMES HICKMAN in TexasPaltalk News Network President Obama says it's too early to know exactly what motivated yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, the president cautioned about "jumping to conclusions." Obama emphasized that this was the act of one individual and said he has ordered 1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-talk-online-november-5-2009-live.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkFort HoodPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:02:01 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-48935012708713464640http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-talk-online-november-4-2009.htmlAlan JasiePaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk Onlinepoliticsnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:20:36 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-7699408459860784693By ALAN JASIE Paltalk News NetworkYesterday’s results are final and today will be a busy day for the spin doctors on both sides.In the Virginia gubernatorial race, the Republican candidate Bob McDonnell crushed his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds by 18 points, 59 percent to 41 percent. McDonnell ran a first rate clean campaign which stayed on message and appealed to both Republicans and 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-talk-online-november-3-2009-mercy.htmlGary BaumgartenAlan JasieMercy ShipsPaltalk News NetworkGary Baumgarten. PaltalkSam SmithNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:32:43 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8403264977317302725Sam Smith, CEO of Mercy Ships was the guest on the first segment of News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class health care services to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $748 million, impacting0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/11/news-talk-online-november-2-2009.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkAfganistanPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:04:08 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8399645589612619490By GARY BAUMGARTENPaltalk News NetworkAdministration officials are now saying that the announcement by contender Abdullah Abdullah to sit out Afghanistan's runoff presidential election won't affect President Obama's policy decisions. But should the White House really so quickly dismiss the significance of Abullah's decision? It's been generally accepted, including by General Stanley McChrystal 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/do-ghosts-exist_31.htmlPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk OnlineCody PrestonBoaz FrankelSouthwest Ghost Huner's Associationnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:59:37 PSTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-3493321920094127779Cody Presten is president of Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association. He was Boaz Frankel's guest on Friday's News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.The Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association is predominately a research organization. Its mission is not necessarily to prove that ghosts exist, but to investigate all possible explanations of areas that are associated with being haunted. It is open 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-29-2009.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk OnlineEleanor Smealfeminismnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:16:22 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8756863412545454124Famed feminist Eleanor Smeal was my guest today on News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.Smeal discussed yesterday's signing into law of federal hate crimes legislation, the disparity in medical care based on gender under the present system and efforts by the feminist movement to obviate human rights violations of women globally.1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/will-obama-play-solomon-with-us-troops.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkAfghanistannoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:10:20 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-1499016426913166939Mine Resistant Ambush Protected gunner Baraki Barakhttp://bit.lyBy GARY BAUMGARTENPaltalk News NetworkThe Associated Press is quoting unnamed administration sources today as saying that President Obama is considering cutting down the number of troops he will send to Afghanistan. The number, far less than that requested by General Stanley McChrystal, is being called, the AP says, "McChrystal Light0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-28-2009-friend.htmlJ.D. AdamikGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkAfghanistanPakistanNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:35:23 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-3107270241092406590By J.D. ADAMIKPaltalk News NetworkBefore on can really address the above question, we must get an understanding of how the country arrived at it present situation.Pakistan became radicalized under the rule of Zia Ul-Haq, an Army general who took power by coup in 1977, and ruled by Marshall Law most of the time until his death in an airplane crash in 1988. Zia was a fervent fanatical Sunni 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-27-2009-woman.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkReginald Blantoncapital punishmentSusan FinkelsteinPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:28:32 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-7095911338518541104Two stories on today's News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.First, the case of Susan Finkelstein of Philadelphia who is being charged with prostitution for allegedly offering herself in exchange for World Series tickets to an undercover police officer answering her ad on Craigslist.Then, the far more series case of Reginald Blanton, a convicted murderer, who is scheduled to be executed in0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-26-2009-swine.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk OnlineveteransJoseph GoldenDavis Liuswine fluJames McKelveynoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:11:12 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-4961757162460821113Those considered high risk for contracting the swine flu should take the vaccine.That's the recommendation of Dr. Davis Liu, author of the book Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely. Liu's comments came during an appearance on News Talk Online on the Paltalk News network.Davis says the reason there's so much concern about the swine flu is that it's disproportionately affecting people who are 250http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-23-2009.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkAfghanistanNews Talk OnlineRichard Marcinkonoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:56:18 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-76857677078490286Former Navy SEAL, security expert, author and motivational speaker Richard Marcinko was the guest on News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network today to talk about Afghanistan and the indecision of the Obama administration in answering Gen. Stanley McChrystal's call for more troops.1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-22-2009.htmlglobal warmingGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk OnlineNick GriffinBNPBBCnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:30:24 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-1159426857459129632A decision by the BBC to interview BNP leader Nick Griffin and parental concerns over a British anti-global warming PSA which they say scares their children were the topics on today's News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-21-2009-latino.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:40:29 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-822329706371632156CNN has kind of a schizophrenic image with some Latino groups in the United States.On the one hand, they are anxiously awaiting the debut of a series on the network called "Latino in America." On the other, they are pressuring CNN to dump Lou Dobbs for what they believe are his anti-Latino positions.Dobbs, who hosts an hourly opinion and news program on CNN at 7 PM New York time, has made it a 1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-20-2009-wars.htmlGary BaumgartenConn HallinanPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkAfghanistanPatricia DeGennaroPakistanGary Baumgarten. News Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:04:14 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8353153071911605761The wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan were the topics on today's News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network. A situation that my two guests believe can only get worse with a military-only approach.The guests were Conn Hallinan, analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, and New York University Center for Global Affairs adjunct assistant professor Patricia DeGennaro.0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-16-2009-2.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk OnlineBrigitte BermanWendy Bookernoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:41:14 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-3879626825888412596Two women, both inspirations to the rest of us, were my guests on today's News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.Wendy Booker has multiple sclerosis, has been living with it since being diagnosed in 1995. But that doesn't stop Booker from being active. She runs in marathons and has climbed six of the seven top peaks of the world, having only been defeated by weather while attempting to 1http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-15-2009-does.htmlUnited NationsGazaPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkPalestiniansNews Talk OnlineIsraelnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:19:21 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-3167209656003717821By JOEL LEYDENPaltalk News NetworkJERUSALEM - The UN Human Rights Council is, today, holding hearings on the Goldstone Report, which, according to the United Nations News Center, "found evidence that both Israel forces and Palestinian militants committed serious war crimes and breaches of humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity." “We came to the conclusion, on the basis of 2http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-14-2009.htmlGordon BrownUKGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkAfghanistanNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:49:32 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-1638057058710159407By CASSANDRA WOODPaltalk News NetworkLONDON - In an announcement in the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he is prepared to make a commitment of an additional 500 British troops to join the 9,000 already in Afghanistan.However, these troops will not just be sent without certain conditions being met. In his speech he listed those conditions as:* The troops must be 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-13-2009-health.htmlhealth reformGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk Online9/11noreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:50:41 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-6667298610825507293The passage today by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee of its version of the health reform bill was the main topic of discussion on News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network.Also discussed was the refusal of the city of New York and the committee overseeing the building of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to accommodate a request by several advocacy groups to include on the memorial the ranks of 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-12-2009.htmlhealth care reformGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkQuentin YoungPaltalkNews Talk OnlinePNHPnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:01:59 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-9074641017275070435Young with Pres. Obama: PNHPBy GARY BAUMGARTEN Paltalk News NetworkA Cincinnati woman is estranged from her husband. They should get a divorce. But they don't. She has health issues and fears that should she divorce her husband, her pre-existing conditions would preclude her from getting health care. So with him she remains.A man in Pennsylvania gets married. Congratulations should be in order. 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/food-chain-could-be-terror-target.htmlNobel Peace PrizePaltalk News NetworkPaltalkPresident ObamaNews Talk Onlinecyber terrorismMark OlsenTim Downsnoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:45:09 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-4503673107623170404Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, counter-terrorism experts have worked to keep America safe from additional threats. But one area point of vulnerability, agro-terrorism, gets little attention.Experts warn that a single attack on U.S. farms could instantly contaminate the nation's food supply... and affect millions of Americans.Terrorism expert Tim Downs, author of the newly 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-8-2009.htmlPaltalk News Networkgun controlPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:46:47 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-885503652776447523New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the results of a wide-ranging undercover investigation by the city of New York into illegal gun sales. The investigation, which covered seven gun shows in three states, reveals on video how easy it is for criminals to buy firearms at gun shows. Thirty-five of 47 gun sellers sold to people who said either they probably could not pass a background check or0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-talk-online-october-7-2009-out-of.htmlGary BaumgartenPaltalk News NetworkPaltalkNews Talk Onlinenoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:53:22 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-8296816512343595875By GARY BAUMGARTENPaltalk News NetworkIt was Tuesday, April 28 at about 1 in the afternoon and Stuart Gruskin stepped out of his midtown Manhattan office to grab a bite to eat. As he was crossing 43rd Street between 5th and 6th, a catering service deliveryman on a bicycle came flying along 43rd - going against traffic on the one-way street.Gruskin stepped off the curb and into the path of the 0http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2009/10/seven-days-in-october-obama-vs-generals.htmlStanley McChrystalRich SwiermilitaryAfghanistanPresident Obamanoreply@blogger.com (Gary Baumgarten)Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:18:27 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-104346161090032492By Rich Swier Paltalk News Network McChrystalThe academy award winning movie, "Seven Days in May" premiered in 1964. The premise of the movie was that U.S. military leaders were plotting to overthrow the president because he supports a nuclear disarmament treaty and they fear a Soviet sneak attack. Fast forward to today. We have General David Petraeus; Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the 1nonadultGary Baumgarten's Blog