KCRW'S Left Right & Center 1.31.09

Slipping into Socialism or Sliding into Protectionism?

Obama says SHAME ON YOU to Wall Street and really: what are they doing giving $2 billion in taxpayer dollars out to their executives in the form of bonuses for failures? A very feisty discussion follows, lots of interrupting each other, but ultimately, all three agree, it's irresponsible. Obama's recovery plan has taken the bi out of bi-partisan, and left a wide divide between the Dems and GOP. Did he subcontract the plan to Nancy Pelosi? Were Republicans listened to at all? They voted NO in lockstep. And Tony is upset with the language Obama used in talking about Muslim nations on his Al Arabiya TV interview -- says he's gotten the history wrong.