Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show

Yesterday was the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Today on Bill Mick Live, Dave takes a very brief overview look at the life and legacy of one of the great Presidents of the United States. from his days in the Illinois Legislature to the US Congress, to the stump debating Stephen A. Douglas. His election as the first republican Party candidate for President would lead to the split of the nation and t...

Today, we turn back the pages to the era of revolutions and explore the life of a man whose pen ignited the flame of liberty across continents. Thomas Paine, a name synonymous with the struggle for freedom and democratic ideals, was more than just a writer; he was a visionary whose words laid the groundwork for modern democracies. From the humble beginnings in England to the battlefields of the Am...

In the recent past, we have seen a couple of more statues removed. First Thomas Jefferson was hauled out of the New York Capitol. Back in 2020, in Charleston (SC), a figure of John C. Calhoun, like Jefferson, a former Vice President of the United States was taken away. Then Jackie Robinson was stolen from a ball park in Kansas – albeit probably not for the same reasons. Now, the reason that we are...

In 1916, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in the Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. case, a ruling that profoundly shaped the legal landscape of federal income taxation in America. This case, brought forth by Frank Brushaber, a shareholder in the Union Pacific Railroad Company, challenged the constitutionality of the recently enacted federal income tax imposed by...

Yesterday the Kitsap Superior Court held a hearing regarding a petition to remove Donald J. Trump from the ballot fro both the Primary and General elections in the State of Washington. This is, of course, based in the now well understood 14th Amendment Section 3 argument, and apparently, a radio show interview that encouraged the petitioners to file as soon as they could under Washington state law...

On January 17, 1920, the United States embarked on a bold and unprecedented social experiment with the enactment of Prohibition via the Volstead Act. This act, named after Congressman Andrew Volstead, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who managed the legislation, was designed to enforce the 18th Amendment, effectively outlawing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liq...

I am literally five days into my “college” experience. It’s been… interesting. I always enjoy learning things. I enjoy seeing things from a different perspective. And at least one of my professors seems to agree with that idea. Others seems unsure of how to conduct a class in an online environment. An, of course, the kids in these classes are panicking over stuff that doesn’t matter. But they don’...

There is perhaps, no single American Founding Father who has as much influence on your life today as does Alexander Hamilton. Born in obscurity, risen to glory, and fallen tragically, Hamilton’s story is one of relentless ambition, immense intellect, and enduring legacy. From the Caribbean isles to the heights of American politics, his life was a whirlwind of controversy, innovation, and drama. Jo...

I have a photo of myself that is… well.. let’s just say that it is something that I hate. I should have fed it to the shredder years ago, but I can’t. Why not? Because for as hideous as that photo is, it also tells the truth. As much as I would like to ignore or forget that truth, it was a fact that it was me in that picture. It’s a painful memory but one that I absolutely, for two diametrically o...

In case you missed it, the embattled President of Harvard, Claudine Gay, resigned over allegation of plagiarism. we are told, by no less an authority than the Associated press, t hat this was caused by “conservative attacks.” Meanwhile, the Chair of a State GOP has refused to resign after being outed for being involved in a  ménage à trois , which, according to reports, was “more about here than a...

Georgia’s decision to ratify the U.S. Constitution was influenced by several factors unique to its circumstances. As a smaller and less populous state, Georgia saw the Constitution as a means to gain equal representation in the Senate, thus balancing the power of larger states. Additionally, security was a significant concern for Georgia, which faced threats from Spanish Florida and various Indige...

Last night as I was dropping Cami off at work, the news broke that the State of Maine had joined Colorado is removing Trump from their ballot. The stated justification for this was, of course, the infamous 14.3. In so may ways, I feel as if I have been somehow transported back to April of 1861. After Abraham Lincoln was kept off the ballot in numerous slave states and won anyway, there was some ho...

The great Colorado Conundrum has set talking head tongues to wagging all around the country. Is it Judicial activism? Is it a coup attempt? Is it a well considered judicial ruling, based on procedural due process and precedent? Or… is it all just a matter of interpretation of a few lines of text written a hundred and fifty years ago at a time with the nation was the “most divided its ever been?” I...

Born on December 18, 1913, David M. Jones’s journey from a young dreamer to a revered military figure is a tale of bravery, innovation, and unwavering dedication. Today, we delve into the multifaceted life of this remarkable individual, from his early years and pivotal role in the daring Doolittle Raid, through his harrowing experiences in World War II to his post-war service as a test pilot and h...

In September 1787, after months of deliberation, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia presented a new Constitution to the states for ratification. Pennsylvania, hosting the convention, was poised to play a critical role in the unfolding drama. The state was a microcosm of the broader national debate, encapsulating the tension between the desire for a strong central government and the fear...

For the anniversary of the Peal Harbor attack, Dave made an appearance on the Florida Round Table show with Bill Mick to talk about the USS Utah, a Florida Class Battleship, lost in the attack… On the morning of December 7, 1941, lying at berth F-11 on the west side of Ford Island, the USS Utah BB-31, a  Florida Class  battleship that had been disarmed and was now used as a training ship, awoke to...

Born on December 5, 1782 ,  Martin Van Buren  was the first American President who had been born a citizen of the United States. That said, his first language was NOT English! He would go on to start a major political party and was long noted for his spectacular ability to conduct politics, leading to one of his nicknames, “The Little Magician.” Long distrustful of Banks, he found a home in the Ja...

In the ashes of World War II, it was becoming quite clear that Jews needed a homeland where they would be relatively safe. Even after the destruction of Nazi Germany, Vichy France and fascist Italy, hatred for Jews remained quite strong, certainly in Europe. The new United Nations decided to create a plan, known as Resolution 181 (III), that would partition the former British Mandate of Palestine...

Sixty years ago this week, President Lyndon Johnson announced the formation of the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of John Kennedy. The Nation was deep in shock and needed some reassurance. One year and eight hundred and eighty-eight pages later, the commission announced its findings. Those can be boiled down to this: Lee Harvey Oswald fired the Magic Bullet that killed Presiden...

The rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem on  November 21, 164bce  (25 Kislev 3597) stands as a pivotal moment in Jewish history, marking both a spiritual and military triumph. This event, deeply entwined with the Maccabean Revolt, led to the establishment of Hanukkah, a festival celebrating Jewish resilience and faith. The Maccabean Revolt (167-160bce) was a Jewish uprising against the Seleucid...

I had just started in radio and I was still working for another company that… well… lets just say that they had reservations about me being on the air and sharing my opinions. Because of their objections, they demanded (and got) me to use a radio  nom de guerre . It was a name that was not my first choice (Herb Focaccia), but reflected my perceived role at the station. I was supposed to report on...

In the annals of American history, few figures have stirred as much controversy and debate as Senator Joseph McCarthy. Known for his relentless pursuit of alleged communists within the United States government during the early 1950s, McCarthy’s actions and the era named after him, “McCarthyism,” have become synonymous with witch hunts and unfounded accusations. But who was Joseph McCarthy beyond t...

In 1954, the United States re-designated the 11th of November as Veterans Day. Prior to then, the day had been known as Armistice day, and was intended to remind people of the absolute madness that had been The Great War. The intention, as express by then President Woodrow Wilson, was: To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who di...

On November 7, 1916, the nation did something it had not done since 1832: it reelected an incumbent democrat Party President to a second term. Woodrow Wilson, who ran his campaign on the slogan, “He kept us out of the war,” pulled out one of the closest elections in US history, albeit without the controversy and rancor of other close races. The biggest issue of the campaign had been the US positio...

I am absolutely fascinated with religious cults. What really draws me in is the question about motives, both leaders and followers. Even more, I am always interested in the way that the leaders of these various cults manage to not only convince people that they are not just right, but they are doing what G-d commanded them to do AND what is BEST for them. What is even more interesting is the way t...