KPFA Management Remove "Guns And Butter” After Bad Fund Drive

So, the KPFA management decided to remove the one 'radical edge' that uniquified the station. Oy Vey!

"Spineless", indeed!
(To have CANCELLED the "Guns and Butter" program.)

Bonnie Faulkner's independent venture, "Guns and Butter", was never
meant to please the complacent, head-in-the-sand, non-listener/non-
thinker/non-independent Questioner or Researcher.

And, if one or more took issue with one or more such presentations,
why "blame the Messenger"?

It is true... that Bonnie's oft-repeated phrase "tax-deductible
donation" in helping to garner contributions for KPFA-FM/.org always
disgusted Me! However, that was no worse than all of the other "14th
Amendment" (sic) so-called "U.S. citizens" who - since 1949 - have never
spoken ONE honest, lawfully-informed word on KPFA, regarding "Taxes".

(That includes David Cay (Cave-In) Johnston and Richard Wolff -
both of whom are "taxpayers", and who evidently have not, or cannot, READ
(decode) the Internal Revenue Code.)

Except... for One. In 1984 (despite the dystopian novel with that
year as title), this listener happened to hear - on KPFA! - a lawfully-
informed Gentleman by the name of Ira Liebhober. But... never again.
I attended his presentation, bought a book or two, and thus began my
own "learning curve", so that I have not volunteered to pay any so-called
"Taxes" to either the federalized "State of" California, or to the
Internal Re-venue "Service", since... 1984. Lawfully; as a federal
Judge, in his federal Court, complimented me in 2012, when he
flatteringly described Me as a LAWFUL tax avoider. Not a tax evader, to
be clear.

I have informed KPFA personnel that all "non-profits" under I.R. Code,
Section 501 (as in 501(c)(3)), are under Regulations of the "DEPARTMENT
OF THE NAVY" and "STANDARDS OF CONDUCT" for U.S. government employees.
(Treated, and thus "Taxed", as such!) Yet, never any response or Reply...

They are "brain dead" in such respects; thus Cowards. I shall not
listen, again.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute some informative thoughts
on this unhappy subject.

By: Arthur Stopes, III. / Legislative Analyst and Writer (L.A.W.).
________________________________________________________________________

My wife and I have been supporters of KPFA for years. When the station was under attack we were in the street in a tent. So if you insist on removing Guns and Butter we will no longer support the station. Only Guns and Butter aired the government’s 9/11 event, and was significant for Truther’s to study and understand what was the source of wars killing so many. I cannot believe you would support Trump in at last getting rid of the stations truth stance. Bonnie gave many whom I do not believe in, air time, and that is called free speech. When you engage in censorship we will no longer support the station.

Guns And Butter was not merely the most important political show on KPFA, but one of the only shows on the radio anywhere that deals with issues in an uncensored and unfiltered manner. Of course its direct criticism of Israel and the official 9/11 narrative were expected to cause a backlash, but it is surely the duty of KPFA, as per its founding principles, to defend the heterodox approach of Bonnie Faulkner and her investigations. Shame on the palsied cowardice of KPFA's directors in cowering and caving to the "complaints from funders."

Bonnie Faulkner was treated poorly by KPFA, she wasn't paid for producing a startlingly impressive, deep journalistic show, KPFA even screwed her out of hundreds of dollars over a minor issue about gifts for pledge drives, but she kept plugging a way doing some of the best journalism KPFA has ever presented for free. Amy Goodman is fawned over and she has deliberately lied to support her funder George Soros. Bonnie Faulkner is Pacifica's real jewel, she doesn't mis-represent the facts to comfort billionaires and she's not acquired millions of dollars in the process. Recently Christopher Bollyn has written books exposing Israeli's role in the 911 attacks which murdered 3,000 Americans in 2001. The left movement world is now reacting in waves to Bollyn's work. Bonnie Faulkner was the only journalist on KPFA to expose the Jewish role in 911, this included Benjamin Netenahyu's commanding role, the role of the state of Israel, Israeli Army Intelligence, and the role of dual US-Israeli Jewish citizens in America in the attack. Israel had help in the attack from the Bush White House and US media, the world media including Amy Goodman and Noam Chomsky has deliberately run cover for the conspirators. 911 is a seminal world event and its still important because Muslims have been blamed and now millions of Muslims are being slaughtered in US-Israeli and NATO 911 wars. We can see Israel benefits from these wars attacking its neighbors and expanding it's influence. Bonnie Faulkner is also the only Pacifica journalist besides Cynthia McKinney to question the role of Jewish power in the control of Congress. The important truths are what really got Bonnie Faulkner fired and this fact is unacceptable to KPFA listeners. What kind of journalism will KPFA have left in a post 'Guns and Butter' situation besides 'Flashpoints'? The Silicon Valley media is already clamping down on alternative journalism, now we won't even have Bonnie to expose the crimes of empire.
--Bill Gibbons, Petaluma CA, former Project Censored Contributor and volunteer, Supporter of the Revolutionary Communist Party.

Bad move.
After many years of broadcasting truth, interesting topics, controversial shows...you have decided to cancel due to "lack of support?" Are you serious?
Everyone knows it's because the show hit too many spots that even KPFA is now afraid to air......
GNB was censored due to its content, not fundraising.
Is the goal to promote money or to promote truth and much needed questioning of mainstream media sources?
Apparently, a few comments by "supporters," which is not verified by numbers, means it came under intense pressure from the MIC, NeoCons, and others who are threatened by TRUTH. Bonnie was brave, a great interviewer, by far the best on KPFA to tackle such important, controversial issues. Bad on KPFA. What's next? Project Censored? I mean, you have lost all support on this one. Hypocritically motivated influence is not limited to the commercial mainstream! Horrible decision. Politically motivation hidden behind Money Interests...shame shame shame on you!

Dear KPFA,

As a long-time listener and contributor to wonderful KPFA, I would like to advocate the reinstatement of Bonnie Faulkner’s Guns & Butter every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. to KPFA, so that KPFA can keep on being wonderful, and not like most every other radio station in the nation.

Today, August 16, more than 300 u.s. newspapers are running editorials promoting freedom of the press after Trump’s attacks on the media. In keeping with this re-vitalization of free speech, I urge you to reverse course regarding Guns & Butter to keep discussion of important issues open and broad, instead of closed, or of restricted, narrow range.

I know that KPFA is vulnerable to pressure from the powerful. But please hold the line. Don’t let the big “funders” take us all one big step backward, closer to absolutism and away from the open society and free speech. Ironically, your summary dismissal of Guns & Butter, one of your longest-running and most popular programs (17 years), is taking place in Berkeley, the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement.

I am one of those many who thinks that free speech is important for a vibrant and meaningful democracy so that citizens can make informed decisions about public policy. How can we discuss and evaluate things if certain issues are taboo? Or if some arguments, offensive to some, are censored?

Your official statement (on your Memo and on Indybay) is that “KPFA cannot defend this content”, referring to three (3) issues. But why do you think you have to defend any particular content, when all you have to do is promote KPFA’s right to present that content? KPFA’s listening audience is intelligent enough to decide what’s true and what isn’t. The huge u.s. propaganda machine rolls on because certain entities can control discussion by giving and withdrawing funding. And one of the key elements, if not the main element, of propaganda is silence, omission, intimidation. “You can’t talk about that!”

I encourage KPFA to reinstate Guns & Butter.

Sorry to hear that we will not be hearing Bonnie Faulkner and Bonnie's creation, "Guns & Butter",
for the time being on KPFA.

I have long made a point to listen to Bonnie every Wednesday at 1 PM.

KPFA is now in step with Facebook and YouTube as willing censors serving the Ministry Of Truth,
all very telling as to the state of affairs in the United States these days.

Would not KPFA and the listening audience be better served for KPFA to ask Bonnie Faulkner to run a few shows wherein some mainstream voices could debate some of Bonnie's guests who are cited in Bonnie's purge ? Is it too late for that ?

Such a shame to see Pacifica bend to pressure from Jewish power groups like the ADL. Censorship is not the answer. Allow different opinions. Don't agree or feel uncomfortable? CHALLENGE THE OPINIONS WITH ARGUMENTS.

Obama transformed the anti-war free speech left into pro-war Russophobic anti speech church ladies. The power of propaganda!

Perhaps Jewish power groups are behind Amy Goodman towing the CIA/Mossad line in Syria and Libya? Arab Spring, brought to you by Langley.

Looks like you're scrubbing everyone from the airwaves who is not controlled opposition. I notice the technocracy is not threatened by Democracy Now. Interesting.

Well, what can I say. It takes guts and a spine to keep such a station alive and KPFA management has buckled. Put the show back on so you don't completely lose the honor and dignity you gained over the years for airing this wonderful show. Free speech isn't always pretty, but as Americans, this is what differentiates us from many countries. But it seems this precious freedom now has chains attached to it, and it appears someone has tug a bit too hard on one of those chains. KPFA, you went from leaving a legacy that promotes unchained free speech to one that has become a slave to those forces trying to prevent it.

Thanks to all above who wrote such good comments.

I am reviewing many comments and many emails I have received about this and the sad truth is that MANY former supporters of the station are no longer going to be sending money. One good friend of mine was able to give something like a thousand dollars a year (lucky person) and will no longer do so. In my letter to the General Manager, my conclusion was "You are digging the grave of the station." Looks like I was right -- unless this grievous mistake is corrected!

Here are some addresses you can send emails to:
gm [at] kpfa.org, ed [at] pacifica.org, pnb [at] pacifica.org, kpfalsb [at] googlegroups.com

"It saddens me greatly to see KPFA drifting off course. I can no longer support or donate to KPFA unless ‘Guns and Butter’, along with all archives, is restored to the weekly programming line-up."

As a long time contributor and proud supporter of KPFA I am saddened that you have chosen to remove "Guns and Butter" from your programming. If, as alleged, it was due to pressure from pro-Israeli lobbies, you should be ashamed to call yourself the "free press".

Your excuse that "Guns and Butter" aired some controversial topics is lame. That is precisely why listeners tune into KPFA. You could easily present both sides of the controversy and let your highly educated listeners decide.

Until I hear back from you as to why you cannot air both sides of a controversial subject I will withhold future contributions.

Forrest J Cioppa MD

I have been a progressive for 50 years and was involved in support for the Civil Rights movement, the Anti-Vietnam Movement, etc... Unfortunately, it has become all too clear that one of the major problems with the "Progressive" Community is that moral cowardice is frequently masqueraded as open-mindedness and which foolishly serves in the practical ( non-theoretical) world as support for the spread of Right Wing propagandists. They already possess many sites on the internet such as Rense, Breitbart, Infowars, etc.., not to mention the wealthy Right Wing Networks on the RADIO SUCH as Sinclair, as well as Limbaugh, Levin,Savage, etc... Fox TV News,etc...Pacifica, as one of the Few Progressive networks should be kept as our forum and not for Right Wing VOICES, such as Faulkner had been increasingly showcasing..I was finding myself increasingly disenchanted with her and had to ask myself why she was heading in that direction? Both Rense and Jones were never Progressives, but over the years they became greater and greater showcases for the Right and Radical Right...Why did they move in that direction? We may never know definitively, but I suspect it was all about economic opportunities that they envisioned or perhaps were secretly offered. I am glad that she is gone and applaud your decision.It's great when Progressives demonstrate courage and fight back...If the Radical Right Trump Administration and the endless parade of propaganda, hasn't alerted people to the extreme danger of these voices...then nothing will. To paraphrase the Last Poets: "Wake Up Brothers and Sisters or We're all through!!!"

I agree totally with all the people outraged over the cancellation of this fabulous program and over the blow to free speech this is. Bonnie Faulkner has many times been the lone voice on significant issues and i have learned so much from listening to her over many, many years. Recently when Project Censored refused to air Christopher Bollyn when he was in the area and was speaking on Israel's role in the 9/11 incident, Bonnie of course carried it. While this subject makes Zionists and many Israel supporters nervous, Bollyn has done a thorough investigative journalist job on the subject. In the past, when 9/11 was fresh in all our minds, I wrote the Morning Show many times to cover the subject and to at least play speeches of David Ray Griffin. They never did. And as much as I admired Larry Bensky, he played a vital role as gatekeeper to keep 9/11 truth undiscussed and off the air on most programs. Nevertheless, because of programs like Bonnie's, I have continued to be a faithful KPFA listener. I am truly shaken and urge the restoration of Guns and Butter.

yentas of prevention 1, "free speech" radio 0.

Dear Bad KPFA
I do not have a lot of money to contribute to KPFA,
but I think about it everyday, fund drive or not.
I admire Amy Goodman, for views, news, and material I cannot
hear anywhere else.
I must say that I have always assumed that Bonnie Faulkner is so
good, that KPFA would never dream of doing the wrong thing, and taking
her off.
What in the world would drive KPFA to do the wrong thing?
and when doing the wrong thing, be so completely bad?
Bonnie Faulkner is synonymous with KPFA.
No Bonnie Faulkner, means KPFA has lost it.
Big time, so I must think very seriously about not ever contributing to KPFA , ever again.
Thank you,
bad KPFA,
Tom Hudson.
jackscharm [at] aol.com

I believe g & b was key fundraiser it will be kpfa huge LOSS

How else to express my disdain for this misguided decision. Stopped supporting KPFA when such difficult and controversial topics were muffled. This confirms my opinion. It is similar to my disgust and disdain for A. Goodman; N. Chomsky, and C. Hedges; all of whom make wonderful contributions in many ways but each is a coward with self-benefit for lying in the face of 911 evidence. This is true of Amy because she was present at recording Bldg.7's fall (YouTube video proves it), yet she refuses to speak! Noam because he dismisses it of importance, while at the same time saying he will pay attention after peer-reviewed in a journal of note is published. He couldn't care less that it is now published. Hedges? Don't know what's up with him. He dismissed black-block with derision and underestimation. Foolish. The interviews that caused such a row with the gatekeepers at KPFA have no interest for me and never did. But, I'm very grateful for the wonderful interviews Bonny brought to my ears over the years. If she's brought back maybe I'll reconsider joining again.

This is so very sad & tragic that the best show on the radio has been completely eliminated..just one more reason for me to remove myself from this ridiculous planet

Reading through the comments makes it is clear that many of Ms. Faulkner's supporters are bigoted and conspiracy theorists. What is progressive about that?

My folks were original subscribers. I have been since 1957. I was an avid listener to Guns and butter on Weds. I have been giving chunks of money to KPFA in honor of Bonnie's show and Dennis Bernstein's show. I don't feel the need to agree with all those represented on G & B. I like to know other points of view. Bonnie is a very adept interviewer and I appreciate her skill in
asking just the right questions at the right time. I will continue to support the station, but it isn't the station I have come to expect. If KPFA didn't like the programming, it seems to me they could have presented an opposing point of view or foster a discussion. But to remove the entire show & it's archive seems like overkill to me. My support will go from $100-$200 each pledge period to just the basic $25. There are other shows I feel are important, but Bonnie's and Dennis' are like no others in presenting material you won't find on the air anywhere else.

Guns & Butter's Bonnie Faulkner just gave an in depth interview regarding KPFA's new censorship trend. See it on the "Crowdsource The Truth" channel on YouTube.

No more KPFA for me!

Bonnie Faulkner’s program was the exclusive outlet to hear updates on the heinous political theater of 911, and other less than noble excercizes of the “deep state”... My parents both worked in the top levels of Pentagon communications during the Manhattan project - and my father was also a research chemist with later roles in the diplomatic service. The US government has no problem keeping rather large secrets - and they themselves are the number one propagators of “conspiracy theories” in matters of state. People who use the label “conspiracy theorist” are either naiive - or directly supportive of unquestioned “deep state” power. Just read John Perkins “Diary of an Economic Hitman” - or any edition of the carefully researched “Project Censored” series...

In dealing with the world both in and outside of the fifty states, moral propriety takes a distant back seat to the neccessities of access to resources or power. Often there is a sense of class or nationalist entitlement behind our policies.

The point is - Guns and Butter operated outside that big lock box of dirty secrets and radical clandestine expediency... Not every radio program brought us information that conformed to some particular societal norms... But that was the main point... Once in a while - I found their comments well out of line with my own understandings - even disagreeable. And that possibility was certainly a feature of G ‘n B...

So for those who live in fear of controversy - such moments would have been the cue to tune away... But for the vast majority of listeners (who have the patience to open their minds to these lengthy ‘interviews’), hearing disagreeable ideas should be an opportunity to consolidate one’s own better values and understandings about the world. Not a moment to reach out for censorship... That seems to be an essential mission of KPFA anyway: to present complex ideas and information from outside the mainstream... If a few of the messengers introduced notions that contravened conventional history or science, the program relied upon our understandings of ‘a preponderance of the evidence’...

The program was targeted to an educated audience, and the didacts who spoke served up their digressions in a manner that asked for an ‘active listening’ context... People who like their news and information ‘pre-cleared’ and ‘predigested’ were likely alienated even if they didn’t know better! In other words - listening regularly to Guns and Butter gave one a broad cross section of different and meaty topical information to ponder... Over the long haul - there was plenty of time to be skeptical and to line up G ‘n B’s talks of the week with one’s own yardstick of credibility!

Bonnie’s program aired subject matter that was diverse - and not concentrated in such a way as to be propaganda... And some speakers came with material that simply didn’t hold up to more well reasoned dogma... But Bonnie left that to her very informed audience to determine... The point was to challenge and confront ‘conventional understandings’ of the world and its significant events... And then to let the audience decide!

Many have still not learned the lessons of Ellsberg; Snowden; and senior AT&T engineer Mark Klein. Protecting this kind of ‘radical content’ should be job number one at KPFA.

Guns and Butter was one of only a handful of programs on today’s airwaves that truly ‘went to the edge’... And therefore of vital importance in defining KPFA as a true “free speech” platform. One feels a need to commend Dennis Bernstein; Nora Barrows Freidman; Kevin Pina; Mickey Huff; and all of their hard working co-hosts and reporters also - in this same context.

KPFA should hold an on air discussion about this show to give the listeners a chance to weigh in, due to the program’s very long tenure - and its exclusive coverage of what was obviously a grey-washing of the weirdness of 911... The missing US air power that can cripple regimes across the globe - but were somehow unilaterally engaged elsewhere - leaving the nation’s capital and financial center completely open and vulnerable to attack..(!?) Molten steel that melts at many hundreds of degrees above burning petroleum - yet persisted for weeks under the ‘atomized’ steel and cement skeletons of two of the largest buildings in America. ‘Pinpoint’ targeting of the Pentagon by a huge jetliner - piloted by a half trained amateur - leaving essentially no significant wreckage and a very narrow hole... None of the ‘official’ explanations really answered any of these questions credibly. All we have are “conspiracy theories”... and the government’s is no where near plausible.

This apocalypse and the financial cannabilization that was the great crisis of 2008 are only two of the major topics that have been covered in great depth by Bonnie Faulkner’s program, and dished in follow up for years since. Her weekly show was the kind of programming that listeners sign on for with KPFA - and I miss going to that cutting edge with her, every Wednesday!

Let’s find a better way of dealing with a legacy program that provides such unusual and outside the box content. I’m also saddened by the recent terminus of radio pioneer Joe Frank’s deep radio archive of ‘adult radio-verite’. Frank also falls into the category of very creatively outside the box programming - so I’ll just include him in this posting about what appears to be an unfortunate trend here at our Pacifica station. I am increasingly looking elsewhere for content that checks these boxes. What we don’t want is ‘NPR lite’... So I am hoping this will be it for ‘edgy content’ purges - and even better - a return of G and B!

Have considered reducing my pledge accordingly.

I am a classical liberal and love bonnie! Her removal shows the true fascist colors of so called liberal progressives whom lick the black jackboots of hillary clinton!!!!

When this fascist movement spills into the streets, the common man whom works everyday will put a quick stop to the thugs in the streets....

Guns and Butter was the best show on KPFA by far. The empty suits and skirts in management obviously received word to not allow Bonnie Faulkner to produce shows that force the sheeple to think for themselves. Quislings are making policy at KPFA.

As many have said, G&B was the ONLY show to really delve into the truth about 9/11 and other uncomfortable issues. The station is becoming more and more like NPR every year with the, milk-toasty likes of Philip Muldarry and Brian Edwards Tiekert. I now give my money directly to G&B and other Pacifica stations and suggest others do as well.