Part 1 of my conversation with guest Matt Phillion as we discuss the sad state of political discourse. I've also got the Bonehead of the Week and music from Paul Banks, Cat Power, Aimee Mann and the Electric Six.

Show notes:

• Election year's in high gear

• Local elections provide personal access

• My kids are scaring Phillion away from fatherhood

• Blown off by the lieutenant governor

• Mass. senate race has been heated

• The power of SuperPACs

• Candidates are puppets of the money behind them

• Dumbing down the message

• Mass. voters went for Republican governors from '91 to '07

• Big speeches with no substance in them

• All political claims need to be fact-checked

• Tough times for journalism

• Dealing with political posts on Facebook

• The conventions are cheerleading camps

• Most voters have already made up their minds

• Do the Republicans really want to win in 2012?

• Congress sucks, too

• Can the government actually get anything done?

• It's not as simple as red state vs. blue state

• Facebook posts aren't changing anyone's mind

• The Democratic platform and mentions of God

• A bitter idealist

• The stuff you post on FB could come back to haunt you

• To be continued

• Bonehead of the Week

Music:
Paul Banks - The Base

Cat Power - Cherokee

Aimee Mann - Charmer

Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The Paul Banks song is on the album Banks on Matador Records. Download it for free from MatadorRecords.com.

The Cat Power song is on the album Sun on Matador Records. Download the song for free from MatadorRecords.com.

The Aimee Mann song is the title track of the album Charmer on SuperEgo Records. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The Electric Six song is on the album Fire on XL Recordings. Download the song for free at Epitonic.

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian; check out his site PodGeek.