Episode 102 – This is Not 1994, the Midterms and the Future

You’ve heard about the elections, seen a lot of the analysis, but Jeff and Glenn have a different take on this than most folks. They explain why old fashioned ground games still matter, how Tip O’Neil’s famous saying that all politics is local doesn’t apply to this election, and most important why this is NOT 1994. Glenn and Jeff explain how President Obama’s situation differs substantially from President Clinton’s, and that for Obama to achieve a lot of what Clinton did, he needs to change his approach, his staff and his legislative focus. Jeff argues that a commission of all things, where most things go to die in Washington, might serve as the lifeblood of the Obama presidency, if he can wade into the details and get out in front of Republicans rather than standing back and letting Congress take the lead like he did with health care reform. Jeff also argues that the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts should not be handled by the Lame Duck session, but by the new Congress, while Glenn argues that the existing Congress is fine to handle this issue. Both agree that exempting those who make more than $1 million makes sense, but that soon-to-be Speaker Boehner and Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have their hands fuil in dealing with South Carolina Republican Sen Jim DeMint and those beholden to the tea party.

Best Friends. Vast Experience. Engaging political discussion without the fighting…and with a few laughs. It’s PoliTalk, your weekly political podcast.

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Episode 101 – Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Election Predictions

In this episode, Jeff and Glenn welcome Emily Sussman of the Service Members Legal Defense Network, which provides free legal counsel to service members being investigated under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. With so much changing in regard to the policy, including the pending 9th Circuit Review, we take a deeper look at this issue and what people like Emily do to bring relief to those serving in the military. At the 13:15 mark, Jeff and Glenn tackle their election predictions, forecasting a House GOP takeover, taking a look at key Governor’s races in Florida, Ohio and Illinois, and analyzing a few key Senate races. Jeff and Glenn explain how Democrats would have been better off taking on issues like immigration reform and the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal, and run strongly behind health care reform. Jeff shows how doing so could lead to more comfortable margins for Democrats in key states like Colorado. They also urge listeners to watch Connecticut and West Virginia, two key states in the Republicans’ hope to take the Senate.

Best Friends. Vast Experience. Engaging political discussion without the fighting…and with a few laughs. It’s PoliTalk, your weekly political podcast.

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast on  iTunes and Zune

Episode 88 – The One and Only Thing To Run on In November Is…

In the inaugural “Jeff-Squared” Episode, Jeff Kimball and Jeff Hine dive into the tome that is the Financial Reform bill and discuss why senators and congressman might change their compensation plan in the future to get paid “per page” based on legislation passed. Eighties movie trivia finds an odd synergy with the BP oil spill. Birthers’ unite around Senator Vitters – well maybe they’re just pandering. And Robert Gibbs proclaims the November House elections lost – or at least that’s what you would think he said if you turned on any cable news channel this week. Is there any chance for the Democrats in November, or is Nancy Pelosi just the main attraction at the White House piñata party? While of different political parties, the Jeff’s agree that there is one and only one thing that will drive the 2010 midterm elections and the 2012 Presidential election, and it is… Two Jeffs. Two Liberals (one Democrat, One Republican); It’s the Odd Couple of Politics on PoliTalk, your weekly political podcast.

PoliTalk: Best Friends. Vast Political Experience. Refreshing political discussion without the fighting…and with a few laughs. Hosted by Glenn Gaudet and Jeff Kimball.

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Corporation Running for Congress

I’ve been troubled by the recent Supreme Court decision that will allow corporations to have unlimited spending power ina a campaign while we still have individual voter limits of a few thousand. The video above does a nice job of making fun of the whole thing. The scary thing is, this “corporation” claims it will actually run for Republican seat Congress in Maryland. As fascicle as this is, let’s see where this one goes. Imagine if they win… wait for the court challenge! Check the video out for a chuckle.

– Glenn

Where’s Ross Perot When We Need Him?

What happened this past Tuesday night might cause a massive shift in the political landscape over the next five years. It could also be the catalyst for something that is much needed in American Politics today. But it’s not what you think.

You will hear in the coming days and weeks that the Republican victories were a vote against Obama. That this was a referendum against a far left agenda. That the Republican Party is back with a vengeance, and the Democrats have much to fear in terms of next years congressional elections, as they ponder how to vote on a sweeping program inclusive of government run Healthcare.

For the Democratic side, you will hear spin and back peddling. You will be confused as to why if you logged onto CNN.com yesterday AM, you only saw a single line about the elections on the front page. But you saw a lead article explaining why “the change we need” is taking so long.

And this is all true. But there is a greater truth, a greater opportunity.

Last night while watching election coverage on FOX, I saw that FOX convened a voter focus group in Virginia. Granted, most of the folks who are going to show up are probably conservatives, but there seemed to be a good mix of Democrats and Independents as well judging from the dialogue.

The commentator asked a really interesting question, I will paraphrase because I don’t recall his exact words. “Who is just angry at our government?” Three fourths of the hands in the room shot up as if they had just been offered free money to whoever raised their hand first.

Then the commentator asked, “Of those who are angry, who voted for Bob McDonnell?”. Every single person who claimed to be angry – voted for the Republican McDonnell.

The anger in America has shifted. The anger and protest that elected a Democratic President, has moved in favor of the Republicans. A protest vote against government is now a Republican vote.

Now let’s do the heavy lifting and thinking. Is this really a swing to the Republican Party?

No its not. It is however validation that government, as it currently exists, is not working for the American people. It is a referendum in favor of a third party, and against both parties. If the anger can shift so fundamentally, in 12 months, against an incredibly likeable President, then it means far more than a shift in political party momentum. It means its time for a viable third choice.

Let Election Day 2009 be the day the Americans collectively said “We’re mad as Hell, and we are not going to take it anymore”

We need change, and not the change that either party can provide.

What do you think?

Guest Blogger – Jeff Hine

President Obama’s Response to Iranian Election Unrest

Transcript in English:

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Good afternoon, everybody.  Today, I want to start by addressing three issues, and then I’ll take your questions.

First, I’d like to say a few words about the situation in Iran.  The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, the beatings, and imprisonments of the last few days.  I strongly condemn these unjust actions, and I join with the American people in mourning each and every innocent life that is lost.

I’ve made it clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and is not interfering with Iran’s affairs.  But we must also bear witness to the courage and the dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society.  And we deplore the violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place.

The Iranian people are trying to have a debate about their future.  Some in Iran — some in the Iranian government, in particular, are trying to avoid that debate by accusing the United States and others in the West of instigating protests over the election.  These accusations are patently false.  They’re an obvious attempt to distract people from what is truly taking place within Iran’s borders.  This tired strategy of using old tensions to scapegoat other countries won’t work anymore in Iran.  This is not about the United States or the West; this is about the people of Iran, and the future that they — and only they — will choose.

The Iranian people can speak for themselves.  That’s precisely what’s happened in the last few days.  In 2009, no iron fist is strong enough to shut off the world from bearing witness to peaceful protests [sic] of justice.  Despite the Iranian government’s efforts to expel journalists and isolate itself, powerful images and poignant words have made their way to us through cell phones and computers, and so we’ve watched what the Iranian people are doing.

This is what we’ve witnessed.  We’ve seen the timeless dignity of tens of thousands of Iranians marching in silence.  We’ve seen people of all ages risk everything to insist that their votes are counted and that their voices are heard.  Above all, we’ve seen courageous women stand up to the brutality and threats, and we’ve experienced the searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets.  While this loss is raw and extraordinarily painful, we also know this:  Those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.  The Iranian people have a universal right to assembly and free speech.  If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect those rights and heed the will of its own people.  It must govern through consent and not coercion.  That’s what Iran’s own people are calling for, and the Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government.

Episode 40 – Twitter, Iran and Healthcare

Let’s get social for Episode 40 of PoliTalk. In this show, you’ll hear not just about what is happening in Iran, but why, and how social media has been a driving force behind the political reforms in Iran. Glenn and Jeff debate the ramifications of using social media in a dictatorial regime, and its role in the future of Iran and other such states. They also explain the parallel behind its use in Iran and how it plays into the current health care reform debate. Getting to the root of the policy discussion, they explain what isn’t being talked in this debate, how social media might influence the health care reform discussion, and why you can’t call it “reform.” Always informative and entertaining, it’s PoliTalk, your weekly political podcast.

Listen to the current installment of PoliTalk and get yourself informed, inspired, entertained and ready for the day… spread the word… tell two friends, and so on and so on…

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What is happening in Tehran, Iran? – Read it as it happens on Twitter

Twitter Search for Tehran

Want to find out what is happening in Tehran Iran over the election? You can find out for yourself by using Twitter. With Twitter, you can see what people in Tehran are saying about things. Just click here to get a search for “Tweets” that are coming from within 15 miles of Tehran.

It is amazing. You can read what is happening from the people who are there and experiencing the political unrest. Social Media tools like this can be a game changer for political movements.