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

Did I Hear That Right?

In all the noise and anger over TARP, Recovery, and Healthcare reform, we as a nation discovered something far more acidic and corrosive to our democracy than any of the so called “socialist” agenda of government control.

It was late one night, and I was half watching, and half not, switching between the Yankees, CNN, Fox, and Discovery Channel, when I heard something that stopped me in my tracks. Thank goodness for Tivo, I stop; I rewind, and listen again, thinking I must have heard it wrong.  But I hadn’t….

What was it you ask that I heard, and we as a nation discovered?  Our Senators and Congressmen don’t actual read bills before they vote on them.

It’s difficult to do in a blog, but this would be the scene of the movie where there’s a long uncomfortable pause of disbelieve.  The characters would just look at each other and say “did that really happen?”  “Did he just say that they never actually read the bills that they vote on”?

Am I the only one who had a “you’ve got to be kidding me” moment?  The sad part is that I, like the rest of America, got sucked into the next sound bite, completely forgetting about the fact that billions of dollars of taxpayer money have been spent in government programs in the past 12 months, detailed in documents that our elected representatives don’t even understand themselves.  It was not until I was thinking of ideas for this post that I recalled the horror of learning how irresponsible government had become.

Sadder still was the fact that the press is not talking about this.

If an employee of a company entered into a contract with a supplier without reading the agreement, they’d call it something like “fired for cause”.

If it was the Military, and a General did not read a rules of engagement pact put together with a local authority, it might be called something like “gross dereliction of duty”.

So what do we call it when the officials that we elect to make decisions for us, and allocate our tax dollars, have no idea what they are signing up for when they vote?

In defense of this quirk in our system of government, insiders tell me that the legislative staff reads the bills.  Or more accurately the staff is briefed on the bill by lobbyist who wrote the bill, and then the staff briefs the lawmaker. Did I really just write that?  It does not seem it could be true?

So I leave it to you, the online politicos. What do we call it when our Senators and Congressmen act like sub prime mortgage buyers with no money, and don’t bother to read the fine print?

What are your thoughts?

Guest Blogger – Jeff Hine

Episode 52 – Amendments, Sausage Making and a Few Laughs

It may not seem possible, but Jeff and Glenn actually have fun explaining the Senate Finance Committee health care amendments. No, we’re not kidding. They go into the substance, but offer up a lot of laughs in this new episode of PoliTalk. Listen as they substantively explain what you need to understand about the process and about what’s in the bills, and laugh while they rip on each other, and clear through the blizzards of acronyms and legal-ease.  Tired of people screaming at each other on political shows? Always informative and entertaining, it’s straight-forward political analysis on PoliTalk, your weekly political podcast.
Join us in Boston on November 10, 2009! Register now for Early-Bird Special Pricing, visit http://nationaldebateseries.com

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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from  iTunes and Zune

Episode 50 – Obama Health Care Speech to Congress: Reality Check

Glenn and Jeff react almost immediately to President Obama’s speech to Congress, putting the speech in context, reminding listeners what they should watch from the President and Congress over the next week, and explaining the politics and policy ramifications of the speech.  They offer praise for the broad objectives met through the speech, dive deep into a discussion on the proposed health care exchanges and the effect on small business. Jeff reacts strongly to Congressman Wilson’s outrageous outburst during the President’s discussion on immigrants and Glenn takes heed of President Obama’s closing words and offers his strong views on the need for more reasoned and rational debate of issues. Always entertaining and informative, it’s PoliTalk — your weekly political podcast.

Join us in Boston on November 10, 2009! Register now for Early-Bird Special Pricing, visit http://nationaldebateseries.com

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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from  iTunes and Zune

Episode 47 – Senate Ethics Cools Down, Health Care Hyperbole Heats Up

Dodd Cleared by Senators, in Political Peril with Public; Health Care Hyperbole: While Limbaugh & Palin Engage, We Talk Policy…

Glenn and Jeff take measure of the 2010 campaign (itâs not too soon) and try to ascertain its character while discussing Rep. Sestak’s race against Sen. Specter and Sen. Dodd’s political problems with his Countrywide mortgage and backroom deals made during the Stimulus negotiations. They also rail against the hyperbole in what is now the health “insurance” reform debate (guess we’re not reforming health care anymore) and actually complain that they don’t have legislation to read. Wow, these guys need a summer vacation. Thankfully for you, you can enjoy yours while they distill what’s really going on in Washington. Take PoliTalk to the beach with you on iTunes. Always entertaining and informative, 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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

Episode 45 -Calling the Political 911 on the Gates Arrest & Health Care

In this episode, Glenn and Jeff make their own 911 calls to help explain what really should be talked about when President Obama has a beer this week with arrested Harvard Professor Henry Gates and Cambridge Police Sgt. Crowley. Was this a case about racism in America, or police tactics gone awry? Can one be arrested for yelling from their front porch, and if so, are there enough police cars in the country to haul everyone in? Can a police officer be expected to maintain his or her cool when being verbally abused in public? How much did President Obama’s engagement in this affair distract us from efforts to reform our nation’s health care system? Why is Jeff drawing parallels to the 1994 effort in Sen. Baucus’ secret meetings of the Senate Finance Committee? Finally, Glenn offers a new idea around Open Source Legislation — something talked about in theory, but not in practice. All these issues addressed, and more, in the latest installment of 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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

Episode 44 – Health Care Reform 101

All you ever wanted to know about health care reform can be found in this episode of PoliTalk. Glenn and Jeff put the politics aside as they walk through the bizarre evolution of health care as a business and explain why all the efforts of reform are meaningless unless we can learn from history. Irrespective of your — or their — political affiliation, listen as Jeff and Glenn clinically dissect the issues facing Congress and explain what needs to be done to address the ills of the current system. 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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

Episode 41 – Now What? Iran, The Economy & Health Care

Glenn captures the essence of this week’s show by asking the ultimate question in response to the many issues we face this week: now what? What happens next in Iran? What are the political ramifications of the attacks on President Obama? Where does the insurgency go? With the economy still in shambles, what next? There’s talk of a second stimulus bill, but is the first one working? Is President Obama taking on too much and losing his focus on the economy? When it comes to health care “reform,” Jeff asks what’s next? Now that most of what calls for reform has been abandoned, is it time to pull the plug on this hugely important effort? They close with seasonal cooking tips, and as always, invite your response and participation. 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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

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…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.