Category Archives: Budget

October 6, 2013

Michael Linden, the managing director for economic policy at the Center for American Progress, argues that focusing on the deficit hurts economic growth. Centrist Democrat Elaine Kamarck applies old lessons from her party to the current Republican Party; namely, party unity gets in the way of figuring out the best policies for winning moderate voters. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii about the GOP shutdown.

  • Oct. 6, 2013 Oct. 6, 2013 Budget expert Michael Linden asks whether Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time. Analyst Elaine Kamarack on the Democrats' lock on the electoral college. And Rep. Colleen Hanabusa talks with Bill Press about the GOP shutdown.
  • Michael Linden Michael Linden Progressive budget expert Michael Linden tells us something obvious – that Congress can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. He urges lawmakers to stop letting budget issues get in the way of programs that would help the economy.
  • Elaine Kamarck Elaine Kamarck Centrist Democratic political analyst Elaine Kamarck says Democrats may have an electoral lock on the presidency, and she thanks a Republican -- former California Governor Pete Wilson -- for that.
  • Colleen Hanabusa Colleen Hanabusa Bill Press and his guest, Representative Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii, discuss the GOP shutdown.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Getting ahead on the backs of others.

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July 14, 2013

Best-selling author George Packer explains how “organized money” is responsible for the “unwinding” of America. Political strategist Celinda Lake warns that without Obama on the ticket, progressive voters will have to turn out at the polls next year in huge numbers to ensure that the Senate remains Democratic – and maybe take back the House, too. And Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Barbara Lee about the sequester.

  • July 14, 2013 July 14, 2013 What’s wrong with our society? “Organized Money!” Geoge Packer explains the “Unwinding” of America. Pollster Celinda Lake tells what Democrats need to do.
  • George Packer George Packer Author George Packer has a best-selling analysis of how America has become unwound as a result of what he calls “organized money” spent on behalf of corporations.
  • Celinda Lake Celinda Lake Democratic pollster Celinda Lake says one of the problems the party faces is “we tell the truth” instead of constructing politically powerful message frames. She says the party needs to focus on education, jobs and Obamacare. And turn out in record numbers at the polls in 2014.
  • Barbara Lee Barbara Lee Bill Press talks with Congresswoman Barbara Lee about the sequester.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The true path to American Exceptionalism

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May 26, 2013

As the nation observes Memorial Day, military historian Andrew Bacevich says those who make a public show of saluting the military would do better by demanding accountability from the country’s foreign-affairs policymakers.

Brown University economist Mark Blyth, a leading authority on the financial meltdown, reminds us that banks are supposed to manage risk, not manage casinos.

And Bill Press interviews House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer about the stupidity of the sequester.

  • May 26, 2013 May 26, 2013 Military historian says salute troops by holding policymakers accountable. Economist says banks are not casinos. Hoyer says sequester is stupid.
  • Andrew Bacevich Andrew Bacevich Andrew Bacevich is a conservative, a retired Army Colonel and a military historian. He says we could best honor our veterans on Memorial Day by holding civilian foreign-policy makers more accountable.
  • Mark Blyth Mark Blyth Professor Mark Blyth is a professor at Brown University and author of a book attacking economic austerity. He is not so sure that Dodd-Frank will help clean up Wall Street because it is a bill too big to read and because the banking industry is at work making the gun lobby look like amateurs.
  • Steny Hoyer Steny Hoyer Bill Press and his guest, House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer, who says “Sequester starts with S, which stands for stupid.”
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The High-Tech Sledgehammering of Our Middle-Class Future.

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February 10, 2013

She’s got money, organization, tenacity and discipline on her side — and Bill Clinton. So what will Hillary Clinton do in 2016? Regular contributor and blogger Catherine Poe says, “This is her moment.”

MIT economist Simon Johnson tells us the economy is improving but “irresponsible austerity” will create a “catastrophe” here and around the world.

And Bill Press talks with Congressman Henry Cuellar, who says Democrats want immigration reform, but Republicans need it.

  • Feb. 10, 2013 Feb. 10, 2013 Is 2016 Hillary’s “moment”? Will Republicans use the debt ceiling to inflict a catastrophe on the world economy? Who needs immigration reform the most?
  • Catherine Poe Catherine Poe Hillary Clinton is no longer a political lightning rod, says regular commentator Catherine Poe. She is now a statesman, and now is her moment … to run for president.
  • Simon Johnson Simon Johnson Economist Simon Johnson warns that irresponsible austerity methods proposed by Republicans could throw the world into a financial catastrophe. And, he says, it would be the private sector that really suffers.
  • Henry Cuellar Henry Cuellar Bill Press talks with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who says Democrats want immigration reform … but Republicans need it.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Rigging elections to steal the White House.

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