Tag Archives: Congress

January 27, 2013

Optimism abounds for a progressive agenda after President Obama’s second inaugural address.

Law professor Larry Gibson is a biographer of Thurgood Marshall and a Democratic campaign adviser in Maryland. He is optimistic that the president’s re-election signals a more progressive vision for the United States.

Our regular contributor, Fred Rotondaro of the Center for American Progress, says the president has learned he has to be tough as nails and will not have to compromise on hot-button Republican issues like the debt ceiling.

And Bill Press talks with former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, who is optimistic about the ability of the Senate to actually work.

  • Jan. 27, 2013 Jan. 27, 2013 Optimism abounds … on the president’s toughness… on the American people’s commitment to progressive ideals… and on the Senate’s ability to get anything done.
  • Larry Gibson Larry Gibson Law professor Larry Gibson talks with us about his new biography of the young Thurgood Marshall, and also about his optimism about the country as a result of President Obama’s re-election.
  • Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro In the glow of President Obama’s second inaugural address, regular commentator Fred Rotondaro says the American public is behind him and the president has learned to be tough as nails. Fred also has a reminder for American Catholics about a recent message from the Pope.
  • Tom Daschle Tom Daschle Bill Press and his guest, Tom Daschle, former majority leader, who talks about his optimism for the Senate despite little progress on ending filibusters.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Obama's Inaugural Address: Progressive and Presidential.

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January 20, 2013

As President Obama begins his second term, he faces difficult challenges. Former Congressman Tom Allen says one of those challenges is dealing with a Congress whose members look at each other as visitors from another planet.

And Latina political analyst Maria Teresa Kumar says gains made in the 2012 elections can take effect only if minority voters and other Democrats show up at the polls in the 2014 midterm elections to retake the House of Representatives.

Bill Press speaks with Vincent DeMarco, who says the faith community can be a powerful force in getting more sensible gun laws.

  • Jan. 20, 2013 Jan. 20, 2013 Visitors from another planet inhabit Congress … and in the real world, a pressing issue for Congress is how to deal with visitors from other countries.
  • Tom Allen Tom Allen Tom Allen is a former Democratic congressman from Maine. He has just written a book about why Congress is so dysfunctional. He says the blame lies mostly with Republicans, whom he says must eventually become more pragmatic if they are to survive.
  • Maria Teresa Kumar Maria Teresa Kumar Latina political activist Maria Teresa Kumar reviews the 2012 election in terms of minority turnout and warns that Democrats have to gin up their vote in the 2014 midterm elections to win back the House of Representatives.
  • Vincent DeMarco Vincent DeMarco Bill Press and his guest, Vincent DeMarco, says the faith community can be a powerful force in getting more sensible gun laws.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Let a grunt run the Pentagon for a chance.

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January 13, 2013

Should President Obama change his mind and invoke the 14th Amendment to rid himself of troublesome debt ceiling opponents? Economist James Galbraith says he doesn’t have to “invoke” it – it is already part of the Constitution and ought to rule the day.

Former Congressman Mike Barnes, who also served as head of the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence, says legislative restrictions on firearms will be difficult because one political party and one House of Congress are owned by the gun lobby.

Reid Epstein of Politico tells Bill Press the president is spoiling for a fight over Chuck Hagel.

  • Jan. 13, 2013 Jan. 13, 2013 A good use for the 14th Amendment …and a terrible use for assault rifles.
  • James Galbraith James Galbraith Why are we in the fiscal mess we’re in? Economist James Galbraith says it is because the dialogue has been “hijacked by a manic obsession over budget projections that are highly unreliable.”
  • Mike Barnes Mike Barnes Former Congressman Mike Barnes used to be president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He was also once a Marine. And he says it is pure insanity that America allows the sale to nearly anybody of the rifle he was issued – a weapon designed to kill as many people as possible as fast as possible.
  • Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Bill Press and his guest Politico’s Reid Epstein, who says the president is spoiling for a fight over Chuck Hagel.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Slippin' and slidin' on corporate cash.

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December 30, 2012

Progressive icon Fred Harris talks about challenges facing the second Obama administration, including barriers to organized labor. Law professor Larry Gibson tells us about his new biography of a young Thurgood Marshall. And historian Steve Conn rips Republicans for hating government, except for when they need it.

  • Dec. 30, 2012 Dec. 30, 2012 Challenges in the second term … the early years of Thurgood Marshall … and the Republican states’ rights fetish.
  • Fred Harris Fred Harris Fred Harris was a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and a candidate for president. Still active, Fred tells us what he sees as challenges for the second Obama Adminstration -- labor rights, the minimum wage, civil rights and immigration reform.
  • Larry Gibson Larry Gibson Larry Gibson is a prominent attorney and law professor in Baltimore. He has a new book out called “Young Thurgood,” which delves into the early years of Thurgood Marshall, the nation’s first African-American Supreme Court justice.
  • Steven Conn Steven Conn Historian Steven Conn's new book examines the benefits of government. He talks with us today about the fetish Republicans have about “states rights” – the rallying cry for attacking reproductive freedom and suppressing voting rights. Conn says the GOP is laissez-faire when it suits them but in favor of government help when they need it.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Warning: A new intrusive swarm coming our way -- domestic drones!

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