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>>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU. >>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO RUCKUS, OUR WEEKLY
FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT FIGHT OVER THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND THE TRENDS OF THE TIMES.
I'M MIKE SHANIN JOINED BY THE RUCKETTES, KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL WRITER YAEL
ABOUHALKAH, POLITICAL CONSULTANT STEVE GLORIOSO, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT MARY
O'HALLORAN, AND JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, JEFF ROE, FOUNDER OF AXIOM STRATEGIES, A
POLITICAL CONSULTING FIRM BASED IN KANSAS CITY, AND I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY WELL KNOWN
NATIONWIDE. JEFF, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
>> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS THE WEEK WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF FORMER PRESIDENT
HARRY TRUMAN, AND IT WAS TRUMAN WHO ONCE FAMOUSLY SAID GET ME A ONE-ARMED ECONOMIST.
TRUMAN HAD GROWN TIRED OF HE GIVE OWE INDICATING -- EQUIVOCATING ECONOMISTS WHO
WOULD SAY, ON THE ONE HAND THIS WOULD WORK, ON THE OTHER HAND IT WOULD NOT.
ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE SO-CALLED DISMAL SCIENCE OF ECONOMICS BEGAN LONG BEFORE PRESIDENT
TRUMAN AND CONTINUE TODAY. WHILE MANY ECONOMISTS DEPLORE THE GROWING DEFICIT AND DEBT,
OTHERS, INCLUDING THE HEAD OF THE UMKC COMICS DEPARTMENT, THINK AUSTERITY IS THE WRONG
ANSWER. STEPHANIE KELTON TOLD THE STAR'S STEVE KRASKE THAT CURRENT
POLICIES HAMPER GROWTH AND TAX HIKES AND BUDGET CUTS ARE NOT THE CURE.
IN FACT, KELTON SAYS IT ALL ADDRESSES OO CRISIS THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXIST.
NO CRISIS EXISTING MARY? WELL, IT DEPENDS ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
I'M PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT HER AND HEAR ABOUT HER PARTICIPATING IN THIS NATIONAL DEBATE THAT'S
SO SIGNIFICANT. I THINK WHAT MOST ECONOMISTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE SAYING
RIGHT NOW THAT ARE PROGRESSIVE OR COME OUT AS THE OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET CUTTING APPROACH TO
THIS CRISES -- YEAH, I DO THINK IT'S A CRISIS ACTUALLY, BUT I THINK IT'S A CRISIS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT AND A CRISIS OF GROWTH. WHAT SHE POINTS OUT AND WHAT
OTHERS ARE SHOWING, BY THE WAY, THE DEBT IS FALLING. THE DEFICIT IS FALLING AT RECORD
SPEED ACTUALLY. JUST OUT FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE YESTERDAY, SO
TAKING A LOOK AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION, WHAT IS IT?
WE HAVE ABOUT 11 AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED IN THIS COUNTRY.
ADDS UP TO ABOUT 13 AND A HALF% OF HALF% -- 13 AND A HALF PERCENT
OF THE WORKFORCE THAT CAN'T FIND WORK AND A WHOLE BUDGE OF -- BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE
GIVEN UP LOOKING FOR WORK, AND YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF CAN WE CONTINUE TO CALL THIS THE END TO
THE RECESSION? IS THIS A RECOVERY. THE LAST THIRD OF THIS LAST YEAR
WAS FIVE-TENTH OF A PERCENT. JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, IT'S 2.5, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
GROWTH TO REALLY PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. SO WHY IS IT SO SLOW?
BECAUSE OF THE INSISTENCE ON CONGRESS ON THIS FAILED NOTION THAT THE WAY TO DEAL WITH A
SERIOUS RECESSION IS FOR CUTTING BUDGETS AND CUTTING EMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
>> JEFF, LET ME GET YOU INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION. DO YOU THINK WHAT MARY SAYS IS
RIGHT, THAT THESE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT ARE BEING CONTEMPLATED, BEING RECOMMENDED
LARGELY BY REPUBLICANS ARE WRONG? >> ,WELL, I DON'T AGREE WITH
MARY. START THAT OFF RIGHT AFTER THE BAT.
SMART PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE. IT'S A CENSIAN THEORY. GOVERNMENT SMENDZ MORE MONEY,
CREATES AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS, FILTERS DOWN, AND YOU HAVE A BETTER ECONOMY.
WE'VE NOW HAD FIVE YEARS OF TRYING THAT, AND WE'VE SPENT A TRILLION DOLLARS MORE TODAY PER
YEAR THAN WE DID FOUR YEARS AGO, AND IT'S SIMPLE WILL THE NOT WORKED.
YOU CAN GO THROUGHOUT HISTORY. WHAT CAPITALISM PROVIDES IS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF
MONEY, INVEST IT IN SOMETHING AND HOPE FOR A MODEST RETURN. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES THE ECONOMY.
ALL THE THEORIES THAT COMPARE US TO EUROPE DON'T APPLY BECAUSE EUROPE IS NOT ENTREPRENEURIAL.
THEY WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THEY DON'T WORK FOR THEMSELVES. >> WELL, JEFF, YOU'VE GIVEN THE
PEOPLE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND, BUT THE AS AUSTERITYIANS HAVEN'T WORKED.
THE STIMULUS YOU REFERRED TO WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY SIMPLE LUS. STIMULUS.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO SAVE 10 OR 12 MILLION JOBS. >> BUT MARY, IT WAS DESCRIBED TO
BE THE CURE Y'ALL. >> NO, IT WASN'T. IT WAS THE CURE ALL TO STOP US
FROM COMPLETELY GOING OFF THE CLIFF. BY THE WAY, IT DOES WORK.
ALL ACROSS EUROPE, THEY'RE TRYING AUSTERITY. >> THE LAST POINT MARY MADE IS
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN JAPAN NOW AND GERMANY AND PROBABLY THE NEXT IN LINE IS GOING TO BE GREAT
BRITAIN WHERE THEY HAVE NOW ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE CUT BACK TOO MUCH, THAT THE
AUSTERITY THROUGHOUT EUROPE -- SPAIN HAS UNEMPLOYMENT OF 27%, AND SO THERE IS -- I THINK
THEY'VE COME TO REALIZE THEY'RE OUT OF BALANCE. THE AMOUNT OF CUT-BACK IN
COMMUNITY SPENDING, GOVERNMENT SPENDING WAS TOO MUCH. THE THING IS, WE HAVE LAID
OFF -- I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE WELL OVER 100,000 FEWER GOVERNMENT WORKERS.
MAYBE IT'S EVEN MORE THAN 200,000 THROUGH THE LAST FIVE YEARS, STATE, LOCAL, AND
FEDERAL. IF THOSE GOVERNMENT WORKERS WERE STILL EMPLOYED, THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE WOULD BE IN THE SIX PERCENTILE SOMEWHERE. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT
STIMULUS -- BUILDING ROADS, BUILDING BRIDGES, CONTRACTING OUT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT ISN'T HAPPENING IS BIG BUSINESS, THOSE OF US HEAVILY INVESTED IN THE
STOCK MARKET, WE, IT'S GREAT, BUT YOU'VE GOT COMPANIES HOARDING GAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OVER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ECONOMY,
ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THE OBAMACARE. >> BUT WHY WOULD YOU HIRE MORE
PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING RECORD PROFIT? >> AND WHY WOULD YOU HIRE MORE
WHEN YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE MEDICAL COSTS ARE GOING TO BE. I WANT TO GET YAEL IN HERE.
AUSTERITY, WE'RE GOING TOLD, IS THE WRONG ANSWER FOR THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
IS IT ALSO THE WRONG ANSWER FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS? >> NOT NECESSARILY.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE -- THE CONSERVATIVE PART OF ME SAYS LET'S CUT BACK
PART OF THESE PROGRAMS. >> WHICH PART IS THAT? >> IT'S MY LEFT ARM.
AND I THINK THE ONE GOOD THING THE IMPLOSION HAS BROUGHT ABOUT IS THE SEARCH FOR MORE
EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT. I'VE SEEN IT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
ACTUALLY, WE'VE NOT GETTING MORE MONEY, SO WE HAVE TO BE EFFICIENT.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ALSO QUICKLY SAY, IF YOU NOTE, IF YOU SPEND MONEY ON THE RIGHT THINGS, YOU
CAN IMPROVE GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT KANSAS CITY IS DOING WITH ITS PARKS PROGRAM, FOR
EXAMPLE. THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING A BETTER JOB THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS
AGO. SO THERE ARE WAYS OF SPENDING MONEY CORRECTLY.
BUT I THINK ACTUALLY ON THE LOCAL LEVEL YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OF THAT.
ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, I THINK THERE ARE CUTBACKS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, EFFICIENT AND AUSTERITY ARE NOT SYNONYMS. >> EXACTLY.
>>> IT IS NOT JUST ECONOMISTS WHO DISAGREE OVER POLICY. ASK MOST LIBERALS OR MOST
CONSERVATIVES ABOUT THE NEED FOR AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE TWO-MILE STARTER STREETCAR
SYSTEM IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY. PROPONENTS SEE THIS AS THE SPRINGBOARD FOR A MASS TRANSIT
SYSTEM THAT WILL ONE DAY CROSS STATE LINES AND SERVE THE ENTIRE METRO AREA.
OPPONENTS SEE A HUGE COST, INCREASED TAXES AND A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WILL NEED
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOREVER. THE RECENTLY APPROVED STREETCAR LINE HAS AGAIN BEEN CHALLENGED
IN COURT BY SOME PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE ROUTE. SOME SUPPORTERS WORRY THAT
PROTRACTED COURT HEARINGS COULD ADD COSTS TO THE ALREADY EXPENSIVE PROJECT.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? IS THAT LIKELY? >> WELL, IT COULD ADD COSTS.
>> AND TIME DELAYS. >> THE CONSERVATIVE LEFT ARM OF MY BODY IS TELLING ME THERE IS A
PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT, AND THAT IS THE WHOLE COST STRUCTURE OF HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST
FROM THE NEW PROPERTY TAX AND JUST FROM REGULAR TAXPAYERS. I THINK IT'S, LIKE, 2 MILLION
BUCKS OR SO. THAT'S THE COST SIDE. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RUSS JOHNSON
HAS TOLD ME AND OTHERS, HEY, THERE IS A CONTINGENCY IN THERE. WE THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO TAKE
CARE OF THE UNFORESEEN COSTS, SO I'M ACTUALLY LESS WORRIED THAT IT'S GOING TO GO A GAZILLION
DOLLARS OVER BUDGET. WHAT I'M FASCINATED ABOUT IS THE CONTINUING LEGAL STRUG --
STRUGGLES OVER THIS AND WHETHER IT'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE OR NOT, NOT SURPRISING, AND IT IS
CONTROVERSIAL. THERE IS A DIE-HARD FA NATIONAL CALL -- FANATICAL GROUP OVER
THERE THAT WANTS IT TO HAPPEN. I'M TALKING THE PRO-STREETCAR SUPPORTERS.
IF YOU SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT STREETCARS, THEY'RE ON YOU LIKE FLIES.
HOWEVER, OVERALL, YES, I WANT TO SEE BETTER TRANSIT IN KANSAS CITY.
I THINK THIS IS AT LEAST A REASONABLE FIRST STEP AT DOING SO.
IF YOU CAN BUILD A TWO-MILE STARTER LINE, AND IT NEVER GOES ANYWHERE ELSE, WE INVEST A
HUNDRED MILLION BUCKS AND IT GOES BUST, THAT'S A LOT BETTER THAN A BILLION DOLLAR LIGHT RAIL
LINE. >> JEFF, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STARTER STREETCAR SYSTEM?
>> IF THEY REALLY WANT TO APPROACH THIS, THEY WOULD TAKE IT TO A CITY-WIDE VOTE, AND I
DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE SEEING THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE. INSTEAD, THEY CREATE A SPECIAL
TAXING DISTRICT TO CREATE A SPECIAL TAX TO FUND THIS, AND NOW THEY MAY LAWSUITS THAT MAY
GO ON FOR SOME TIME. I DON'T BELIEVE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE AS BAD AS THEY SAY,
BUT LET'S HAVE A PUBLIC VOTE. WHEN YOU TRY TO BE TOO CUTE, VOTERS WILL HOLD YOU
ACCOUNTABLE. 500 PEOPLE VOTING ON WHETHER TO SPEND $20 MILLION IS JUST NOT
APPROPRIATE. >> ARE YOU GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF IDEAS LIKE MASS TRANSIT OR
LIMITED EDITIONS OF TRANSIT LIKE THE TWO MILE SYSTEM? >> IT'S TOUGH FOR ME, TO BE
HONEST. >> IT'S TOUGH FOR YOU TO BE HONEST?
>> THE LIBERAL FOR YOU COMING OUT. >> IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE FOR EVERY
FORM OF MASS TRANSIT, IT'S SUB SUDDEN -- SUBSIDIZED. SO IS IT A WORTHWHILE THING FOR
GOVERNMENT TO DO? I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK SO. >> JEFF, EVERY FORM OF
TRANSPORTATION IS SUBSIDIZED TO THE HILT. I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT, IF WE WANT THIS TO SUCCEED, IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE COURTS.
YOU KNOW, THERE JUST MAY BE SOME ELEMENT OF THIS STRANGE LITTLE MECHANISM THEY PUT TOGETHER THAT
THE COURT DOESN'T LIKE. I DOUBT IT, THOUGH, BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE ON AN EXPEDITED
BASIS THAT THE COURTS WILL REVIEW IT. IT LOOKS AS IF THAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN, AND THAT WILL BE GOOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDS.
>> THERE IS A DEADLINE ON THAT, STEVE. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
BUT YOU WERE AROUND CITY HALL FOR A LONG TIME. YOU WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH
MAYOR BARNES. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS STARTER STREETCAR SYSTEM?
>> USUALLY I HAVE STRONG OPINIONS, BUT I'M VERY CONFLICTED BY THIS.
>> THAT'S A FIRST. >> CAN'T TELL THE TRUTH, CAN'T HAVE AN OPINION.
WHAT'S GOING ON? >> I DON'T SEE WHERE IT GOES. TO ME, A MASS TRANSIT IS NOT A
TROLLEY CAR, AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON IT AT FIFTH AND GRAND AND RIDE IT WHERE?
I UNDERSTAND TO DOWNTOWN. IT'S BASICALLY JUST A PEOPLE MOVER IS WHAT THEY'RE PROCEEDS
PROCEEDS -- PROPOSING, A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE. I DON'T SEE HOW YOU TAKE IT OUT
TO THE PLAZA, WALDO. >> NO. I CAN SEE THEM DOING THAT.
>> THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. >> THIS IS MEANT TO BE JUST THE
BEGINNING, AM I RIGHT? >> IT IS. >> AND I THINK TO ANY POINT
ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE VOTING ON THIS ELECTION, BEGIN, I WOULD ESSENTIALLY AGREE IT COULD HAVE
BEEN A CITY-WIDE ELECTION. AND IT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVE PASSED, BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE
IT GOES NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE VOTING, SO EVENTUALLY YOU WILL GET THE
WHOLE CITY INVOLVED. SO WE HAVE THE STARTER LINE, MAY GO OUT TO THE PLAZ, NORTH OF --
PLAZA, NORTH OF THE RIVER. >> IT'S A LEAP OF FAITH. K, CAN HE ON OWE A, CAN THEY
BUILD IT FOR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING? >>> IT WOULD BE DERELICTION OF
DUTY FOR ME NOT TO BRING UP NATIONAL POLITICS WITH TWO MAJOR POLITICAL CONSULTANTS JOINING
THIS PANEL THIS WEEK AS VISITORS, SO I WILL. IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE WE START
TO FOCUS ON THE 2014 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS. RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS CONTROL
THE U.S. HOUSE, DEMOCRATS THE SENATE, AND OF COURSE, A DEMOCRAT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
HISTORICALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY LOSES SEATS IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
DEMOCRATS NEED 17 SEATS TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THE HOUSE. REPUBLICANS NEED A NET GAIN OF
SIX SEATS TO CLAIM THE SENATE. SO LET US START WITH THE DEMOCRATS, SINCE THERE ARE MORE
OF THOSE HERE. IS IT PRUDENT FOR REALISTIC PRAGMATIC DEMOCRATS TO THINK
THEY HAVE A CHANCE OF REGAINING THE HOUSE? >> I THINK THE HOUSE WOULD BE A
STRETCH. THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME DEFINING ISSUE WE DON'T KNOW
ABOUT AT THE MOMENT. IF IT'S JUST A REGULAR ELECTION, NOT ONLY ARE OFF-YEARS NOT GOOD,
BUT THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND TERM OFF YEAR IS EVEN WORSE. CLINTON REVERSED IT, BUT THAT
HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE WHOLE IMPEACHMENT FIASCO AND OVERREACH BY REPUBLICANS.
I THINK THE HOUSE IS -- AT BEST MAYBE OUR PARTY MIGHT PICK UP SOME SEATS, BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY
IT WILL BE A PUSH OR EVEN LOSE A FEW SEATS. THE MAGIC OF THE OBAMA ELECTION
HAD TO DO WITH MINORITIES, AND INDEPENDENT WOMEN. >> AND OBAMA, THE MAN HIMSELF.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE OF THE MAN HIMSELF, IN SOME AREAS, BLACK TURNOUT WAS HIGHER AS A
PERCENTAGE THAN WHITE TURNOUT. IT'S SO HARD TO DO IN AN OFF-YEAR ELECTION TO GET THOSE
PEOPLE RILED UP ENOUGH TO VOTE LIKE THEY DID IN NOVEMBER. THE SENATE, I THINK WE'LL KEEP
THE SENATE, BECAUSE I THINK WE JUST HAVE -- WE HAVE ENOUGH OF BETTER CANDIDATES THAN THEY DO
THAT WE'LL LOSE A FEW SEATS, BUT WE'LL KEEP CONTROL, AND THAT'S THE BIG THING.
>> JEFF, WE SAW THAT SPECIAL ELECTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA RETURN FORMER GOVERNOR SANFORD
TO THE U.S. HOUSE. I BELIEVE YOU DID SOME WORK IN THAT CAMPAIGN.
IS THAT A LOOK AT THINGS TO COME? >> OFF YEAR ELECTIONS TEND TO
FORESHADOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE ELECTION YEAR, BUT THE MATH OF THE HOUSE IS VERY
DIFFICULT. THERE ARE ONLY 100 SEATS IN CONGRESS THAT CAN SWITCH
PARTIES. WE'VE SEEN GOOD CANDIDATES RUN AGAINST KEVIN YODER, EMANUEL
CLEAVER, SAM GRAVES AND ALL GET DEFEATED BY MORE THAN 10 POINTS. >> IS THAT BECAUSE OF
GERRYMANDERING? >> CERTAINLY, AND BECAUSE VOTERS VOTE THE WAY THEIR GRANDDADDY
VOTED IN MANY RESPECTS. SO WHEN YOU VOTE WITH 100 SEATS DOWN, THE SEATS ACTUALLY
COMPETITIVE ARE ABOUT 61 SEATS. 9 OF THOSE SEATS ARE REPUBLICANS THAT SIT IN THE SEAT THAT OBAMA
WON. 16 SEATS ARE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE IN SEATS THAT ROMNEY WON.
SO THEY'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE THERE. PLUS OF THE 61 SEATS THAT ARE
OPEN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO WIN 55. WE'LL GAIN SEATS IN THE HOUSE, AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE
SHOT AT TAKING THE SENATE. >> WELL, IF IT'S ANY HELP FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE POLLS, IT IS
THAT CURRENTLY, IF YOU ASK MOST AMERICANS WHO THEY WOULD VOTE FOR IN A CONGRESSIONAL RACE,
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AT THIS MOMENT, THIS MONTH, THE DEMOCRATS ARE AHEAD BY SEVERAL
POINTS, AND I THINK THAT HAS TO DO WITH THIS BATTLE IN CONGRESS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORT
TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO COLLABORATE WITH ANYBODY ATTITUDE ON THE
PART OF THE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS. BUT IT'S A CLICHE TO SAY IT'S
WAY TOO SOON TO PREDICT THINGS. THEY'RE JUST SEATS THAT CANNOT CHANGE, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE
ONES THAT CAN AND CAN DEMOCRATS DO WELL? I WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT SOUTH
CAROLINA AS ANYTHING, THOUGH. IF ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO TURN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INTO THE
FAMILY VALUES PARTY, JEFF. >> LET ME GO OVER HERE TO YAEL AND STEVE.
THE CRITICISM OF THE DEMOCRATS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IS THAT THE PARTY HAS MOVED TOO FAR LEFT,
AND THE CRITICISM OF THE REPUBLICANS IS THAT THE PARTY HAS MOVED TOO FAR RIGHT.
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THOSE TWO QUESTIONS. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE MOVED TOO FAR RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY KEEP GETTING ELECTED.
THAT'S WHY I KEEP TELLING ALL OF THESE LIBERALS I TALK TO. OH, THE REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE
GOING TO DIE NEXT TIME. WE'VE GOT THEM WHERE WE WANT THEM.
NO. THEY HAVE CONTROL OF ALL OF KANSAS.
THEY HAVE CONTROL OF ALMOST ALL OF MISSOURI, SO LOCALLY --. >> VETO-PROOF.
>> AND NATIONALLY I AGREE WITH JEFF. I THINK DEMOCRATS WILL PROBABLY
LOSE IN THIS NEXT ELECTION SOME SEATS. WHY?
BECAUSE IN GENERAL THEY ARE SOME OF THE GERRYMANDERING SEATS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH
GOVERNMENT. >> 15 SECONDS, STEVE. >> THE UNKNOWN WOULD BE IF THE
ECONOMY -- WE KEEP ADDING JOBS. IF WE HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT, LET'S SAY, 6.5 OR,
HOPEFULLY, FOR THE COUNTRY, LOWER THAN THAT, YOU MIGHT MAKE A FEEL GOOD CASE THAT MIGHT GET
ENOUGH INDEPENDENTS TO FLIP A SEAT OR TWO THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK COULD BE WON RIGHT NOW.
BUT -- I AND THINK THAT WOULD PLAY OUT MORE IN THE SENATE RACES THAN THE HOUSE RACES.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT POLITICS. YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> THE CONCEPT OF FEDERAL I MEANS THAT POWER IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE 50 STATES. BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE CONSIDERED
SOVEREIGN, MEANING EACH HAS AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
SOMETIMES, THOUGH, THE LINE IS BLURRED, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE FOR SOME ON GUN RIGHTS.
HISTORICALLY, WHEN STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS CONFLICT, THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE OF THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION A CITED AND THE ISSUE RESOLVED. BUT MISSOURI AND KANSAS
LEGISLATURES, BOTH CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, ARE NOT SO WILLING TO ACCEPT WASHINGTON APARTMENTS
OF'S JUDGMENT ON STATE GUN LEGISLATION. NOW, ULTIMATELY I THINK IT'S
LIKE LIP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PREVAIL BUT JEFF, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT, IF THERE IS ANY,
FOR REPUBLICANS TO TAKE A STRONG STAND ON THIS? >> YOU KNOW, FRANKLY IT'S TO
RELIEVE TENSION AMONG THEIR BASE. WE SEE THIS NOT JUST ON GUNS,
BUT ARIZONA PASSES A GUN LAW, AND THE KANSAS CITY CITY COUNCIL PASSES A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING
IT. >> CAN I INTERRUPT YOU FOR JUST A SECOND?
>> SURE. >> EXPLAIN THAT, TO RELIEVE TENSION IN THE BASE.
>> SURE. IF YOU'RE A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, FIRST OF ALL, A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO WASHINGTON TO CAST VOTES AND THEY DON'T KNOW
IF THEIR CONGRESSMAN IS GOING TO JEFF CITY OR TOPEKA TO CAST VOTES.
SO THE QUESTION THEY GET IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX THIS? YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
SO THEY GO DOWN AND PASS A RESOLUTION OR PASS A LAW THAT SAYS, LOOK, WE CAN'T FIX HARRY
REID OR NANCY PELOSI, BUT WE CAN SEND A MESSAGE FROM MISSOURI. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENTS. BY THE WAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MARKET CORNERED ON DOING CRAZY
THINGS. THE DEMOCRATS DO IT A LOT, AND LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE NATION.
KANSAS CITY HAS A HISTORY OF THE KANSAS CITY CITY COUNCIL DOING IT.
IRAQ WAR, IMMIGRATION LAWS. >> PASSING RESOLUTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE NO
CONTROL OVER. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH.
>> AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S DEMOCRACY. THEY'RE RESPONDING TO
CONSTITUENTS. >> EXCEPT THAT'S NOT A RESOLUTION.
THOSE ARE LAWS. >> THOSE ARE LAWS. >> THE CITY COUNCIL DOES
SOMETHING ABOUT OO IRAQ, OR WHATEVER, OBVIOUSLY NOBODY IS GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
BUT IF YOU'RE PASSING A LAW IN KANSAS OR MISSOURI THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ARREST A FEDERAL
OFFICER FOR DOING HIS JOB, HIS OR HER JOB, WE'RE KIND NF CRAZY CRAZY -- KIND OF IN CRAZY LAND.
I AGREE, A STATE WANTS TO HAVE SOME RIGHTS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK THOSE KIND OF LAWS ARE GOING TO STAND.
GOOD THEATER. IT'S GREAT POLITICAL THEATER FOR SAM BROWNBACK TO SAY, BY GOD --
ERIC HOLDER DID HIM A GREAT DEAL OF FAVOR BY SENDING HIM THAT LETTER SAYING, YOU'RE IN
VIOLATION, SO ALL OF THE LIBERALS GO, YOU GO ERIC. WELL, BROWNBACK IS GOING TO
FIGHT BACK. >> IT'S NOT POLITICAL THEATER. IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS.
NULLIFICATION -- THEY'RE SENDING A SIGNAL THAT STATES RIGHTS ARE BACK.
WHAT IS NULLIFICATION ALL ABOUT OTHER THAN WHEN IT FIRST RAISED ITS UGLY HEAD WAS DURING THE
19th CENTURY IN THE BATTLE OVER WHETHER ALL AMERICANS WOULD BE FREE FROM SLAVERY.
OKAY? SO WE UNDERSTAND -- THAT'S TRUE, JEFF.
>> BUT STATES RIGHTS DO EXIST AND APPLY TO AREAS OTHER THAN CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A STUNT, AND YAEL IS RIGHT IN THAT RESPECT.
THESE GUN LAWS ARE SIGNIFICANT, AND SOME OF THESE GUN LAWS ARE REALLY, IN SOME RESPECTS,
DANGEROUS, AND THE CONGRESS JUST WANTING TO HAVE SOME WAY TO HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK ON PEOPLE,
ABOUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AGREE WITH THAT. >> MY FRIENDS, YOU ARE A CITIZEN
OF THE UNITED STATES. YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF A STATE. YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN OF A STATE.
YOU DON'T INHERENTLY HAVE RIGHTS BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN MISSOURI OR KANSAS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION,
AND THIS CONFUSION THAT THE FAR RIGHT HAS THAT SOMEHOW THEY'RE EQUAL IS JUST -- IT'S NOT IN THE
CONSTITUTION, AND IT'S NOT IN ALMOST ANY OF OUR LAWS EXCEPT LAWS THAT PEOPLE IGNORE, CRAZY
LAWS. YOU KNOW, WE ARE A FEDERALIST SYSTEM.
WE SETTLED THAT FIGHT. IT'S OVER. UNLESS YOU WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER
ONE, I'LL GO GET MY GUN. >> THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE CONSTITUTION, TO, IN PART, CREATE A MORE POWERFUL CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT. >> INDEED. >>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR ROASTS AND
TOASTS WHERE WE MAKE NICE WITH OR MAKE TROUBLE FOR PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN THE NEWS, AND WE START
TONIGHT WITH STEVE GLORIOSO. >> I'M GOING TO TOAST THE MAYOR ON THIS ISSUE.
I WAS AT A MEETING RECENTLY WITH THE HEADS OF CHAIR OF ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, BOTH
STANDING AND INTERIM, LIKE THE REVENUE COMMISSION THAT I SERVED ON, AND I THINK THIS MAYOR HAS
DONE AN -- A GREAT JOB BRINGING YOUNG PEOPLE INTO CITY GOVERNMENT.
HE APPOINTED A COMMISSION ON -- WHAT WAS THE LATEST? POLICE LOCAL CONTROL.
THERE WERE 30 PEOPLE. I COULDN'T IDENTIFY 23 OF THEM PROBABLY, AND I THINK THAT IS A
PLUS, AND I TOAST MAYOR JAMES FOR TRYING TO GET DIFFERENT AND MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THEIR
COMMUNITY. >> JEFF. >> THANKS, MIKE.
WELL, HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I KNOW IN THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE, THERE IS A 99% AND THE 1 PERCENTERS, AND I'M GLAD
TO BE ON THE STAGE WITH THE 1 PERCENTERS WHEN THIS AIRS ON MOTHER'S DAY.
THE GRACE AND ELEGANCE THAT MY MOM HAS SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND BECAUSE MY
MOTHER-IN-LAW WILL BE IN TOWN, ALSO, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW DISPLAYS, I APPRECIATE THEM AND WANT TO
GIVE THEM A TOAST. >> A POLITICIAN INDEED. >> A SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM, TOO.
>> THIS IS A ROAST TO THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAYOR SLY JAMES AND I GUESS HIS SON
KYLE JAMES FOR THE SPECIAL ATTENTION THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GAVE TO THIS TOWED CAR THAT
APPARENTLY BELONGED TO KYLE JAMES. THE BODYGUARD OF SLY JAMES GOT
INVOLVED IN IT. EVENTUALLY THE POLICE LET THE SITUATION GO WITHOUT HAVING THE
FINE BEING PAID EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. I COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN A DEAL
LIKE THAT. YOU COULDN'T HAVE. IT WAS A SPECIAL TREATMENT AND
SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. >>> A BIG TOAST TO HARRY TRUMAN'S BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS
YESTERDAY, TO THE SENATOR WHO ACTUALLY HAS HIS CHAIR IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, CLAIRE
CLAIRE MCCASKILL. SHE WAS ON THIS WHOLE BUSINESS OF *** ASSAULT OF WOMEN IN
THE MILITARY LONG BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR, LONG BEFORE OTHER SENATORS HAD TAKEN AN INTEREST.
NOW YESTERDAY ON HARRY TRUMAN'S BIRTHDAY OUT BOOMS THIS STORY THAT THERE WERE 26,000 MORE
*** ASSAULTS ON WOMEN IN THE MILITARY THIS LAST YEAR THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WHICH IS A PRETTY
ASTOUNDING NUMBER. CLAIRE IS HOLDING UP THE APPOINTMENT OF LIEUTENANT
GENERAL SUSAN HELM TO A HIGH POST IN THE MILITARY BECAUSE SHE REVERSED A JURY DECISION ON A
*** CASE WITHIN THE MILITARY THAT -- ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
CLAIRE IS ON TO THIS JUST LIKE HER MENTOR, HARRY TRUMAN, WHO WOULD BE SO PROUD OF HER
ACTIVITIES. >>> FINALLY, A WELL DESERVED TOAST TO THOSE INVOLVED WITH
WEDNESDAY'S TRUMAN GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD LUNCHEON HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON.
MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTENDED AT THE MULE -- MULE BATCH HOTEL.
SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FORMER RADIO PARTNER, JERRY FOGEL, WHO DID A TERRIFIC JOB AS
EMCEE. I TAUGHT HIM WELL. >>> AND THAT IS RUCKUS FOR NOW.
JOIN NICK HAINES FOR KANSAS CITY WEEK IN REVIEW FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:30.
NOW ON THE BEHALF OF THE RUCKETTES AND RUCKUS CREW, I'M MIKE SHANIN SAYING THANKS FOR
WATCHING, AND GOOD NIGHT. >>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN
PART BY THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE
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