Better than Wrigley Field: Berkowitz w/John Cox on Obama, The Clintons, Bush, McCain and the McKennas, Cable and Streaming
Revised significantly at 6:00 pm on Tuesday and Combine links added at 9:00 pm on Tuesday.
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Jeff Berkowitz: John, help that Democratic voter in the Primary. Is Hillary saying the same thing as Barack? Or, is she different?
John Cox: No, I think Obama makes the correct assertion that Hillary is part of the problem. She is not going to solve the problem; She is going to perpetuate it.
***********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Do we call that the Combine?
John Cox: John Kass calls it that. I think it is absolutely right on. [See here and cites therein for a discussion of the Combine, in action].
Jeff Berkowitz: It used to be the Daley-Ryan Combine. That was George Ryan. George is now doing time. So, what is it now? The Daley-Thompson Combine?
**************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: There has to be a connector [between the Ds and Rs]. Would you say Daley-McKenna Combine? Sounds like you are saying that.
***********************************
This week’s suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features John Cox, 2008 Republican Primary presidential candidate [and 2000 Republican Primary candidate for Illinois 10th CD, 2002 and 2004 Republican Primary U. S. Senate candidate; 2004 Republican Nominee for Cook County Recorder of Deeds, discussing and debating, with show host Jeff Berkowitz , some similarities in message between Obama and Cox, whether it is a problem for ex-presidents to make money by speaking and selling books and whether the Illinois Daley-Ryan Combine has been transformed into the Daley-Thompson or Daley-McKenna Combine and is that Combine a continuing drag on the development of a reform Republican Party in Illinois. See, below, for a more detailed discussion of this week's topics discussed with John Cox
************************************************
The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
*********************************************************
The show with John Cox will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas on that same Monday night at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10.
*************************************************************
This week's suburban show, featuring John Cox, taped on April 20, 2008, is also available 24/7 on your computer.
**********************************************************
John Cox, 2008 Republican Primary Presidential candidate [Watch here], debates and discusses with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz what the message of Barack Obama is on the campaign trail, including the way in which many people holding and running for office emphasize raising money and getting re-elected, the impact of special interests; the idea that Hillary Clinton is part of the problem, not the solution.
Is the amount of money made by Bill Clinton, post-Presidency, a presidential race issue; is the amount of money made by the Obamas during the last few years a presidential race issue; is money making by career pols an issue; have the Clintons and Bushes spent too much, taxed too much, not improved education enough and mismanaged government too much?
Obama and Cox have similar messages as to the “problem,” but very different solutions. But, there are similarities in that Obama and Cox both favor charter schools. On the other hand, Cox is an open proponent of school vouchers and Obama’s openness to school vouchers has varied during the last six years. In general, would Obama move toward the center either during or after the general election?
Cox would give varying grades to President Bush on Tax Cuts, the War on Terrorism, Management of the War, spending and judicial appointments. Cox is very concerned about both Obama’s and McCain’s lack of management experience. On a variety of issues, Cox is very concerned about Senator McCain as President and might agree with Ann Coulter that in the long run, the Republican Party might be better off if the Democrats were to win the Presidency in 2008.
Cox and Berkowitz debate whether a big part of the U. S. economy should be curtailed to deal with world climate change.
Cox and Berkowitz debate whether Bob Barr or Ralph Nader, as third party candidates, respectively, could tip the 2008 general election to Republicans or Democrats, respectively.
Is Jack Kemp right to support McCain and is that support due to the influence of mutual friends, who have an “interest,” in the McCain Presidency?
Did Gov. Mitt Romney “spend 80 million dollars and get nowhere because “nobody believed him.” Is Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina an attractive, Republican VP candidate? Former Cong. John Kasich? Former Cong. Rob Portman?
Is Illinois the best state to examine the intersection of money and politics?
Do the family financial interests of State GOP Chairman and 2004 U. S. Senate Republican Primary Candidate Andy McKenna, Jr. exemplify the problematic mixing of politics and personal business interests?
Is it appropriate to raise questions about the relationships between McDonalds, the Chicago Bears, politics, the McKennas’ family business interests, the City of Chicago and Mayor Daley? Is there a symbiosis in Illinois between the people who are making money through government and business and the politics of the situation? Is the symbiosis called the Daley-Ryan Combine, the Daley-Thompson combine or the Daley-McKenna Combine?
Should the state GOP leaders be changed? Are those individuals really "leaders." Is the real schism in the State GOP between the reformers and the non-reformers? Would SB 600 cure some of the problems relating to the operation of the Combine in Illinois?
Could the Democrats gain control of 14 of the 19 Illinois congressional seats on Nov. 4?
**********************************************
A partial transcript of this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," with guest John Cox is included directly, below.
****************************************************
Cox and Obama: A similar message?
John Cox: It’s interesting Jeff because the message I had was exactly the same message in many ways that Obama has today and that is that Washington is dysfunctional, Washington is totally ruled by special interest groups, by money. The average congressman spends 8 to 10 hours every day just raising money. Getting re-elected is paramount. Competence is not at all on the agenda. Corruption is more on the agenda than anything else. And, that’s Obama message and frankly that was the message that I had [when running for President in the Republican Primary].
Hillary and Obama: Different central messages?
Jeff Berkowitz: John, help that Democratic voter in the Primary. Is Hillary saying the same thing as Barack? Or, is she different?
John Cox: No, I think Obama makes the correct assertion that Hillary is part of the problem. She is not going to solve the problem; She is going to perpetuate it.
Jeff Berkowitz: Why?
John Cox: There is no argument that Hillary is going to keep her distance from lobbyists. There is no argument that she is not going to make money from politics. Look at her tax returns. One hundred ten million dollars from the last five years.
Jeff Berkowitz: She didn’t make that money, did she.
John Cox: Well, she and her husband.
Jeff Berkowitz: She made some. Book rights made about eight million dollars. But, mostly that is Bill Clinton making money after his Presidency. Writing books, speaking appearances. Ronald Reagan did that. Is something wrong with that?
John Cox: He [Reagan] made one speech. Caught a lot of flak.
Jeff Berkowitz: Two million dollars for speaking in Japan.
John Cox: Yeah, he made one speech, caught a lot of problems with it…
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s a free market—
John Cox: It is a free market.
Jeff Berkowitz: There is a demand for Bill Clinton to speak and he supplies it. Is he doing something wrong? You’re going to blame Hillary for being married to a guy who is making a lot of money?
***************************************************
Bush Incompetence?
John Cox: But, overall [for Bush], because of the mismanagement of the War; because of the huge explosion—basically [Bush] gave away the Congress [due to] an orgy of spending—it was horrible.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, John, over-all, the conclusion? A, B, C, D, F? [for President Bush] The over-all grade?
John Cox: Bush?
Jeff Berkowitz: Bush.
John Cox: Oh, a C minus.
*******************************************
Daley-McKenna Combine?
Jeff Berkowitz: State GOP chairman Andy McKenna, time for Andy to go? Is he exercising any leadership, whatsoever?
John Cox: You know what, Illinois, there is no better place to really examine the intersection of money and politics than Illinois. I mean Andy [McKenna, Jr., State GOP Chairman] is a decent enough guy, but his father is chairman of McDonalds, his father owns a BIG chunk of the Chicago Bears. The Bears depend on Mayor Daley for a Lease of Soldier Field…you never see a Burger King or Wendy’s at O’Hare airport because McDonalds has the franchise there. Now, I am sure Mr. Andy McKenna [Sr.] is going to be part of the buying group that is going to buy the Cubs. If he is not, his buddies are and the state [of Illinois] is in line to buy Wrigley Field.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which McKenna?
John Cox: The older McKenna
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
John Cox: But, don’t kid yourself. I mean it is all redounding to the benefit of the [McKenna] family here, okay? I mean its not like Andy, Jr. is going to sit here and go against his father on any of these issues.
Jeff Berkowitz: Because he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] inherits the money eventually?
John Cox: Of course. Of course.
Jeff Berkowitz: Has he inherited some, he has been given some already?
John Cox: Well, he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] runs the family business, right now.
Jeff Berkowitz: He is the President but not the Chairman of the Board, is that right?
John Cox: Yeah, he [Andy, Jr.] runs the family business but there is the intersection of money and politics.
************************************
John Cox: The point is there is a symbiosis in Illinois between people who are making money and the politics and until we break that—
Jeff Berkowitz: Do we call that the Combine?
John Cox: John Kass calls it that. I think it is absolutely right on. [See here and cites therein for a discussion of the Combine, in action]
Jeff Berkowitz: It used to be the Daley-Ryan Combine. That was George Ryan. George is now doing time. So, what is it now? The Daley-Thompson Combine?
John Cox: I don’t know what it is. I don’t care what you call it.
Jeff Berkowitz: There has to be a connector [between the Ds and Rs]. Would you say Daley-McKenna Combine? Sounds like you are saying that.
John Cox: It’s not just one person or two people. It’s a whole list of people. And, it’s the [Republican] State Central Committee. Let’s face it—there’s a whole bunch of people on that Committee who depend upon politics for their living…
*********************************************
This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest John Cox airs:
tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
And tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
***********************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show in the suburbs with John Cox, last week's show in the Chicago Metro Suburbs and this past Monday night's show in the City with Pete Giangreco, and our recent shows with Senator Radogno, Rep. Lang, and and WGN Political Pundit and Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with former Republican Primary Presidential Candidate John Cox, reflecting (a) on the similarity of much of Cox's message to that of Obama and (b) on the Illinois Combine, which in Cox's view, seems still to have a grip on the State GOP and some of its leaders, last week's show in the suburbs with Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, our prior show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), State Rep. Lang (Part 2), State Rep. Lang (Part 1) , WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, Senator and 2010 Illinois Republican Primary Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) , State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee and Cook County Board Member Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County
*******************************
Jeff Berkowitz: John, help that Democratic voter in the Primary. Is Hillary saying the same thing as Barack? Or, is she different?
John Cox: No, I think Obama makes the correct assertion that Hillary is part of the problem. She is not going to solve the problem; She is going to perpetuate it.
***********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Do we call that the Combine?
John Cox: John Kass calls it that. I think it is absolutely right on. [See here and cites therein for a discussion of the Combine, in action].
Jeff Berkowitz: It used to be the Daley-Ryan Combine. That was George Ryan. George is now doing time. So, what is it now? The Daley-Thompson Combine?
**************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: There has to be a connector [between the Ds and Rs]. Would you say Daley-McKenna Combine? Sounds like you are saying that.
***********************************
This week’s suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features John Cox, 2008 Republican Primary presidential candidate [and 2000 Republican Primary candidate for Illinois 10th CD, 2002 and 2004 Republican Primary U. S. Senate candidate; 2004 Republican Nominee for Cook County Recorder of Deeds, discussing and debating, with show host Jeff Berkowitz , some similarities in message between Obama and Cox, whether it is a problem for ex-presidents to make money by speaking and selling books and whether the Illinois Daley-Ryan Combine has been transformed into the Daley-Thompson or Daley-McKenna Combine and is that Combine a continuing drag on the development of a reform Republican Party in Illinois. See, below, for a more detailed discussion of this week's topics discussed with John Cox
************************************************
The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
*********************************************************
The show with John Cox will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas on that same Monday night at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10.
*************************************************************
This week's suburban show, featuring John Cox, taped on April 20, 2008, is also available 24/7 on your computer.
**********************************************************
John Cox, 2008 Republican Primary Presidential candidate [Watch here], debates and discusses with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz what the message of Barack Obama is on the campaign trail, including the way in which many people holding and running for office emphasize raising money and getting re-elected, the impact of special interests; the idea that Hillary Clinton is part of the problem, not the solution.
Is the amount of money made by Bill Clinton, post-Presidency, a presidential race issue; is the amount of money made by the Obamas during the last few years a presidential race issue; is money making by career pols an issue; have the Clintons and Bushes spent too much, taxed too much, not improved education enough and mismanaged government too much?
Obama and Cox have similar messages as to the “problem,” but very different solutions. But, there are similarities in that Obama and Cox both favor charter schools. On the other hand, Cox is an open proponent of school vouchers and Obama’s openness to school vouchers has varied during the last six years. In general, would Obama move toward the center either during or after the general election?
Cox would give varying grades to President Bush on Tax Cuts, the War on Terrorism, Management of the War, spending and judicial appointments. Cox is very concerned about both Obama’s and McCain’s lack of management experience. On a variety of issues, Cox is very concerned about Senator McCain as President and might agree with Ann Coulter that in the long run, the Republican Party might be better off if the Democrats were to win the Presidency in 2008.
Cox and Berkowitz debate whether a big part of the U. S. economy should be curtailed to deal with world climate change.
Cox and Berkowitz debate whether Bob Barr or Ralph Nader, as third party candidates, respectively, could tip the 2008 general election to Republicans or Democrats, respectively.
Is Jack Kemp right to support McCain and is that support due to the influence of mutual friends, who have an “interest,” in the McCain Presidency?
Did Gov. Mitt Romney “spend 80 million dollars and get nowhere because “nobody believed him.” Is Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina an attractive, Republican VP candidate? Former Cong. John Kasich? Former Cong. Rob Portman?
Is Illinois the best state to examine the intersection of money and politics?
Do the family financial interests of State GOP Chairman and 2004 U. S. Senate Republican Primary Candidate Andy McKenna, Jr. exemplify the problematic mixing of politics and personal business interests?
Is it appropriate to raise questions about the relationships between McDonalds, the Chicago Bears, politics, the McKennas’ family business interests, the City of Chicago and Mayor Daley? Is there a symbiosis in Illinois between the people who are making money through government and business and the politics of the situation? Is the symbiosis called the Daley-Ryan Combine, the Daley-Thompson combine or the Daley-McKenna Combine?
Should the state GOP leaders be changed? Are those individuals really "leaders." Is the real schism in the State GOP between the reformers and the non-reformers? Would SB 600 cure some of the problems relating to the operation of the Combine in Illinois?
Could the Democrats gain control of 14 of the 19 Illinois congressional seats on Nov. 4?
**********************************************
A partial transcript of this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," with guest John Cox is included directly, below.
****************************************************
Cox and Obama: A similar message?
John Cox: It’s interesting Jeff because the message I had was exactly the same message in many ways that Obama has today and that is that Washington is dysfunctional, Washington is totally ruled by special interest groups, by money. The average congressman spends 8 to 10 hours every day just raising money. Getting re-elected is paramount. Competence is not at all on the agenda. Corruption is more on the agenda than anything else. And, that’s Obama message and frankly that was the message that I had [when running for President in the Republican Primary].
Hillary and Obama: Different central messages?
Jeff Berkowitz: John, help that Democratic voter in the Primary. Is Hillary saying the same thing as Barack? Or, is she different?
John Cox: No, I think Obama makes the correct assertion that Hillary is part of the problem. She is not going to solve the problem; She is going to perpetuate it.
Jeff Berkowitz: Why?
John Cox: There is no argument that Hillary is going to keep her distance from lobbyists. There is no argument that she is not going to make money from politics. Look at her tax returns. One hundred ten million dollars from the last five years.
Jeff Berkowitz: She didn’t make that money, did she.
John Cox: Well, she and her husband.
Jeff Berkowitz: She made some. Book rights made about eight million dollars. But, mostly that is Bill Clinton making money after his Presidency. Writing books, speaking appearances. Ronald Reagan did that. Is something wrong with that?
John Cox: He [Reagan] made one speech. Caught a lot of flak.
Jeff Berkowitz: Two million dollars for speaking in Japan.
John Cox: Yeah, he made one speech, caught a lot of problems with it…
Jeff Berkowitz: It’s a free market—
John Cox: It is a free market.
Jeff Berkowitz: There is a demand for Bill Clinton to speak and he supplies it. Is he doing something wrong? You’re going to blame Hillary for being married to a guy who is making a lot of money?
***************************************************
Bush Incompetence?
John Cox: But, overall [for Bush], because of the mismanagement of the War; because of the huge explosion—basically [Bush] gave away the Congress [due to] an orgy of spending—it was horrible.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, John, over-all, the conclusion? A, B, C, D, F? [for President Bush] The over-all grade?
John Cox: Bush?
Jeff Berkowitz: Bush.
John Cox: Oh, a C minus.
*******************************************
Daley-McKenna Combine?
Jeff Berkowitz: State GOP chairman Andy McKenna, time for Andy to go? Is he exercising any leadership, whatsoever?
John Cox: You know what, Illinois, there is no better place to really examine the intersection of money and politics than Illinois. I mean Andy [McKenna, Jr., State GOP Chairman] is a decent enough guy, but his father is chairman of McDonalds, his father owns a BIG chunk of the Chicago Bears. The Bears depend on Mayor Daley for a Lease of Soldier Field…you never see a Burger King or Wendy’s at O’Hare airport because McDonalds has the franchise there. Now, I am sure Mr. Andy McKenna [Sr.] is going to be part of the buying group that is going to buy the Cubs. If he is not, his buddies are and the state [of Illinois] is in line to buy Wrigley Field.
Jeff Berkowitz: Which McKenna?
John Cox: The older McKenna
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.
John Cox: But, don’t kid yourself. I mean it is all redounding to the benefit of the [McKenna] family here, okay? I mean its not like Andy, Jr. is going to sit here and go against his father on any of these issues.
Jeff Berkowitz: Because he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] inherits the money eventually?
John Cox: Of course. Of course.
Jeff Berkowitz: Has he inherited some, he has been given some already?
John Cox: Well, he [Andy McKenna, Jr.] runs the family business, right now.
Jeff Berkowitz: He is the President but not the Chairman of the Board, is that right?
John Cox: Yeah, he [Andy, Jr.] runs the family business but there is the intersection of money and politics.
************************************
John Cox: The point is there is a symbiosis in Illinois between people who are making money and the politics and until we break that—
Jeff Berkowitz: Do we call that the Combine?
John Cox: John Kass calls it that. I think it is absolutely right on. [See here and cites therein for a discussion of the Combine, in action]
Jeff Berkowitz: It used to be the Daley-Ryan Combine. That was George Ryan. George is now doing time. So, what is it now? The Daley-Thompson Combine?
John Cox: I don’t know what it is. I don’t care what you call it.
Jeff Berkowitz: There has to be a connector [between the Ds and Rs]. Would you say Daley-McKenna Combine? Sounds like you are saying that.
John Cox: It’s not just one person or two people. It’s a whole list of people. And, it’s the [Republican] State Central Committee. Let’s face it—there’s a whole bunch of people on that Committee who depend upon politics for their living…
*********************************************
This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest John Cox airs:
tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette
And tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
***********************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show in the suburbs with John Cox, last week's show in the Chicago Metro Suburbs and this past Monday night's show in the City with Pete Giangreco, and our recent shows with Senator Radogno, Rep. Lang, and and WGN Political Pundit and Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with former Republican Primary Presidential Candidate John Cox, reflecting (a) on the similarity of much of Cox's message to that of Obama and (b) on the Illinois Combine, which in Cox's view, seems still to have a grip on the State GOP and some of its leaders, last week's show in the suburbs with Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, our prior show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), State Rep. Lang (Part 2), State Rep. Lang (Part 1) , WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, Senator and 2010 Illinois Republican Primary Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) , State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee and Cook County Board Member Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County
