Better than David Gregory w/Harry Reid: Berkowitz w/Ald. Flores on Iraq, Bailouts, Vouchers, 5th CD, Impeachment, Green Economy ; Cable and Streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: Was [Obama] right to support the bailout of the auto companies?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: He didn’t support it, as you know. The bailout-
Jeff Berkowitz: He seemed to support it.
*****************************
School Vouchers-School Choice; charter schools; traditional public schools. Options for parents
Jeff Berkowitz: You still support school vouchers-school choice?
Ald. Flores: I support all options, Jeff, as you know what I said, here, before in this show—I said that we need to keep all of our options open...
****************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Did we win in Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I think that’s still an open question. How do we define a win?
Jeff Berkowitz: A self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself.
************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Bailouts? Do you have strong views about the bailouts?
Ald. Flores: I have strong views about the green economy. I have strong views about the initiatives that I’ve started.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think Congress needs to be doing something about the green economy?
***************************
Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Manny Flores, Chicago 1st Ward Alderman and possible 5th CD candidate. For a discussion of the 5th CD race and a link to a list of the show's topics and a partial transcript of the show, please go here.
The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
***********************************
You can watch the show with Ald. Manny Flores here.
******************************************
Did Barack Obama become President because he appeared on “Public Affairs,” five times during 2001-2004? For more about President-Elect Obama and his TV appearances on “Public Affairs,” go here to watch the fastest five minute video on the web.
*******************************************************
On the other hand, as we discussed recently with Bill O’Reilly [Go here to watch], about six and one half years ago, then State Senator Barack Obama told Berkowitz he was focused on electing Rod Blagojevich as Governor of the state of Illinois. As it turns out, not the best Dem to try to elect.
**********************************************************
The show with Ald. Flores was taped on December 21, 2008.
********************************************************
Bailouts and Deficits
Jeff Berkowitz: Are we going to have a trillion dollar deficit, and is Barack Obama going to be okay with that?
Chicago Ald. Manny Flores [1st Ward, D-Wicker Park]: I don’t think anyone should be okay with that. I think we should show leadership in that area and try to undo what the Republicans have done in the last eight years, bring that deficit down, get that surplus, and using the green economy to forge us ahead in this new global economy that we are seeing. We have to regain our pride.
Jeff Berkowitz: Was [Obama] right to support the bailout of the auto companies?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: He didn’t support it, as you know. The bailout-
Jeff Berkowitz: He seemed to support it.
Ald. Flores: He’s not the President of the United States right now.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support the bailout of the auto companies if you were there?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: We’d have to make sure that we have a strong economy. If we’re going to bail anybody out, we need to make sure that that money comes with some very clear standards of how it’s going to help our economy grow sustainably for the next ten, twenty, thirty to forty years.
Winning in Iraq and Afghanistan
Jeff Berkowitz: If you were there, would you push Barack Obama to get the country out of Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I would push him to keep his promises.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would they go into Afghanistan?
Ald. Flores: Well, absolutely, we have to go in—we have to make sure that we stabilize the region- if you take a look at what is going on right now—
Jeff Berkowitz: Did we win in Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I think that’s still an open question. How do we define a win?
Jeff Berkowitz: A self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself.
Ald. Flores: [Iraq] is not currently a self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself in my opinion.
Jeff Berkowitz: You think it will be there in a few years?
Ald. Flores: I think if we continue to work with Iraq, engage their leadership…I think we owe it to these folks to make sure we create a…system where…it is real self-determination of their government…
******************************************
School Vouchers-School Choice; charter schools; traditional public schools. Options for parents
Jeff Berkowitz: You still support school vouchers-school choice?
Ald. Flores: I support all options, Jeff, as you know what I said, here, before in this show—I said that we need to keep all of our options open, the No. 1 responsibility for education in our country should be our children and it pains me to hear when folks are saying we shouldn’t support one system or another because it is going to have a negative effect on certain strong political interests…it may be that in some instances we should continue to support our public educational system, but there may be some instances where frankly a voucher may be more helpful in getting that quality education they need. It may be that a charter school perhaps—
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are saying that they should have that option—charter school, school vouchers—
Ald. Flores: …our families should have options, options—now by the same token, we need to be respectful of labor standards and making sure that there is a due process for teachers and be supportive of our teachers- make sure that they have the resources they need to be good in the classroom…but we need the options, we need the choices for our children.
*****************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Assume Rahm Emanuel goes ahead—he resigns-- and becomes Obama’s chief of staff. The 5th congressional seat is vacant. Alderman Manny Flores, are you fired up and ready to go to run for the 5th congressional seat?
Fired up and ready to go?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I’m always fired up.
Jeff Berkowitz: Ready to go?
Ald. Flores: And I’m always ready to go.
Jeff Berkowitz: To use a phrase from the President-elect-
Ald. Flores: Sí, se puede. Yes, we can.
Jeff Berkowitz: Yes, we can. You heard it first, he is running for the 5th congressional seat. He said yes.
Ald. Flores [with a hearty laugh]: I said, we should always believe that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Should they change it to, “yes, you can” or “yes, I can?”
Ald. Flores: Sí, se puede.
Jeff Berkowitz: “Sí, se puede” is “yes, we can” or “yes, I can?”
Is he running now?
Ald. Flores: What I’m going to say here today is that at this time, I’m not running for the seat. I have been working-
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re not running as of this time, but would you consider it?
Ald. Flores: I don’t know what the future is going to be, even for this particular-
Jeff Berkowitz: Why not run? Why not run? Who do you think is better? [?] We’ve got a list of about eight names, Patrick O’Connor, Mike Quigley, Sara Feigenholtz, John Fritchey-
Ald. Flores: For me, it’s not even an issue of who’s running and who isn’t. I think if you’re going to be engaging in any type of campaign, you have to engage in it with a notion and a strong sense of why it is that you’re doing it, based on how are you prepared to serve the people that you’re asking to support you.
Bailouts, Green Economy and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Jeff Berkowitz: Bailouts? Do you have strong views about the bailouts?
Ald. Flores: I have strong views about the green economy. I have strong views about the initiatives that I’ve started.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think Congress needs to be doing something about the green economy?
Ald. Flores: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Isn’t that a reason to run, then?
Ald. Flores: It’s also a reason to complete the work that I’ve been doing in the first ward. As you know, Jeff-
Jeff Berkowitz: We’ll get to that in a second. Before we get to the city and which you’re doing-
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I feel very passionate about the green initiatives, and feel very passionate about both local government and federal government, and making sure-
Jeff Berkowitz: Comprehensive immigration reform? Do you feel passionate about that?
Ald. Flores: Absolutely we should have comprehensive immigration reform.
Jeff Berkowitz: If you had to choose between working on comprehensive immigration reform in the Congress and green initiatives in the City Council, where would you go?
Ald. Flores: I haven’t thought of it in those terms.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the question for you.
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I’ve thought about it in terms of continuing the type of leadership that I’ve shown in the area of green economy, and getting the green exchange up and running--
**************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Will [Obama] have the troops out of Iraq in 16 months? Will he do that?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I don’t have that crystal ball, Jeff. I will tell you that-
Jeff Berkowitz: Didn’t Obama make that promise?
Ald. Flores: I think that if he makes a promise-- he should stick by the promise. And I think what he will do is, as he promised in the campaign, is listen to his military advisors, listen to what’s going on on the ground, and also move forward in stabilizing Iraq in a way where we can be inclusive, bring our partners in, making sure that we have democracy-
****************************************
Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcripts of this week's Chicago, Aurora and Rockford editions of "Public Affairs."
******************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
**********************************************************************
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: He didn’t support it, as you know. The bailout-
Jeff Berkowitz: He seemed to support it.
*****************************
School Vouchers-School Choice; charter schools; traditional public schools. Options for parents
Jeff Berkowitz: You still support school vouchers-school choice?
Ald. Flores: I support all options, Jeff, as you know what I said, here, before in this show—I said that we need to keep all of our options open...
****************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Did we win in Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I think that’s still an open question. How do we define a win?
Jeff Berkowitz: A self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself.
************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Bailouts? Do you have strong views about the bailouts?
Ald. Flores: I have strong views about the green economy. I have strong views about the initiatives that I’ve started.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think Congress needs to be doing something about the green economy?
***************************
Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Manny Flores, Chicago 1st Ward Alderman and possible 5th CD candidate. For a discussion of the 5th CD race and a link to a list of the show's topics and a partial transcript of the show, please go here.
The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
***********************************
You can watch the show with Ald. Manny Flores here.
******************************************
Did Barack Obama become President because he appeared on “Public Affairs,” five times during 2001-2004? For more about President-Elect Obama and his TV appearances on “Public Affairs,” go here to watch the fastest five minute video on the web.
*******************************************************
On the other hand, as we discussed recently with Bill O’Reilly [Go here to watch], about six and one half years ago, then State Senator Barack Obama told Berkowitz he was focused on electing Rod Blagojevich as Governor of the state of Illinois. As it turns out, not the best Dem to try to elect.
**********************************************************
The show with Ald. Flores was taped on December 21, 2008.
********************************************************
Bailouts and Deficits
Jeff Berkowitz: Are we going to have a trillion dollar deficit, and is Barack Obama going to be okay with that?
Chicago Ald. Manny Flores [1st Ward, D-Wicker Park]: I don’t think anyone should be okay with that. I think we should show leadership in that area and try to undo what the Republicans have done in the last eight years, bring that deficit down, get that surplus, and using the green economy to forge us ahead in this new global economy that we are seeing. We have to regain our pride.
Jeff Berkowitz: Was [Obama] right to support the bailout of the auto companies?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: He didn’t support it, as you know. The bailout-
Jeff Berkowitz: He seemed to support it.
Ald. Flores: He’s not the President of the United States right now.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support the bailout of the auto companies if you were there?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: We’d have to make sure that we have a strong economy. If we’re going to bail anybody out, we need to make sure that that money comes with some very clear standards of how it’s going to help our economy grow sustainably for the next ten, twenty, thirty to forty years.
Winning in Iraq and Afghanistan
Jeff Berkowitz: If you were there, would you push Barack Obama to get the country out of Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I would push him to keep his promises.
Jeff Berkowitz: Would they go into Afghanistan?
Ald. Flores: Well, absolutely, we have to go in—we have to make sure that we stabilize the region- if you take a look at what is going on right now—
Jeff Berkowitz: Did we win in Iraq?
Ald. Flores: I think that’s still an open question. How do we define a win?
Jeff Berkowitz: A self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself.
Ald. Flores: [Iraq] is not currently a self-sustaining democracy that can defend itself in my opinion.
Jeff Berkowitz: You think it will be there in a few years?
Ald. Flores: I think if we continue to work with Iraq, engage their leadership…I think we owe it to these folks to make sure we create a…system where…it is real self-determination of their government…
******************************************
School Vouchers-School Choice; charter schools; traditional public schools. Options for parents
Jeff Berkowitz: You still support school vouchers-school choice?
Ald. Flores: I support all options, Jeff, as you know what I said, here, before in this show—I said that we need to keep all of our options open, the No. 1 responsibility for education in our country should be our children and it pains me to hear when folks are saying we shouldn’t support one system or another because it is going to have a negative effect on certain strong political interests…it may be that in some instances we should continue to support our public educational system, but there may be some instances where frankly a voucher may be more helpful in getting that quality education they need. It may be that a charter school perhaps—
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are saying that they should have that option—charter school, school vouchers—
Ald. Flores: …our families should have options, options—now by the same token, we need to be respectful of labor standards and making sure that there is a due process for teachers and be supportive of our teachers- make sure that they have the resources they need to be good in the classroom…but we need the options, we need the choices for our children.
*****************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Assume Rahm Emanuel goes ahead—he resigns-- and becomes Obama’s chief of staff. The 5th congressional seat is vacant. Alderman Manny Flores, are you fired up and ready to go to run for the 5th congressional seat?
Fired up and ready to go?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I’m always fired up.
Jeff Berkowitz: Ready to go?
Ald. Flores: And I’m always ready to go.
Jeff Berkowitz: To use a phrase from the President-elect-
Ald. Flores: Sí, se puede. Yes, we can.
Jeff Berkowitz: Yes, we can. You heard it first, he is running for the 5th congressional seat. He said yes.
Ald. Flores [with a hearty laugh]: I said, we should always believe that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Should they change it to, “yes, you can” or “yes, I can?”
Ald. Flores: Sí, se puede.
Jeff Berkowitz: “Sí, se puede” is “yes, we can” or “yes, I can?”
Is he running now?
Ald. Flores: What I’m going to say here today is that at this time, I’m not running for the seat. I have been working-
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re not running as of this time, but would you consider it?
Ald. Flores: I don’t know what the future is going to be, even for this particular-
Jeff Berkowitz: Why not run? Why not run? Who do you think is better? [?] We’ve got a list of about eight names, Patrick O’Connor, Mike Quigley, Sara Feigenholtz, John Fritchey-
Ald. Flores: For me, it’s not even an issue of who’s running and who isn’t. I think if you’re going to be engaging in any type of campaign, you have to engage in it with a notion and a strong sense of why it is that you’re doing it, based on how are you prepared to serve the people that you’re asking to support you.
Bailouts, Green Economy and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Jeff Berkowitz: Bailouts? Do you have strong views about the bailouts?
Ald. Flores: I have strong views about the green economy. I have strong views about the initiatives that I’ve started.
Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think Congress needs to be doing something about the green economy?
Ald. Flores: Absolutely.
Jeff Berkowitz: Isn’t that a reason to run, then?
Ald. Flores: It’s also a reason to complete the work that I’ve been doing in the first ward. As you know, Jeff-
Jeff Berkowitz: We’ll get to that in a second. Before we get to the city and which you’re doing-
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I feel very passionate about the green initiatives, and feel very passionate about both local government and federal government, and making sure-
Jeff Berkowitz: Comprehensive immigration reform? Do you feel passionate about that?
Ald. Flores: Absolutely we should have comprehensive immigration reform.
Jeff Berkowitz: If you had to choose between working on comprehensive immigration reform in the Congress and green initiatives in the City Council, where would you go?
Ald. Flores: I haven’t thought of it in those terms.
Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the question for you.
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I’ve thought about it in terms of continuing the type of leadership that I’ve shown in the area of green economy, and getting the green exchange up and running--
**************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Will [Obama] have the troops out of Iraq in 16 months? Will he do that?
Ald. Manny Flores [D-Wicker Park]: I don’t have that crystal ball, Jeff. I will tell you that-
Jeff Berkowitz: Didn’t Obama make that promise?
Ald. Flores: I think that if he makes a promise-- he should stick by the promise. And I think what he will do is, as he promised in the campaign, is listen to his military advisors, listen to what’s going on on the ground, and also move forward in stabilizing Iraq in a way where we can be inclusive, bring our partners in, making sure that we have democracy-
****************************************
Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcripts of this week's Chicago, Aurora and Rockford editions of "Public Affairs."
******************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with newly minted State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), essentially the first Dem to represent his district since the Civil War, on the connection between the mess in Springfield and in Cook County government, Chicago Alderman Manuel (Manny) Flores (D-1st Ward, Wicker Park) on impeachment of Rod, Chicago issues and a possible run to replace 5th CD Cong. Emanuel, Cook County Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) on the mess we call Illinois politics, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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