Wednesday, February 25, 2009

President Obama proposes; Governor Jindal closes; Two leaders who do America proud

...it would have been interesting if MSNBC's Rachel Maddow had interviewed RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Fox's Sean Hannity had interviewed Ana Marie Cox. Isn’t there a producer in TV land who can think of that? Really, must I do everything here?
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...Indeed, Gov. Jindal left this journalist wondering how different the 2008 Presidential race and outcome might have been if McCain had had the intelligence and imagination to pick Governor Jindal instead of Governor Palin as his VP candidate. It was said that Jindal was...
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State of the Obama Economy

Obama gave a speech to the Congress and Nation last night that might be called the State of the Obama Economy. It was the Bush economy. But, Obama owns it now. It was a well-delivered and nicely structured talk, somewhat similar to a high school civics lecture. The President didn’t get too detailed on the economic history of the Bush era, but argued regulations were avoided as people sought short-term gain over long time prosperity. Arguably, he is right as far as he went. Of course, as to who actually did the most damage, that I am sure would be disputed by many.

Obama’s 2004 U. S. Senate race themes

When Obama ran for the U. S. Senate in 2004, first in a tough primary-- then in an easy general election—his themes were jobs, healthcare and affordable, quality education. Although the nation was having boom times in 2004, many in Illinois were lagging in their economic fortunes—thus his attention to jobs. Now, Obama’s stimulus plan, whose passage has dominated the first thirty days of his Presidency, is largely about jobs, or so he argues.

Unclogging credit; plumber Obama

Obama also argued last night that the government has to get credit flowing, and it would do this thru creation of a large lending fund, a housing plan and “doing something,” to build confidence in the banks. His point was that it was not about helping banks, per se, but about getting banks to lend, which would help Main St., which would help people, or so he argued.

In short, Obama never did spell out what he would do to get credit flowing. Instead, he essentially said, having done that, we can turn to increasing the supply of renewable energy, which will create more jobs, as will investing specifically in wind and solar power.

Autos and $50/month tax cuts

Additionally, Obama will create more jobs by a re-tooled, “re-imagined,” auto industry. And, those tax cuts for families earning less than 250 K per year will put more dollars in your pocket, assuming that is, you are not one of those “wealthy,” entrepreneurs that does not deserve a tax cut. Of course, President Obama glossed over the notion that such entrepreneurs might be job creators.

Fixing Healthcare and the network nattering nabobs

Having fixed the economy, the financial sector and then energy, Dr. Obama moved on to cure the “crushing cost of healthcare.” Of course, Dr. Obama (or President Obama) didn’t really outline a healthcare innovation plan. And, none of the network analysts seemed to notice this. Not Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics Joe Stiglitz or WSJ edit board economist Stephen Moore on CNN, nor Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, nor Hannity on Fox. Kind of a basic point, but it was missed by all. Instead, Obama spoke in generalities of his already passed legislation to provide health insurance for eleven million kids, investment in electronic health records and a new effort to seek a cure for cancer.

But, what specifically was the healthcare reform coming from Dr. Obama? He didn’t say. He sort of alluded to a blue ribbon commission of businesses, workers, doctors and healthcare providers. Is this Hillarycare reform process redux? Obama didn’t say and again, nobody noticed or cared.

The Promise of education spending, with a dab of reform

Finally, Obama was onto expanding the “promise of education.” The Democratic Congress cheered as Professor Obama [yet another hat for the President] spoke of more money for early childhood education, colleges, teachers, etc. But once Professor Obama mentioned education reform, the Democratic applause died down. And, when he spoke of incentives for teacher performance, rewards for success and an expanded commitment for charter schools, it was as if Democrats had had their hands tied. Indeed, at this point, it was left to the Republicans to clap for Obama and they did some of that, but their heart really wasn’t it.

There were some more generalities about Medicare and social security reform—and some introductions of people in the crowd to send tingles up Chris Matthews’s leg—but that was essentially it for Obama. If you have liked what Obama has done in the first thirty days, or so, of his Presidency with his 800 billion dollar stimulus legislation, and generalities about the spending of the second 350 billion dollar tranche of the 700 billion dollar Bush-Obama bank bailout and the spending of another trillion or so by Obama on the banks (without much detail) and spending and something to reduce foreclosures, then you will have liked Obama’s State of the Obama Economy speech. If not, you won’t. But, there was not a lot new to see here. Time to move on, so to speak.

Endless rambling commentary from the chattering class.

Of course, there were interminable hours from CNN (Stiglitz, Moore, Pamela Gentry from BET, Ed Rollins and David Gergen with Anderson Cooper), [Rollins and Gergen must each be over one hundred years old, by now, but CNN simply won’t tire of having them on to say nothing], Fox (Hannity and Greta with the likes of Rove and Michael Steele), MSNBC (Rachel Maddow interviewing the likes of Air America’s Ana Marie Cox—if Cox had nodded in agreement one more time with Maddow, I think her head would have fallen off; and, of course, that giant sucking-up sound you hear is Olbermann discussing Obama). You know, it would have been interesting if NSNBC's Rachel Maddow had interviewed RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Fox's Hannity had interviewed Ann Marie Cox. Isn’t there a producer in TV land who can think of that? Really, must I do everything here?

Governor Jindal, as a closer.

And, it was left for Louisiana’s Governor Bobby Jindal to close. It is a tough job for anybody to follow the pomp and circumstance of the President, and to do so in about ¼ of the time and with about 1/100 of the resources of the Presidency. Notwithstanding that and the cheap shots taken at Jindal by Maddow and Cox, Jindal did a nice job.

Americans can do anything.

For starters, Jindal had a good theme. He is an immigrant who learned early on, “Americans can do anything.” That’s similar to that idea of many immigrants—the nice thing about America is that, in the end, it always gets it right. Like 230 years after the birth of the country, it elects an African-American President. And, the opposition party elects an Indian American immigrant as its spokesman for the night. You see what I mean.

America’s "can do," attitude

Jindal captured the spirit of America: it is not the bureaucracy of government that will solve things, but the “can do,” attitude of the individual, American spirit. Jindal argued that the Republicans did not simply oppose Obama’s stimulus plan, but had a stimulus plan of their own that would create more jobs by lowering income tax rates for working families, cutting taxes for small businesses, giving tax credits for home buyers, etc. and all of that would be done at a lower cost to the taxpayers.


Affordable private sector healthcare

Governor Jindal argued for universal access to affordable healthcare coverage and against universal government run healthcare. Like Dr. Obama, there were few details from Dr. Jindal.

School vouchers

On education, Jindal argued for new charter schools and scholarship (voucher) programs that give parents the chance to send their children to the private or parochial schools of their choice—not unlike the choice that Barack and Michelle Obama exercised to send Malia and Sasha to Sidwell Friends school for $57, 000 per year. And, Professor Jindal lectured that he had succeeded with a very similar voucher and charter school plan in the Katrina recovery.

The Mc-Cain-Jindal ticket that wasn’t

Yes, overall, Jindal was a bit short on detail, but not dramatically more so than Obama. Indeed, he left this journalist wondering how different the 2008 Presidential race and outcome might have been if McCain had had the intelligence and imagination to pick Governor Jindal instead of Governor Palin as his VP candidate. It was said that Jindal was on McCain's Veep short list. Unfortunately for McCain and the Republican Party, the list wasn't short enough.
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"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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Monday, February 23, 2009

Better than tomorrow night's Obama speech to the nation: Berkowitz w/5th CD Dem. Tom Geoghegan, Cable and Streaming

Tonight’s City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs features Tom Geoghegan, Illinois 5th CD Democratic Primary Candidate, airing throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 . For more about the airing schedule for the show in Rockford, more about Illinois’ 5th Cong. Dist. race [to replace Cong. Rahm Emanuel, who is now White House Chief of Staff] and more about 5th CD candidate Tom Geoghegan, please go here. The special primary election in the 5th CD is March 3, 2009.

You can also watch the show with candidate Geoghegan on your computer. The show was taped on February 15, 2009.
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"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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Way better than the Academy Awards: Berkowitz w/5th CD Republican Candidate Greg Bedell on Bailouts, Stimulus, Wars & Immigration; Cable & Streaming

You can now watch here the Public Affairs show with Greg Bedell (R-Chicago), 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate and a new face and voice in the Republican Party
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate (R-Chicago)Greg Bedell discussing and debating domestic policy, foreign policy and cultural issues. See, below, for more about the show's topics, and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
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The 5th CD special primary election is on March 3, 2009. The former holder of the Illinois 5th CD seat was Cong. Rahm Emanuel, who resigned in January to become White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emanuel appeared on Public Affairs during the March, 2002 primary, as well as after that as a Congressman.
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The show with Greg Bedell was taped on February 22, 2009 and the 5th CD Republican candidate Bedell can be watched on your oomputer.
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Greg Bedell, a 5th Cong Dist. Republican Primary candidate running in the March 3, 2009 special election to replace Cong.Rahm Emanuel, debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz in this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs.". [Watch 5th Candidate Bedell here]

Greg Bedell received an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and he graduated from Hofstra Law School. Greg has practiced primarily in the area of commercial litigation and representing individuals and small businesses for almost a quarter of a century. He has also taught abroad at the University level. He lives in Chicago with his wife and young children in an apartment they have owned for the last ten years.

For more about Greg Bedell and his 5th CD candidacy, please go here.

Topics discussed on the show with Cong. candidate Bedell include the Bush-Obama 700 Billion dollar bailout of the financial sector, the Obama Stimulus program, the Bush-Obama Iraq-Afghanistan wars, taxes, education and school choice, social security reform; and Gays, Guns, God and abortion; and much, much more.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show featuring 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidate Greg Bedell is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tomorrow night (Tuesday) 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 Tomorrow night (Tuesday) 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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate and a new face and voice in the Republican Party in Chicago and the western Chicago metro suburbs, will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, March 2, 2009, at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV) and that same night 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.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate and a new face and voice in the Republican Party in Chicago and the western Chicago metro suburbs, will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, March 5 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate and a new face and voice in the Republican Party in Chicago and the western Chicago metro suburbs, may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
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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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate Greg Bedell, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Better than Spring Training: Berkowitz w/ Rep. Durkin on Roeser tonight: Did Sen. Burris do anything wrong? Obama's first 30 days-- is he winning?

Jeff Berkowitz will join State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Countryside), who served on the House Select Committee on Blagojevich's Impeachment, as a guest tonight on Tom Roeser’s weekly, Sunday, call-in radio show, Political Shoot-out, WLS 890 AM Radio, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
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You say you don't live within the WLS broadcast area? Not to worry. You can go here to listen to the program, live, on the web.[You may encounter some technical problems in signing on-- allow five minutes, or so, for following the prompts for technical difficulties, and you should be able to hear WLS live on the web] See here for Tom’s Blog which has Tom's thoughts on a great many matters, political and otherwise.

Upset with something Berkowitz said on his show [www.PublicAffairsTv.com] or the [Public Affairs YouTube.com page], something he wrote on this blog or just the way he looks? Tom Roeser’s show on Sunday night is your chance to fire back. A free fire zone, so to speak. Also, you can help shape the show and its topics by calling in with your questions and comments—312-591-8900. Obama mamas, Jindahl reformers, Democrats, Republicans, 700 Billion dollar Bailout promoters, Libertarians, Independents, Communists [no collect calls, please], Palin critics, Palin groupies, Biden mistake defenders, gun grabbers, backstabbers, gun clingers, gun slingers, outside agitators and others are, of course, all welcome.

Tonight's show may touch on:

--Are Gov. Pat Quinn's constitutional officer colleagues a "team of rivals," w/Attorney General Lisa Madigan perhaps the most likely rival to be getting geared up to challenge Quinn for the Gov's position in 2010?

--Is Joe Birkett's time for leadership in the Illinois Republican Party still viable. Will he run for Guv in the 2010 Primary? Taking on Sen. Bill Brady? Ron Gidwitz? Bruce Rauner? Cong. Roskam? Others?

--Do the Republicans in Illinois have anyone who can win the race for Senator in 2010? Cong. Kirk? State Sen. Murphy (R-Palatine)? Gidwitz?

-- Is Lisa Madigan an unbeatable candidate for Governor in the Dem. Primary? What philosophy, if any, does she have about government? tax cuts? education? Does she need one if she has 3.5 million dollars in cash on hand? Does AG Madigan engage in Pay to Play or do contributors give her money purely out of their devotion to "Good Govenment."

--Will there be an income tax or sales tax increase in Illinois in 2009? Will Quinn own it?

--Would such a tax increase be political suicide by Quinn? Would it elect Lisa Madigan?

--Will Senator Burris resign within two weeks?

--What will it take for the Illinois Republican Party to become the party of ideas? Somebody realizing they could take some ideas from the Illinois Policy Institute? Somebody realizing they could take some ideas from the Heartland Institute?

--Who would be next in line among the Republicans to run for Governor if that's how that decision were made? Joe Birkett? Who does Bob Kjellander want there? Who does Bill Cellini want there?

--Will Illinois Republicans be able to unite around the new Senate Republican Leader Christine Rodogno, and the continued leadership of House Republican Leader Tom Cross, both of whom are moderates, at least on social issues.

--Can Andy McKenna, Jr. hang on as State GOP Chairman for another year?

--Will State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr. be kicked upstairs soon? After two State general election disasters under the "Leadership of McKenna," are the money guys getting restless? Are there any money guys left in State GOP? money ladies? bag ladies?

-Is WTTW's Chicago Tonight in need of an aggressive political interviewer to boost its sagging ratings and its lack of balance? Which cable TV personality in the Chicago Metro area could meet that need?

--Was it politically correct, politically incorrect or just plain reflective of blatant political and cultural bias for WTTW's Chicago Tonight to have a panel composed of Laura Washington, Delmarie Cobb and Cheryl Corley last Thursday night to assess Senator Burris' future

-- Is Feigenholtz the front-runner in the 5th CD Dem. Primary?

--Was putting Palin on the ticket a major mistake by McCain?

--Did Sarah Palin demonstrate she has insuffient knowledge of domestic and foreign policy issues to be the Republican front-runner for 2012

This reporter doesn't know the topics for tonight—they are determined by Mr. Roeser, with some incisive suggestions, no doubt, by his lovely, energetic and intelligent wife Lillian. However, an educated guess is that the questions will consist of various Illinois, national and Obama transition issues, possibly selected from the above, or below, questions, some of which are holdovers from prior episodes of "Political Shootout," or "Public Affairs."

Of course, you can call and ask any of the below questions or whatever you like. As with University of Chicago Ph. D. prelim questions in economics over the years, many of the questions on Political Shoot-out stay the same each week, only the answers change [or do they?]. And you are Free to Choose, so to speak, as this is the land of Milton Friedman, the late, great Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics from the University of Chicago [WWMFS, i.e., what would Milton Friedman say? is the question we classically ask, followed with:

--Could Paul Vallas win as an Republican candidate for Cook County Board? Senator Matt Murphy? Comm. Tony Peraica?

--Does the Chicago Public School system spend more than $16,000 per kid per year to try to educate kids? Does Arne Duncan tell the truth about this? If not, why not?

--Is Obama's cautious nature both his strength and his weakness?

-- Did RNC Chairman Michael Steele do a good job of speaking to the DuPage County Republicans (and to the media) this past Friday night? Why didn't the Tribune and Sun-Times cover the event? Did Cong. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park, 10th CD) do a good job of speaking at the event?

--Will Kjellander be indicted? Cellini convicted?

--Is the Illinois Combine alive and will

--Will U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald be promoted? be removed? fall off a horse?
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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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama and many additional shows.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Senator Burris’ Magical Mystery Tour visits the City Club of Chicago

A Day in the Life of Roland

Senator Roland Burris (D- IL) spoke at the City Club of Chicago yesterday, concluding the session with what can only be described as yet another bizarre Day in the Life of the Magical Mystery Tour of Senator (Tombstone) Burris.

A media ringer in the audience

Burris was introduced by Chicago Ald. Ed Burke (powerful Chairman of the Finance Committee) with some very kind words. Senator Burris’ remarks included some commentary about life as a Senator, as well as a general defense of his conduct in the time period leading up to Burris’ appointment by former Governor Rod Blagojevich to the U. S. Senate. After his remarks, Senator Burris answered questions from those in attendance, exclusive of media, except for Berkowitz, who sneaked one in. The questions were all submitted in writing and read out loud by the moderator, Paul Green, an urbane, amiable Roosevelt University Professor who holds a Ph. D. in political science from the University of Chicago. [For more details of Burris' City Club of Chicago remarks and the context of the current Burris controversy, go here]. [For some sharp insights as to where Burris went wrong, go here].
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Moderator Paul Green: This question to close comes from no one other than the famous Jeff Berkowitz [who asks], “Was it wrong of you to solicit funds for Rod Blagojevitch at the same time he was considering you for the Senate.”

Earth to Burris-- Call your office

Senator Roland Burris [D-IL]: I was, I was, I was never considered for the Senate. I was never considered by the Senate. [Ed. Note: Whoa, what could this possibly mean? Does this response raise a competency issue [or defense] for Burris, as some have suggested.]

Jeff Berkowitz: At the time [Blago] was thinking about appointing you to the U. S. Senate, you said you tried to solicit funds [for him]—you may not have been successful—

Senator Burris: No, no, no. As I said, in my statement, we will not make any responses to those type of questions. I said it in my statement and we are not making any responses to that question, thank you.

Moderator Paul Green: With that, we are done. Thank you all very much.

Who said what?

Oddly, when CBS-2 News and Chicago Tonight [WTTW] (and perhaps others) aired the above segment, they did so without the Paul Green opening line, without, that is, indicating that the question came from Berkowitz, not Green. Why would they do it that way? Who knows-- The MSM seem to have a penchant for being inaccurate and not transparent? Yup, that would seem to be the explanation. Alternatively, as in Paul’s oft-used line on Mad About You to explain the trials and tribulations of Paul, “They are bastards, they hate me and they are out to get me.” Yup, that works, too.

The odd couple: Kass-Berkowitz

However, Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass doesn’t seem to mind getting attributions right. See here. That must be because Kass knows that if you are going to make a career out of going after the Combine, you've got something in common with Berkowitz. Or, vice-versa. Clearly, they both have Senator Burris' number.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama and many additional shows.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Almost as good as Berkowitz w/Obama: Berkowitz w/ 5th CD candidate Tom Geoghegan on healthcare, War, abortion and more: Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: People who have choices [among countries for health care], say, people who are in Canada, come across the border to the United States for their health care. Very few people choose to go from the United States to Canada [which has a single payer healthcare system] for their health care. Don’t you have the idea that—

Tom Geoghegan, Illinois 5th Cong. Dist. Dem. Primary Candidate: That’s not true. That is not true, Jeff. [Watch Geoghegan here]

Jeff Berkowitz: You have a lot of people crossing over from Detroit and going to Canada [to purchase health care]?

Tom Geoghegan (D-Chicago), 5th CD Candidate: I see plenty of ads in the buses now—You know, if you can’t go to Canada, please come to us for healthcare. I have friends who live in Europe who would never come back to the United States for healthcare.
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Tonight’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features Tom Geoghegan, Illinois 5th CD Democratic Primary Candidate, airing in 24 Chicago Metro Suburbs. For details on the suburban airing schedule for tonight and the rest of this week, the airing schedule for the show in Chicago, Aurora and Rockford, more about Illinois’ 5th Cong. Dist. race [to replace Cong. Rahm Emanuel, who is now White House Chief of Staff] and more about 5th CD candidate Tom Geoghegan, please go here. The special primary election in the 5th CD is March 3, 2009.

You can also watch the show with candidate Geoghegan on your computer. The show was taped on February 15, 2009.

You can also watch on your computer our shows with 5th CD Democratic Candidates Charlie Wheelan and State Rep. John Fritchey. 5th CD Republican Primary candidate Greg Bedell will be featured in next week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs. Cook County Comm. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) did the show last November, before he became a 5th CD candidate, and was willing to answer national issue questions for the last third of the show [Watch 1/3 5th CD Candidate Quigley here] and then proceeded to cancel two scheduled appearances to do a show devoted exclusively to national issues. 5th CD Candidate Sara Feigenholtz declined, in early January, to tape the show, as she has throughout most of her 14 year career as a politician.
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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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Monday, February 16, 2009

Better than NCAA's March Madness: Berkowitz w/5th CD candidate Fritchey on "showing up," healthcare, Obama and more; Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: So, Charlie Wheelan speaks out. You [Fritchey] speak out. [And so does Tom Geoghegan, who taped our show on Sunday, Feb. 15 and does support a single payer, extended Medicare healthcare approach-- watch Tom Geoghegan here]. Just to put it in context, folks, just six years ago, we had a guy by the name of Barack Obama sitting in this chair. He was a state senator. He didn’t say he was too busy [to speak to the viewers of Public Affairs; Obama did not diss our viewers like Feigenholtz and Quigley]. Obama came here, starting before he was running for the U. S. Senate, five times in all. [Watch] President Barack Obama sitting in the chair Fritchey sat in. I said to him, how do you differentiate yourself …from your six U. S. Senate Democratic Primary opponents? [Obama] said…he knows the issues, he has a vision and he speaks out. Words to live by? Fritchey, you know the issues, you've got a vision, you speak out?

5th CD candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago): I couldn’t have said it better myself.
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Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. John Fritchey, 5th Cong. District Democratic Primary candidate. See here for more about tonight's show's topics, Rep. Fritchey and the 5th CD race.

The show with Rep. Fritchey 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.
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You can watch the show with 5th Cong. District Democratic Primary candidate Rep. John Fritchey on your computer. The show was taped on February 1, 2009
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Jeff Berkowitz: …The difference between John [Fritchey] and Sara [Feigenholtz]?

State Rep. and 5th CD candidate John Fritchey (D-Chicago): That I have been willing to explain my vote and get out and work on this issue. There is a difference between access to health coverage and access to healthcare. So, we passed Kidcare in Illinois. Yet, I meet with families downstate that say this was great- our child is covered now—but we can’t find a doctor within sixty miles that will see our child because—

Jeff Berkowitz: Because the doctors are not getting paid.

5th CD candidate and Rep. John Fritchey (D): Because they are not getting paid. So, access to health coverage by itself sounds good but the only thing worse than offering people no hope is offering them false hope.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, what would you have done to make it so that there would have been doctors who would be participating in this.

5th CD candidate and Rep. John Fritchey (D): Make sure that the infrastructure is in place [and] that these providers are going to get paid and are going to be willing to take these patients. So, again, there is a Conyers type single payer, universal coverage plan. There is the Obama step that gets you toward that direction, saying how can we responsibly cover as many people as we can, today. Not a plan five years from now, but today.

Jeff Berkowitz: So movement toward single payer, but not single payer. Is that what you are saying?

5th CD candidate and Rep. John Fritchey (D): Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you support that?

John Fritchey (D): I do, because—

Jeff Berkowitz: Does Sara Feigenholtz support that?

John Fritchey(D): Your guess is as good as mine.

Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. She is not here…[Team Feigenholtz told Public Affairs in early January that Feigenholtz did not have time to appear before our viewers]. Does Mike Quigley support that?

John Fritchey: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. We’ve got John Fritchey here; We don’t have [Feigenholtz and Quigley (Quigley cancelled Public Affairs twice in the last month, then declined to re-schedule; he did appear last November before he announced whether he was running in 5th CD and answered some questions on national issues for about one-third of the show [Watch Quigley here]). Charlie Wheelan? Does he support that? He has been on our show…... [Actually, not a single payer, but arguably better? Watch Wheelan and decide here].

John Fritchey: I think that’s true and Charlie has some good ideas; Charlie has been at forums with me—you’ve been at forums where we’ve been at.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, Charlie Wheelan speaks out. You [Fritchey] speak out. [And so does Tom Geoghegan, who taped our show on Sunday, Feb. 15 and does support a single payer, extended Medicare healthcare approach-- watch Tom Geoghegan here]. Just to put it in context, folks, just six years ago, we had a guy by the name of Barack Obama sitting in this chair. He was a state senator. He didn’t say he was too busy [to speak to the viewers of Public Affairs; Obama did not diss our viewers like Feigenholtz and Quigley]. Obama came here, starting before he was running for the U. S. Senate, five times in all. President Barack Obama sitting in [the chair you are sitting in]. I said to him, how do you differentiate yourself …from your six U. S. Senate Democratic Primary opponents? [Obama] said…he knows the issues, he has a vision and he speaks out. Words to live by? Fritchey, you know the issues, you got a vision, you speak out?

John Fritchey: I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, John Fritchey is in the company here of Barack Obama?

John Fritchey: I would like to think so… and let me tell you the fact that we are talking about a President Obama is one of the reasons I am in this race to start with. I started state politics with Barack Obama in 1996. We came to the General Assembly together…
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features Tom Geoghegan, a plaintiff's labor lawyer and top tier candidate in the 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary. [Go here for this week's suburban airing schedule for the Geoghegan show and to read more about Geoghegan].
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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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Better than Bob Schieffer w/ Robert Gibbs: Berkowitz w/5th CD candidate Tom Geoghegan on Single Payer, Bailouts & Social Security, Cable and Streaming

You can now watch here the Public Affairs show with Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate and Democratic plaintiff's labor lawyer activist [D-Chicago]
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate (D-Chicago)Tom Geoghegan discussing and debating domestic policy, foreign policy and cultural issues. See, below, for more about the show's topics, and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
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The 5th CD special primary election is on March 3, 2009. The former holder of the Illinois 5th CD seat was Cong. Rahm Emanuel, who resigned in January to become White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emanuel appeared on Public Affairs during the March, 2002 primary, as well as after that as a Congressman.
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The show with Tom Geoghegan was taped on February 15, 2009 and can be watched on your oomputer.
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Democratic activist and labor attorney Tom Geoghegan (D-Chicago), a 5th CD Dem. Primary Candidate, will be featured on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs during the week of Feb. 16, 2009.
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Tom Geoghegan, a 5th Cong Dist. Democratic Primary candidate running in the March 3, 2009 special election to replace Cong.Rahm Emanuel, debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz in this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs.".

Tom Geoghegan has lived in Chicago for the last thirty years. He is a plaintiff's labor lawyer, handling, among other matters, employment discrimination cases involving age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, etc. claims. His cases also involve pension rights, healthcare and immigation.

Geoghegan received an undergraduate degree from Harvard and he graduated from Harvard Law School. After college, Tom worked in journalism at the New Republic before going to law school. Tom has worked in the law department at the United Mine Workers, as a policy analyst at the Department of Energy and was a law partner with long time Chicago reformer and independent alderman, Leon Despres.

For more about Tom Geoghegan and his 5th CD candidacy, please go here.

Topics discussed on the show with Cong. candidate Geoghegan include his proposal for a single payer healhcare system, whether people in the U. S., on average, would choose to receive their health care in Canada over the U. S., raising payroll taxes for social security for those with incomes greater than 100K, raising marginal tax rates for those with high incomes, e.g., 91% for those in the highest tax bracket, taxing the rich; the issue of some of Obama's cabinet officials and some of those appointed to the cabinet not paying their income taxes.

Additional topics discussed include the bailouts of the financial sector and the stimulus plan that passed both chambers of congress this past week; Is some of the Stimulus plan spending projected to occur more than several years from now? What does Geoghegan think of sending BOA and CityBank into a receivership? Does Geoghegan believe in capitalism? Is he a free trader? Does he support the Employee Free Choice Act? Is Comm.Quigley only a 'third of a candidate?

Aditional topics discussed include the Iraq War Powers resolution in the Fall of 2002. If Geoghegan had been in Congress at that time, how would he have voted in terms of authorizing the President to take military action in Iraq? Does Geoghegan support a doubling of U. S. troops in Afghanistan? did the Surge in Iraq work? Is democracy working in Iraq?

As a lifelong practicing Catholic, what does Geoghegan personally think of abortion, Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose. As a practicing Catholic, what does he think about same sex marriage or civil unions? Gun Control?
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show featuring 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tomorrow night (Tuesday) 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 Tomorrow night (Tuesday) 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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate and Democratic plaintiff's labor lawyer activist [D-Chicago], will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, February 23, 2009, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV) and that same night 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.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate and Democratic plaintiff's labor lawyer activist [D-Chicago], will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, February 26 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate and Democratic plaintiff's labor lawyer activist [D-Chicago], may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
****************************************************
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 shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Tom Geoghegan, 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Better than Jake Tapper w/Obama:Berkowitz w/5th CD Candidate State Rep. Fritchey on Obama's Stimulus, War, Education and more; Cable and Streaming

Updated Friday, Feb. 13 at 1:30 am:

You can now watch the Public Affairs show with 5th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate State Rep. John Fritchey [D-Chicago] here.
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) discussing and debating domestic policy, foreign policy and cultural issues. See, below, for more about the show's topics, and the Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.
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The 5th CD special primary election is on March 3, 2009. The former holder of the Illinois 5th CD seat was Cong. Rahm Emanuel, who resigned in January to become White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emanuel appeared on Public Affairs during the March, 2002 primary, as well as after that as a Congressman.
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The show with Rep. Fritchey was taped on February 8, 2009. and can now be watched here.
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Democratic activist and labor attorney Tom Geoghegan (D-Chicago), a 5th CD Dem. Primary Candidate, will be featured on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs during the week of Feb. 16, 2009.
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State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), a 5th Cong Dist. Democratic Primary candidate running in the March 3, 2009 special election to replace Cong.Rahm Emanuel, debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.

Public Affairs has limited air time and it cannot accommodate each of the more than 20 candidates who filed to run in the three different 5th CD March 3, 2009 primaries. Therefore, it has focused on the five candidates Public Affairs believes have the greatest likelihood of winning the 5th CD race, in an effort to give the Public Affairs viewers the most relevant information to help them make a choice in the election.

Those five candidates are State Rep. Fritchey, Comm. Quigley, Rep. Feigenholtz, Professor Wheelan and labor attorney Geoghegan. As of the time this narrative is being prepared, Professor Wheelan and Rep. Fritchey have taped Public Affairs and labor attorney Geoghegan has committed to do the show. State Rep. Feigenholtz indicated in early January that she did not "have time," to do Public Affairs. Comm. Quigley scheduled two separate tapings with Public Affairs, cancelled both and has not committed, as of the time of this post, to tape the show on another date. However, discussions with Team Quigley on setting a taping date continue.
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Rep. Fritchey was born on an Air Force Base in Louisiana but most of his youth was spent growing up in Chicago. He attended both Latin School in Chicago and the University of Michigan (Economics Major) on a scholarship-- and he graduated from Northwestern University Law School.

John Fritchey is in his 13th year in the Illinois State House. Prior to being elected to the State House, Rep. Fritchey was an IL Assistant Attorney General and he has practiced law both with law firms and on his own. During the last eight years, Rep. Fritchey has twice been named by the National Democratic Leadership Council as "One of one hundred rising stars to watch." John Fritchey lives with his wife and daughter in the Depaul area. For more about Rep. Fritchey, please go to http://www.fritcheyforcongress.com/.

Topics discussed on this week's show with State Rep. Fritchey include the bailouts of the financial sector and the stimulus plan that passed the Senate on February 10, 2009; is some of the Stimulus plan spending projected to occur more than several years from now, how do Rep. Fritchey and Rep. Feigenholtz differ in their handling of opportunities to interact with constituents, speak in their own words, answer media questions and play a leadership role in the State House; is Feigenholtz a "Vote," and Fritchey a "Leader,'" on the issues; Does President Obama support moving toward a "Single Payer,' healthcare approach in the U. S.? does Fritchey support that plan? Does Quigley? Does Wheelan? Does Geoghegan? Will anyone ever learn much about Feigenholtz on this issue?

Additional topics discussed include how would Fritchey improve the quality of education? Does he support more Charter Schools? School vouchers? More competition for public schools? What does Feigenholtz support? Quigley? Wheelan? Geoghegan? Do we not know as much about Feigenholtz because they she doesn't go on shows where she is asked tough questions? Do we know more about Fritchey, Wheelan and Geoghegan because they go on shows and do forums where they are asked tough questions? Is Feigenholtz "dissing," the voters?

How would Rep. Fritchey have voted on the Iraq War Powers resolution in the Fall of 2002? If Fritchey had been in Congress last month, what would he have said about the Israel/Hamas conflict? Does Fritchey support same sex marriage or civil unions? Does Rep. Fritchey support a doubling of U. S. troops in Afghanistan? Rep. Feigenholtz? Comm. Quigley? Wheelan? Geoghegan? Will we not learn the views of Feigenholtz before the March 3, 2009 Democratic Primary? Will Quigley decide to appear on Public Affairs? Stay tuned.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show featuring 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tonight (Tuesday) 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 (Tuesday) 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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, February 16, 2008, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night 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.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) will also air throughout the City of Rockford (and in surrounding areas) a week from this coming Thursday night, February 19 at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17. The surrounding areas reached by Ch. 17 include Byron, Cedarville, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Mount Morris, New Milford, Portions of Ogle County, Oregon, Polo, Stillman Valley, Winnebago, Portions of Boone County and Poplar Grove.
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) may also air throughout the State of Illinois on the Illinois Channel.
****************************************************
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 shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) 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 and much more.
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President Obama’s first press conference: It was like taking candy from a baby.

From Jake Tapper of ABC News, President Obama was asked, “how can the American people gauge whether… your programs are working.” The President said simply, “…My initial measure of success is creating or saving four million jobs…. Step number two...”

Jobs, credit and housing—yup, that’s the message Obama wanted to communicate...
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President Obama told Berkowitz on Berkowitz's Public Affairs TV show (July 24, 2003), by way of differentiating himself from his six Democratic Primary U. S. Senate opponents, “I know the issues, I have a vision and I speak out.” Watching him last night, we can say he still does those things very well. [Watch Berkowitz discuss another side of Obama with Bill O’Reilly here].
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President Obama became the nominee of the Democratic Party not because of his domestic or economic policy expertise but because of his consistent, cogent and vigorous opposition to the War in Iraq. Remember, it was Obama’s early and sharp opposition to the War in the fall of 2002 that captivated the Democratic Party's liberal base, the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party, as Howard Dean put it.

In November of 2002, Obama said on this journalist’s TV show, “Public Affairs,” that he would have voted against giving President Bush the authority to take military action in Iraq, had he been in congress in September, 2002. That is what led to the “judgment,” argument that Obama used so effectively to trump his primary opponents, in general, and Hillary Clinton, in particular. [Watch Obama interviewed and discussed by Berkowitz here].

Obama won the Presidential election due to the turmoil in the economy and his charming, disarming demeanor and calm manner.

But, in the general election, it was Obama’s handling of the fall, 2008, economic crisis that trumped John McCain. Oddly, if it had come down to the Iraq War, McCain might be President. Senator McCain had staked his reputation on the Surge, and the Surge worked. Obama, on the other hand, opposed the Surge, and he couldn’t get himself to concede the obvious, i.e., that the Surge had worked.

As the economy seemed in crisis and the Presidential Candidates approached their first debate last fall, it was McCain who seemed erratic as he first suspended his campaign, then called for the debate to be postponed and flew back to DC to question the President’s bailout—and then he supported the bailout. In short, McCain projected an unsteady, uncertain hand over the economy.

Obama, in contrast to McCain, was Cool Hand Luke. Presidential candidate Barack Obama projected someone who in this time of crisis supported Bush’s bailout, but more importantly projected calm and stability in moving toward a fix of the economy.

McCain could have used the opportunity to oppose the bailout and tie Obama to Bush. Instead, McCain tied himself to Bush. Throughout the campaign, McCain never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Advantage Obama: he looked, talked and sounded Presidential. On the all-important issue of the economy, Obama won, hands down. Combine that with the debates, with the campaign spending advantage, with a charming style, with soaring rhetoric, with energy and a much more youthful appearance, and Senator Obama won the election, going away.

What Obama wanted to accomplish in last night’s Prime Time Presser

Going into last night’s first Obama Presidential press conference [Obama had a number of pressers previously in Chicago as the President-Elect], Obama had already gotten the House and Senate to approve his 800 billion dollar stimulus plan. Yes, the vote wouldn’t be until today, but the Democratic Senate leadership had the commitment from the three Republican Senators (Collins, Snowe and Specter) that Obama needed to insure his Economic Stimulus Plan is filibuster proof.

Obama’s Big Mo

What Obama needed last night to keep his momentum on the Stimulus Plan moving forward was style, charisma and substance over the Washington Press corps to wow the country. Again, Obama got what he needed.

Obama’s press conference themes

In an hour of prime time carried by all the broadcast and cablecast outlets, Obama used the questions to argue effectively his point of view: now is the time for action, not the paralysis of analysis. Virtually all economists are in consensus that the country needs a big spending program argued the President [that is not true, but nobody in the DC press corps was inclined to argue or capable of arguing with the President]. The President’s stimulus is the right size, scope and substance. Again, this is questionable, but the press corps was not competent to challenge the President. Advantage, President Obama.

A Baker’s Dozen of questions at the Presser

In an hour press conference, Obama fielded a baker’s dozen of questions, with only six dealing with the economy. Averaging about four minutes per question, Obama’s answers were long for a presser and somewhat professorial, as one might expect from a former University of Chicago constitutional law Senior Lecturer. Yet, the answers were conversational enough to communicate in plainspoken, yet thoughtful, language, to the American public. In a sense, President Obama went over the heads of the media to the citizens of the country. The man knows how to use the bully pulpit. We will be seeing lot of that in the next four, or more likely, eight years.

Six questions on the economy: it was like taking candy from babies

From Jennifer Loven of AP, Obama was asked whether his characterization of irreversible damage that might occur to the economy as a result of “inaction,” might itself be harmful to the economy by way of “talking it down.”

Obama lectured the country that no—he was just trying to avoid a negative spiral for the country’s economy—as occurred he contended in Japan in the 1990s due to a lack of a spending stimulus program. [Obama is wrong about the causes of the Japan experience but nobody in attendance was ready to challenge him].

From Chuck Todd of NBC and MSNBC, Obama was asked if his stimulus program sought to revive consumer spending and isn’t consumer spending “how we got into this mess.” Obama said no—we got into this mess by banks taking exorbitant, wild risks. Obama is partly right there, but he neglected to point out that much of that bank behavior was explained by the improper encouragement by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government entities, who in turn were encouraged by the likes of Cong. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Again, nobody in the DC press corps thought it wise to challenge the President on that.

From Julianna Goldman of Bloomberg (who Obama loves to call on), we learned that “experts like… Senator Schumer,” have said that it will cost the government “more than a trillion dollars to really fix the financial system.” So, Goldman asked, “Won’t the government need far more than the $350 billion dollars remaining in the financial rescue funds to really solve the credit crisis?

Obama dodged most of the question as to whether his program was of sufficient size to deal with the financial sector. He simply argued that his team would do a better job than Team Bush of oversight, etc. in spending the second half of the 700 Billion dollars in TARP funds and that he didn’t want to preempt his Treasury secretary who would lay out today how he will deal with “the housing issue.”

From Jake Tapper of ABC News, Obama was asked, “how can the American people gauge whether… your programs are working.” The President said simply, “…My initial measure of success is creating or saving 4 million jobs…. Step number two, are we seeing the credit markets operate effectively…Step number three…have we stabilized the housing market.”

Jobs, credit and housing—yep, that’s the message Obama wanted to communicate. Jake meet Jack, Jack meet Jake, thank you Jake.

From Helene Cooper, would Obama impose a requirement that financial institutions use their government money to loosen up credit? From President Obama—he doesn’t want to preempt his Treasury Secretary’s presser of Tuesday, but Obama’s bottom line, is credit flowing to businesses and individuals? Does that translate into jobs and economic growth? Yup, that’s the simple message Obama sought to convey to the country.

From Major Garrett of Fox, a peculiar question about a peculiar recent statement of VP Biden, “If we do everything right… there’s still a 30 percent chance we’re going to get it wrong.” Garrett asked President Obama if Biden was referring to the President’s Stimulus Plan or the Bank Rescue bill.

The President smartly didn’t take Garrett’s bait and said more generally that there is a consensus among economists that there should be a range of approaches that deal with the financial system, housing, stimulus, etc. In other words, the President took a vague question and used it for his general purposes of saying we have to mix things together cautiously. President Obama is a pragmatic, but cautious man [Watch Berkowitz discuss President-Elect Obama with Hannity and Colmes].

Obama: Making Reagan’s Deaver proud

In short, the last question epitomized the presser. The questions weren’t too sharp. They came from reporters who had been pre-selected for questions. The President knew what he wanted to communicate to the public and he skillfully used the questions to do just that. His techniques would have made President Reagan’s Michael Deaver proud.

The White House press corps are foils for the President, not unlike what they are for press secretary Robert Gibbs and his daily briefings. Although, the press corps ask follow-ups of Gibbs and things can get a bit testy there. For a White House prime time press conference, everybody plays nice.

President Obama: Looking for a good dentist?

President Obama told Berkowitz on Berkowitz's Public Affairs TV show (July 24, 2003), by way of differentiating himself from his six Democratic Primary U. S. Senate opponents, “I know the issues, I have a vision and I speak out.”
Watching Obama last night, we can say he still does those things very well.

[Watch Berkowitz discuss another side of Obama with Bill O’Reilly here].

At last night’s presser, President Obama handled the questions with the ease of someone taking candy from a baby. This journalist imagines President Obama will need a good dentist if he does too many pressers, especially if the White House press corps doesn't sharpen up its questions.
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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 shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) and many more.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Better than Chris Wallace w/Larry Summers: Berkowitz w/5th CD Candidate Charles Wheelan on School Vouchers,President Obama & more; Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: You exercise choice, and you think other people should also have that choice?

Charles Wheelan> [Watch here]: Yes and basically, you find too many Democrats with their kids in private schools saying--

Jeff Berkowitz: Barack Obama--fifty seven thousand dollars to send Sasha and Malia to Sidwell Friends, fifty seven thousand. He said on this show, in 2002, he'd consider everything [to try to improve education in the inner cities]. [But, then,] he said in 2003, no [to school] vouchers, [yes to] charter schools, not choice. So in a sense, Barack Obama's being a bit of a hypocrite.

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: I think that he is in on that score. I have no problem with his sending his kids to a private school, that's a personal decision. The [University of Chicago] Lab School is a terrific institution. But I do think [Obama] ought to at least entertain that opportunity [for others].
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Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Charles Wheelan, 5th Cong. District Democratic Primary candidate. See here for more about the show's topics, Charles Wheelan and a partial transcript of the show and post-game comments by Charles Wheelan.

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.
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You can watch the show with 5th Cong. District Democratic Primary candidate Charles Wheelan on your computer. The show was taped on January 18, 2009
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Improving education for kids of low income parents, long term.

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you improve education for those low-income people in your district? High-income people can figure it out and take care of themselves.

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: There's good news and bad news. The good news is we have data showing exactly how you do it. The bad news is you start with pre-k education, particularly for kids in disadvantaged areas.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why is that bad news?

Charles Wheelan: Because it means its twenty-some years before those kids are in the labor force.

Jeff Berkowitz: So long term pay-off.

Charles Wheelan: And we ought to start now because it's bi-partisan.

Improving education for kids of low income parents, long term and short-term

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay, that's one thing, but you don't want to discard these kids and say we can't help the kids who are in high school if they are getting a crummy education now, right? Or, if they are in junior high.

Charles Wheelan: Absolutely not.

Jeff Berkowitz: So what would you do, coming out of [the University of] Chicago, what would you advise, what's the word I'm looking for?

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: You're looking for school choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: You're opposed to school choice, coming out of Chicago?

Charles Wheelan: Oh, definitely not.

Jeff Berkowitz: You're in favor of school choice?

Charles Wheelan: Yes I am.


Jeff Berkowitz: You'd like to see school vouchers?

Charles Wheelan: I would, with some important qualifications, actually. I think this is what separates me a bit from some of the folks at [the University of Chicago]. I'm in this to actually change schools, so I think the law of unintended consequences applies to conservative ideas as well. So let me back up and say I wrote an op-ed in 1999 for the New York Times saying that Democrats ought to favor choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: School choice?

Charles Wheelan: School choice.

Defining School Choice

Jeff Berkowitz: Very quickly, what do you mean by school choice?

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: Basically, allowing—and design matters—but, basically allowing kids to take money to schools of their choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: Take the money that they're getting now—[in the form of a subsidy-in-kind], in the Chicago Public Schools, people don’t realize that, per kid, per year, we spend sixteen thousand dollars…do the math.

Charles Wheelan: That sounds very high.

$16,000 per kid per year spent on education in the Chicago Public Schools

Jeff Berkowitz: Six billion dollar budget, and its fewer than four hundred thousand students. Divide four hundred thousand into six billion, and you get fifteen thousand. I'm estimating because I've heard three hundred seventy thousand student students. They kind of inflate the numbers. Let's call it fifteen thousand. I know they don't say that, but trust me, it's there. The point is that whether it's fifteen thousand or twelve thousand, your point is, people in the Chicago Public Schools should be able to take what's called their education [subsidy] in kind--right now they get the education, but give them the money—and let them stay in the public school if they want, if not-- go to the private schools.

Charles Wheelan: Right.

Wheelan signs up for School Vouchers, School Choice

Jeff Berkowitz: You would sign on to that?

Charles Wheelan: I would sign on to that, subject to some parameters. I don't want schools being able to systematically exclude kids who are the most difficult to educate. Right? So, we know--

Jeff Berkowitz: So we have to handle that.

Charles Wheelan: We have to handle that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Then you're okay with it?

Charles Wheelan: By and large.

Don’t give up on the kids.

Jeff Berkowitz: Competition occurs, people think of better ways to teach reading, writing, math, so kids with very difficult, intractable problems--they don't come from ideal homes--we don't just give up on them. This is what Teach for America does, and Knowledge is Power, and all those other things that are not necessarially choice programs do. But they don't give up on the kids, right?

Charles Wheelan: Right and my kids have benefited from—

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you don’t want to give up on the kids, right?

Obamas acting hypocritically on school vouchers, school choice?

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: Absolutely not. My kids go to Chicago Public Schools, but they don't go to the school that is technically in our enrollment district. We crossed over a boundary--it's just as close--but I abhor folks who are not willing to offer the choice to kids that they exercise themselves.

Jeff Berkowitz: You exercise choice, and you think other people should also have that choice?

Charles Wheelan: Yes and basically, you find too many Democrats with their kids in private schools saying--

Jeff Berkowitz: Barack Obama--fifty seven thousand dollars to send Sasha and Malia to Sidwell Friends, fifty seven thousand. He said on this show in 2002he'd consider everything [to try to improve education in the inner cities]. [But, then,] he said in 2003, no [to school] vouchers, [yes to] charter schools, not choice. So in a sense, Barack Obama's being a bit of a hypocrite.

Charles Wheelan [5th CD Dem. Primary candidate]: I think that he is in on that score. I have no problem with his sending his kids to a private school, that's a personal decision. The [University of Chicago] Lab School is a terrific institution. But I do think [Obama] ought to at least entertain that opportunity [for others].
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), a candidate in the 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary.
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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.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with 5th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Charles Wheelan, State Senator Kwame Raoul on impeachment(D-Chicago), Democratic political campaign consultant Pete Giangreco on Blago's impeachment and the way in which the Obama Administration will operate, a recent Bill O'Reilly segment w/Berkowitz on Obama, shows with State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D-Evanston) and many more.