President Obama Faces New Political Reality

President Barack Obama addresses reporters during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP)

President Obama told reporters Wednesday that voters frustrated by the pace of economic recovery brought about a Republican takeover of the House and gains in the Senate. He said “as president I take responsibility” for failing to restore jobs faster. The next likely Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner, also spoke Wednesday, promising to reduce the size of government, create jobs and rollback healthcare reform.

We speak to Gail Chaddock of the Christian Science Monitor and Diana Reimer, the national coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots.

Christian Science Monitor: Republicans sweep House Democrats from power
Slideshow: The dawn of a new political landscape
Here & Now: Recap from the Miami Herald’s Sergio Bustos

Alaska Senate Race Is Too Close To Call

At center, United States Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) Alaska walks to Anchorage, Alaska's election central with sons Nick, left and Matt. (AP)

It will be a long wait, but early returns suggest Sen. Lisa Murkowski is ahead in the U.S. Senate race in Alaska. She launched a write-in campaign after losing in the Republican primary to Joe Miller, who had support from both Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Michael Carey, former editorial page editor of the Anchorage Daily News and host of the public broadcasting show Anchorage Edition joins us to discuss that and Sarah Palin’s next political move.

Anchorage Daily News: Write-ins favor Murkowski

From Legalizing Pot To Tax Measures, How Did Ballot Questions Fare?

Californians rejected plans to legalize marijuana and also killed a measure that would have suspended the state’s clean air laws. Massachusetts voters supported a measure eliminating a tax on alcohol, but rejected a measure cutting the sales tax. Voters in Oklahoma approved an amendment that prohibits courts from relying on Sharia or international law in deciding cases. We speak to Jennie Drage Bowser of the National Conference of State Legislators.

National Conference of State Legislators: Ballot measure news from all 50 states

What Will The History Books Say About The 2010 Midterms?

In this image released by the White House, President Barack Obama makes an election night phone call to Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who will most likely be the next House Speaker, from the Treaty Room in the White House. (AP)

What is it about presidents and midterms? Bill Clinton lost both houses of Congress in 1994. The same thing happened to George W. Bush in 2006. Yesterday, a Republican wave swept over President Barack Obama, giving the GOP control of the House and slicing into the Democrat’s advantage in the Senate. Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School, joins us to put the 2010 mid-terms into historical perspective. His latest book, “Jimmy Carter,” is part of “The American Presidents Series.”

CNN: Is it 1994 all over again?

Music From The Show

Peter Dixon, “Nagog Woods”

Freddie Hubbard, “Little Sunflower”

Paul Simon, “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover”

Talking Heads, “This Must Be the Place”

Moby, “Inside”

Massive Attack, “Future Proof”

http://rabbijim.podbean.com Jim

It seems your current guest believes that only she is the “American People.”

Sad.
Fred in Toronto

What is interesting to know is how does Scott Brown vote now that the Republicans were shut out in Massachusetts. I don’t think he was sipping champagne last night with 2012 around the corner for him.
http://TeaPartyguest Ann

I do wish you had asked her more about President’s Obama’s upcoming “vacation” to India…from where oh where was she getting her information.
Patty

I listened to Robin talk with Jonathon, a history professor. I am surprised that a history professor does not know the definition of impeached. When he said that the Republican congress “tried to impeach Bill Clinton”- Bill Clinton WAS impeached, he WAS NOT convicted. Impeachment is the bringing of the charges, not the conviction or the losing of the office.
One Tough Frog

Cost of Trip to India: Just a quick google….from an Indian news org New Delhi TV:

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/us-to-spend-200-mn-a-day-on-obama-s-mumbai-visit-64106

Don’t believe it? Don’t blame her…blame the media.
Patty

Sorry, the professor was Julian not Jonathon.
One Tough Frog

“The independent CBO says President Obama’s health care plan will actually lower the deficit…” Well….I guess if you just look at the President’s program in a vacuum that may be true but here is what the CBO also says…

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/88xx/doc8877/Chapter1.4.1.shtml

“Significant uncertainty surrounds long-term fiscal projections, but under any plausible scenario, the federal budget is on an unsustainable path”

…and if you look at the charts (Fig. 1.1), the main cause in rising deficit is medicare spending…it’s cost is rising WAY faster then revenue growth. I think the 68 year old lady realizes this and understands the Obama plan has not fixed the problem.
Jana Canary (please do not say my name on the radio)

A couple thoughts on today’s show (Nov 3)

1) California would not be the first State to legalize pot. Possessing and growing marijuana for personal use was legal in Alaska during the 1970s and into the early 1980s (you should check exact dates).

2) Sarah Palin is unpopular in Alaska. i.e. See the PPP poll http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_AK_1031503.pdf

Other resent polls gave similar results. I was surprised that the editor of Anchorage News did not quote this?

3)Thanks again for covering Alaska in your show. We listen to you here on KUAC FM.
Listener in Alaska
Matt from So CA

Wow, that Diana Reimer has some interesting views on America. There is no one reason that there was a big switch in the House of Representatives- and some of the reasons aren’t necessarily good. It’s a good point that some of the “Tea Partiers” are the one trying to get their hands on medicare and medicade- yet the people voting for them are the ones yelling, “Keep yer hands off ma medicade, Obama!”

I’m not saying all conservatives or Tea Partiers are wrong, but some of them are. When will the disillusioned neo-conservative-libertarian tea partiers join the rest of the country in reality? Is this a fad that will only last for a few more years?
Don

You failed badly with interview with Diana Reimer. The press’ job includes asking questions that probe to the heart of an issue. When she cited ‘$1 billion’ as the cost of the President’s upcoming trip, that figure sounded so obviously distorted that you should have asked where she got it — that would have pointed to the questionableness of her source. When she said she ‘didn’t believe’ other figures put out by groups such as the CBO, you should have asked her why, and asked her to point to the sources that she feels give better figures. To put it bluntly, I’ll bet she couldn’t have cited reputable sources if challenged. Our political climate is being poisoned in large part through people on both sides picking their position first and then finding or making up information that supports their point of view. One of the most vital jobs of the press is to get to the bottom of any politician’s statement. She should have been made to defend her statements, and you failed to do that. And we have right to expect better from you.
Lizziebeth730

I’d like to tell Diana Reimer that I’ve worked since I was 11, and I won’t have social security. But I’m glad she worked since she was 14 and can enjoy the fruits of my paper route, grocery bagging, art supply stocking, movie theatre popcorn selling, abercrombie shilling, starbucks slinging, bar backing, drink making, waitressing, plus working with people with disabilities, low income families and seniors. Must be nice.
Ellen

Diana Reimer came across as a very selfish person. She should be ashamed of herself. Gee, let me keep my social security and medicare, but everyone else should pay into it and not take benefits. Gee, our President is going on a ‘vacation’ to India? Its called part of the job, a diplomatic trip.
I think she just hates black people. What has happened to civility and graciousness in this country? The Tea Party is coming across as the party of hate.