Trenches of Democracy

This is a good discussion of the Obama-Reverend Wright issue by a few local leaders… (click here to watch)

* Hour long special in ten minute segments, see sidebar after first video

Tags: Barrack Obama, Jeremiah Wright, politics, religion

Michigan Petition Blockers Caught

This is a good example of how not to use your state workers.

Tags: Andy Dillon, Michigan, Petition Blockers, referendum

Last week’s America’s Future Foundation (AFF) roundtable discussion in Chicago is now up on a tabbed video player. Details and video hyperlink below:

MARCH 20 ROUNDTABLE AT BUCKTOWN’S CHAISE LOUNGE

AFF Chicago Roundtable, March 20: The Subprime “Crisis” with Hoenig, Henderson, and Mian

AFF Chicago is hosting its second roundtable on March 20th at the Chaise Lounge in Bucktown. Join roundtable panelists Jonathan Hoenig, M. Todd Henderson, Atif Mian and moderator B.T. Remmert for a discussion about the history and fallout of subprime lending.

Are consumers or banks to blame for the subprime fallout? How have subprime loans affected the U.S. economy? What should the U.S. government do - if anything - to protect lenders and / or home owners? Panelists will give a 5-7 minute introduction to their positions and B.T. will then open the floor to your questions and comments.

Tags: AFF, America's Future Foundation, Chicago, Mortgage Crisis, Video

This google video just crossed my desk, regarding Hillary Clinton and Peter Paul.

Normally I prefer state and local material, but since Hillary is from Illinois, there is some connection. More importantly, she’s skilled in Illinois’s ugly political traditions.

Clinton Clout

Tags: Clout, Hillary, Hillary Clinton, Illinois, Peter Paul

(view from Hotel California)

Here are a few highlights from the 2008 Pollie awards in Santa Monica.

1st, in the “Business of the Business” Breakout Session Jon Fleischman gave some good remarks on blogging. He’s an influential blogger in California politics(click here to see the Flash Report). (I’ve got some audio I’ll post later this week… as soon as we get a blogivists audio plug-in)

King Roy, Giant Rat Ad

(Recorded in panel room with my regular camera, poor quality, but still funny)

Meanwhile, in another panel entitled “Effective use of Image,” Fred Davis, from Strategic Perceptions Inc. shared a funny history making spot from a Gourgia Governors race. Back in the 90’s Davis recalled working for long-shot gubenatorial candidate Sonny Perdue. Far behind in fundraising, and pitted against a popular incumbent governor, Davis convinced the campaign to put all their resources behind this all or nothing ad. It features their opponent in a giant rat suit. Luckily, it worked.

Lastly, I got to see my favorite talking-head from MSNBC’s Meet the Press show, Mike Murphy. He’s much funnier live in person.
(Ed Goeas, Mark Mellman, and Mike Murphy:left to right)

Lastly, Raymond Strother, redneck Louisiana Political Consultant, was featured as this years American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Hall of Fame honoree.

Tags: 2008 Pollie Awards, AAPC, American Association of Political Consultants

About this Video:

A recent cab ride here in Chicago turned out to be worth much more than the ride itself. The cab driver slipped in to a 20 minute rant on the Democrats and government in general.

—

Eric threw this on my desk earlier this week for minor production… I dropped a floating box over the cabby’s head.

Tags: Cab Driver, Chicago, Democrat, Democrats, Green Party

I stumbled upon this tv series online while studying in Ohio. It’s a little dated, but it offers a fascinating look inside Illinois politics.

Connecting the Dots James Ylisela Jr. and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout

Chicago’s two most famous crime fighters team up to expose the Clout and Corruption in Mayor Daley’s and George Ryan’s plan to expand … all » Chicago O’Hare Airport. This video scratches the surface of some Chicago political misconduct.

More Episodes (no particular order):

1. Connecting the Dots Patrick McDonough and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout
2. Connecting the Dots James Ylisela Jr. and Terrence Brunner of Chicago Clout
3. Connecting the Dots Tom Roeser and Terrence Brunner Chicago Clout
4. Connecting the Dots Cliff Kelly Tom Roeser
5. Connecting the Dots with Terry Brunner
6. Connecting_The_Dots_3
7. Connecting the Dots #7

Last Weds. night Jonah Goldberg, author of
Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, did a book signing at the Hunts Club in Chicago. There he made some brief remarks on the memory of Bill Buckley and his new book.

Book signing footage

*The lighting was terrible. The video quality is poor… but the audio is decent.

Tags: AFF, Chicago, Jonah Goldberg

My fallen political hero, former state senator Steve Rauschenberger, speaks candidly about Barrack Obama and the state of Illinois politics on Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz.

Tags: Berkowitz, Illinois, Obama, Public Affairs, Rauschenberger

Chicago Tribune’s John Kass unearths the latest City Hall scandal. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch his humorous onsite reporting.

Tags: Showergate