KCPT’s Ruckus .

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Ruckus: June 23, 2011

Moving on, moving up; Veto session?; A city manager with guts!; Pay for performance

TOPIC 1: MOVING ON, MOVING UP?
Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is apparently being courted by Missouri Democratic Party leaders to seek state-wide office next year. Steve Kraske writes in the Star that Sanders–while ambitious–may not be eager at this point to take on the headaches associated with such a campaign.

TOPIC 2: VETO! VETO SESSION?
Missouri Governor Nixon vetoed the photo I.d. and early voting legislation passed this session. Some are optimistic the General Assembly will override at this fall’s veto session. Supporters of the proposed law argue the purpose is to make certain that people who cast ballots are legally qualified to vote.

TOPIC 3: A CITY MANAGER WITH GUTS!
Overland Park’s City Manager Bill Ebel says it’s time to find out if the public is ready to support property tax increases to avoid even more cuts in basic services.

TOPIC 4: PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.
Using a federal grant, the Kansas City, Missouri, School District is going to implement “pay for performance” in ten elementary schools.

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Ruckus: March 31, 2011

TOPIC 1: ERROR CLAIRE? Senator McCaskill is embroiled in a political and legal controversy involving her use of a private jet. Even before this development, pundits were saying she faces...

TOPIC 1: ERROR CLAIRE?
Senator McCaskill is embroiled in a political and legal controversy involving her use of a private jet. Even before this development, pundits were saying she faces a tough re-election battle next year.

TOPIC 2: ROSE REVISES ROSE.
Columnist Steve Rose says he regrets his push for partisan county elections a decade ago. Now, he’s fearful that the charter review commission might try to put the partisan question on next year’s ballot.

TOPIC 3: E-TAX ONE MORE TIME.
Conservative Star columnist Tom McClanahan said he will vote to continue the E-tax next week. He says it’s a bad tax, but now is not the time to dump it.

TOPIC 4: OBAMA SPEAKS IN OBAMASPEAK.
In a broadcast speech, President Obama outlined his thoughts about committing US forces for the Libyan No-Fly Zone. As part of the rationale, he said:
“It’s true that America cannot use our military wherever repression occurs. And given the costs and risks of intervention, we must always measure our interests against the need for action. But that cannot be an argument for never acting on behalf of what’s right.”

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Ruckus: May 10, 2012

Includes discussion topics for this episode, plus you can watch online.

TOPIC 1: DEFICIT DISORDER
A Kansas City Star editorial notes that city government has a cumulative debt of two-billion dollars, about five-thousand-dollars per resident. By law cities are not allowed to run deficits?

TOPIC 2: THE “RIGHT” STUFF
A National Journal poll shows the Kansas congressional delegation is the most conservative (in terms of votes cast) in the nation. The four members all ran in 2010 as conservatives at the height of the Tea Party movement.

TOPIC 3: ROSE: ON DEFENSE
Steve writes in defense of the suburban lifestyle after listening to a guest lecturer who mocked malls, concrete parking lots and homes with multiple cars. The audience response to the downtown Kansas City event was positive, according to Rose’s column.

TOPIC 4: JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! (and the lack thereof.)
The latest jobs report was disappointing and the overall economic recovery is mixed. Recent incumbent presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, who have lost re-election have faced difficult economic conditions.

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Ruckus: May 12, 2011

Plaza petition drive, KCMO PD state control, MO growing redder, and Obama poll numbers - Thursday at 7:00 PM


Tonight on Ruckus at 7:00 PM

TOPIC 1: ANOTHER PETITION DRIVE. ANOTHER ELECTION?
Friends of the Plaza vow to overturn the city council’s decision to rezone property on the Country Club Plaza. Some council members, however, say a compromise could be achieved before the issue gets to voters.

TOPIC 2: STATE CONTROL—HERE TO STAY?
The Missouri legislative session is drawing to a close and no action has been taken about restoring local control to the Kansas City Police Department. The department’s website offers this rationale for state supervision: “Because of this system, decisions are made in the best interest of the police department and the public and not as a result of political deals.”

TOPIC 3: GROWING REDDER!.
The redistricted electoral map in Missouri has favorable implications for the Republican Party. We can discuss the ramifications and politics of redistricting and if the system can be approved.

TOPIC 4: OSAMA FALLS, OBAMA RISES.
The killing of Osama Bin-Laden has, at least for now, enhanced the standing and popularity of President Obama. Some on the left are saying this national security victory virtually guarantees the president a second term.

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Ruckus: May 17, 2012

Includes discussion topics and you can watch online.

TOPIC 1: JUDGING JUDGES!
Voters will consider a constitutional amendment this fall dealing with how judges for the Missouri Supreme Court and Appeals Courts are selected.
This is seen by critics as a plan to enhance a governor’s influence.

TOPIC 2: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Unable to resolve key issues, the Kansas Legislature began another week still debating the budget, a tax plan, and redistricting. The legislature is dominated by Republicans and the governor is a Republican.

TOPIC 3: LGBT BIZ/GAY MARRIAGE
There will soon be a Gay/Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in the Kansas City area. Already, numerous cities have chambers as do ethnic and racial groups. Is there a need for such an organization and how would it differ from the other chambers?
This announcement follows (coincidentally) word that President Obama supports gay marriage, but sees it as a state, not federal issue. We talk about the chamber matter first, then segue into the gay marriage ramifications.

TOPIC 4: FULL HOUSE
After a protracted series of problems, it now appears Union Station, funded in part by the 1996 Bi-State tax, is starting to thrive. For the first time, the facility has been able to lease all its available space.
First question: What’s the principal lesson area leaders can learn from Union Station’s struggles? Mary.
(We can also add to this discussion any other major local story that emerges, including the JO issue in Johnson County.)

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Ruckus: May 24, 2012

TOPIC 1: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. The Missouri and Kansas legislatures have concluded their sessions. Missouri lawmakers failed to take any action on legislation involving the Kansas City school district. TOPIC 2:...

TOPIC 1: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The Missouri and Kansas legislatures have concluded their sessions. Missouri lawmakers failed to take any action on legislation involving the Kansas City school district.

TOPIC 2: A TAXING SITUATION.
Once again, Senator McCaskill was late in making a tax payment. She’s now in the midst of a heated re-election campaign and pollsters say it could be a tight race.

TOPIC 3: ANOTHER TAX ELECTION FOR KC.
It appears two tax issues will be on the August 7th ballot. One would raise the Kansas City sales tax by half-a-cent. In return, certain property taxes and other fees would be dropped. The other would authorize a 500-million dollar bond issue for sewer improvements. We will discuss both.

TOPIC 4: ANTI-SOCIAL?
A Kansas City Star story says both Democratic and Republican politicos and consultants tend to believe social issues will be on the back burner for this year’s campaigns. Instead, the emphasis will be on the economy.

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Ruckus: November 1, 2012

Miss Ruckus? Watch online now. The panel discusses various polls, JoCo Commission candidates, prejudice on the rise, and 2000 revisited.

POLL-ARZIED
The Kansas City Star released a poll last weekend. We can talk about various aspects of it, specifically the “propositions” on the ballot.

KLIKA & PRESTA! WHO?
Two candidates are running for the Johnson County Commission position being vacated by Dave Lindstrom. The two are Steve Klika and Terry Presta. One of the key differences between the two is over transportation issues.

SCIENCE?
A study from the Associated Press says prejudice against blacks and other minorities has increased during President Obama’s term in office. The AP claims those attitudes were exhibited by respondents “whether they recognized those feelings or not.”

2000 REVISITED?
Some political observers think there is a chance-perhaps only slight–that Mitt Romney might win the popular vote, but lose in the Electoral College. When this happened in 2000, Democrats were furious that their candidate won the popular vote, but was denied the White House.

ROASTS AND TOASTS

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Ruckus: November 15, 2012

Watch Online: local control of the police and starter streetcar; "fiscal cliff" issue; 2016 elections; societal evolution.

YES AND NO
The Star’s editorial board has written recently about two frequently discussed issues: local control of the police and the starter streetcar system. The board supports one (police) and opposes the other (streetcars), at least in its present form.

FISCAL CLIFF NOTES
Local economists say the “fiscal cliff” issue will make the difference between 2,100 job losses or 22,000 job gains for Kansas City in 2013. If the congress & president resolve the issue before the new year, economists expect the local economy to grow at a strong rate for the next 24 months. Obviously, we don’t know what will happen, so…

2016 ALREADY?
Political columnist Steve Kraske is already thinking about the 2016 elections, both nationally and locally. We can talk about several of his observations. We will start, however, with his suggestion that the likely Missouri gubernatorial candidates in 2016 (as of now) will be Chris Koster and Peter Kinder.

SOCIETAL EVOLUTION!
In last week’s election, two states passed amendments legalizing recreational marijuana. Three approved measures legalizing gay marriage. The first openly lesbian u.s. senator will be seated in January.

ROASTS AND TOASTS

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Ruckus: November 17, 2011

KC MO School District; MO Republicans; Newt Gingrich; Zoo Sales Tax

TOPIC 1: THE NICASTRO REGIME.
The future of the Kansas City, Missouri, School District remains unclear as three top administrators follow John Covington to Michigan.

TOPIC 2: UNDISCIPLINED DISARRAY?
Columnist Steve Kraske says the Missouri Republican Party is in a chaotic state with no announced candidates yet for Lt. Governor, Attorney General or Treasurer. The apparent gubernatorial hopeful, Peter Kinder, has been involved in a controversy surrounding his relationship with a former Penthouse “Pet.”

TOPIC 3: THE NEWT WORLD ORDER
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is gaining ground in his fight to become the GOP presidential nominee. Pundits suggest the race will narrow to Mitt Romney and the “anti-Romney.

TOPIC 4: ANIMAL HOUSE
Voters in Jackson & Clay County approved a sales tax to help support the Kansas City Zoo. However, Liberty, Missouri, voters rejected a property tax hike for school construction.

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Ruckus: November 8, 2012

Post election special includes discussion on the National, Missouri and Kansas elections.

This week Ruckus devotes the show to post election. Mike Shanin along with Yael, Gwen, Mary, Steve Meriakian (subbing for Woody) and Steve Rose will discuss the National, Missouri and Kansas election results.

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