KCPT’s Ruckus .

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.

This week Steve Rose will fill in while Gwen is off.

RINO? WHY NO!
Two prominent Johnson County Republican state senators, John Vratil and Tim Owens—who chose not to seek re-election–are backing Democrats to succeed them. Steve Rose writes that they will likely called RINOs. Vratil says he’s no RINO. He’s a “traditional” Republican. And, Vratil claims these are “very unusual times.”

NON-STARTER SYSTEM
There are criticisms of the plan to bring a two-mile starter streetcar system to downtown Kansas City. One criticism involves the plan. Another relates to the voting process. We’ll try to discuss both.

SPRINT TURNS FIVE!
The Sprint Center is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week and its backers have reason to be proud. It’s performing well financially, covering interest on bond debt and providing 7-million dollars for the city’s coffers. Some see potential problems, however, as A-E-G, the management group that runs the facility, is up for sale. It’s not yet known who the buyer will be or what that company’s attitude toward Sprint and Kansas City will be.

LAUGHS OR GAFFES?
The Vice-Presidential debate will take place Thursday night. It will be a generational match-up between Joe Biden, nearly 70, and 42-year-old Paul Ryan. Given President Obama’s performance last week, there may be more interest than usual in what the VP nominees have to say.

ROASTS AND TOASTS

WITHOUT CLOUT!
In a recent column, Yael writes that after November’s elections the Kansas City area will continue to be without much political “clout.”

IS COMMAND HIS FORTE?
Police Chief Daryl Forte is finishing his first year on the job. Asked what grade he deserves, he said “B-.”

BROWNBACK FIGHTS BACK
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says critics of his tax program are engaging in a “Halloween scare.” Brownback claims that cutting taxes on business and investment income will result in a stronger economy with more jobs.

MORE OBAMA DRAMA
The second presidential debate is tonight. We’ll discuss in detail. The big question: How will the president perform?

ROASTS AND TOASTS

DOWNSIZING AT KCI
Plans continue to change KCI from a three terminal to one terminal operation. Cost and safety concerns are generally given as the principal reasons. Public reaction to the proposed changes seems negative.

DOWN TO EARTH TRANSIT
Kansas City area mayors are apparently planning to unveil a program next year to run commuter rail traffic from downtown to Independence, Blue Springs, and Lee’s Summit. Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is spearheading the project and says the funding will come from federal dollars and a new one-cent sales tax.

FINAL DEBATE–PART 1
Senator McCaskill and Representative Akin have finished their debate schedule in the race for the U.S. Senate. Most polling shows the race still fairly tight. The election is two weeks away.

FINAL DEBATE, PART 2
The final presidential debate was designed to emphasize foreign policy questions, but candidates often reverted to domestic issues.
Early polls from CNN and CBS showed Obama the winner.

ROASTS AND TOASTS