My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

In Which the Winner of the '12 Election is Revealed...

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:31:15 PDT

An incumbent running in a tough time. Attention focuses on a key swing state. Views are mixed on the President's performance. A challenger emerges. The President's partisans attack the character of the Republican challenger, who himself is having a tough time with his own party. Who will win?

The Steelworker and Bob Seger

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:04:35 PDT

are among the many things discussed in this hodgepodcast. What's better, a service or a manufacturing economy, The role of data now, in 1880 and 1790, The changing mind of judges, and the history of Cinco de Mayo.

Condemned By Silence?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:25:55 PDT

The creation of a 'Bank of The United States' was a large undertaking of the new Federal Government. It was done by reading into the Constitution, and no judge could stop it. We look at the debate over the bank, the career of Alexander Hamilton, and what its history might add to the debate over large programs such as healthcare reform.

The Supreme Court of Owen and Tony

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:37:31 PDT

A look at the so-called 'swing' justices of the Supreme Court Owen J. Roberts and especially Anthony Kennedy. As all eyes are on the latter justice in so many cases, but especially in the recent healthcare case. Kennedy is famously hard to read in oral argument as to how he'll go in a case; here we do our best job a an admittedly risky prediction of how he might go in the healthcare reform case based on past oral arguments.

Mister Twenty Two, Mister Twenty Four

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:22:33 PDT

..was of course the same President, the only one to have two Presidencies. We will talk quite a bit about Grover Cleveland especially now that candidate Ron Paul has invoked his name as his favorite President. And how, after all this time, rightly or wrongly, today's politicians maybe coming back to his foreign policy philosophy.

Medicare Atmosphere (rerun from 2010)

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:43:38 PDT

The history of Medicare and what happened afterwards, with a bit of comparison to the space program for context. I think this is appropriate given the debate in the Supreme Court.
so we'll re-run. It's got a LOT of commentary on the politics of 'Today' where today was 2010, and I was wrong about the midterm not being about healthcare repeal, and more opinion than I'm used to doing these days.

Who doesn't like a little LBJ?

It's All Over When the Men in Green Arrive

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:13:06 PDT

The dark horse nomination of James Garfield, and James Polk, the last attempt to open an American political convention, and the possibility, however slight, of one in 2012.

Your TV Lied to You

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:38:50 PDT

..if you were using it solely to determine who to vote for in 1972. We illustrate how election landslide with little concern about a minor break in in D.C. turned to Presidential downfall for Richard Nixon. and we'll talk about presidential scandals, the role of Watergate, whether Nixon did more or less than others, if the coverup is really worse than the crime, why Reagan didn't get tripped up as Nixon did and why Carter's small scandal might have hurt as much as a big one for other Presidents. And what it means for Obama in 2012.

Stranded at the Steps of Justice?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:09:27 PST

We hear a lot about Supreme Court cases, but what about the certiorari process that occurs before the cases ever reach the Court. Why do so many petitions never get a hearing? And what is the secret process that occurs to determine what cases do? Why do so many cases see thorough review only by a law student? In this cast, we look at the role of a former President and the Court of the 1970's in developing the process.

The Moped and the Maseratis

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:14:30 PST

John Anderson's independent run for the Presidency is largely forgotten, and certainly given his popular vote score that's not surprising. Could such a run happen in this election? and could an Anderson-like person ever win the White House? Does it hurt or help the incumbent? We look at these questions.

The Blogs of the Cobblestone Era

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:42:35 PST

How does today's partisanship and polarization stack up to the early days? In this hodge-podcast we look at attacks on early American politicians. Based on listener's questions, we also look at slavery in Delaware and approval rating movements.

Coattails, With No One in the Coat?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:15:36 PST

From Grover Cleveland to Barack Obama e discuss that concept of 'coattails' - the impact of a Presidential win on his party's hopes for Congress. Each Presidential election it is asked, can downticket races grab on to the President's 'coat'? - this one goes back to the days you might see the POTUS in a coat - can they get in on his win. What if he doesn't win?

Will the Presdient have them? It's a complex subject as its only in modern times that all states conduct congressional and Presidential elections at the same time.

Will the President even win and if he doesn't win - can his party take the House anyway, can the parties 'switcheroo?'

Or: Can you have coattails with no one in the coat?

Can 'Rottenboroughs' Save Romney?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:06:58 PST

Should Hawaii and Vermont choose a GOP nominee? Should Alabama and South Carolina pick the Democratic nominee? Can a candidate like Romney rack up delegates from states likely to vote for President Obama to get a primary win over his new arch rival? It might be a question today.

It's been on the minds of partisan since at least the 1860 convention.

When We Help Ronnie, We Help Ourselves...

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:11:11 PST

How a plan to help then Governor Ronald Reagan led to the creation ofthe Firewall, the First in the South primary in South Carolina. It's joined the early states of IA, NH in the role of nomination decider. We look at its origins and a couple of other times South Carolina has changed the politics of the nation.

Oracle No More? New Hampshire, History and Today.

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:52:31 PST

New Hampshire's first in the nation primary has been a decider and an oracle for a long time. It's been a quirky American tradition surprising to outsiders. In recent decades, though, in today's light-speed politics, it has suffered some setbacks as a selector of the President. We look at NH's history and what it means for today's battle between Romney, Santorum, Paul and Gingrich

Purchase The Archives of 'My History Can Beat Up Your Politics"

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:36:48 PST

For Access to most of the podcasts we've published for the last five years, the archive is available Simply pay through paypal and download the episodes once you are transfered to the archive site. Hours and Hours of podcasts on history and politics!

Just Like Dear Old Dad?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 07:34:39 PST

We look at one GOP candidate's father, his race for the Presidency because it is both an interesting look at early campaign dynamics in an election of American's past, and because it may provide insights into one candidate's drive to run today.

The fact that there are only two candidates who can trace their name into 20th century national politics at all is also discussed.

The Whole World is Watching

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:19:31 PDT

The whole world was watching Chicago in 1968 and it seems, the whole political world may be watching the protests now in New York and other areas. Chicago '68 ruined the incumbent Democratic Party's chances for reelection and didn't stop the war immediately as organizers wanted. Yet it certainly had an impact on public opinion. We see a large group of protests now, albeit smaller in number than in the late sixties. We look at Occupy protests in comparison to Chicago and the cities.

The Civil War and The Beatles (2010)

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:48:57 PST

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. we look why the war started at all, especially where there were many reasons why it did not need to happen. And as strange as it sounds, the anniversary of the breakup of the Beatles may actually shed some light.

Brief Read of "Decision Points"

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:32:25 PDT

A look at former President George W. Bush's memoir "Decision Points" with a bit of historical context. As in several aspects of his Presidency, President Bush took a different path from his own father's reticence about memoirs. George H.W. Bush didn't write a memoir, though he did publish a book of letters. George W. Bush went immediately to writing his memoir days after his Presidency ended. While little in the book is a surprise, it does add some perspective that will be part of the discussion as current voices and historians look at his Presidency.

Discuss History and Politics On the Facebook Site

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:27:19 PST

The 'My History Can Beat Up Your Politics' Facebook Site allows you to discuss issues with other listeners. There are threads on current podcasts, current issues and favorite books to comment on. On occasion, I will use this site for Question and Answer Podcast.

Purchase The Archives -$14.99

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:15:37 PST

Like what you hear? Want more? For Access to most of the podcasts we've published for the last five years, the archive is available Simply pay through paypal and download the episodes once you are transfered to the archive site.

The archive provides hours and hours of podcasts on history and politics, and a discussion of most relevant issues.

Is Healthcare Constitutional?

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:46:17 PST

Are you allowed to sell your wheat wherever you want? Refuse vaccination? Carry a firearm? Have an abortion? These questions are all connected, it appears.We don't answer the question but speculate based on Supreme Court rulings in other cases and the early history of American Federal Power.

Historic (2008)

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:49:30 PST

This election is clearly historic. In this podcast we talk of course about the most obvious way: the first African American President. And how that achievement might have happened a long time ago but not for a turning point in history. But we also talk about the myriad ways this election is historic: the major event of a serious female contender for President, the 2nd female VP candidate and first Republican, an election during a war, an election during a recession, an election with no incumbent or veep, a high turnout election, a non 'anti-Washington' election, an election with incumbent party candidates who (once again in history) tried without success to run against the President, an election where money was king but not fatcat money as much as little money, an election where the polls were right, an election where a losing VP candidate (edwards) and a NYC mayor didn't win..but a man unknown to most four years ago, became President - elect, something it appears Americans may like to do. So many ways 2008 is historic, and a great data point for future elections to be judged by. For historical political observers, it's like a nice piece of steak to dive into.

The Declaration of Independence

nytoast2001@yahoo.com (Bruce Carlson) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:34:18 PDT

In time for the holiday, the Declaration..what it says, the purpose behind the document, who signed it and what it still means today.

We'll discuss the reasons we don't celebrate our national holiday on August 2nd, June 7th, or July 2nd, though one could make a case for anyone of those dates.