My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

A Senate controlled by the President's Party when the other party holds the House? It's rare but happens once in a while in U.S. History. Reagan fought like crazy to keep his Senate in GOP hands. Hoover, Wilson, Taft, one of the Harrisons and even Geo. Washington experienced this political situation. What does it mean, and what can past election results tell us about what might happen to Obama's Senate?

or can you? we find at least two things to say about 2020 and a few more to say about 2016 in the context of a Clinton run. We talk about a few other subjects, notably Bill Bryan and Oscar Folsom Cleveland, and the 3rd. Summer hodge-podcast.

The reaction to the Gettysburg Address, North and South at the time it was uttered and later, which can put in perspective today's political atmosphere. Also, I talk for an extended while about third parties in history and why its so tough in America to win as a third party. Call it a summer hodge-podcast.

What level of participation is needed to make policy change. In Civil Rights, in Revolutions. Looking at some historical examples, we examine the level of participation that civil rights and other movements got. It's sometimes a small band that makes change, but often more This a follow up from the Civil Liberties Roundtable that I did recently with Dan Carlin and Chris Novembrino.

Hollywood meets Washington. A look at movies and politics, from D.W. Griffith to Michael Moore, "Lincoln" and "Game Change." PS: Don't forget to tune into the Podcaster's Rountable where we discuss constitutional issues and protests with Dan Carlin, Kevin Gosztola and Chris Novembrino.

Gangsters, hucksters, drug dealers, an aquatic madman, a strange-acting mother. They all have helped in their own way to define what is and what isn't fair under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures. What does that mean? We discuss the history of the Amendment and the concept behind it, and ask if, in modern times, with modern communications and threats, the rights in the 4th are shrinking...or not.

Quartering soldiers isn't very common these days, and thus the third of ten amendments to the Constitution that make up the Bill of Rights doesn't get much attention. Never touched directly by the Supreme Court, it was only even addressed once directly in a Federal case. Yet that hasn't stopped the Third Amendment from having some legal influence. We look at the history of the amendment and what its very presence among others might suggest. And we look at how unleashed the way some want, it could be far more powerful.

a look at the IRS, and one of its famous victims, and at least one achievement of the agency. The use of the IRS by Presidents, and the current scandal in the department.

Will the real person stand up? the 14th amendment as it applies to corporate America. A bit of a (possibly controversial) take on corporate personhood, but one I think fits with context of history and legal cases. Also, a little bit more about the "World without Theodore Roosevelt" cast - expanded to discuss a world without Wilson and Taft.

Seems like it just might be appropriate to rerun this one, given the events in Washington. Second terms, bad events, good events, and a suggestion to maybe correct the second term curse.

The days of Garfield, Arthur and Harrison, bearded Presidents it seems are long gone. Why? A bit of a light topic, but we get into why it matters, a little. Also, are we gaining rights or losing them? Joe Kennedy Sr. and bootlegging, apportions, changing states, in this hodge-podcast.

One thing about drones, they are misnamed. Far from 'droning' in one pattern, they are complex and their complexity and power brings up a lot of questions. But the name sticks. This cast from 2010 talks about the history of drones. But more importantly, it looks at the ethics and wisdom of using these devices in combat. Cast was done in 2010, when there wasn't as much discussion on the topic, now that they are more in the news we discuss.

and a Constitutional amendment needed to be reduced. In this episode, we look at the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. It was created in a battle between a President and a Congress. And, due at least in part to offensive slaughterhouse odors and filth, it was cut down in its scope and its power for a century. Today, what to do with the 14th is not clear. The changing way the 14th is used in American law and politics is looked at in this episode. We talk about Justice Scalia's comments on the amendment, and how other Justices have ruled in the past. We look at guns and gay marriage, bakery goods and ice cubes. Finally, we wonder about the future of the 14th, and maybe all amendments.

Or don't. That is the question. It's so unfair, it's so unrepresentative, it's old, and so uppity. Well, it's not a serious debate in the U.S., but in Canada, it's a bit more of a real discussion. We look at the historic reasons for the Senate and the current reasons for the Senate. Not only is there some value in a check on the Federal government's otherwise unlimited power, but the Senate might be more democratic than the House in one sense. Also: all about 'Swapping Horses," re-electing Presidents during wartime from 1856 to 2012.

Youth voters never turned out to be the radical force in politics that John Lennon or Ted Kennedy wanted when the 26th Amendment was enacted. instead of a new generation of voting hippies, they for a while were the foot soldiers of Ronald Reagan's revolution. This has changed, 04-12 and we look at that change, and the possible future of youth voting.