What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-29-09

Buying "Green"

If you're already mad about the auto bailouts, wait until you have to fork over dough to save GERMAN jobs! Tom explains.  Plus, it turns out that those energy-saving light bulbs aren’t as popular as some had hoped.  If people won’t even buy ‘green’ bulbs, who the heck will buy a ‘green’ car?

 

TV Talk

Tom takes a look at all the wacky things on TV this week.  Unlikely super-star Susan Boyle will sing in the “Britain’s Got Talent” finale this Saturday, but will her recent spat with journalists cause her the title?  And, Jay Leno’s final “Tonight Show”.  Plus, do shows like “Jon & Kate Plus 8” and "Intervention" exploit the participants? 

 

"Idol's" Danny Gokey!

Despite some positive news about the economy, the housing market is still a mess.  Mortgage delinquencies are at the highest rates since 1972!  And the annual return on a home can barely keep up with inflation.  Is buying a home still a good investment?  Plus, "American Idol's" early favorite Danny Gokey shares his amazing story!

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-28-09

Out of the Woods?

President Obama says the economy has been pulled back from the ‘brink’, but Tom thinks we’re not out of the woods yet. Consumer confidence may be up, but the housing market is still a mess, local governments are still struggling and people are still losing their jobs.

 

A Free Woman

Sara Jane Moore, the woman who tried to assassinate President Ford 34 years ago, is now a free woman.  Should she still be in prison?  Is 32 years behind bars fair punishment for attempting to assassinate a U.S. president?  Should the law judge every crime and person equally?

 

Reality TV

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” is the latest intrusive reality show that has captivated the American people.  But do shows like “Jon and Kate” exploit the participants?  Why are so many Americans interested in watching other people self-destruct on national television?  And what kind of reality TV do you watch?

 

 

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-27-09

Doomed Dealerships?

New reports suggest the Chrysler dealerships that were closed down by the Obama administration were all big donors to the Republican Party.  Has “Chicago-style" politics officially come to Washington?  Plus, the latest on the Fiat-Chrysler deal.

 

Fed Sales Tax?

Federal tax revenue plunged 34% from a year ago. So how will the government make up the difference? How about a federal sales tax?  Some close to the Obama Administration are considering it.  Plus, a Tim Geithner update!

 

"Idol" Kris Allen!

Tom takes a look at Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor and wonders if she’s even worth the fight for republicans.  Plus, newly-crowned "American Idol" winner Kris Allen sits down with Tom.

 

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-26-09

SCOTT ALLEN MILLER IS SITTING IN FOR TOM

 

 

Judge Sotomayor

President Obama has picked federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the Supreme Court. Would it be a mistake for the GOP to fight the nomination of the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice?  Plus, how important is minority representation on the Supreme Court?  Scott takes a look at one of Sotomayor’s most controversial cases.

 

 

 

 

Prop 8

The California Supreme Court has upheld the ban on gay marriage but will still recognize the 18,000 gay couples who wed before the law took place. How can the gay community win back moderates the may have alienated and help overturn the state's gay marriage ban?  Also, Scott explains why sometimes the court has to rule against the will of the people.

 

 

 

 

Int’l Leadership

North Korea has fired two more missiles, Iran has sent ships into international waters … and President Obama is relaxing on the golf course?  Does the President need to put down the clubs and start looking more like a leader?  Why isn't the media criticizing Obama's penchant for golf like they did President Bush?  Plus, do we care about "Jon and Kate Plus 8"?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-25-09

SCOTT ALLEN MILLER IS SITTING IN FOR TOM

 

North Korea Nukes

Last night's nuclear test in North Korea has been condemned by nations around the world, leading to an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.  President Obama called the test a "grave threat".  Is it time for the US to stand up to North Korea?

 

Who's Party?

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and former VP Dick Cheney have hijacked the Republican Party.  Most agree the GOP is in bad shape, but what's the solution?  Is moving to the left going to save the party?

 

Outsourcing Interrogations?

President Obama still wants to close Guantanamo Bay, despite opposition from Congress.  How will he fulfill his promise to close the facility? And is he getting around the torture debate by "outsourcing" interrogations to foreign intelligence services?

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-22-09

Chinese Cars?

How many items do you own that were made in China?  You probably can't even count them!  Tom thinks in one year, we'll all be driving Chinese cars!!!  Sound crazy?  Tom will explain how it can actually happen.

 

Mom Flees, Dad Pleads

A Minnesota woman who fled with her cancer-stricken son to avoid chemotherapy treatments is still on the run, while his father pleads for them to come home.  Do parents have a right to refuse medical care for their children?  

 

Financial Friday!

It's Financial Friday!  First, Tom explains how Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty turned the tables on the state’s democrat-controlled legislature.  Then, Jim Awad, Chief Investment Officer at Awad Asset Management sits down with Tom.

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-21-09

Obama vs. Cheney

President Obama and former VP Dick Cheney both made dramatic speeches today about national security. Tom breaks down the debate and asks the best way to fight terrorism in the future.  Plus, the FBI arrested four men in an alleged plot to blow up NY synagogues and shoot down military planes.

 

Mom on the Run

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Minnesota woman who fled with her cancer-stricken son to avoid chemotherapy treatments.  Doctors say they can save the boy’s life, but his mother is a strong believer in alternative medicines.  Do parents have a right to refuse medical care for their children?   Should the government step in?

 

"Idol" Upset!

In a major upset, Kris Allen was named this year’s "American Idol" despite the huge popularity of his rival Adam Lambert.  Tom believes Adam was clearly the better singer and performer.  Was last night’s competition really a battle between red state and blue state values?  Did rumors about Adam's sexuality prevent him from winning?

 

 

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-20-09

Drastic Cuts?

California voted down the special ballot initiatives intended to help fix the state's budget crisis.  Is the state now facing drastic cuts, and are the leaders of California even capable of making them?  Also, Tom wonders if this apparent tax revolt spread to other states.  The Sacramento Bee’s Dan Walters joins Tom.

 

"Government Motors"

Secretary Tim Geithner testified in front of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee today and offered a whole lot of nothing!  Tiny Tim said he is aware of the potential problems facing our economy, but does he actually have a plan to fix them?  Plus, GM’s bankruptcy truly will turn the automaker into “Government Motors.”

 

Red “Idol” vs Blue “Idol”?

Is tonight’s American Idol finale really a red state versus blue state showdown?  Despite being favored by the judges, does “neo-glam” Adam Lambert have a shot of winning over Middle America, or will Kris Allen take it all?  Plus, a report from the Nokia Theater with FOX News Entertainment Producer Ashley Dvorkin.

 

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-19-09

35.5 MPG

President Obama will announce new vehicle-emission rules today -- requiring a 35.5 miles per gallon fuel efficiency standard by 2016.  The new rules are based on California’s strict emission standards.  Meanwhile, the Golden State is about to face an even greater budget crisis after today’s imminent ballot failure.  Should we really be taking California's lead on policy?

 

Good or Bad News?

The housing market is sending some mixed signals.  While bad news is still being reported (housing construction plunged to record lows last month!), there appear to be some glimmers of hope (a possible rebound in Arizona?).  So what’s really happening out there?  Plus, are you happy with your bank?  Most Americans aren't.

 

Reverse Ageism?

The EEOC has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against a strip club because a 56-year-old waitress claims she was fired because of her age.  Shouldn’t a business owner have a say over who they hire?   Plus, are younger employees hurt by "last one in, first one out” policies?  Is this a case of reverse age discrimination?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-17-09

CA Special Ballot

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pleading with residents to pass a special ballot that will restructure the state’s finances.  Would you vote for a tax increase if it included a cap on spending?  And if it fails, will the state go bankrupt or receive a huge federal bailout?

 

Rock and a Hard Place

GM and the UAW are in dispute over GM’s plan to close US plants and outsource jobs to Mexico and China.  So what do you prefer, allowing the UAW to maintain its strong influence over GM, or allowing the automaker to send much-needed jobs overseas?

 

Voyeuristic Society?

"Farrah’s Story”, the TV special the documented Farrah Fawcett’s cancer struggle was a big hit for NBC last week.  Tom is curious why so many people would be interested in watching someone go through such a painful and tragic ordeal.  Are we innately voyeuristic?

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-14-09

Pushing Short Sales?

Tiny Tim Geithner and the Obama administration are expanding their housing rescue plans - now they're encouraging short sales!  But are there dangerous unintended consequences to this plan?  Also, Tom explains why the housing market is still very sick.  Plus, is Nancy Pelosi in big trouble?

 

Dealer Dilemma

Chrysler has notified nearly 800 of their dealers that they will have to shut their doors.  What will be the ripple effect of dealer closures?  Should the entire industry consolidate?  Plus, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering selling some state-owned properties to raise cash.  Are we heading toward a California bailout?

 

Financial … Thursday

Equity analyst Kim Caughey with Fort Pitt Capital Group joins Tom to talk about the state of our economic recovery.  Then, energy analyst Phil Flynn joins Tom to discuss Geithner’s desire to regulate derivatives.  Will this send traders overseas?

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-13-09

Healthcare Reform

President Obama wants big healthcare reforms passed by July 31st.  But how will we pay for it?  Will cuts and reforms chase away good doctors?  What new taxes (soda? cap-and-trade?) should we expect?  And with a report suggesting that Social Security and Medicare may face insolvency sooner than we expected, is now the time for more huge government programs?

 

Housing Confusion

What’s going on with the housing market?  Foreclosures are up, median house prices are down.  But at the same time, home sales picked up in 17 states while April saw a drop in listings.  So, are we near the bottom or is the market still falling?  Tom thinks the housing market is still very sick.

 

"Long-Term Benefits"

The Obama administration is reportedly considering ways to curb compensation in the entire financial industry!  Obama wants compensation to be based on a person's ‘long term benefits’ to the company.  Will tighter regulations chase talent to other sectors of the industry that are less regulated? What impact will these changes have on consumers?

 

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-12-09

Saved!

Donald Trump has decided to let Miss California keep her crown, despite the release of some racy photos of the beauty queen.  Was the liberal media trying to punish Carrie Prejean because of her opinion on gay marriage? Plus, why are so many people in the entertainment industry willing to take their clothes off for the camera?

 

Soda Tax?

Analysts predict Medicare and Social Security could run out of cash faster than predicted.  How will the government pay for all the entitlements they're promising Americans?  Plus, Tom's take on a soda tax, why a government job is a great gig if you can get it, and why the housing market is in worse shape than many believe.

 

Robo-Harrassment

NY Senator Chuck Schumer wants to crack down on those annoying car warranty robo-calls.  How do these scammers get around the federal DO NOT CALL registry?  Plus, Wifi is coming to commercial flights, and audio of the last cockpit transmission from February's fatal plane crash in Buffalo, NY. 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-11-09

Obamacare

Today President Obama outlined his ideas for reforming healthcare.  Tom points out how Obama’s healthcare plan is different from Hillary Clinton’s plan in 1994.  Also, Tom discusses how the huge amount of aging baby boomers will not have enough doctors and nurses to take care of them.  Will we soon be rationing healthcare?

 

Pilot Shortage

The airline industry is also looking at a shortage of airline pilots and traffic controllers.  Plus, one investigation has found that the captain of February's fatal commuter plane crash in Buffalo New York was never adequately trained.  How do we make sure we have enough qualified pilots in the sky?

 

Pageant Double Standard?

Miss California Carrie Prejean will soon learn whether she can keep her crown.  But is there a pageant double standard? Why is it acceptable for Miss Rhode Island to have taken semi-nude photos, but not for Miss California?  Are Miss Rhode Island’s photos even racier?  You be the judge.  Plus, what did you think of Barack Obama, the comedian? 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-7-09

GM Woes

GM reported a $6 billion loss in the first-quarter and saw a 21% drop in sales.  With the June 1st deadline looming, does GM have any chance of staying out of bankruptcy?  Plus, Italy will continue to support Fiat, but only if they keep jobs in the country.  How will this impact the Chrysler-Fiat deal?

 

Afraid of Prayer?

Today is the National Day of Prayer but President Obama wants to keep his prayers private.  Are you troubled that he's not going to host an ecumenical service at the White House as President Bush did?  Does Obama's scaled back approach reflect the country's changing views toward religion?  Tom remembers when Presidents weren’t afraid of prayer.

 

"Odd Day"

Bank stress test results will be released this afternoon and Tom will have a breakdown.  Also, does today seem "odd" to you?  05/07/09 marks “Odd Day” – Tom explains what that means.  Plus, Tom wraps up this week's "American Idol" and sits down with "Idol" castoff Matt Giraud.

 

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-6-09

$34 Billion More

According to regulators, Bank of America may need $34B in capital.  Will the federal government soon own a big share of Bank of America too?  Also, FDIC Chair Sheila Bair says it may be time to reduce the size of banks, but some experts believe we need to consolidate financial institutions to stabilize the industry.  Should banks be made smaller or bigger?

 

High Noon

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Arthur Gonzalez seems determined to speed up the Chrysler deal and is willing to throw dissident creditors under the bus.  He even ruled that the creditors who are trying to block the deal must reveal their identities by noon today.  Is the government’s bullying going too far?

 

Quantity or Quality?

Tom explains his cat predicament.  Then, McDonalds vs. Starbucks - which do you prefer, and have your spending patterns changed?  In this economic climate, do you go for quantity or stick with quality?  Plus, the face transplant woman.

 

 

 

 

What's On The Tom Sullivan Show 5-5-09

Ethanol Support

The Obama administration has announced plans to boost the struggling ethanol industry by encouraging the production of cars that run on high-level ethanol and by supporting the development of more bio-fuel refineries.  But they say they still need to find out if ethanol production has a worse impact on the climate than gasoline! 

 

Topless Photos

Weeks after Miss California's 'controversial’ comments about gay marriage, the attacks on Carrie Prejean continue.  Last week, the Miss California pageant revealed that Prejean had breast implants, and now a celebrity gossip blog claims to have nude photos of the Miss USA runner-up.  Were these stories leaked out of revenge? And where is Donald Trump in all this?

 

Follow the French?

A study reveals that the French spend more time sleeping and eating than any of the world's wealthiest nations.  Should Americans be sleeping and eating more?  Are we working too hard?  Plus, even as H1-N1 (swine flu) fears subside in the US, the panic continues in other parts of the world with some countries quarantining suspected cases.

 

 

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 5-01-09

Washington vs Wall St.?

President Obama continues his war on Wall Street. Why is he being so hard on the 'money people'? Is it fair to vilify the hedge funds that "forced" Chrysler into bankruptcy?  Plus, are rich folks too embarrassed to buy expensive, luxury items? Are you cutting back?

 

Formerly "Swine Flu"

Health experts agree with Tom - we need to stop freaking out about the H1N1 flu virus! Are people like Paris Hilton to blame for the slaughter of thousands of pigs?  And if the virus is so bad, why doesn't President Obama close the Mexican border?

 

Supreme Opportunity

Justice David Souter plans to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the court's term in June. Tom runs through Obama's likely favorites.  Plus, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson joins Tom to discuss the airline industry, the economy and the future of space travel!

 

 

Maureen Murphy

FOX News Channel

212-301-5274