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

Lending Lunacy?

According to the Wall Street Journal, taxpayers now guarantee repayment on more than 80% of all U.S. mortgages.  While this could pay off one day if home prices increase, the reality is taxpayers risk losses of $100 billion or more.  Meanwhile, some Democrats want to extend the reckless home lending programs that created the housing crisis in the first place!

 

Government Waste

Despite the ailing economy, our government continues to waste billions of dollars.  For instance, do we really need to spend millions to prevent forest fires in Washington D.C.?  Plus, overdraft fees are the latest subject of debate in Washington - should they be regulated by the government, or should banks be allowed to charge whatever they want?

 

Chicago Olympics?

This week, President Obama will fly to Copenhagen to promote Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.  Is this a good use of the President's time and taxpayer money?  Will this trip help Obama look more Presidential?  Plus, the airlines are finding even more creative fees to charge fliers … when will the customers say enough is enough?

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-21-09

Media Blitz!

Will yesterday’s media blitz backfire on the President?  Was it fair for Obama to criticize the media for a playing up "rude" and "outrageous" political comments?  Is the White House mismanaging the media?  PLUS: Obama tries to redefine ‘taxes’!  And is a soda tax on the way? 

 

13-Week Extension

This week the House is considering legislation that would extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.  While this may provide temporary relief to some, it does not address the bigger issue - that the system is unable to handle this many unemployed people.  How do we create jobs and fix the unemployment crisis?

 

"Failure" in Afghanistan?

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General McChrystal says the mission will "likely result in failure" if we don't deploy more troops to the region.  The President said he won't base any war decision on "the politics of the moment."  Can the President afford to ignore this warning

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-18-09

Pay Limits

The Federal Reserve wants to limit compensation for bank executives, traders and loan officers in order to discourage risk-taking.  How will reducing risk affect innovation and growth in the industry?  And what will happen to small businesses?  Tom says banks that are 'too big to fail' are a risk to the entire economy. 

 

Future of FHA

The housing crisis has hit the Federal Housing Administration with a large amount of defaults.  Now the White House wants to curb those defaults by allowing the recently unemployed to skip payments, get loans and stay in their homes.  Should the government give this kind of help to out-of-work homeowners?  And is an FHA bailout on the horizon? 

 

Health Savings Accounts

HSAs are often overlooked and largely misunderstood by many Americans. They're designed to help you manage your medical bills, but they can also be a great investment.  And with Congress debating health reform bill, is now a good time to invest in the health industry?  Deutche Bank Drug Analyst Barbara Ryan joins Tom.

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-16-09

BaucusCare

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled his long-awaited plan for health care reform, but many on both sides of the aisle aren’t backing him.  How much of his plan was influenced by his friends in the health care industry?  Tom breaks down BaucusCare and just how much campaign money the senator has received from health care companies over the years.

 

Carter Blames "Racism"

Former President Jimmy Carter believes Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst and other criticisms of President Obama's policies are based on racism.  Is Carter just stirring up controversy or are Democrats going to start using the race card to win votes on health care?  How have race relations changed since Obama's election?

 

ACORN Funding

Hidden-camera video shows ACORN employees advising "pimps" and "prostitutes" on how to obtain government funding.  Now the community organizing group is at risk of losing its own federal funding.  Who is ACORN and what is their purpose?  Plus, President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass".  Should ABC have reported his off-the-record comment?

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-15-09

Tire Tariff

President Obama’s decision to impose a tariff on Chinese tires may prove to be a huge mistake.  Will the timing of the tariff hurt recovery efforts and ultimately damage the auto industry?  Is Obama following in the footsteps of President Hoover and steering the country into another Great Depression?

 

Medicare Cuts?

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says President Obama is still committed to his "no-middle-class-tax-increase" pledge. But that's not what he said last month!  PLUS, Obama recently said the biggest budget problems are the rising costs of Medicare and Medicaid.  Are those two programs facing deep cuts?

 

End the Fed?

FOX News’ Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano will sit down with Tom to explain why Obama’s expensive and controversial plan for health care reform is unconstitutional at its core!  Plus, is it time to abolish the Federal Reserve? Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), joins Tom to talk about his new book "End the Fed".

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-14-09

** SPENCER HUGHES SITS IN FOR TOM **

 

One Year Later

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers meltdown.  Do you think the government reacted properly to the crisis?  Since then, has the economy gotten better or worse?  FBN’s Cody Willard joins Spencer to discuss the Lehman Brothers collapse and the state of our economy today.

 

Lack of Civility

What happened to civility in this country?  Hip-hop artist Kanye West’s stage-crashing at the VMA's and tennis star Serena Williams’ on-court tantrum are just the latest public displays of bad manners.  Even President Obama commented about the nation’s lack of civility.  PLUS: Should Joe Wilson apologize  .. AGAIN?

 

Kicked-out Kids

Three teens were booted from a minor league game when they didn’t stand for “God Bless America”!  Was the organization right to eject these kids?  Spencer says the teenagers had every right to stay!  PLUS: What happened to sportsmanship in this country?  And, should cussing be a fine-able offense?

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-9-09

Primetime Obama

President Obama will address a joint session of Congress tonight in an attempt to take control of the health care debate.  But even if he 'knocks it out of the park' with his primetime televised speech, will it actually help his controversial reforms get passed?  What can he say to win over his critics?  Tom gives his unique pre-game analysis.

 

Free Speech?

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the 'Hillary: the Movie' case to determine whether large corporations and organizations should be allowed to air politically charged ads in the days before an election.  Do organizations with a lot of money have an unfair advantage?  Does prohibiting the ads violate the right to free speech?

 

Parents' Rights

Authorities say a runaway teenager and Christian convert does not have to go back to her Muslim parents because the teen believes she will become the victim of an honor killing.  Meanwhile, a divorced dad has petitioned to have his home-schooled daughter sent to public school.  What are the parents' rights in these cases?

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-6-09

Much Ado?

After a week of speculation and panic, President Obama finally addressed America’s schoolchildren today.  Was all the pre-speech hysteria warranted?  Tom explains why it was much ado about nothing.  PLUS: Why are public schools losing so many students?  Would your child be better off in a charter school?

 

Free Money?

Many states claim they can't collect their share of billions in stimulus money because they can't afford to put up the 20% of costs required by the federal government.  Do the rules need to change, or should the government use those unused dollars for something else?

 

Passenger Rights

The Business Travel Coalition is coming out in defense of a bill that would allow airline passengers to get off delayed planes that are sitting on the tarmac for three hours or more.  Are any other industries allowed to imprison their customers for hours on end?  Tom explains why the whole system makes no sense.

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-4-09

Student Speech

President Obama is planning to address school children all over the country on Tuesday in a speech streamed from the White House website, but many parents and school administrators are furious about it.  What's wrong with the President of the United States giving an upbeat speech to the youth of America?  Is the administration once again going too far?

 

"Essential Benefits"

The House health care reform bill would require medical insurance companies to offer an "essential benefits package" that would include vision and dental coverage.  If those companies are forced to add vision and dental to their benefits, what happens to the specialized businesses that currently provide that coverage?  Tom talks to Al Schubert of vision insurer VSP.

 

26-Year High

Last month the unemployment rate rose to 9.7 -- the highest level in 26 years.  While employers just eliminated over 216,000 jobs in August, Vice President Biden is painting a rosy economic picture.  Plus, Smartmoney.com's Jack Hough talks about the benefits of renting vs buying.

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-2-09

 

** SCOTT ALLEN MILLER FILLS IN **

 

Obama in Schools

Next week, President Obama will make a nationwide speech to America’s elementary-school students.  What is Obama REALLY trying to accomplish with his speech?  Are you a little creeped out this?  Scott is.

 

Where's the Outrage?

The release of the Lockerbie bomber is getting fishier.  Prime Minister Gordon Brown is getting a lot of heat on this issue, but where’s the outrage from President Obama?  And why is Obama getting a pass on his silence? 

 

Swearing Czar

Earlier this year, Obama’s “Green Jobs Czar” Van Jones called the Republicans a bunch of A-holes for pushing through legislation when they had control of the Congress.  Should Obama fire Jones?  Would a Republican get away this?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 9-1-09

Scott Allen Miller sits in for Tom

 

Wildfires

Are ridiculous environmental policies to blame for much of the devastation caused by the California wildfires?  Couldn’t a lot of money be saved if we stopped letting people build houses in high risk regions?  Should Americans have the right to build a house wherever they want?

 

Too Many Kids?

The Duggar family is expecting their 19th child and once again the media is celebrating the announcement. But at what point does it become irresponsible and selfish to have so many kids? And does pop culture too often celebrate celebs and personalities who use their children for attention?

 

Bring them Home?

Obama aides are admitting that more troops may be required in Afghanistan, but some say we should just leave the country. What should we do — yank the troops or send more? FOX Military Analyst Bill Cowan weighs in.