What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-30-09

Scott Allen Miller sits in for Tom

 

"Name and Shame"

The Obama administration has announced they'll “name-and-shame” lenders who do not help struggling borrowers readjust their mortgages. But is Obama pointing the finger at the wrong people? What about the credit card companies? Congress? Or himself?  PLUS: Will a crackdown on the credit card industry hurt holiday sales?

 

Afghanistan Surge

Tomorrow night President Obama will make a prime-time speech to announce plans for a troop surge in Afghanistan.   As expected, people on the Left are against sending more troops into harm's way, but even folks on the right calling for a withdrawal! Is it time to bring the troops home?  Scott says "maybe"...

 

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is under heavy scrutiny over last week’s mysterious, late-night car crash.  Should Tiger give in to the demands of our TMZ-society and spill the beans on the accident or is he better off staying mum?  And, are local police ignoring a possible case of domestic violence?

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-19-09

Reid's Bill

Harry Reid and the Senate unveiled their health care reform bill last night.  Will moderate Democrats stop the measure from passing?  What new taxes and regulations are buried in the bill?  And what will it cost you?  PLUS: the American people say "tax the rich", and Jesse Jackson plays the race card.

 

Time to Step Down?

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner got an earful while testifying before the Joint Economic Committee earlier today and was even asked to resign!  GOP Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas said all of Obama’s recovery efforts have been a complete failure and Geithner should quit!!  Does ‘Tiny Tim’ need to step down?

 

"Power-Hungry"

In an effort to lower the state’s electricity demand, California may ban 'power-hungry’ TV sets from store shelves!  But will this move help ease California’s energy woes or will it further hurt the Golden State’s less-than golden economy?  And if the ban passes, which appliances will the 'green police' target next?

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-17-09

Mammogram Rationing?

The new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says women can wait until they’re 50 to start getting yearly mammograms.  Do these new guidelines put costs over women’s health?  Is this really just a form of health care rationing?  PLUS: A recent AP Poll indicates most Americans say it’s okay to tax the rich to pay for health care reform.

 

Faulty Job Data

The government's online list of 'saved or created' jobs is full of inaccuracies - including data for congressional districts that don't even exist!  Where is the stimulus money really going?  And, should small businesses get TARP money?  PLUS: if you're working two jobs, you may be getting an unexpected tax bill this year.  Tom explains why.

 

Gift Card Rules

The FDIC has ordered banks to prepay them three years of premiums - a total of $45 billion.  Will banks have enough money to lend consumers?  Also, what will the FDIC do with its over 5,000 houses, subdivisions, buildings, parcels and other foreclosed assets?  PLUS: The government is cracking down on the fees some retailers impose on gift cards.

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-16-09

GM Payback

GM says they can begin paying back $6.7 billion in taxpayer money by the end of 2009 and could pay off the full amount by 2011 - 4 years ahead of schedule.  They just reported losing 1.2 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2009, so where is the money going to come from? 

 

"Bowing" to Japan?

During his trip to Asia, President Obama visited Japan and bowed to the country's Emperor Akihito.  Is it appropriate for the President of the United States to bow to a foreign leader?  Also, the FDIC has ordered banks to prepay them three years of premiums - a total of $45 billion.  Will banks have enough money to lend consumers?  

 

Detainees in US

The Federal Bureau of Prisons wants to send Gitmo detainees to a facility in Illinois.  Will that stimulate jobs or pose a major security threat?  Meanwhile, a brand new $27 million, 92,000 square foot detention center in Hardin, Montana is completely empty!!  Plus, more outrage about Khalid Sheik Mohammed and others getting civilian trials in New York.

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-13-09

**** Scott Allen Miller sits in for Tom ****

 

 

Gitmo Detainees

Attorney General Eric Holder has announced that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be tried in New York City in civilian court.   Will holding their trials in New York pose a security threat?  Fox Correspondent Catherine Herridge reports and then civil rights attorney Chris Murray joins Scott.

 

Game Changer?

Why aren't Mohammed and the other detainees getting military trials?   Has Obama has just given al Qaeda another incentive to attack us domestically?  What judge wouldn’t throw this case out?  And should Obama resign if Mohammed walks?  Salon.Com writer and author of “How Would A Patriot Act?” Glenn Greenwald joins Scott.

 

Financial Friday

Despite some good news, consumer sentiment has unexpectedly decreased!  Is the economy really recovering?  Are you feeling more confident?  Why can’t Obama get us shopping again?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-12-09

A Mother's Plea

The mother of a fallen soldier pleaded with President Obama today to make a decision on whether we'll send more troops to Afghanistan.  What’s behind Obama’s indecision?  Is he buying time for some kind of political strategy? 

 

 

 

Real Recovery?

Even with better economic news than a year ago, Americans are still worrying about their jobs, spending less and aren’t very optimistic.  Is the economy really recovering?  What should the government do to help businesses create jobs?

 

 

 

Ft. Hood Tragedy

The Fort Hood case has unfortunately revealed that military intelligence just doesn't have a clear psychological profile of a violent religious fanatic.  A week later, its clear many red flags were ignored.  Do the victims have a lawsuit here?

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-11-09

Another "Lost Decade"?

Japan is in the middle of its second “Lost Decade” and Tom thinks it’s just a matter of time before they must default on their government bonds. Is the U.S. headed down the same road?  Plus, a jury has acquitted two ex-Bear Stearns hedge fund managers of fraud.  Should the government give up on trying to prosecute Wall Street execs?

 

Financial Reform

Sen. Chris Dodd has unveiled his plan for financial regulation reforms. Can they actually prevent another crisis? And what will tighter rules cost the consumer?  Plus, AIG CEO Robert Benmosche wants to quit over pay constraints and strict government regulations. Didn’t he know what he was getting into when he took the job just three months ago?

 

Veterans' Day

Today we honor war heroes for their bravery and sacrifice.  Tom says new threats to our security could look very different from wars of the past.  For instance, after the massive blackout in Brazil, Tom wonders about the security of our electrical grid system - are we safe from hackers?  Will future wars be fought by computer programmers?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-09-09

House Health Care

House Democrats passed their controversial Health Care Reform package by a narrow margin Saturday night.  How could the bill impact the quality of your medical care?   Tom will have the latest on the health care debate.

 

Ft. Hood Shooter

New information suggests the Fort Hood shooter who killed 13 and injured 29 was motivated by radical Islam.  Did Army officials miss obvious red flags about Maj. Hasan, or were their hands tied by politically-correct policies?

 

War on FOX

An anonymous Democratic strategist claims he was threatened by the Obama administration after he appeared on FOX News Channel.  How should the rest of the industry respond?  PLUS: SNL promotes FOX News.

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-06-09

Ft. Hood Shootings

Today military officials are trying to figure out the motive behind yesterday's fatal shooting spree at Fort Hood, TX that killed 13 and wounded 31.  Was Major Nidal Malik Hasan trying to get out of his impending deployment overseas or was the shooting a twisted statement against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?  Lt. Col. Bill Cowan joins Tom.

 

10.2% Unemployment

The Labor Department says the jobless rate has now risen to 10.2 percent from 9.8 percent in September.  While Democrats have been working feverishly to get health care reform passed, nearly 16 million people are now out of work.  When is the stimulus going to start "saving or creating" jobs? 

 

Simple Christmas

Does the stress of the holidays make you dread the Christmas season?  Governor Mike Huckabee says we need to approach this time of year with clarity, sanity, and inspiration.  He joins Tom to talk about his new book "A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories that Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit". Plus, Tom breaks down tomorrow's healthcare vote.

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-05-09

"Risk Pool"?

While the House hopes to vote on a health care reform bill this week, the Senate bill is getting some people angry.  Its 'risk pool' option is supposed to help the 'uninsurable', but some patient advocates say the proposed waiting period may actually costs lives!  Tom breaks down the latest on the health care debate.

 

Money for Homes

A bill extending the first-time homebuyers credit received bipartisan support in the Senate yesterday.  But is doling out more money really going to help the housing market?  Plus, folks who have owned a home for over five years can get a tax credit too - but what if they've only owned a home for two or three years?  Is it fair to exclude them?

 

Credit Card Penalties

Yesterday, the House voted to freeze credit card interest rates and fees for nine months and to immediately impose the tough regulations passed earlier this year.  Legislators laid the smack down because credit card companies have been aggressively hiking interest rates.  Tom says people will simply stop paying with plastic - but is that a good thing?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-03-09

Election Day

Will the hotly contested races in VA, NJ and NY result in a big victory for Republicans?  What will today’s outcome say about the 2010 elections?  And with both parties polling so poorly, will we start seeing more independent candidates popping up across the country? 

 

Testing Obama

Are today’s elections a test of Obama’s influence?  What would a GOP sweep mean for the White House and their agenda?  Fox News contributor and analyst for National Public Radio Juan Williams joins Tom and later Larry Sabato, director of the UVA Center for Politics, breaks it all down.

 

Joel Osteen

Pastor of the Lakewood Church in Houston and author of “It’s Your Time” Joel Osteen drops by the studio to explain why a recession is no excuse to lose faith or give up on your dreams.  PLUS: Despite signs the economy is turning around, charities are still expecting a bleak holiday giving season.  Are you giving less this year?

 

 

 

What's on The Tom Sullivan Show 11-02-09

Blowing Smoke?

Despite the growing deficit and talk of a second stimulus, the White House still says they won't raise taxes on the middle class. They also claim the stimulus is working, but is it really?  What's the best way the government can spark growth and create jobs without pumping out more money?

 

Bailout Bust!

CIT has filed for bankruptcy - marking the first failure of a government-bailed-out firm. What does this mean for local retailers and small businesses they fund?  The Treasury Department says the government probably won’t recover the $2.3 billion in taxpayer money that went to CIT.  Why did we bail them out? 

 

Worst Bill Ever!

The Wall Street Journal has called Pelosi Care “the worst bill ever”!  How will it affect you?  Meanwhile the GOP is ready to unveil their plan for health care reform.  PLUS: 23 college presidents are making over a million bucks a year.  Where’s the outrage?  Is time to call in the Pay Czar?