From Ron Reagan:

Unfortunately, 'it’s the economy, stupid,' and I’m speaking with Bob Sullivan, who writes the popular blog The Red Tape Chronicles for MSNBC.com.

I'm talking "The week that was” with Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter. His latest book is "Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture."

Later in the show, the real differences between Obama and McCain’s healthcare plans with Richard Kirsch, Health Care for America Now’s National Campaign Manager, followed by an advocate for single payer plans, Geri Jenkins, Co-President of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee.

The Nation’s John Nichols has an update on Trooper gate, including a report to be released today on the story and the McCain campaign’s claims that Sarah Palin was never contacted for testimony.

And Harry Shearer shares the many voices of Sarah Palin and why he thinks you can judge candidates by how they walk (not how they talk).

from Ron Reagan:

Tune in early (two hours early) to hear me host The Rachel Maddow Show –

Unfortunately, 'it’s the economy, stupid,' and I’m speaking with Bob Sullivan, who writes the popular blog The Red Tape Chronicles for MSNBC.com.

I'm talking "The week that was” with Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter. His latest book is "Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture."

Later in the show, the real differences between Obama and McCain’s healthcare plans with Richard Kirsch, Health Care for America Now’s National Campaign Manager, followed by an advocate for single payer plans, Geri Jenkins, Co-President of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee.

The Nation’s John Nichols has an update on Trooper gate, including a report to be released today on the story and the McCain campaign’s claims that Sarah Palin was never contacted for testimony.

And Harry Shearer shares the many voices of Sarah Palin and why he thinks you can judge candidates by how they walk (not how they talk).

A message from Chris Owens:

This week, things have gotten a little ugly in the presidential campaign, from threats and innuendo to guilt by association...

I'll take up just one part of this topic with Isabel Macdonald, communications director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and one of the authors of the “Smearcasting: How Islamophobes spread fear, bigotry and misinformation,” a profile of the “Dirty Dozen” 12 worst offenders of smearing American Muslims. http://www.fair.org/index.php

And I'll speak with Van Jones, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of the new book, The Green Collar Economy. We're talking about what "green jobs" really are and what new money Americans could be making when they shift their priorities on the environment.

A message from Ron Reagan...

As Joan Walsh writes today in Salon, "This town hall didn't help John McCain".

I'll be speaking with her about last night's debate and where the campaign goes from here.

She is Salon online magazine Editor in Chief, and as she puts it, has "written for everyone from the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post to Vogue and the Nation." Find her her latest blogs here: http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/

Plus, I'll be taking your calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

A message from your host Ron Reagan

By all counts Sen. Obama is pulling ahead and McCain is doing his best to close the gap. Tonight as both candidates meet again for another duel, I'm talking with Tim Dickinson, contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he authors its political blog, National Affairs Daily. He'll spell out what the "Keating 5" story was all about and why or why not it benefits the Obama campaign to bring it up.

I'll also be joined by David Bender, Air America's resident political guru and host of "Politically Direct, " which airs Sundays on Air America Radio.

And, I'll be taking your calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

* Scott tells us that NEWSFLASH it's WWE now, not WWF, that's for all the old farts like us, who don't know any better.

September 1, 2008

I got up at 5:00 am this morning. It takes me a bit longer than it should to get out of the house – just like I pack a little more than I should when traveling – and I had a train to catch. I was going to Chicago and then, after a short layover, onward to New York City.

My job was to get the Southwest Chief at 7:45, which meant that my checked baggage had to be at Union Station in Kansas City by 7:00 am. Well, thanks to Jan, we made it with no problem. Of course, we had to check with CNN first to see how Gustav was doing. Things did not look good.

It is Labor Day – a day that has come to mean many things in my life. Most notably, it is the day of the huge West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway back in Brooklyn, New York – the culmination of weeks of celebrations around independence and national pride. For people like me, the day is always burdened with a political responsibility – either I am marching with a candidate and/or an entourage or I am the candidate (only once so far.) As much as tourists flock to see the parade for the music and splendor, the politicians and their appendages are a critical part of what makes the parade a “must see’ event.

Last year, I was part of a rogue float sponsored by the Caribbean-American Weekly that hoisted a huge picture of Barack Obama with Calypso star The Mighty Sparrow and other community leaders. (The paper had already endorsed Obama.) Response to the float politely appreciative during that long, hot day. Many people, particularly Caribbean women, were enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. We were definitely “on the edge,” politically.

Well, I am missing this year’s parade, but I am sure the reaction is quite different – if there’s another float! And next Saturday I will march with working people in New York City to celebrate the now-deferred Labor Day.

August 31, 2008

If it’s Sunday in Kansas, it’s church day. Jan and her family members belong to a small local Baptist church and we attended the 11:00 am service. Prior to leaving the house, we were watching CNN’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav and the potential modifications being made by the Republican Party to their convention plans. I don’t know what to think.

The Democratic Convention was so important to the party; it’s hard to imagine the Republicans being helped in any significant way by this change. But they may not be hurt. I think the low-key approach is appropriate and potentially beneficial. They just announced that Bush and Cheney won’t be attending. That’s unfortunate for US! The Republican Party just got off the hook for part of its legacy!

The church was nice with good, clean modern lines. The people were all very friendly and welcoming (though some assumed that both Jan and I were visitors, despite her long-time membership – Jan’s husband is white). The church appears to do some good outreach work to the poor, including those in other nations.

There was the requisite overhead electronic screen to guide congregants through hymns. There was the requisite band to provide that soft rock feel to the music. Jan’s son, Jeremy, was playing the piano with the band on this day. And there was the requisite blonde, thin-voiced soprano to lead the songs of praise with a level of passion I simply cannot define (let’s leave it at that).

August 30, 2008

I’m wiped. The cold / allergy attack that has burdened me since last Sunday’s debacle at JFK has kept me off my “A game.” I wake up late simply because I could not have awakened any earlier. Janice takes me on a tour of Kansas City neighborhoods. She and her family have only been here two years and, frankly, they’re not lovin’ it. But Jan and Jerry are feisty and find a way to make things happen.

I won’t bore you with tourist details, but I will say that KC has some interesting history and a lot of (small) neighborhoods. I wanted to visit the Jazz Museum and the Negro League's museum, but I decided those were better to experience with the rest of my family (my wife is a baseball fan and she and my sons would enjoy both of these experiences.) We decided to visit the National World War I Museum (www.nwwone.org) – which seemed appropriate in the aftermath of the Convention and given our current global concerns. It was impressive and sobering. It was also a reminder of how Black Americans were always considered to be less important to this nation no matter what their level of “patriotism” may have been. (Check out my brief discussion with some of the young Museum staffers.)

One great feature is the tower at the museum, which provides an outstanding view of the Kansas City proper -- as well as other areas if you know what you're looking at!

A chunk of Jan’s family is here in KC, including her sister and her mother. We joined them for dinner at the home of friends. They live in the “Northlands” as does Jan – an area which, as I have since been informed, has had its share of racial issues over the years.

August 29, 2008

Getting out of my hotel this morning was pretty smooth. I packed way too much stuff, so yesterday I sent a box home via UPS Ground to meet me upon my return to Brooklyn. Unfortunately, my bags still are unwieldy, but better than they were (particularly since I would have had to carry that extra “convention stuff” as well).

My itinerary calls for me to take a Greyhound bus from Denver to Kansas City – the ride is a little less than 12 hours. I have not done that for awhile, but that’s why I’m taking this trip. Reminding myself a bit of the America outside New York City is important to me and my political perspective.

As I zip up the bags, CNN is breaking the news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain’s pick as a running mate. It’s a shocker, frankly. Not that he picked a woman; I sort of expected that as a response to the “Hillary” factor. No one seems to have really expected this particular woman, however. She’s even younger than Barack Obama (making me feel even older) and her experience in office is minimal, if impressive. The A Mayor and a Governor in a very interesting state. Palin is also clearly anti-choice and pro-gun. The latter won’t hurt her with too many Democratic women; the former is a big deal. This should be even more fascinating than I anticipated.