The Capitol Steps focus their good-natured jabs at our gaffe-prone vice president, Joe Biden.
Can’t Stop This Biden Guy
Archives for August 2011
Government vs. Small Business
The unemployment rate remains stubbornly high and leaders in both parties agree small businesses are the key to our economic engine moving forward again. So what’s the problem? One major issue seems to be the onset of many new government regulations. Radio America’s Brittany Brady details the frustration felt by business owners and some lawmakers over the reach of these regulations and their impact on efforts to grow the economy.
Rollback
The debt ceiling debate engendered fierce political rhetoric and plenty of disappointment on both sides of the aisle. So how much was accomplished compared to what needs to be done? Why do both parties deserve a lot of the blame? And why should younger workers plan never to retire? We discuss it all with Thomas Woods, scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute and author of “Rollback”.
Shell Oil Eyes Alaska, 50,000 Jobs
Curtis Smith, executive affairs manager for Shell Alaska, explains why Shell wants to expand its exploratory drilling program off Alaska’s coast. Smith says the go-ahead to drill off Alaska’s shore would create over 50,000 jobs for over 50 years. How did the BP spill impact their plans? What will Shell have to do before they can begin drilling? What have they done to prevent another disaster like the BP oil spill? Find out this and more as we speak with Curtis Smith.
Obama Offers Nothing New on Jobs
On Friday, the unemployment rate edged down to 9.1 percent and the Labor Department reported a net gain of 117,000 new jobs in July. However, the number of people giving up on the job search is growing even faster. So how should we read these latest numbers? And what would be the right and wrong ways for President Obama to encourage job creation? We ask Diana Furchtgott-Roth, chief economist for the Department of Labor under President George W. Bush.
Social Media and Your Identity
A new study from Carnegie Mellon University suggests identity thieves are able to steal your Social Security numbers by using your Facebook profile picture and facial recognition software. How does it work? What should you use for your profile picture? And what other information would you be wise to keep private online? We discuss it all with Forbes writer Kashmir Hill, who wrote the story on this technology.
Mubarak’s Way
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is now on trial on multiple charges stemming from his 30 years as leader. The Capitol Steps offer a parody preview of the defense Mubarak just might try.
Three Martini Lunch 8/5/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review enjoy the GOP win over the Democrats in the FAA fight and how the liberal left is flogging Obama for it. We also wring our hands over a week of terrible economic news, and our favorite New York politician is having more rent issues.
The Debt, Virginia & 2012
Virginia Republican Senate candidate Tim Donner explains why he would not have supported the final debt deal if he were in office. What would he consider real progress on spending and entitlements? What does he want and not want to see from the Congressional super-committee? Why does he say Congress does not need more Republicans but more conservatives? And how did his positions in this race contrast with GOP front-runner George Allen and presumptive Democratic candidate Tim Kaine? We discuss it all with Tim Donner.
The FAA Funding Fight
On the heels of the debt ceiling standoff, partial funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is the latest Congressional fight. What is the major debate over this time? Are unions also a major issue in this battle or is that just an irrelevant talking point? What is the likely framework of the emerging agreement? And why are some worried that the Obama administration may be overstepping its bounds? We discuss it all with Georgia Rep. Tom Price, who represents a district just outside Atlanta – one of the busiest airports in America.