Reid: Renewable energy helps economy

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

While testifying before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that renewable energy has been helping to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Reid said that these industries have thrived, but that assistance from the federal government is necessary for the country to reach its full energy potential. (01:40)
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The current power grid will not meet our future energy needs

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

At a Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Ranking Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said that America's current transmission infrastructure for electricity will not meet the country's future electricity needs. (01:23)
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Economic crisis an opportunity for U.S. Leadership

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said that the worldwide economic crisis is an opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate leadership, and that "Washington will have the opportunity to fashion new global structures that can benefit all nations."
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Feingold explains the line item veto bill

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) explains how the proposed Line Item Veto Bill works, and how it is Constitutional. (00:45)
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Pelosi attends Maria Leavey Breakfast with Media

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Speaks at the annual Maria Leavey Breakfast in the US Capitol. Pelosi talks about health care, education, working with President Obama, and the speed at which the economic recovery package was rushed through. The Speaker said jokingly about the recovery package that if she had wanted to, she "could have fast tracked it much faster". (56:41)
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Union members: Say goodbye to fair elections

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, Michael Ruhl sat down with Ernest Istook, Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Istook spoke on the threat to the secret ballot in union elections, which he said would be a product of the Employee Free Choice Act, currently under consideration by Congress. The secret ballot is where a voter's choice is kept confidential. He said that "once you put a chink in the protection of the secret ballot election, who knows what's going to be next", saying that in the future public office elections could be threatened in the same way. Istook called it a "power grab for labor unions". (05:44)
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Republican's biggest problem: "they ceased being the Republican Party"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Scot Faulkner, Former Chief Administrative Officer to the House of Representatives under Newt Gingrich, sat down with Talk Radio News Service's Michael Ruhl at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He said that the problem with current Republicans is that they "ceased being the Republican Party". Faulkner said that he has been involved through the years with the likes of Goldwater and Reagan, who were concerned about limiting the Bureaucracy, something he believes George W. Bush did not do well during his presidency. He continued by speaking about what the Republican Party can do to help rebuild their image. (06:44)
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"I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me!"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

At CPAC 2009, Former Congressman Bob Ney and Michael Ruhl spoke with Michael Curcio of Americans for Prosperity. Curcio spoke about his Organization's grassroots efforts in mobilizing people to right wing causes. Curcio talks about differences in the Republican Party over the past few years, specifically in spending and the size of government. Curcio says that some of the people he talks to say "I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me!" (09:04)
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Paul Ingrassia on the auto industry

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Paul Ingrassia, former Detroit Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal and Pulitzer Prize winner, said that Chapter 11 Bankruptcy may be of long term benefit to companies like GM and Chrysler. According to Ingrassia, bankruptcy could free the companies from contractual obligations which are otherwise overly burdensome to their operations. It would allow these companies to reduce the number of brands and dealers they have without lengthy legal gridlock, which in turn could provide the ability for the auto companies getting back on their feet through a very thoughtful reorganization. (00:48)
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Retired Lt. General calls for change in Afghan War

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

While testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Retired Lt. General David Barno said that in his opinion the Afghan war at the beginning of 2009 was "drifting towards failure", and that a change in strategy is necessary. He defined success for the United States in 5 ways. First, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda being defeated in the region and denied usable sanctuary, preventing them from engaging in future attacks on the United States and its allies. Secondly, Pakistan would become a long term ally of the United States, and no longer would serve as a terrorist base. Next, success for NATO is important to the US mission, as is establishing a stable and sustainable Afghan government which is legitimate in the eyes of its people and can govern and control its territory. Finally, the people in this region should be confident in U.S. as a friend in helping them combat extremism. (2:12)
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McCain: "We must win the war in Afghanistan"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) emphasized the importance of winning the Afghan war, because otherwise it would hurt American standing in the world, and "deal a crushing blow to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization" (NATO). He said the problems with the war is that it has been fought without enough troops, without sufficient economic aid, without effective coordination, and without a regional strategy. (01:27)
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The reasons why he was elected

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

On Tuesday night Michael Ruhl interviewed Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO). Polis said that he anticipates his constituents responding well to the president's address because it touched on all of the reasons why Barack Obama was elected. (01:00)
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Shaping the future of education

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

On Tuesday night following the president's address to Congress, Michael Ruhl interviewed Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY). Guthrie was very interested in what the President had to say about improving education, and is hopeful in Republican being brought into the discussion. (01:26)
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Balancing challenges and hope

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

After the Presidential address to Congress on Tuesday evening, Michael Ruhl spoke with Freshman Congressman Harry Teague (D-NM). Teague was struck by the high goals that the President set, but is impressed how Obama is keeping the public hopeful of better days. (02:08)
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"We're up to the challenge"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Following the President's address to Congress on Tuesday evening, Michael Ruhl spoke to Representative Sam Farr (D-CA). Farr called the speech "The strongest President Speech I've ever heard since I've been in Congress", a speech that displayed the President's "commitment to making this nation an opportunity for all". He continued by saying that he thinks the American public is "up to the challenge", and likened it to the mission to the moon, except that this time everyone is involved in making it happen. He said that he was excited about facing the challenge, because it is what he was elected to do. (01:20)
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We must put these words into actions

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Following the President's address to Congress on Tuesday night, Michael Ruhl spoke with Paul Tonko (D-NY) about his reaction to the speech. Tonko spoke about the importance of Health IT and general healthcare reform, and had confidence in the President's approach. He thought President Obama displayed good leadership and strength of character in the approaches he set forward to dealing with the crises the country faces.

Tonko is a freshman in Congress, and spoke of a "natural excitement" he felt going into the address and while on the house of the floor. When asked about how he would tell future generations about what he saw that evening, Congressman Tonko said the best way is to put those words into actions. (03:20)
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"I was born for such a time"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Michael Ruhl interviews Gwen Moore (D-WI) after the President's Address to Congress. She called the costs of both wars to the national budget "mind boggling". However, regarding deficit spending in general, she said that it is a government tool to help the economy. When asked what she would tell her grandchildren about that night, she would tell them that "she was there", and was "born for such a time" to confront challenges of this magnitude. She said it was her destiny. (03:20)


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"The right President at the right time"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Michael Ruhl interviews Congressman Martin Heinrich (D-NM) after President Obama's Address to Congress. Heinrich said that his Constituents have been very inspired by President Obama, and that he is "the right President at the right time". Heinrich said he was personally inspired by the speech and energy of the event, calling it a "once in a lifetime experience" for him personally. (01:45)
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Obama a great dose of "reality" and "inspiration"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Michael Ruhl interviewed Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO) in Statuary Hall following the President's address to Congress. He is confident in the President being bipartisan, and said that his speech was a dose of "reality" and "inspiration". He said that Energy, Education, and Healthcare are all intertwined with the economic solutions the President is putting forward. (02:07)
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Government and Citizens must both work to build a better country

Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) said that the priorities of President Obama, Energy, Education, and Healthcare, aree the basics of any society and of any economy. Ellison then praised Obama for both calling for government and citizens to act to build a better country. (00:49)

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service
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