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>>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
¶
>> WELCOME TO RUCKUS, OUR WEEKLY FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT FIGHT OVER THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND THE TRENDS
OF THE TIMES. I'M MIKE SHANIN JOINED BY THE RUCKETTES, KANSAS CITY STAR
EDITORIAL WRITER YAEL ABOUHALKAH, URBAN LEAGUE CEO AND PRESIDENT GWEN GRANT, MEDIA AND
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT MARY O'HALLORAN, AND LOCAL IIST *** COZAD WITH THE COZAD COMPANY.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME THE AMBASSADOR CLUB MEMBERS FROM COUNTRY CLUB BANK TO OUR
STUDIOS. THE RUCKETTES AND ALL THE FOLKS HERE AT KCPT HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR
VISIT. YOU'RE WELCOME. GIVE YOURSELF A NICE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE. (APPLAUSE). >> NOW, HAVE FUN BUT CAUSE NO
RUCKUSES. THAT'S OUR JOB, AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN TO DO IT.
>>> JUST AS CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS WERE GATHERING IN KANSAS CITY FOR AN URBAN CRIME SUMMIT,
THEY WERE READING AND HEARING REPORTS OF YET ANOTHER WEEKEND DISTURBANCE ON THE PLAZA.
POLICE SAY CROWDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN SIZE AND IN SATURDAY'S MELEE,
THERE WERE AT LEAST 6 FIGHTS OCCURRING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF GUN
SIGHTINGS AND GUNSHOTS, BUT APPARENTLY NO ONE WAS WOUNDED. THIS PROBLEM IS A RECURRING ONE
AND NO ONE HAS YET COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. MAYBE, YAEL, THERE IS NO
SOLUTION. >> PROBABLY NOT TO THAT VERY, VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM.
>> THE GANGS, MOB ON THE ON THEA ON THE WEEKEND. >> PEOPLE GATHER IN PUBLIC
PARKS. THAT KIND OF STUFF HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS.
REMEMBER BREAKDANCING ON THE PLAZA 30 YEARS AGO, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT STUFF.
>> WELL, PEOPLE WEREN'T SHOT WHEN THEY WERE BREAKDANCING. >> WELL, NOBODY WAS SHOT THE
OTHER NIGHT EITHER, MIKE. >> THEY HAVE BEEN BEFORE. >> IT WASN'T ON THE PLAZA, BY
THE WAY. IT WAS IN MILL CREEK PARK. MILL CREEK PARK IS NOT ON ON THE
PLAZA. AS I WROTE ON THE COLUMN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF WHITE
PEOPLE GATHERING, AND THEY'LL BE PACKING HEAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS AMERICA, AND WE'VE GOT
TO HAVE OUR GUNS. THEY'LL BE IN THE AREA LOOKING AT THE NICE ART, AND THERE WILL
BE A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT GOES ON HERE, BUT KIND OF TYING IT TO THIS WHOLE THING OF HOW DO WE
HAVE SAFETY IN KANSAS CITY, A LOT OF CITIES DEAL WITH THIS. PHILADELPHIA HAS HAD PROBLEMS
WITH IT. CHICAGO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT, GANGS OF YOUTH AND ALL OF
THAT KIND OF STUFF. GANGS OF MINORITY YOUTH. YOU DO HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT
IT'S ALSO LIKE, WELL, OKAY, HOW MANY OF THEM TURNED INTO FULL SCALE RIOTS, WHICH IS WHAT
EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT? NONE.
NONE OF THEM HAVE TURNED INTO FULL SCALE RIOTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT, BREAKING ALL THE
WINDOWS ON THE PLAZA, PILLAGING THE PLAZA. IT GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND
GOD BLESS THE PLAZA BECAUSE THEY GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND I'M GLAD THEY STILL DO ON 201.
>> WELL, THE PARK MAY NOT BE ON THE PLAZA, BUT PLAZA MERCHANTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING
ON, AND THE MAYOR IS SUFFICIENTLY CONCERNED TO SAY MAYBE A YEAR-ROUND CURFEW.
>> I THINK THE MAYOR SAID HE'S LOOKING AT IT. >> I SAID MAYBE A YEAR-ROUND
CURFEW. >> HE'S NOT VERY FAVORABLE ABOUT A YEAR-ROUND CURFEW, BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. YAEL IS SO RIGHT.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SPACE. SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOME PEOPLE CAN BE HERE AND SOME
CAN'T? >> WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO DO IS ARREST THE PEOPLE BREAKING
THE LAW AND ALLOW EVERYONE TO ENJOY THE AMENITIES OF THE PLAZA.
>> IT'S NOT THE PLAZA. IT'S MILL CREEK PARK. >> THANK YOU, MIKE.
>> I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO HAS LIVED ON THE PLAZA CLOSE TO MILL CREEK PARK FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS IN MY YOUTH. I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND I AM PLEASED AS
PUNCH THAT THE MAYOR AND PARTICULARLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
MISSOURI, CHRIS KOSTER, TOOK THE INITIATIVE. MORE THE BETTER.
BRING IN RE KELLY FROM NEW YORK. I DON'T AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES. I THINK THAT THEY ARE RACIAL
PROFILING, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, AND THE SUPREME COURT AGREES WITH THOSE OF US WHO HOLD
THAT POSITION. >> NOT THE SUPREME COURT. NO.
>> STATE SUPREME COURT, WHICHEVER COURT IT WAS. >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STOP --
WHAT YOU CALL STOP AND FRISK, AND WHAT THE OFFICIALS CALL STOP, QUESTION AND FRISK.
>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT HERE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT TALKING ABOUT HAVING A GUN COURT
WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE. IT'S AN -- ANYTHING THAT MOVES THIS QUESTION FORWARD TOWARD
SMALL SOLUTIONS, BIG SOLUTIONS, I DON'T CARE WHICH, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IF THE PLAZA
BECOMES PERCEIVED IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE AS DANGEROUS, AS A PLACE WHERE THE POLICE CANNOT
FIGURE -- I DO HAVE A -- I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH KANSAS CITY POLICE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY AREN'T A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
YOU CANNOT BLOCK THE SIDEWALKS. YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND CAUSE TRAFFIC
PROBLEMS. ARREST THEM THEN. >> THEY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB
OF CROWD CONTROL. >> I AGREE WITH YOU, GWEN. >> ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU WANT TO BE SAFE WHEREVER YOU GO. >> THE MAYOR IS COMPLAINING,
SAYING CHILDREN, TEENAGERS, YOUNG PEOPLE, DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.
IS IT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
>> WELL, NOT PER SE, BUT LOOK, IF IT'S GOING TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE FROM CREATING THE
PERCEPTION THAT MARY IS TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT'S, TO ME, THE VALID POINT ABOUT WHAT GOES ON
ON THE PLAZA OR EVEN IN MILL CREEK PARK. ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE IT A PLACE
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO AND SPEND MONEY, THAT SUBURBANITES DON'T WANT TO GO AND SPEND
MONEY? IF YOU DO THAT, THERE GOES THE PLAZA, THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE
CITY. APPARENTLY WE WEREN'T HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO MUCH WHEN WE
WERE HAVING THIS MAYOR'S HOOPS PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING. >> THE DANCE THING.
>> I'M GENERALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF THEM DOING THAT, BUT IF IT WORKS, I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.
>> I THINK THEY HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THOSE AS WELL, SOME FIGHTS.
>> I HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN THE NEW MAYOR. I THINK HE HAS BEEN PROACTIVE.
I THINK HE'S DONE SOME REAL THINGS THAT MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE DURING THE
SUMMERTIME, AND I THRUST THAT HE WILL --. >> WE NEED MORE ACTIVITY, AND
PARENTS NEED A BETTER JOB PARENTING. >>> WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST TALKING ABOUT THIS NEXT ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE SECOND WORD IN
THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR STORY. A RUCKUS AT LEGOLAND,
ALTERCATIONS WITH POLICE AND OTHER CONTRARY ACTS LED TO A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER
BEING CENSURED. PRIOR TO THE WELL-PUBLICIZED LEGOLAND MISADVENTURE, TERRENCE
MADDOX FACED CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND RESISTING ARREST, AND THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENTS SUGGESTING
MADDOX HAS TRIED TO USE HIS OFFICE TO AVOID PAYING A TRAFFIC TICKET AND TO INTIMIDATE AND
THREATEN. NOW, WHAT HAVE HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNIFIED
GOVERNMENT DONE ABOUT THIS? WELL, NOT MUCH. APPARENTLY NOTHING.
THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THAT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY, HAS CENSURED MADDOX, TELLING HIM TO ATTEND AN
ETHICS CLASS. MARY, DO YOU THINK THIS PUNISHMENT IS WAY TOO SEVERE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE IT TO OUR AUDIENCE BETTER IS WHAT I THINK.
FIRST OF ALL, THE ETHICS PROCESS IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS IS WONDERFULLY WELL STRUCTURED.
I WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE PUTTING TOGETHER ITS ETHICS PROCEDURES,
AND I'LL TELL YOU, THIS IS A GOOD ONE. THE ETHICS COMMISSION IN KCK,
THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT, IS ENTIRELY AND COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY SET IT UP IN 1997. YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER THAT, IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND THE COUNT COULD REALLY TRUST THE DECISIONS
AND THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS WERE KEPT AN EYE ON. SO WE COME AROUND WITH OUR
FRIEND, MR. MADDOX. AND THIS IS NOT A -- YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE
CRIMINAL ACTS OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND NONETHICAL ACTS, AND IN THIS CASE, THEY HAVE
COMPLAINTS. THEY MET. BY THE WAY, THE ETHICS
COMMISSION IS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE
AUDITOR OF THE LEGISLATURE. WELL, YOU MAY HAVE MISSED MY POINT IN THE INTRODUCTION.
YOU APPARENTLY WEREN'T LISTENING CAREFULLY ENOUGH. I POINTED OUT THAT THE ETHICS
COMMISSION WAS A SEPARATE ENTITY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE
COMMISSIONERS OUGHT TO HAVE COME FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY AND CRITICIZED THEIR FELLOW
COMMISSIONER FOR THESE ACTIONS, AND THE MAYOR SHOULD HAVE COME FORWARD AND ISSUED A STATEMENT.
CAN YOU BELIEVE CAROL MARINOVICH NOT DOING THAT? >> WHEN THE MAYOR SAID I
ACCEPT -- LISTEN TO ME FOR A MINUTE. THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PUBLIC
SENSE YOU -- CENSURE CASE IN THE CITY OR COUNT OF WYANDOTTE. >> SHOULD THERE BE A GREATER
PENALTY? >> THERE SHOULD BE, BUT THERE ISN'T.
BUT WE'LL START WITH THAT. BUT IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE.
YOU WATCH THE LEGOLAND FOOTAGE AND GO, THIS GUY HAS ISSUES. YOU'VE GOT ANGER ISSUES, FINE.
BUT SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF, WHICH IS BASICALLY ABUSING HIS POWER AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
THAT'S WHERE I THANK MARK AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COULD HAVE TAKEN A
VOTE 7-NOTHING, WE CENSURE YOU. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS PEER TO PEER, THEY COULD
HAVE DONE THAT. >> YOU KNOW WHAT? IT SHOULD GO BEYOND THAT.
I CALL HIM TERRORIZING TERRENCE. HE'S JUST RUNNING AMUCK WITH ALL OF HIS SHENANIGANS, AND
BASICALLY WHAT IS THE RECALL POLICY THERE? I THINK HE'S THE POSTER CHILD
FOR RECALL. THEY SHOULD RECALL HIM. HE'S GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE WITH
THE LAW. >> A PERSON CAN'T DO THAT. >> BUT THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT
IS THE ELECT. >> ALL THEY CAN DO IS CENSURE. >> TRUST ME, HIS OTHER ACTIONS
WILL BE INVESTIGATED. >> THIS IS WHY THEY HAVE ELECTION, AND IF THEY HAVE
RECALL PROCEDURES, THIS IS WHY THEY HAVE RECALL. THE ETHICS CLASS, OF COURSE,
IS -- WE HAVE THEM FOR LAWYERS. >> IS THAT A JOKE? >> IT IS A JOKE.
IT'S INTENDED TO BE A JOKE. IT'S SUCH A JOKE THAT THE FEDERAL COURT STOPPED ORDERING
LAWYERS DO THIS STUFF ANYMORE. THE OLD LINE, BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP AND STUPID IS TO THE
BONE, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CURE THIS KIND OF STUFF WHICH YOU SAW ON THE SCREEN WITH AN
ETHICS COMPLAINT. >> HE WAS ALSO IMPLYING TO PEOPLE THAT HE COULD MAKE USE OF
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT TO THREATEN DRIVERS THAT HE BUMPED INTO AND
SO ON. HE'S IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ETHICS
PROCESS, NO. >> WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE IMPROVING AT LEAST HERETOFORE
IMAGE OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY WHERE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WAS MORE COMMONPLACE?
>> CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS FROM 15, 20 YEARS AGO UNDER MARINOVICH AND HOLLAND
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED THERE. BUT YOU HAVE HIM RUNNING AROUND
DOING THIS. THEY CAN'T REMACE -- REPLACE MARK HOLLAND, WHICH I THINK IS
THE REAL STORY HERE, THE DIVIDE ON THIS COMMISSION. >>> MISSOURI GOVERNOR JAY NIXON
IS GETTING PRAISE FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS FOR PROVING THAT THE G.O.P.-CONTROLLED STATE
LEGISLATURE IS NOT AS VETO-PROOF AS FIRST THOUGHT. ALTHOUGH MANY OF NIXON'S VETOES
WERE OVERWRITTEN, THE TWO MOST PROMINENT ONES WERE NOT. UPHELD WERE HIS VETO OF A TAX
CUT MEASURE AND OF A BILL REFERRED TO AS THE SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT.
AFTER THE VETO SESSION, REPUBLICAN LEADERS VOWED TO WIN THE BATTLES NEXT TIME, AND SOME
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WERE SUDDENLY LOOKING AT JAY NIXON AND SEEING A NATIONAL POLITICAL
PROFILE. MIGHT WE HAVE ANOTHER POTENTIAL VICE PRESIDENT NIXON, ***?
>> HOPE NOT. FIRST OF ALL, HE WON A BIG ONE. THE GUN BILL, THE NRA DIDN'T
EVEN SUPPORT. THE BIG ONE WAS THE TAX. ACTUALLY THE HE EDUCATIONAL PEOE
WON THAT. THE PEOPLE WANTED THAT BY 64%. I THINK HE'S MADE A CLEAR HE'S
NOT RUNNING FOR THE SENATE AGAINST BLUNT, BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T HAVE STAKED EVERYTHING
ON SOMETHING -- VETOING SOMETHING 64% OF PEOPLE WANT. WHETHER HE GETS ON A NATIONAL
TICKET IS REALLY A FUNCTION OF CAN HE BRING MISSOURI INTO THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN.
IF THEY BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES, HE'S A CANDIDATE TO BE VP. IF THEY BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS
MAYBE, THEN HE'S NOT A CANDIDATE. AND THIS 64% THING HE HAS JUST
DONE IS NOT A PLUS FOR HIM IN THAT REGARD. ON THE QUESTION WHICH I THINK
YOU ALSO RAISED WHEN YOU E-MAILED US, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS TAX BILL?
THEY DON'T KNOW YET. THEY'RE STRATEGIZING. >> REPUBLICANS.
>> REPUBLICANS. >> IF SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WHICH THEY'VE NOT, MY RECOMMENDATION
WOULD BE TAKE THE SAME TAX BILL, STRIP OUT THE TAX ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND THE
THREE-YEAR LOOK-BACK FEATURE WHICH HAD A BIG PRICE TAG ON IT, AND TAKE THE SAME TAX BILL, AND
THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE SESSION PASS IT. HE HAS ONLY A FEW DAYS TO VETO,
SEND IT BACK, AND RIGHT BEFORE THE FILING DEAD LINE FOR THEIR OPPOSING CANDIDATES, THEY GET TO
VOTE ON ANOTHER OVERRIDE. >> WHAT ABOUT NIXON'S NATIONAL POLITICAL PROFILE NOW?
DOES HE HAVE ONE? >> I THINK MAYBE HE HAS ONE. I KIND OF AGREE WITH ***.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HIS PROFILE IS GREAT ENOUGH TO LAND HIM ON A TICKET.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS: IF REPUBLICANS DO PREVAIL IN THE NEXT SESSION AND THE TAX CUT
MEASURE IS APPROVED AND HIS VETO IS OVERRIDDEN, WOULDN'T THAT NEGATE ANY SUCCESS, ANY
IMPROVEMENT OF HIS IMAGE. >> IF -- HOW MANY IF'S DID YOU HAVE IN THERE?
>> TWO. >> I WANT TO HEAR WHAT GWEN WAS SAYING.
>> I DON'T THINK NIXON'S PROFILE IS PRESIDENTIAL TICKET PROFILE. I REALLY DON'T.
I THINK THE WAY HE HAS CONDUCTED HIMSELF AS GOVERNOR REALLY AT SOME TIMES SHOWING UP WHERE I
WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN DOESN'T REALLY TIE HIM VERY STRONGLY TO THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET. BUT WE HAVE SOME TIME. EVERYTHING CHANGES WITH TIME IN
THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, SO WE HAVE TO SEE. >> WELL, I DON'T CARE IF 94% OF
MISSOURIANS WANT IT, IT WAS THE WRONG BILL, ***. SO THE REJECTION OF IT --.
>> I DISAGREE. IT WAS A GREAT BILL. >> YOU JUST SAID IT COULD BE
IMPROVED BY TAKEN OUT THREE OR AT LEAST TWO OWN -- ONEROUS THINGS.
IN A YEAR OR SO, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN KANSAS, WHICH IS PART OF THE
MODEL FOR THE MISSOURI TAX CUT. HEY, WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW KANSAS, BUT LOOK, THEY'RE CUTTING TAXES,
AND WE DO KNOW THERE IS SOME POSITIVE SIDE TO CUTTING TAX, MAYBE A FIRM OR TWO MIGHT MOVE
THERE. MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE MORE MOPE TO SPEND ON BURGERS AND ALL
OF THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT THE BIG THING IS, WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR STATE AND THE SERVICES IT
OFFERS? AND IF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS NEXT YEAR DECIDE,
WELL, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CUT SOME OF THE REVENUE BECAUSE WE CAN PROVE THAT EVENTUALLY WE'LL
HAVE MORE REVENUE, AND THAT'S WHERE KANSAS COMES IN, THEN I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE
OF PASSING AND SUSTAINING THE VETO. AND REAL QUICKLY, ON NIXON,
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, HAYES A REPCRAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT JAY NIXON IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE
EXCEPTION OF CLAIRE MCCASKILL. YOU DON'T THINK THAT HILLARY CLINTON -- THE SOUND OF
CLINTON-NIXON DOESN'T HAVE A CERTAIN RING TO IT? >> YES, IT DOES.
(APPLAUSE). >> I'D HANG UP ON THAT RING. >> LOOK, MISSOURI HAS A HABIT OF
PRODUCING VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, AND SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO
BE GREAT PRESIDENTS. I ADMIRE GREATLY WHAT JAY NIXON JUST DID.
HE STOOD UP TO THE CORPORATE INTERESTS AT A TIME WHEN IT'S NOT VERY POPULAR IN SOME CORNERS
TO STAND UP, AND WHAT DID HE STAND UP FOR? HE STOOD UP FOR THE PEOPLE IN
THIS STATE THAT ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING THROUGH THE WORST ECONOMIC DEPRESSION WE'VE
HAD. WE DON'T FUND OUR SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.
WE DON'T FIX OUR ROADS, AND THE WHOLE LIST IS A LONG ONE. >> HE HAD 10 VETOES OVERRIDDEN,
ONLY 8 IN THE LAST 100 YEARS. >> HE HAS A LOT OF SKILL. >>> IN THE INTRODUCTION TO THE
PROGRAM, I ALWAYS SAY WE TALK ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND THE TRENDS OF THE TIMES.
WELL, ONE TREND OF THE TIMES SEEMS TO BE THE GROWING ACCEPTANCE OF TATTOOS,
ESPECIALLY ON YOUNG WOMEN. GETTING THE MOST INK ON THIS SUBJECT RECENTLY IS MISS KANSAS,
TERESA VAIL, WHO BECAME THE FIRST CONTESTANT TO REVEAL HER TATTOOS DURING THE MISS AMERICA
PAGEANT. THE TATTOOS WERE HARDLY RISQUE. ONE IS THE SERENITY PRAYER ON
HER SIDE AND THE OTHER IS THE INSIGNIA OF THE ARMY DENTAL CORPS ON HER SHOULDER.
YES, MISS KANSAS IS ALSO IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND A STUDENT AT K-STATE.
ABOUT HER DECISION TO DISPLAY THE TATTOOS, SHE SAYS IT'S TO EMPOWER WOMEN, TO OVERCOME
STEREO TAPES AND BREAK BARRIERS. DO YOU THINK HER MISS AMERICA APPEARANCE, EVEN THOUGH SHE
DIDN'T WIN, HAS HELPED DO THAT, GWEN? >> YES, I THINK IT WAS GREAT.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND HOW SHE EVEN GOT THERE. SHE WAS A PEOPLE'S CHOICE.
>> MEANING OF ALL THE 50-SOME WOMEN, PEOPLE VOTED ONLINE. >> AND SHE WAS THE PEOPLE'S
CHOICE. SHE GOT THE MOST ONLINE VOTES TO GET HER INTO THE TOP 15.
AND THEN WITH HER OWN TALENT AFTER GETTING THERE, SHE GOT TO THE TOP 10.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF HER, I I THINK, THE TATTOOS AND HER
WILLINGNESS TO SAY I'M GOING TO GO OUT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS, AND I'M GOING TO SHOW MY TATS ON
TV, WHICH I THINK ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I'M ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT SAY,
YEAH, BRING THEM ON. I THOUGHT SHE DID MAKE A VERY STRONG STATEMENT, BECAUSE THE
TATTOO, THE SERENITY PRAYER, THE REASONING BEHIND THE TATTOO, WHICH IS, I THINK, A LOT OF
UNDERSTANDING -- BRINGS A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING. >> SHE HAD BEEN BULLIED AS A
CHILD, RIGHT? >> SHE HAD BEEN BULLIED AS A CHILD, AND THIS GAVE HER
STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT, AND THEN THE ONE ON HER ARM ABOUT THE DENTAL -- HER SERVICE IN THE
ARMY AND HER DAD BEING IN THAT SERVICE, AS WELL. SO I THINK IT MAKES -- I THINK
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MISS AMERICA PA PAGEANT, IT'S EVOLVING. IT'S BECOMING MORE ATTRACTIVE TO
YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE PROGRESSIVE. IT'S NOT JUST A BEAUTY PAGEANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THESE WOMEN, THEY
ARE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PURSUE AND FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND BE ENGAGED IN ALL TYPES OF
CAREERS. SO I THOUGHT SHE DID A GREAT JOB.
>> WELL, I THINK TATTOOS ARE ABSOLUTELY STUPID. I THINK THEY DEGRADE THE HUMAN
BODY IN MANY WAYS, COMMA, BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO IT, IT IS THEIR BODY, AND THEY CAN DO IT,
AND I'M SURE SHE HAD REASONS FOR DOING IT, AND MANY OF THE BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND THE YOUNG
PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO IT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT I PERSONALLY THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO REGRET THAT DECISION WHEN THEY'RE OLDER IN MANY WAYS, AND I DO THINK IT IS A PART OF THE
WHOLE THING. I'M PROBABLY EVEN INCLUDING SOME IN MY GENERATION, WHICH IS LOOK
AT ME, LOOK WHAT I'VE DONE. IT'S PART OF AN EXHIBITIONIST TO A DEGREE.
AND AS YOU SAID, A POSITIVE EXHIBITION. >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE TATTOOS YOU
NEVER SEE. >> THAT'S TRUE. >> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DECORATING
THEIR BODIES -- I THINK DECORATING BODIES IS AS OLD AS HUMANITY.
AS FOR MISS KANSAS, SHE WAS JUST DELIGHTFUL, CHARMING, FUN, AND SMART.
THE BLUE COLLAR, I CAN DO ANYTHING KID, BUT ONE THING, MISS KANSAS.
WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SING --. >> LET ME ADD.
>> IT JUST MADE ME CRINGE. >> SHE SAID MY TALENT WAS ARCHERY.
>> AND THEY DON'T ALLOW PROJECTILES. >> SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED
TO DO HER ARCHERY. >> THAT'S SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.
>> THERE WAS A BATON TWILLER THROWING THINGS IN THE AIR. >> THE THING THAT CAUGHT THE
NATION'S ATTENTION ABOUT THIS WHOLE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT IS WHO WON.
YES, THE FIRST INDIAN AMERICAN, AND WHAT AN ASTOUNDING WOMAN SHE IS, BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH
FEEDBACK, TERRIBLY NASTY RACIST FEED BACK. >> WHAT WAS THE RACIST FEEDBACK?
>> SOMEONE TWEETED THAT MISS AMERICA SHOULD BE FOR AMERICANS AS IF THIS WOMAN IS NOT AN
AMERICAN, SO THE RACIST RESPONSE. >> ONE SAID THE ARKANSAS WOMAN
REPRESENTED EARN AMERICAN VALUES AS OPPOSED TO NINA DAVULURI SOMEHOW WASN'T AMERICAN.
>> IT WAS ON THE FOX RADIO SERVICE, WHICH IS NOT THE SAME AS THE FOX TV NEWS CHANNEL,
WHERE MY FRIENDS ARE. >> OH, THAT'S WHERE YOUR FRIENDS ARE.
>> I WANT MEGAN RILEY TO BE MY NEW FRIEND. >> WELL, SHE'S BREAKING DOWN
STEREOTYPES, AND SHE'S FOR WORLD PEACE, AND THANK YOU. >> AND SHE WANTS TO HAVE A
CAREER WHERE SHE HELPS CHILDREN. >> ALL RIGHT. >>> NOW IT IS TIME FOR ROASTS
AND TOASTS WHERE THE RUCKETTES SELL RATE OR EVISCERATE PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN THE NEWS, AND WE
START WITH MARY. >> I WANT TO CELEBRATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IF PRESIDENT
OBAMA GIVES HIS OKAY THERE WILL BE A MAGNIFICENT WOMAN BY THE NAME OF JANET YELLEN WHO WILL
BECOME THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL RESERVE. VERY -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S
GOING TO DO. WHY DO I SUPPORT HER? SHE HAS A MAGNIFICENT RECORD,
AMONG OTHER THINGS. SHE'S BRILLIANT. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS SHE
HAS A RECORD OF FORECASTING WHERE THE ECONOMY IS GOING. JOSEPH, THE GREAT NOBEL PRIZE
WINNING ECONOMIST SAID, SHE IS AN ECONOMIST OF GREAT INTELLECT. SHE BRINGS TO BEAR NOT JUST AN
UNDERSTANDING OF FINANCIAL MARKETS AND MONETARY POLICY BUT LABOR MARKETS IN THE TIME OF
UNEMPLOYMENT. THE PRESIDENT OUGHT TO SAY YES TO JANET YELLEN.
>> WELL, THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I HAVE KIND OF ANGERED BLUE BLOODS AT THE HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION,
THE CIVIC COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY AND VARIOUS OTHER LARGE CORPORATIONS I PROBABLY
WILL NEVER WORK FOR. SO LET ME TODAY SAY A SALUTE AND A TOAST TO THE GREATER KANSAS
CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THEIR BIG 5 PROGRAM. NOT ALL THESE INITIATIVES HAVE
SUCCEEDED AS WELL AS THEY ONCE HOPED, BUT THEY DO FOCUS THE CIVIC COMMUNITY ON IMPROVING NOT
JUST THE URBAN CORE BUT THE KANSAS CITY AREA ECONOMY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DO AND
VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE. >>> THE BODIES WERE STILL WARM AT THE NAVY YARD WHEN THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CHOSE TO GO AHEAD WITH HIS SPEECH.
HE GAVE A RESPECTFUL NOD TO THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT JUST HAPPENED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO
HIS USUAL BUSINESS OF THE VICIOUS TRASHING OF REPUBLICANS. IT WAS A TASTELESS EXHIBITION IN
THE COURSE OF WHICH HE SAID, WELL, THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO ARE DECENT PEOPLE.
INDEED, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO ARE DECENT PEOPLE, THERE ARE SOME DEMOCRATS
WHO ARE DECENT PEOPLE, AND IT'S A SHAME YOU DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE ONE OF THEM ON THAT DAY.
>>> I'M GOING TO ROAST THE PEOPLE WHO TWEETED THAT MISS AMERICA SHOULD BE BORN IN
AMERICA AND BIRTHERS AND ALL PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT ANYONE WHO OTHER THAN -- WELL, LET ME MAKE
IT REAL CLEAR. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NATIVE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE NATIVE
AMERICANS. AMERICA IS A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS.
WE ALL CAME HERE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND INDIAN AMERICANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, IRISH
AMERICANS, ITALIAN AMERICANS, WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO SHARE IN WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER.
>>> AND FINALLY, THREE MAJOR DICTIONARIES HAVE ADDED A SECOND USAGE TO THE DEFINITION OF
LITERAL OR LITERALLY. IT STILL MEANS FREE FROM EXAGGERATION BUT IT CAN ALSO
MEAN THE EXACT OPPOSITE. THE OXFORD DICTIONARY SAYS THE SECOND USE HAS BECOME VERY
COMMON FOR ADDED EFFECT AS IN WE LITERALLY LAUGHED OURSELVES TO DEATH.
NEWS ACCOUNTS SUGGEST VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS LITERALLY RESPONSIBLE.
>> I MEAN LITERALLY, LITERALLY PUTTING AMERICA'S SECURITY AT RISK, LITERALLY.
IN A LITERAL SENSE, LITERALLY, LITERALLY. IT'S LITERALLY INCREDIBLE.
>> AND WE ARE LITERALLY OUT OF TIME FOR RUCKUS. BACK NEXT THURSDAY AT 8 P.M.
FOLLOWING ENROLLMENT DAY AT KCPT HEALTH CARE. THAT'S A BIG EVENT.
NOW ON BEHALF OF THE RUCKETTES AND THE RUCKUS CREW, I'M MIKE SHANIN, THANKS FOR WATCHING,
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