Ruckus - November 1, 2012

Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com   >>> 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 TRENDS OF THE TIMES. YAEL, GWEN, MARY AND *** ARE   GATHERED ROUND FOR ONE LAST LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGNS BEFORE ELECTION DAY NEXT TUESDAY.   IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT THE ELECTION WILL BRING, MAYBE YOU'LL FIND YOUR ANSWERS IN THE   STARS. THE KANSAS CITY STAR'S POLL ON MAJOR ELECTIONS, THE RESULTS   SHOW MITT ROMNEY WINNING MISSOURI, DESPITE THE PAPER'S ENDORSEMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA,   AND CLAIRE MCCASKILL EDGING OUT TODD AKIN IN THE RACE FOR THE SENATE.   GOVERNOR JAY NIXON SEEMS HEADED FOR REELECTION AS DO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PETER KINDER AND   ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS KOSTER. AGAIN, THESE ARE POLL RESULTS, NOT OUR PREDICTIONS.   THE MISSOURI BALLOT HAS MORE THAN CANDIDATES. IT ALSO CONTAINS ISSUES AND ONE   OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO KANSAS CITY. IT'S PROPOSITION A THAT IF   APPROVED WOULD GIVE ST. LOUIS CONTROL OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.   SO HOW DOES THAT ST. LOUIS ISSUE HAVE AN INTERESTING AFFECT ON KANSAS CITY AND THE FUTURE   OPERATIONS OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT, ***? >> WELL, OUR TWO POLICE   DEPARTMENTS, FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HISTORICAL REASONS, WOUND UP BEING GOVERNED BY   BOARDS SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE STATE SENATE.   THE ONLY MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA THAT ARE GOVERNED IN THIS FASHION.   THE MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ST. LOUISIANS SAID   WE WANT IT AWAY FROM STATE. I WAS PART OF THE LOBBYING GROUP THAT HELPED GET THIS ON THE   BALLOT. THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS GOING TO VOTE ON WHETHER ST. LOUIS   GETS TO RUN ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT LOCALLY. IF THAT PASSES, IT LOOKS LIKE IT   WILL LEAVE KANSAS CITY AS THE ONLY CITY IN AMERICA THAT DOESN'T GET TO DO THAT, AND OF   COURSE, THAT WILL LEAD TO SOME EFFORT TO CHANGE THAT AND BE SELF-GOVERNED.   ACETONEY'S KANSAS CITY NOTED, HOWEVER, THERE IS NOT THE SAME UNITY AMONG INTEREST GROUPS IN   KANSAS CITY THAT THEIR LARGELY WAS IN ST. LOUIS OTHER THAN THE POLICE UNION, PRETTY MUCH   EVERYONE IN ST. LOUIS WAS ON BOARD WITH US. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE   IN KANSAS CITY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO SEE WHETHER KANSAS CITY GETS TO THAT   POINT. >> IN FACT TONY'S KANSAS CITY SAID THERE ARE DIFFERENT   INTERESTS IN THE URBAN CORE, DIVIDING SUPPORT OVER THIS QUESTION OF LOCAL POLICE CONTROL   BY THE CITY. ARE YOU AWARE OF THOSE SPLITS, GWEN?   >> WELL, I'M AWARE OF THE KANSAS CITY JOBS WITH JUSTICE. I THINK THERE IS A MISSOURI JOBS   WITH JUSTICE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ACTUALLY INITIALLY SUPPORTED THE ST. LOUIS -- THE PROPOSITION   AND WAS BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR KANSAS CITY, AS WELL. AND SO I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A   CHANGING OF THEIR POSITION ON THAT, AND FROM WHAT I COULD GATHER, BASED ON THEIR FEELING   THAT THE -- THERE WILL BE A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH RESPECT TO MISCONDUCT AMONG POLICE OFFICERS   OR SOMETHING, AND I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T SHARE THAT OPINION. I AM STILL FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF   THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYOR JAMES WILL REALLY EXERCISE   SOME STRONG LEADERSHIP IN THIS ENDEAVOR. >> WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A   STATEWIDE VOTE FOR KANSAS CITY TO GET CONTROL, DO WE? CAN'T THAT BE DONE BY THE   LEGISLATURE, AN ACT BY THE LEGISLATURE? >> RIGHT.   >> TO ME, THAT IS THE BEST THING POSSIBLE, IS TO GO TO LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR AFTER ST.   LOUIS GETS ITS LOCAL CONTROL, AND SAY OKAY, IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE SWITCH IN KANSAS CITY, AND   LET'S DO IT AND THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES IT. NOW, I'VE WRITTEN FOR YEARS THAT   THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO PULL THE STRINGS TO GET   THEIR BUDDY ELECTED OR PUT ON BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE POLICE BOARD.   YOU ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE LOCAL CORPORATIONS AND NOT JUST THE URBAN CORE, THERE ARE SOME HEAVY   HITTERS IN KANSAS CITY WHO ARE AGAINST IT. I DON'T CARE.   IT'S TIME FOR THIS CHANGE, PEOPLE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?   WE NEED TO HAVE LOCAL CONTROL OF THIS DEPARTMENT. >> IT OUGHT TO BE A DONE DEAL.   IF THE ISSUES ARE REAL, THEY CAN BE HANDLED LOCALLY. >> AND I THINK THE STAR'S POLL   SUGGESTS IT WILL PASS. LET'S GO ON NOW. WE WANT TO GET THESE OTHERS IN.   PROBLEM B, STATE TAX INCREASE ON CIGARETTES, 63 CENTS PER PACK. >> YEAH.   >> THE MONEY WOULD BE USED IN PART TO FUND EDUCATION. >> THE RUSSIANS ARE STARTING TO   BECOME INTERESTED IN TAXING CIGARETTES, YOU KNOW, AND THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES --.   >> WELL, THAT MAKES IT A GOOD IDEA. >> IT INDICATES SOME GLOBAL   INTEREST AND SANITY, ***. WE HAVE THE LOWEST TAX IN THE UNITED STATES ON CIGARETTES.   IT'S PREPOSTEROUS, REALLY IMMORAL IN A SENSE, BECAUSE THESE TAXES ON EVERYBODY ELSE,   ON PROPERTY AND SALES AND SO ON. >> THANK YOU REVEREND.   >> NO, I WILL GIVE MY OPINION, ***, AND I HOPE YOU RESPECT IT ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE GUESS   WHAT? THE FUNDS FROM THIS TAX WILL GO INTO EDUCATION, AND IT IS   SPECIFIED. READ IT ON THE BALLOT ISSUE. >> HAVE WE HEARD THAT BEFORE?   >> CASINOS. OKAY. THAT'S THE WHOLE BASIS OF THE   CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT, IS WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.   >> THEY'RE WRONG. >> PROBLEM E SAYS NEITHER THE GOVERNOR NOR ANY STATE AGENCY   CAN ESTABLISH A STATE-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE   LEGISLATURE OR THE PEOPLE. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO OBAMA CARE.   >> YES, COME ON. IT'S RIDICULOUS. IT'S JUST THIS FAR RIGHT WING   EFFORTS TO ATTACK OBAMA CARE, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH, IT'S JUST   LIKE MISSOURI, WE'VE GONE SO CRIMSON SO FAR TO THE RIGHT AND TO THE RED THAT IT'S GOING TO   PASS. >> SO IF THIS HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE IS PART OF OBAMA CARE,   CAN'T BE SET UP BY THE STATE, I THINK THE LAW SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SET IT UP.   >> EXACTLY. YES, IT WILL. >> BY A VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE   OR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. >> EXACTLY. >> SO THAT THE GOVERNOR, WHO IS   A DEMOCRAT, DOESN'T GET TO DO IT ON HIS OWN. HE'S GOT TO GO TO THE   LEGISLATURE. >> BUT THE POINT IS, I THINK, IN ANY CASE, REGARDLESS OF THE   OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION ON TUESDAY, IF OBAMA-CARE CONTINUES TO EXIST AND IS NOT REPEALED AND   REPLACED BY PRESIDENT ELECT ROMNEY, THEN WE'LL HAVE THESE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES IN   MISSOURI RUN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? >> YES, OF COURSE.   >> AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR KLIKA AND PRESTA. SOUNDS LIKE A COMEDY TEAM, BUT   AS FAR AS I KNOW IT'S NOT. STEVE KLIKA AND TERRY PRESTA ARE THE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING TO   REPLACE RETIRING JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAVE LINDSTROM. BOTH HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO PUBLIC   OFFICE. KLIKA SERVES ON THE BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD AND PRESTA IS A   FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE. ONE KEY AREA OF DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO INVOLVES PUBLIC   TRANSPORTATION. YAEL, YOU FOAL -- FOLLOW THIS CLOSELY.   >> STEVE KLIKA KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND TERRY PRESTA DOESN'T.   NO. THIS CAMPAIGN IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, STEVE KLIKA, A LONG TIME   JOHNSON COUNTIAN, WORKED ON THE TRANSIT ISSUE, BUT ALSO THE BLUE VALLEY BOARD OF EDUCATION.   IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S KIND OF IN THAT MODERATE WHEEL HOUSE JOHNSON COUNTYIANS LOVE.   AND TERRY PRESTA, WHOM I'VE TALKED TO, FORMER STATE REP, BEEN IN JOHNSON COUNTY FOR A   WHILE. HE SENT OUT DESPICABLE MAILERS, ABOUT KLIKA, ONE OF THEM LINKING   HIM TO OBAMA. IT'S A NONPARTISAN RACE, RACE, N MAILINGS ALONE, I'M VERY   DISAPPOINTED IN PRESTA, AND THE STAR HAS ENDORSED KLIKA. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TERRY   PRESTA. IN THAT RACE, I THINK KLIKA IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE.   YOU HAVE A SECOND ONE, TOO. >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT PRESTA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU WROTE IN   ONE OF YOUR ARTICLES ABOUT THE RACE THAT PRESTA IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WORKING ACROSS   COUNTY AND STATE LINES, DOESN'T WANT TO WORK WITH JACKSON COUNTY OR KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.   >> ACTUALLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE CLAIMS KLIKA WANTS TO DO, WHICH IS KIND OF   LIKE, WELL, THAT MAY PLAY WELL WITH THE REALLY CONSERVATIVE JOHNSON COUNTY CROWD, AND I   UNDERSTAND WHY TERRY IS SAYING THAT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE IN JOHNSON COUNTY,   LIKE PETERSON IS AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMISSION, WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK ACROSS   COUNTY AND STATE LINES WITH PEOPLE, NOT AUTOMATICALLY SENDING TAX DOLLARS OVER THERE,   BUT WORK WITH PEOPLE. >> MARY, ARE YOU SUPPORTING PRESTA?   >> WELL, NO, I HAVE REALLY NOT EVER MET HIM. I MET STEVE KLIKA ONCE.   HERE IS WHAT HE BRINGS, MIKE. WE DON'T HAVE CURRENTLY -- ALTHOUGH PETERSON IS VERY   SUPPORTIVE TO EDUCATION, AS ARE THE OTHERS ON THIS COUNTY COMMISSION, BUT HE IS AN   AUTHENTIC, STEVE IS, EDUCATION EXPERT. HE, I THINK, HAS CHAIRED THE   BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD. >> WOULD YOU THINK THAT'S A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS OR   OXYMORON? >> NO, IT ISN'T. LOOK AT THE TIMES THE COUNTY   COMMISSION HAS COME TO THE AID OF JANUARY SON COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND THEN A BACK WAVE WHEN A   CRISIS IS OVER. STEVE HAS AN IMMENSE CAMPAIGN THAT IS GRASSROOTS, AND IT COMES   FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF BLUE VALLEY, AND HE IS AN AUTHENTIC LEADER IN SOUTH JOHNSON COUNTY.   >> IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING TO ME, THESE KINDS OF RACES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.   THEY DON'T GET TONS OF COVERAGE BY THE NEWS MEDIA ANYMORE. ANOTHER COUNTY COMMISSION RAISIN   CUMBENT CALVIN HAYDEN AGAINST FORMER COMMISSIONER, THEY HAVE RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER BEFORE,   HAVE THEY NOT? >> THEY HAVE. OBVIOUSLY THE ONE FOUR YEARS AGO   WHERE CALVIN HAYDEN'S CAMP -- THEY WERE CAUGHT STEALING SIGNS, AND IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE HAYDEN   HAS BEEN FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE, REPRESENTING OLATHE OUT THERE. BASICALLY TOPLICA IS EVEN MORE   TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HE WAS ON THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE HE WAS A FORMER   COMMISSION, HE WAS REALLY VERY UNHELPFUL IN BUDGETS. HE WOULD SIT THERE MUTE AND WHEN   IT CAME TIME TO VOTE, HE WOULD BE LIKE, I'VE GOT SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUDGET, WANTED TO CUT   IT EVEN FURTHER. YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THINGS TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT   ON STUFF. THE STAR AGAIN HAS ENDORSED CALVIN FOR REELECTION.   HE'S A GOOD CANDIDATE. >> CALVIN IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, NONPART SON, --   NONPARTISAN. HE WORKS OUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR GOOD LEGISLATION AND KEEPING   JOHNSON COUNTY IN POSSESSION OF A HIGH QUALITY COUNTY GOVERNMENT.   HE'S AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE. >> YOU BOTH SAY IT'S NONPARTISAN, AND I GATHER THESE   ARE ALL REPUBLICANS, AND THE DISTINCTION IS ONE CONSIDERS HIMSELF MORE MODERATE AND THE   OTHER MORE CONSERVATIVE IN BOTH CASES. >> MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.   >> IT SHOULD -- IN KANSAS CITY, 25 YEARS, THEY ARE NONPARTISAN, AND EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE LIKE   *** BERKLEY WHO IS REPUBLICAN, I'M SURE MOST ARE DEMOCRATS N THOSE RACES, YOU DON'T SEE THEM   TRYING TO OUTDEM EACH OTHER. >> WHEN THE COUNTY COMMISSION IN ITS CURRENT FORM WAS CREATED 10,   11 YEARS AGO, THE IDEA IN PART WAS TO HAVE THE ELECTED CHAIRMAN SERVE AS SORT OF A JOHNSON   COUNTY MAYOR AND BE THE SPOKESPERSON FOR JOHNSON COUNTY TO JOHNSON COUNTY, AND THE REST   OF METRO AREA. HAS THAT HAPPENED? >> ED HAS LOST THAT THAT   MINDSET. HE ONLY SPEAKS FOR ONE PORTION OF JOHNSON COUNTY, AND I'M NOT   ONLY GOING TO SAY CONSERVATIVE, KIND OF THE LET'S JUST KEEP THINGS AS THEY ARE, NOT   AGGRESSIVE ON TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER THINGS. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.   THE PREDECESSOR WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.   >> GOT TO GO ON. >>> THOSE WHO BELIEVED THAT BARACK OBAMA'S ELECTION TO THE   PRESIDENCY WOULD REDUCE PREJUDICE AGAINST MINORITIES, ESPECIALLY BLACKS, WERE WRONG   ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. IT SHOWS A SLIGHT MAJORITY OF   AMERICANS NOW EXPRESS PREJUDICE TOWARD BLACKS WHETHER THEY RECOGNIZE THOSE FEELINGS OR NOT,   AND THE POLL SAYS RACIAL ATTITUDES HAVE NOT IMPROVED DURING THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY.   OVERALL, THE AP STUDY SHOWS A 3% INCREASE, 51 TO 48, OVER A SIMILAR POLL TAKEN FOUR YEARS   AGO. POLL TAKERS CONCLUDE THAT RACIAL PREJUDICE COULD COST PRESIDENT   OBAMA THE LOSS OF VOTES AND PERHAPS THE ELECTION. NOW, MARY, IS THIS A SERIOUS,   FOR-REAL STUDY, OR IS THIS JUST SOMEBODY WITH A CONCLUSION, LOOKING FOR A STUDY TO VALIDATE   IT. >> I LIKE THE WAY YOU ALWAYS JUST GIVE ME TWO CHOICES WHEN   THERE ARE AT LEAST 400 WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ACADEMIC STUDIES.   WELL, THIS IS A STANFORD UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND MICHIGAN, SO   OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE AUTHENTIC SCHOLARS WORKING ON THIS QUESTION.   HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, SCHOLARS ARE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. THEY WANT TO PUBLISH THEIR   RESULTS RIGHT BEFORE THEY CAN SELL THEIR BOOK ON A SUBJECT, IN THIS CASE, THE ELECTION, WHICH   DOESN'T YOU A AUTHENTICATE THE RESULTS. WELL, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT RACE   RELATIONS. OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, BLACK AND WHITE AND ASIAN   AND ALL ETHNIC GROUPS IN BETWEEN, NEEDS TO IMPROVE IN THIS COUNTRY.   AND YES, FROM TIME TO TIME, OUR RELATIONS WITH EACH OTHER GET WORSE OR GET BETTER.   I DO THINK WE ARE MORE POLARIZED AS OUR COUNTRY BECOMES MORE DIVIDED ECONOMICALLY.   I THINK THAT'S FOR REAL. THE PRESIDENT IS THE FIRST MULTIRACIAL PRESIDENT.   THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE STUDY ISN'T ACCURATE. >> LET ME OFFER A COUPLE OF   POINTS ABOUT THIS, AND WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR TO THE   AUDIENCE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THIS WAS DONE ONLINE, AND THE   QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE, ALSO ASKED IF CERTAIN WORDS DESCRIBE   BLACKS, WHITES, AND HISPANICS, WORDS LIKE VIOLENT, LAZY, FRIENDLY, HARD WORKING.   THEY WERE ALSO SHOWN PICTURES THAT ALLOWED THE PEOPLE TAKING THE SURVEY TO MEASURE RACIST   FEELINGS EVEN IF THE PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE THEY HAD THEM. NOW, HOW ARE YOU MEASURING   FEELINGS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE? >> IT MEASURED TWO THINGS,   EXPLICIT RACIAL ATTITUDES, WHICH ARE THE THINGS WE SAY TO EACH OTHER AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT   WE'RE DOING SO, AND IMPLICIT RACIAL ATTITUDES, WHICH ARE THOSE THAT WE MAY REVEAL TO   OTHERS OR TO SCIENTISTS STUDYING THE ISSUE, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WE HAVE THEM.   THE QUESTION IS, DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT?   >> DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING? >> THE PART ABOUT -- I DIDN'T   SEE HOW THEY ARE MAKING THE CONNECTION TO OBAMA ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES IN AMERICA AND HOW THAT   IS EVEN RELATED TO -- ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE WHITE VOTE HE WON IN 2008.   I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S COUNTER INTUITIVE FOR ME TO SAY NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THIS RACIAL   DIVISIVENESS. >> I WORKED WITH ALLEN WHEAT, THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO RUN   FOR CONGRESS IN KANSAS CITY, AND THE CITY WAS ONLY 23% AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND HE WON   OVERWHELMINGLY. SO WE -- IT GOES BACK AND FORTH, AND I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW.   >> LET ME GET *** AND YAEL IN HERE. ANY REACTIONS TO THIS STUDY,   ***? >> WELL, I READ A KATHLEEN PARKER COLUMN FROM THE PARK   POST. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN IN THE STAR YET.   IT WILL BE. AND SHE TOOK THIS STUDY TO TASK, AND SHE QUOTED, I THINK, THREE   DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THEY HAD ASKED THAT WERE -- WILL I SAY THOSE ARE ONLY THREE QUESTIONS   OUT OF WHAT WERE NO DOUBT A GREAT MANY, BUT THEY WERE LAUGHABLE, AND THEY WERE HAVE   YOU STOPPED BEATING YOUR WIFE STUFF, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE CALLED THEM.   SO I FAIL TO BE IMPRESSED. WE'VE ELECTED A PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN -- BUT THAT WE   HAVE SOMEHOW SHIFTED BACK TO THE BAD OLD DAYS, I'M NOT BUYING IT. >> THERE WAS A BELIEF BY SOME   THAT IF HE WERE ELECTED ALL RACIAL PROBLEMS WOULD DISAPPEAR IN AMERICA, AND NOBODY WITH A   BRAIN -- NOBODY BELIEVED THAT. YAEL, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS STUDY?   >> I THINK IT'S FLAWED AS *** JUST SAID, AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE AGREED, TOO.   IN GENERAL, YES, AGAIN, AS *** JUST SAID, RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL.   I DON'T THINK IT PERMEATES THE SOCIETY AS IT DID 50, 60 YEARS AGO.   OF COURSE, IT'S THERE, AND OF COURSE, SOME OF IT IS BLACK AGAINST WHITE, AND MUCH MORE   PROMINENT WHITE AGAINST BLACK, SO IT'S OUT THERE. I MEAN, THE STUDY TO ME, I DID   NOT READ IT AS A GREAT CONTRIBUTION. >> SOME HAVE RIGHTLY SAID, WHEN   YOU HAVE A FIRST OF SOMETHING, THAT PERSON BECOMES FAR MORE SCRUTINIZED IN TERMS OF WHETHER   OR NOT THEY BENEFIT, QUOTE, THEIR OWN -- THE POPULATION FROM WHICH THEY COME, LIKE THE   SENATOR FROM MISSOURI. >> SOME OF THESE WERE THE MOST DISAPPOINTED IN BARACK OBAMA'S   FIRST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE THINGS THEY HOPED HE COULD.   >> I THINK THEY ARE FAR MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REALITIES HE HAD INHERITED AND UNREALISTIC   EXPECTATIONS. >> FINISH THE SENTENCE, INHERITED FROM GEORGE BUSH.   >> THANK YOU. >> SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS ARE NOW SAYING THERE IS A CHANCE,   MAYBE NOT A BIG ONE, BUT A CHANCE THAT THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL TURN   OUT LIKE THE ELECTION OF 2000. EZRA KLEIN OF THE WASHINGTON POST WRITES ABOUT THE   POSSIBILITY OF MITT ROMNEY WINNING THE POPULAR VOTE BUT LOSING THE ELECTION.   THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OUT OF 56 WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED.   WELL, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, LET'S CONSIDER THIS HYPOTHETICAL.   ROMNEY WINS THE POPULAR VOTE. PRESIDENT OBAMA WINS IN THE ELECT -- ELECTRICAL COLLEGE AND   THEREFORE BECOMES PRESIDENT. DEMOCRATS REACTED ANGRILY WHEN AL GORE WON THE POPULAR VOTE BUT   LOST THE ELECTORAL VOTE TO REPUBLICAN GEORGE BUSH IN 2000. I WONDER HOW DEMOCRATS WOULD   REACT IF THE TABLES ARE TURNED IN 2012? GWEN.   >> I THINK THEY WOULD BE ELATED. >> THEY WOULDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS.   >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. I THINK THEIR RESPONSE WOULD BE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS   GOOD FOR THE GANDER. IT'S UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2000.   IT'S FAR BETTER WHEN YOU WIN THE POPULAR VOTE AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE.   THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK, AND MOST OF THE TIME IT WORKS THAT WAY.   BUT I THINK, I HOPE, THAT THIS WILL BE A LESSON FOR THE ELECTORATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS   TO VOTE AND WHY YOUR VOTE COUNTS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT SITUATION   THIS TIME. I THINK THE POLLSTERS, YOU KNOW, SOME ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS A   POSSIBILITY, BUT I THINK ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT POLLS FLOATING AROUND NOW, IT'S REALLY KIND OF   HARD TO TELL. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT RACE,   BUT I THINK THAT OBAMA WILL WIN THE POPULAR VOTE, AND HE WILL WIN THE ELECTORAL VOTE.   >> DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANYTHING OCCUR WHERE ONE CANDIDATE GETS THE POPULAR VOTE   AND THE OTHER WINS THE MAJORITY VOTES IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE? >> I DON'T THINK SO.   AS YOU SAID, IT'S ONLY HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. PREDICTING THAT IS PREDICTING   SOMETHING THAT'S A VERY LONG SHORT. SHOT.   I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE THE OPPOSITE VIEW OF   GWEN'S. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.   THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS THERE FOR A REASON, WHICH IS A GOOD REASON, AND THAT'S THAT THE   FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY AN AGGREGATION OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE BUT ALSO A   NATION MADE UP OF INTERESTS AND SECTIONS AND SO ON, AND THOSE HAVE TO BE REPRESENTED SOMEHOW   IN THE PROCESS, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU, AND IT COULD HAPPEN -- LET'S SAY IT DID   HAPPEN. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF BELLY ACHING OUT OF   REPUBLICANS. THEY SUPPORT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE CONCEPT BEHIND   IT. >> THE FOUNDERS SAID, WE'RE HAVING -- NOT 50, BUT WE'RE   HAVING STATE ELECTIONS. THEY COME TOGETHER, AND THAT FORMS THE NATIONAL OUTCOME.   WE'RE NOT CONDUCTING A NATIONAL ELECTION PER SE. BUT MARY, IS IT TIME TO MAKE A   CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE GIVES   TREMENDOUS POWER TO SMALL STATES. GUESS WHAT?   IF THIS EVER WENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, EACH STATE GETS ONE VOTE IN THE SELECTION   OF THE PRESIDENT. >> THAT'S IN CASE OF AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE TIE.   >> IN CASE OF AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE TIE, WHICH IS VERY, VERY, VERY UNLIKELY.   EACH STATE WOULD GET ONE VOTE, SO NEW YORK, MISSOURI, AND NORTH DAKOTA WOULD GET THE SAME   REPRESENTATION IN THE SELECTION OF A PRESIDENT. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT   PHYSICS LESSON FOR THE COUNTRY. BUT THE RACE, MIKE, RIGHT NOW, IS GOING TO BE DECIDED BY TWO   THINGS. IT'S GOING TO BE DECIDED BY WHETHER OR NOT THE STORM AFFECTS   OHIO AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS AFFECT OHIO, BECAUSE THE POPULAR VOTE CERTAINLY COULD BE   DIMINISHED IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY. THE PRESIDENT WILL CARRY THOSE   TWO STATES, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE PERFORMANCE THAT HE'S TURNED IN ON FEMA, WHICH ROMNEY WANTS   TO DO AWAY WITH. >> IT WAS QUITE A SCENE YESTERDAY WITH GOVERNOR CHRIS   CHRISTIE TALKING ABOUT -- WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME -- HOW WONDERFUL BARACK OBAMA IS AS A   LEADER AND A MANAGER AND HOW MUCH HE'S HELPING NEW JERSEY. THIS IS THE MAN WHO WAS THE   KEYNOTER AT THE G.O.P. NATIONAL CONVENTION. >> THE SECOND THING THAT WILL   MATTER GREATLY IS WHETHER OR NOT THE EFFORTS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION IN FLORIDA AND IN OHIO, WHETHER   OR NOT THE --. >> ARE THE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO SUPPRESS VOTES THERE?   >> YOU WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT EXISTS, BUT YOUR PARTY IS PAYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SEE THAT   IT DOES. THEY'RE VERY REAL EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE NOT ONLY FROM   KNOWING WHERE TO VOTE BUT, YOU KNOW, EARLY VOTING, SUNDAY VOTING, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN   YOU GET IN LINE. ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT   MATTER. >> ALL RIGHT. AND NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT   MATTERS, WE TURN TO ROASTS AND TOASTS WHERE THE RUCKETTES CHEER OR JEER PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN THE   NEWS. AND WE START TONIGHT WITH ***. >> BACK IN THE REAL WORLD, A   TOAST TO MO DOT, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH HAS JUST REOPENED THE   BROADWAY ATTENTION AND BROADWAY BRIDGE AFTER A MAJOR REHAB, AND THEY FINISHED SIX WEEKS EARLY.   THIS WAS DONE BY A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS CUT ITS STAFFING BY 20% IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.   MO DOT DOES A GREAT JOB. 7th LONGEST HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN AMERICA AND ONE OF THE LOWEST   FUEL TAXES TO WORK WITH, AND YET THEY MANAGE TO MAINTAIN THAT SYSTEM.   I WISH MORE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WOULD GO AND DO LIKEWISE.   GREAT JOB. >>> THIS IS A TOAST TO GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE AND PRESIDENT   BARACK OBAMA FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH BOTH OF THESE GREAT LEADERS HAVE SET ASIDE PARTISAN   POLITICS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE SANDY.   I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPUBLICAN   CONGRESS AND THE NATIONAL WHO -- AND THE SENATE WHO COULD LEARN A LOT ABOUT HOW THESE TWO   GENTLEMEN HAVE BEHAVED. >> MY TOAST IS KIND OF AN UNLIKELY ONE.   IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, WE ACTUALLY ARE SEEING THE BEGINNINGS OF A FLU -- NEW   STRONG DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN JOHNSON COUNTY, AND GOD KNOWS THE STATE OF KANSAS NEEDS SOME   BALANCE. AS THE KANSAS CITY STAR HAS POINTED OUT IN ITS ENDORSEMENTS,   THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS IS GOING TO CONTROL POSSIBLY THE COURTS, CERTAINLY   CONTROLS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BUT WHETHER OR NOT HE CONTROLS   THE STATE SENATE REALLY MATTERS. SO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS PUT FORWARD KYLE RUSSELL TO RUN IN A   SEAT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME A STRONG DEMOCRAT WHO RECEIVED THE STAR'S ENDORSEMENT HAS A CHANCE   OF WINNING. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TOAST NANCY LUSK AND LARRY MEEKER AND ALL   THOSE OTHER BRAND NEW PEOPLE OFFERING A CHANCE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST   BROWNBACK'S OO AGENDA. >>> WELL, THIS IS A SAD TOAST TO THE LIFE OF BIS, THE AFRICAN   GRAY PARROT THAT MY WIFE AND I RAISED 27 YEARS. SHE DIED SUDDENLY THIS MORNING.   SHE WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY, AND BIFF WILL BE MISSED. >>> FINALLY A MASSIVE ROAST TO   THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH CREATING THE MORONIC, AND I'M BEING CHARITABLE, MORONIC   CONTROVERSY OVER A NUDE STATUE IN THE OVERLAND PARK ASH RECEIPT RECEIPT -- ARBORETUM.   PREDICTLY THE GRAND JURY REJECTED THE CALL OF LEGAL AGAINST AGAINST THE CITY.   I FEAR THAT THE GROUPS WITH NAMES LIKE THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI AND   KANSAS WILL BE MISTAKEN FOR CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. GOING AFTER THIS WORK OF ART IS   NOT CONSERVATIVE, AND IT'S NOT LIBERAL. IT IS JUST STUPID.   AND THAT'S RUCKUS FOR TONIGHT. BE SURE TO JOIN NICK HAINES FOR KANSAS CITY WEEK IN REVIEW   FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:30. AND NOW ON BEHALF OF THE RUCKETTES AND THE RUCKUS CREW,   MIKE SHANIN SAYING THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.   >>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS   CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.   Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com