The Stonecipher Report

This is Why I'm Thrilled That Al Franken Won in Minnesota

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 23, 2009

Some of you may have already seen this clip, it was originally posted over at Fire Dog Lake, but in case you missed it, here is Al Franken taking on the for-profit health care industry:

Mayor Gavin Newsom Has a Big San Francisco Hill to Climb in CA Race for Governor

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 14, 2009

As I've written before, the year after a presidential election is generally a terribly boring political year.  All we political junkies get are three big elections - the Virginia governors race, the New Jersey governors race and the New York City mayoral election.

Well, those elections are all right around the corner, and soon after they end, the focus will shift to what will no doubt be a far more exciting year in politics, 2010.

One of the races that promises to make 2010 thrilling to all of us political bloggers and news junkies is the race for governor of California.  The General Election may not end up being a terribly interesting one, but before that, the primary fight on the Democratic side appears to be shaping up to be a heavyweight battle between two champions of Golden State politics.

The Sun has Not Yet Risen in Chicago and the Right is Already Talking Trash About President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 9, 2009

Screw the Olympics, how 'bout a Nobel Peace Prize for our president?

Yup, didn't see this one coming, but about an hour ago President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

When the rest of you normal people wake up, you'll see the news, but this is one of the advantages to being a bartender with a crazy schedule.  I'm still awake, and I'm probably one of the few bloggers in America near my computer and TV screen at this hour.  It's about 4:45 AM here in Chicago.

Amazingly, Barack Obama's Wikipedia page has already been updated, despite the fact that this announcement was made just minutes ago.

Not so shocking is the instant criticism from the right.  Joe Scarborough is already yacking about how the Nobel Prize is no longer prestigious, that it is given to people who hate America, that Marisa Tomei did more to win an Academy Award for "My Cousin Vinny" than Barack Obama has done to win the prize, that if anyone should have gotten it, it is Ronald Reagan and that maybe, just maybe, President Obama would be worthy of this not-so-prestigious award in three or four years, but certainly not now.

That's probably an early look at the anti-Obama, anti-Nobel Prize rhetoric that is certain to come from the right.  Any guesses as to which nutty right-winger makes the most insane comment about this?  Click here or check out the right-hand column to vote in our poll.

Well, might as well stay up and watch us bomb the moon at this point.

TSR Interviews U.S. Senate Candidate from Illinois, Andy Martin

Posted by: Tyler Rippeteau

Oct. 7, 2009

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW BY CLICKING THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM

As some of you know, on Monday October 5, Michael and I interviewed Republican U.S. Senate Candidate, Andy Martin, on The Stonecipher Report's radio show on 88.5 WHPK (or online at WHPK.org).

After Michael and Andy had previously battled it out in our comments section here at TSR Online, Mr. Martin agreed to join us for a civil, yet argumentative conversation on the air.

We discussed everything from Mr. Martin's name change to the Illinois Wine industry to his theory that President Obama was not born to Barack Obama Sr., rather that he was born to civil rights activist, Frank Marshall Davis.  We never got around to asking why President Obama took Obama Sr.'s name instead of Davis's, but maybe next time we have Mr. Martin on the show, or if he responds to this post we'll get an answer.

The Stonecipher Report On the Air Monday, 9-21

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Sept. 21, 2009

Tyler’s back from Peru…so The Stonecipher Report radio show is back up to full strength for our latest broadcast – this afternoon, Monday, September 21. We will be broadcasting over the air as well as via the Internet live today from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Chicago time on WHPK-FM. You can tune us in locally (mostly on Chicago’s South Side…but, in cars, also as far north as about Navy Pier) at 88.5 FM…and, of course, you can also hear the show online at WHPK.org, streaming live by just clicking the "Listen" tab or the "We are STREAMING" window on the station's website.

Monday’s show will feature our usual mix of politics, current events, and even some sports and pop culture. Tyler will – no doubt! – have some stories to share about his recent South American journey…and we will also look at the difficult topic of racism as it crosses lines recently from politics to sports. We hope you can listen to us today – thanks!

The Last Double Radio Shows This Week: The Stonecipher Report On the Air Monday, 9-07 AND Tuesday, 9-08

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Sept. 7, 2009

After a nice summer filling in for another program, this week will be the last special "two-fer" of The Stonecipher Report radio show. And, since co-host Tyler is traveling in Peru (!), I will be flying the big radio jet by myself, broadcasting over the air as well as via the Internet live this Monday, September 7, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Chicago time on WHPK-FM…and then also on Tuesday, September 8, also from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. You can tune me in locally (on Chicago’s South Side) at 88.5 FM…and, of course, you can also hear the show online at WHPK.org, streaming live by just clicking the "Listen" tab or the "We are STREAMING" window on the station's website.

Monday’s show will feature a special guest, my longtime (30+ years!) friend, actor and singer James Rank, a winner of a Jeff Award (the Chicago theater equivalent of the Tonys). Also,there will be some talk about local (Illinois) politics, a tribute to the late Edward M. Kennedy, and a message from Tyler as he traipses around South America. I hope you can try to tune me in at least once this week! Thanks…

Update:  Well, we had to spontaneously fill an extra hour on Monday, eating up all of that content mentioned above. So, on Tuesday, I'm going to do something a little different. Tune in from 3 to 4 PM (Chicago time) on September 8 to hear me read some of my original pieces of short fiction. It'll be different, but...entertaining!  So, try to tune in if you have a chance...

One Year On – My First Anniversary at The Stonecipher Report

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Aug. 27, 2009

Hey, not to be TOO self-congratulatory, but yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the first appearance of my work here on The Stonecipher Report!

Much has gone on since I responded to head honcho Tyler "Ripp Stonecipher" Rippeteau’s ad (on Craigslist) seeking local political writers for his site…I am now his site’s semi-official "Political Director" (a la the much admired wonk coverage of the ’08 election for NBC and MSNBC by Chuck Todd) and Tyler’s co-host of The Stonecipher Report radio show (available on Chicago’s WHPK, 88.5 FM or online via whpk.org) (plug, plug!) – as well as a friend now to the all-around good guy who runs this site.

Double the Radio Shows This Week: The Stonecipher Report On the Air Monday, 8-24 AND Tuesday, 8-25

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Aug. 24, 2009

This week, it’ll be another special "two-fer" of The Stonecipher Report radio show. We will be broadcasting over the air as well as via the Internet, live this Monday, August 24, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Chicago time on WHPK-FM…and then we will also be on Tuesday, August 25, also from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. You can tune us in locally (on Chicago’s South Side) at 88.5 FM…and, of course, you can also hear us online at WHPK.org, streaming live by just clicking the "Listen" tab or the "We are STREAMING" window on the station's website.

Monday’s show will feature some talk about local (Illinois) politics…as well as a look at some potential future baseball Hall of Famers – we’ll be all over the place! We’ll also be covering our usual beats in politics and pop culture on both shows, so be sure to try and tune us in at least once this week. We’ll be there – hope you can be, too!

Two Radio Shows This Week: The Stonecipher Report On the Air Monday, 8-10 AND Tuesday, 8-11

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Aug. 10, 2009

Our on-air schedule is changing a bit (once again)…meaning that this week, it’ll be a special "two-fer" of The Stonecipher Report radio show. We will be broadcasting over the air as well as via the Internet, live this Monday, August 10, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Chicago time on WHPK-FM…and then we will also be on Tuesday, August 11, also from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. You can tune us in locally (on Chicago’s South Side) at 88.5 FM…and, of course, you can also hear us online at WHPK.org, streaming live by just clicking the "Listen" tab or the "We are STREAMING" window on the station's website.

Monday’s show will feature a special guest, my long-time friend Ellie Carlson, who has invented Green Guestbook, a paper-free, touch-screen guest sign-in book; I will also play some rare and interesting music. Tyler will be in charge of Tuesday’s show – so look for some great content from him, as well! We’ll be covering our usual beats in politics and pop culture both shows, so be sure to try and tune us in at least once this week. We’ll hope to see you (metaphorically, anyway) then!

The Stonecipher Report On the Air Today - Monday, 8-03

Posted By: Michael Sweeney

Aug. 3, 2009

Our broadcast schedule has shaken up a bit, so…even though we were on last Monday, we’ll also be on – today! Yes, it's time once again for The Stonecipher Report radio show, available over the air or via the Internet. We'll be on Monday, August 3, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM Chicago time on WHPK-FM (tune in locally at 88.5 FM). And, of course, you can also hear us online at WHPK.org, streaming live from 1:00 - 2:00 PM on the West Coast, 4:00-5:00 PM on the East Coast (just click the "Listen" tab or the "We are STREAMING" window on the station's website).

And, due to this scheduling maneuver, Tyler and I will be on TWICE next week – Monday AND Tuesday…so, stay tuned (metaphorically, at least) for those sure-to-be-thrilling upcoming broadcasts…