My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Can 'Rottenboroughs' Save Romney?

2012-01-25T06:58:00.002-05:00

Should Hawaii and Vermont choose a GOP nominee? Should Alabama and South Carolina pick the Democratic nominee? Can a candidate like Romney rack up delegates from states likely to vote for President Obama to get a primary win over his new arch rival? It might be a question today.

It's been on the minds of partisan since at least the 1860 convention.

When We Help Ronnie, We Help Ourselves...

2012-01-14T19:07:00.002-05:00

How a plan to help then Governor Ronald Reagan led to the creation ofthe Firewall, the First in the South primary in South Carolina. It's joined the early states of IA, NH in the role of nomination decider. We look at its origins and a couple of other times South Carolina has changed the politics of the nation.

Oracle No More? New Hampshire, History and Today.

2012-01-05T07:48:00.003-05:00

New Hampshire's first in the nation primary has been a decider and an oracle for a long time. It's been a quirky American tradition surprising to outsiders. In recent decades, though, in today's light-speed politics, it has suffered some setbacks as a selector of the President. We look at NH's history and what it means for today's battle between Romney, Santorum, Paul and Gingrich

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2011-12-29T07:34:00.003-05:00

For Access to most of the podcasts we've published for the last five years, the archive is available Simply pay through paypal and download the episodes once you are transfered to the archive site. Hours and Hours of podcasts on history and politics!

Just Like Dear Old Dad?

2011-11-12T10:27:00.003-05:00

We look at one GOP candidate's father, his race for the Presidency because it is both an interesting look at early campaign dynamics in an election of American's past, and because it may provide insights into one candidate's drive to run today.

The fact that there are only two candidates who can trace their name into 20th century national politics at all is also discussed.

The Whole World is Watching

2011-10-27T19:16:00.002-04:00

The whole world was watching Chicago in 1968 and it seems, the whole political world may be watching the protests now in New York and other areas. Chicago '68 ruined the incumbent Democratic Party's chances for reelection and didn't stop the war immediately as organizers wanted. Yet it certainly had an impact on public opinion. We see a large group of protests now, albeit smaller in number than in the late sixties. We look at Occupy protests in comparison to Chicago and the cities.

The Civil War and The Beatles (2010)

2011-04-21T11:23:00.004-04:00

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. we look why the war started at all, especially where there were many reasons why it did not need to happen. And as strange as it sounds, the anniversary of the breakup of the Beatles may actually shed some light.

Brief Read of "Decision Points"

2011-03-18T09:27:00.003-04:00

A look at former President George W. Bush's memoir "Decision Points" with a bit of historical context. As in several aspects of his Presidency, President Bush took a different path from his own father's reticence about memoirs. George H.W. Bush didn't write a memoir, though he did publish a book of letters. George W. Bush went immediately to writing his memoir days after his Presidency ended. While little in the book is a surprise, it does add some perspective that will be part of the discussion as current voices and historians look at his Presidency.

Discuss History and Politics On the Facebook Site

2011-01-08T11:13:00.000-05:00

The 'My History Can Beat Up Your Politics' Facebook Site allows you to discuss issues with other listeners. There are threads on current podcasts, current issues and favorite books to comment on. On occasion, I will use this site for Question and Answer Podcast.

Purchase The Archives -$14.99

2009-12-07T09:17:00.001-05:00

Like what you hear? Want more? For Access to most of the podcasts we've published for the last five years, the archive is available Simply pay through paypal and download the episodes once you are transfered to the archive site.

The archive provides hours and hours of podcasts on history and politics, and a discussion of most relevant issues.

Is Healthcare Constitutional?

2009-10-09T10:10:00.001-04:00

Are you allowed to sell your wheat wherever you want? Refuse vaccination? Carry a firearm? Have an abortion? These questions are all connected, it appears.We don't answer the question but speculate based on Supreme Court rulings in other cases and the early history of American Federal Power.

Historic (2008)

2008-11-08T15:57:00.001-05:00

This election is clearly historic. In this podcast we talk of course about the most obvious way: the first African American President. And how that achievement might have happened a long time ago but not for a turning point in history. But we also talk about the myriad ways this election is historic: the major event of a serious female contender for President, the 2nd female VP candidate and first Republican, an election during a war, an election during a recession, an election with no incumbent or veep, a high turnout election, a non 'anti-Washington' election, an election with incumbent party candidates who (once again in history) tried without success to run against the President, an election where money was king but not fatcat money as much as little money, an election where the polls were right, an election where a losing VP candidate (edwards) and a NYC mayor didn't win..but a man unknown to most four years ago, became President - elect, something it appears Americans may like to do. So many ways 2008 is historic, and a great data point for future elections to be judged by. For historical political observers, it's like a nice piece of steak to dive into.

The Declaration of Independence

2008-07-03T09:20:00.000-04:00

In time for the holiday, the Declaration..what it says, the purpose behind the document, who signed it and what it still means today.

We'll discuss the reasons we don't celebrate our national holiday on August 2nd, June 7th, or July 2nd, though one could make a case for anyone of those dates.

Iraq in the Context of American Wars

2008-05-10T14:36:00.000-04:00

The Iraq War is longer than American action in World War II, World War I and the Civil War. Only the Revolutionary War and Vietnam were longer. In this podcast we look at Iraq in comparison to other wars in US history. Blood and treasure are the common ways one judges a wars impact on society at an given time We look at several different ways to look at this.

In many ways the Iraq War's impact on our society is much less than other wars. But in one way it is suprisingly more impactful.

Hear More. Purchase the Archives of MHCBUYP!!

2008-01-08T10:16:00.001-05:00

We've touched on most topics discussed in American political life in the course of this podcast. For Access to most of the podcasts we've published for the last five years, the archive is available Simply pay through paypal and download the episodes once you are transfered to the archive site.

The archive provides hours and hours of podcasts on history and politics, and a discussion of most relevant issues.

Feedback?

2007-01-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

I will look to comments on the Facebook site for feedback on the My History Can Beat Up Your Politics podcast. The discussion tends to be more robust, questions that have been answered can be seen, and other readers can jump in.

The 'My History Can Beat Up Your Politics' Facebook Site allows you to discuss issues with other listeners. There are threads on current podcasts, current issues and favorite books to comment on. On occasion, I will use this site for Question and Answer Podcast.

Also, you can commment below.