American Morning

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September 6th, 2011
05:27 AM ET

Talk Back: Is the Postal Service obsolete?

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From CNN's Carol Costello:

The U.S. Postal Service, historically a dependable service for Americans, is in trouble.

Facing a $9 billion dollar deficit, the Postal Service says that it does not have the money to meet an obligation to a $5.5 billion dollar retiree health care trust fund coming due at the end of the month and is in danger of defaulting.

The Postal Service also faces competition from Fed-Ex, UPS and digital technology. The Post office delivered 171 billion pieces of mail in 2010, down twenty percent from 2006.

Talk Back: Is the Postal Service obsolete?

Let us know what you think. Your response may be read on this morning's broadcast.


Filed under: AM Talk Back
September 5th, 2011
05:34 AM ET

Talk Back: Do unions help or hurt America?

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From CNN's Carol Costello:

Last month, labor activists in Wisconsin successfully recalled two anti-union state lawmakers after Governor Scott Walker took on public unions and effectively killed collective bargaining earlier in the year.

Labor union leaders who contend that a war is being waged against hard-working Americans by anti-union lawmakers, point to this success, among others, as evidence that they have not lost power.

However, only 11 percent of the U.S. labor force is now represented by unions and middle class workers continue to be faced with plateaued wages and a wage gap that is growing wider and wider. Critics blame the labor unions for these situations, arguing that their large pensions and greed have forced companies to send jobs overseas.

Talk Back: Do unions help or hurt America?

Let us know what you think. Your response may be read on this morning's broadcast.


Filed under: AM Talk Back
September 2nd, 2011
05:21 AM ET

Talk Back: Is the criticism against Chaz Bono and ABC fair?

 

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From CNN's Carol Costello:

Even if you're not a fan of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," you've likely heard of the controversy that erupted on Monday night after it was revealed that transgendered activist Chaz Bono was invited to appear on the show.

Hundreds of viewers are not happy about the invite, with some fans saying they are going to boycott the show and its sponsors, and others claiming that ABC is "pushing the homosexual agenda."

In response, "Dancing With the Stars" executive producer Conrad Green told the Hollywood Reporter, "We don't have an agenda of any sorts. I think of the 120 celebrities we've put on the show, we've had, I think now, three transgender or gay contestants. If that's a homosexual agenda, we're not doing very well at it."

Talk Back: Is the criticism against Chaz Bono and ABC fair?

Let us know what you think. Your response may be read on this morning's broadcast.


Filed under: AM Talk Back
September 1st, 2011
05:30 AM ET

Talk Back: Is President Obama's jobs plan D.O.A. before its even unveiled?

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From CNN's Carol Costello:

After consulting with House Speaker John Boehner, President Obama has agreed to move his scheduled special jobs address to a joint session of Congress back one day to avoid a clash with Republicans.

Now, the prime time speech will be on TV at the same time that the NFL kicks off its first game of the season, instead of the original date, when it would have competed with a televised Republican debate.

This scheduling clash has left many worried that lawmakers will continue to be unable to work together once Congress reconvenes.

As a Washington Post op-ed put it, "This spat sums up so well the image problems that Obama has faced since the start of his term. If the White House has spent months working to appear above the partisan fray – as the y insist they have – then pulling a blatantly partisan stunt like this torpedoes all of that PR work."

Talk Back: Is President Obama's jobs plan D.O.A. before its even unveiled?

Let us know what you think. Your response may be read on this morning's broadcast.


Filed under: AM Talk Back
August 30th, 2011
05:47 AM ET

Talk Back: Should a candidate's religion matter?

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From CNN's Carol Costello:

According to a new CNN/ORC poll, Rick Perry is now leading the pack of Republican presidential contenders. The man trailing Perry: Mitt Romney.

Perry is a Christian who is vocal about his religious beliefs and Romney is a Mormon. Perry's beliefs resonate loudly with conservative Christians, a large voting block in the Republican primaries, while Romney's do not.

As outgoing New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller put it recently, "Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman and Mormons, a faith that many conservative Christians have been taught is a 'cult' and that many others think is just weird." Keller's magazine article also questioned how religion might influence Perry's presidency and that of the other GOP candidates.

Our Talk Back question of the day: Should a candidate's religion matter?


Filed under: AM Talk Back
August 29th, 2011
05:22 AM ET

Talk Back: What will Dick Cheney's legacy be?

"In My Time," Dick Cheney's self-described "political and personal memoir" is set to be released tomorrow and it is already creating a buzz on Capitol Hill.

Cheney himself has said that "heads are going to be exploding all over Washington" when the book comes out.

The tell-all memoir describes the role that Cheney played as vice president in George W. Bush's administration and takes aim at numerous Bush administration officials including Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell.

Talk Back: What will Dick Cheney's legacy be?

Let us know what you think. Your answer may be read on this morning's broadcast.


Filed under: AM Talk Back
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