The View from Down Here: October 9, 2012
The presidential campaign had a possibly game-changing moment last week with challenger Mitt Romney almost universally declared the winner of the first presidential debate and seeing his poll numbers take a nice jump. But will it last? What do the new unemployment figures mean? Will the vice-presidential debate be meaningful? And why is David Letterman calling Romney a felon? Brendan and Gavin also find time to talk about a soon-to-be-canonised American religious sister and declining birth rates. Thanks for listener feedback, too. We’d love to hear from more of you out there.
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The View from Down Here: October 2, 2012
It’s a pretty heavy show this week, with talk the Pope and bishops giving clear instructions on the role of Christians in politics. Brendan and Gavin also talk about the polls and the Catholic vote, the religion of past presidents and the state of the presidential race. The ongoing saga of the Libyan consulate attack and murder of four Americans also gets some attention, especially the administration’s poor handling of the situation, possibly bordering on telling falsehoods to the American public. There is a little light relief after all that; here’s the clip Brendan referenced from Bill Bailey.
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Station XV: Episode 60 — A cathedral, a proposal and a Martini
Same-sex marriage continues to dominate Catholic discussion in New Zealand and leads this month’s episode of The 15th Station. With our studio out of action, James and Gavin talk across the oceans about that story, including a sporting analogy that was devised to demonstrate how redefining words is a dangerous precedent. The guys also talk about the tributes for Cardinal Carlo Martini, the possibility of a joint Anglican-Catholic cathedral in Christchurch and the place of Catholicism in the upcoming US election. They end with the story that went around the world — the fresco fiasco. Thanks for listening and we’d love to get your feedback.
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The View from Down Here: August 28, 2012
With about 10 weeks till the presidential election, The View from Down Here returns with a typically busy show, with discussion of a poll formula that’s predicted the past eight elections, the choice of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s VP candidate, a couple of convention controversies, a couple of foot-in-mouth situations and efforts to hold the campaigns accountable for spreading falsehoods. Included in the discussions is this exchange between CNN’s Anderson Cooper and DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Enjoy the show.
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Station XV: It’s our birthday!!
As we mark the Feast of the Assumption, the patronal feast of New Zealand, The 15th Station celebrates our fifth birthday with a typically full show. Dunedin Bishop Colin Campbell’s strong letter denouncing the proposed opening of an abortion clinic leads the show, but other heavy issues like the Egyptian election, same-sex legislation in New Zealand and the mass shootings at a Sikh temple and a Colorado movie theatre. A big thank you to all our listeners over the past five years, during which time tens of thousands of shows have been downloaded. The show will go on 🙂
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Station XV: Episode 58 — Repeal, repeal, repeal
In Sesame Street style, this month’s episode of The 15th Station is brought to you by the word “repeal”, as we discuss the near repeal of President Obama’s health care legislation, the attempted repeal of the affiliation of a university pro-life club and the possible future repeal of refugees’ rights in New Zealand. Rest assured, though, there have been no attempts to repeal the 15th Station — enjoy the show.
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The View from Down Here: June 26
After illness and travel commitment, The View from Down Here returns with a full slate of stories that range from the downright scary to the ridiculous. In the former category is the controversial treatment of Attorney General Eric Holder regarding a policy that saw guns put in the hands of Mexican criminals — guns that were later used to kill an American man. Now, President Obama is using executive privilege to protect Holder. President Obama is also using his executive pen to allow young illegal immigrants to stay in the United States if they’ve been making a contribution to the country. Firmly in the ridiculous category is an Obama campaign suggestion that people use their wedding registry to help bankroll his re-election campaign. And there are plenty of stories between those extremes. Thanks for listening, and we’d love to get your feedback.
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Station XV: Episode 57 — Of budgets and butlers
The big international stories of the month fell on either sides of Atlantic, with Catholic organisations in the US sue the Obama administration over aspects of its health care reforms while, across in Rome, the Vatican was dealing with a series of documents allegedly leaked by the papal butler. In the Antipodes, Budgets and the ongoing debate about same-sex marriage grabbed headlines. But fear not, we’ve also got our trademark light story for the month.
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The View from Down Here: June 6, 2012
After a one-week hiatus, Brendan and Gavin catch up on some of the big stories in US politics, culture and religion. They include the changing face of the presidential election, as criticisms mount of President Barack Obama, even from “friendly” quarters, a marked shift in the proportion of pro-choice and pro-life Americans, and the law suit filed by 43 Catholic organisations, including the archdioceses of New York and Washington, DC. We’d love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.
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The View from Down Here: May 22, 2012
With there now being a two-horse race for the presidential campaign, President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney have started what will be a lengthy battle of advertisements making the case for their nomination — or against their opponent. Brendan and Gavin discuss the contrasting tones of the ad, and the continuing trend of President Obama’s campaign to insert its collective foot in its mouth, as it did with this ad. Or you can click here to see the Romney ad, “Day One”. The guys also talk about threats against a Catholic parish in Massachusetts over same-sex marriage and the controversy that keeps on going — the contraceptive mandate as part of the president’s health care package. No shortage of meaty stories in this week’s issue.
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