November 2008

I just returned from my hometown, Phoenix Arizona.  Things are tough there, and I feel terrible for the residents.  Foreclosures up over 30,000 so far this year.  By comparison, in 2006 there were 1500.  Some are illegal residents (don't ask me how they got loans), some are those that ended up under water when their ARM's reset, and then there is job loss, some tragic family stories I heard of ... read more

Last Friday was Opportunity in America:  My Hometown.  I spent the day broadcasting live in Phoenix Arizona, on Halloween of all days.  I had someone I was inspired and honored to meet:  the "Real Medium" Allison Dubois.  She was a wonderful person to meet, not just because she has a hit television show and writes best selling novels.  But because frankly, she was a complete joy to ... read more

One of the highlights of shooting my Opportunity in America series was interviewing someone I have idolized since I was a kid:  Jerry Colangelo.  He is credited with building Phoenix into the city it is today by his guidance of the Phoenix Suns and his stewardship in getting the Arizona Diamondbacks to come to the Valley of the Sun. He spent almost an hour with us, and this is someone who had ... read more

Everyone loves to blame the media, it's almost as much fun I think for folks as blaming the politicians (well, they are responsible for policy).  So is it the media's fault that 72% of us now believe that we are in a recession? That is the assertion made by recent polling data, and I thought about this as we get into the holiday shopping season.  Is it our fault? Will Americans ignore their ... read more

That was my best guess on the show today, that unemployment goes to 8% by December.  Retailers will not hire seasonal workers, and more white collar jobs are going to be lost.  Out of Chicago today, news that city workers and private sector jobs are going going gone.  We are working to get Mayor Daly on the show tomorrow, I will keep you posted. Also, this assessment of initial jobless ... read more