Category The J.R. Hoeft Show

Dr. Quentin Kidd, Director of the Judy Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, enjoyed this post-election interview knowing that his center’s polling was spot-on when it came to predicting Ed Gillespie’s final total.

Kidd explained that he noticed a trend among voters called the “shy Tory” (h/t Garren Shipley) that he incorporated into CNU’s polling beginning in 2016. To account for them, he asked questions to draw them out so that Republicans would not be under-sampled. Also in this podcast, Kidd describes how Ed Gillespie was perceived by the electorate, the Trump effect, the mood of the voters to create a wave election, how northern Virginia is changing Virginia politics, whether issues had anything to do with the results, how the down-ticket races were perceived, how parties should communicate with the electorate, and what all this means going forward to the as of yet undetermined General Assembly.

Links of note:

• Judy Wason Center for Public Policy
• Corey Stewart Press Conference – Nov. 8
• Real Clear Politics – Virginia Governor
• Election Results

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Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, also elected as Virginia’s attorney general, and president of American Opportunity along with Norman Leahy, columnist at The Washington Post and reporter for Real Clear Investigations, joins J.R. to preview and predict the 2017 Virginia General Election. We take a look back at the key moments for each campaign – governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and Virginia House of Delegates – and also analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Gov. Gilmore also looks back on his campaigns and offers insights on how elections have evolved. We also discuss some other political heavy-weights, like former Gov. Doug Wilder and U.S. Senator John Warner and their role this election cycle. And, Gov. Gilmore reflects on redistricting (some very interesting thoughts).

Links of note:

• Virginia Public Access Project
• Virginia House of Delegates
• “Ralph Northam’s Campaign Stumbles Toward the Finish” (Leahy’s latest column)
• Real Clear Politics – Virginia Governor Polling Trends

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Reverend Mark Nieting has been a Lutheran educator and pastor for four decades. He joins J.R. to explain the importance of Martin Luther and the ideas and reforms put into motion 500 years ago.

On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted a series of discussion points on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg just prior to the major festival of All Saints Day – and not by chance. Luther did this for maximum exposure, knowing that many people would be coming to church the next day.

Luther’s ideas, while clearly spiritual, played a profound and lasting role that can still be felt to this day in government, education and literacy, economic freedom, and personal responsibility – which is exactly why we’re talking about it on a show known for its politics!

Rev. Nieting talks about who Luther was and his lifelong quest of trying to “find peace with God.”

This pursuit led the reformer to not only find his answer in scripture but unleash ideas that would bring about societal change, particularly those ideas which gradually eroded the Medieval feudal systems that were in place.

Through the good fortune of provincial protection, a strong network of allies, the arrival of the printing press, and time to devote to his translation of the Bible from Latin to German, Luther’s lasting legacy is not only evident in Protestant Christianity across the world, but in our systems of government.

Links of note:

• Video series: A Man Named Martin Luther ((Lutheran Hour Ministries)
• Video series: The Protestant Reformation (Khan Academy)
• Project Wittenberg (A collection of Luther’s and Lutheran writings, doctrines, confessions, and hymns)
• The 95 Theses – A Reader’s Guide (a recent post by the Lutheran Church summarizing Luther’s points)
• The Lutheran Insulter (Luther wasn’t always PC)
• Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany

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The 2017 Virginia Republican ticket joins J.R. for a comprehensive look at the campaign as it heads into the homestretch. Ed Gillespie for governor, State Sen. Jill Vogel for lieutenant governor, and John Adams for attorney general make their case as to why Virginians should elect them Nov. 7, 2017.

In a policy-focused discussion, the candidates talk about the economy, energy production, job growth, attracting businesses to the state, healthcare and Medicaid expansion, public safety, combatting gang violence, partnerships with local law enforcement and the federal government, and providing support for those battling opioid addiction.

Getting through the noise and chaff created by their opponents and the media, this podcast gives the straight answers you’ve been looking for. This includes a discussion on how the policy to combat MS-13 is not an anti-immigrant policy, but a pro-immigrant one or how questioning whether Democratic candidate for LG, Justin Fairfax, could “talk intellectually” about the issues has nothing to do with race, as The Washington Post alludes, but about his complete inexperience on how the state government operates. On the other hand, when you have a record like Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam or Attorney General Mark Herring’s, there is ample opportunity to compare and contrast with them too.

There is little doubt going into the final days of this campaign that the ticket feels unified and confident.

Gillespie said that the ticket has all the “intensity, energy, and momentum” right now, and that sentiment was echoed by his running mates.

If you would like to know more about the campaigns, visit:

• Ed Gillespie (edforvirginia.com)
• Jill Vogel (vogelforvirginia.com)
• John Adams (johnadamsforva.com)

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In 1980, then-presidential candidate Ronald Reagan appeared alongside President Jimmy Carter to discuss the environment at an event in Steubenville, Ohio.

Reagan, who we all know as the great communicator, said:

“I have flown twice over Mount St. Helens out on our West Coast. I’m not a scientist and I don’t know the figures, but…”

Thus was born what has been called by GOP strategist Mike McKenna “the dumbest talking point in the history of mankind.”

And this is on page one of Dave Levitan’s book, “Not a Scientist: How Politicians Mistake, Misrepresent, and Utterly Mangle Science.”

You can only imagine where it goes from there.

We send our representatives to decide lots of things for us that they’re not experts in, so, why should science be any different when it comes to policy? As long as good testimony is being given by qualified experts, saying “I’m not a scientist” can only be considered a crutch.

The array of rhetorical devices politicians employ are numerous: Whether it’s oversimplifying the complex, cherry-picking data, buttering up only to undercut, or my personal favorite, blaming the blogger, there’s a convoluted pretzel of an argument that you’ve likely heard before – and probably, if you’re like me – accepted hook, line and sinker.

Levitan joins me to talk about how he came up with the idea for the book, how he collected and cataloged the information, and then he explains the rhetorical devices that politicians employ to “advance” their agenda. Spoiler alert – they only undermine it.

This book is a must-read for all Republicans – if only to stop the embarrassment.

Links of Note:
Dave Levitan’s Official Book Page
FactCheck.org and SciCheck
Interview on Science Friday
Interview on Physics World
Goodlatte Praises Passage of Micah’s Law

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on iTunes or Stitcher – and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player above and listen to it via your device
2) Go to iTunes or Stitcher and subscribe to the podcast to automatically download new shows to your device when they are uploaded. Listen to the shows through your iTunes or Stitcher app. (How to from iTunes and from Stitcher)
3) Added tip: Connect your device via Bluetooth or USB to your car radio, select the aux or media input on your radio for your device, and press play on your device for the show either on the post or through iTunes/Stitcher.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS