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Watch Bear in Mind:
Bear in Mind is now being videotaped for UCTV. For air
times and channel info, see UCTV's schedule.
Shows are also archived for Web viewing on demand.
Previous
conversations:
Current edition
September 2007
The Hewlett Challenge, the Energy Biosciences Institute, and equity and inclusion
March 2007
The Energy Biosciences Institute
Dec. 2006
Exploring intercollegiate athletics at UC Berkeley
Oct. 2005
From stem cells to smart buildings: The world of research
at UC Berkeley
May 2005
Christopher Edley, Maria Mavroudi,
and Tyrone Hayes on the challenges facing UC Berkeley
July 2004
Introducing Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau
Sept. 2002 - April
2004
Episodes hosted by previous chancellor Robert M. Berdahl
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Episode 17, April 23, 2004
Watch Bear in Mind on UCTV
UCTV will broadcast this Election Special episode of Bear in Mind each
day during the week of May 24. See UCTV's schedule
for specific Bear
in Mind airtimes,
or visit the on-demand archive of
past videotaped episodes. (UCTV is carried on Comcast Channel 33
in Berkeley.) |
In a special election edition of Bear in Mind, Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl
conducts a lively roundtable discussion with three campus experts on the political
scene: Steven Weber, associate professor of political science and
director
of the MacArthur Program on Multilateral Governance at Berkeley's Institute
of
International Studies; Bruce Cain, Robson professor of political
science, and director of the Institute of Governmental Studies; and Tom Campbell,
dean of the Haas School of Business and former five-time congressman representing
Silicon Valley. At the end of the program, Berdahl shares what's
on the Top
of his Mind: the need informed, insightful discussion of issues
in a democracy.
The audio-only interviews below are in RealOne Player format (see
these links for
downloading the free version of the software). Have a suggestion
for a topic or a guest? E-mail bearshow@berkeley.edu.
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Hear
the entire episode from start to finish ...
48:51 minutes
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Introduction
1:16 minutes |
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International affairs: The Iraq effect
14:22 minutes
What impact will the turmoil in Iraq have on the presidential election?
Will continued fighting and more U.S. casualties drag down President
Bush, or will voters rally around the sitting president? And will
the administration be asked — and be able — to justify its
actions in Iraq?
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The terrorism wild card
2:41 minutes
A pre-election terrorist attack against U.S. interests could be politically
advantageous for the administration, making it difficult for Democrats
to position themselves as a credible and stronger alternative. Or it
could leave voters with the impression that the Bush team has failed
to make the country safer, despite four years and plentiful resources.
In Professor Weber's words, "Al-Qaida is without question the
single most important voter in this election." |
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Character counts
4:44 minutes
A candidate's character is a crucial factor in modern elections, often
overriding the importance of issues and policies. Dean Campbell argues
that that isn't all bad — issues may come and go, but character
remains. |
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It's the economy, stupid
8:55 minutes
The panelists agree that the state of the economy has traditionally
been the #1 domestic issue when an incumbent president seeks re-election.
And this economy may get boiled down to a single statistic: Is unemployment
better or worse than when President Bush took office? If so, look for
the return of Herbert Hoover to the political equation. Also, what
has happened to the once fiscally disciplined Republicans on the issue
of the deficit? "I weep for my party," says former GOP congressman
Campbell. |
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Return of the Patriot Act
6:28 minutes
The Patriot Act has ridden roughshod over many of the civil liberties
Americans have long cherished, and the administration may have a hard
time identifying benefits that have come from those costs. But one
more terrorist attack could make the Patriot Act seem tame, as the
public opts for promises of security over the "legal niceties" of
civil liberties. |
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The rest of the field
3:42 minutes
What other issues will matter in this year's election? The environment?
Gay marriage? Abortion rights and the future makeup of the Supreme
Court stand out as a serious concern, especially to women. |
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Prediction time
3:05 minutes
As of April, who will win in November? Or will it be so close and so contested
again that no one will really be sure?
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Top
of Mind
3:36 minutes
Character vs. issues: Does informed, insightful discussion still matter in elections?
If, as Dean Campbell says, "explaining is losing" in politics, it's
a sad and distressing notion. Elections in a democratic society should be
about explaining. How candidates explain their actions, their values and their
plans for leadership should be the basis for our vote. |
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How to get RealOne Player:
Follow
these links to download the software's free version
for your specific
platform: Mac
OS 8 or 9; Mac
OS X; Windows
95; Windows
NT 4.0, 98, ME, XP, or 2000.
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