Governors Tim Kaine & Christine Todd Whitman – both at TCG

The Common Good is off to a great start this May. We have two former governors who have earned national reputations – one is a Republican and the other a Democrat. Please reserve your space as soon as possible for our first two events:

On Tuesday, May 1, The Common Good will host a luncheon discussion from 12:15 – 1:45pm with former Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia’s 70th Governor and current candidate for the U.S. Senate, who remarkably led the state to one of the highest ratings for fiscal management and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Governor Kaine will share his views with a small gathering over lunch on the critical economic issues in the upcoming election cycle and what changes he believes we should implement to create more jobs and strengthen our economy.

On Thursday, May 10, Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey (R) and head of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush, joins The Common Good for a private lunch discussion. Her topic: “Can there be more Reasonable Ground in our Political Process?” How do we handle the increasing partisan unwillingness to find common ground in making national policy? How do we fix the broken political system? Public policy debate and politics grow ever more acrimonious just as we need to find solutions to the looming problems around energy, climate change, job growth and the budget deficit. Governor Whitman will tackle these questions and more.

RSVP to rsvp@thecommongoodusa.org or call us at 212-599-7040. Non Members may attend two events before becoming members.

DYLAN RATIGAN

Dylan Ratigan broke bread with us at The Common Good to discuss what lies ahead in our rapidly changing national environment.  Ratigan expressed great concern about the need for an active
and informed electorate and greater transparency and accountability in a political system where money has too much influence.

Ratigan is the New York Times best-selling author and host of MSNBC’s The Dylan Ratigan Show, the highest-rated, non-prime time show on the network. Ratigan also discussed his book, Greedy Bastards, which spent five consecutive weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List.

Ratigan served as the Global Managing Editor for Corporate Finance at Bloomberg News Service, and before that had covered mergers and acquisitions, the US stock market and IPOs.  At Bloomberg, he co-created and hosted Morning Call for Bloomberg’s cable network and the USA Network. He has served as a contributor to ABC News and his articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald and Chicago Tribune.

Ratigan has created and/or anchored a number of shows on finance and the market.  He was the host of Fast Money, which he co-created with Susan Krakower. Previously, he was the first anchor of CNBC’s On the Money. He also anchored the CNBC TV program Bullseye for about a year and a half. In addition to his former duties as co-anchor on Closing Bell, Ratigan was a rotating co-anchor of The Call.

Ratigan left Fast Money in 2009, provoked by outrage over the government’s handling of the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, he has dedicated his work to launching platforms that engage and debate the U.S. government on policy, while opening the door for millions to learn more about money’s often poisonous role in elections and democracy.

Zbigniew Brzezinski

The Common Good hosted a very special Luncheon and Discussion with Former National Security Advisor and Statesman, Zbigniew Brzezinski, with an introduction by Mika Brzezinski,  Anchor of Morning Joe on MSNBC. Brzezinski  spoke expansively about his new book, Strategic Vision.

America, Brzezinski argues, must define and pursue a comprehensive and long-term a geopolitical vision, a vision that is responsive to the challenges of the changing historical context. His new book seeks to provide the strategic blueprint for that vision.

SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL

Senator Maria Cantwell paid a visit to The Common Good.  She sounded a bit frustrated with the lack of bipartisan progress on many of her issues, such as alternative energy and the environment, but she is working hard to get more accomplished in these areas.

BARNEY FRANK

His name is certainly apropos.  Congressman Barney Frank is candid and brilliant.  He spoke to The Common Good about reducing the deficit and building the economy. Frank says the biggest savings must come from reductions in defense spending.

TCG met with one of Congress’ most powerful and engaging leaders, Congressman Barney Frank,  on Tuesday afternoon, June 7 for a discussion over coffee. Frank, who was Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee before Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2008, spoke about implementation of the financial reform he helped shape and other topics.