This whole “how a bill becomes a law” thing always seemed a lot quicker and easier on School House Rock, didn’t it?  Not even close to hitting the President’s desk yet, health care reform legislation makes it’s way to the Senate.  Some, as you might expect, are not along for the ride.  Plus…consumers hunker down for the holidays, laundry mats tumble in the recession, “debt relief” offers little relief (and sometimes more debt), and Forbes counts down the dirtiest cars in America!

For Monday November 9, 2009…

4:50 - It’s on to the Senate for health care legislation.  WSJ Editorial Page Editor Brian Carney joins us to point out a few flaws in the bill that narrowly passed in the House late on Saturday night.

9:42 - It’s good to know that we weren’t the only ones borrowing heavily against our houses during the real estate boom.  It turns out that rich people, who presumably don’t need mortgages in the first place, were doing the same thing!

14:00 - Coin operated laundries were always considered one of those recession-proof businesses, but WSJ’s Kevin Helliker says that you can’t even make a buck one quarter at a time anymore.

20:18 - It’s no secret that retailers are gearing up to offer some big dealsfor the holidays.  WSJ’s Julie Jargon says, however, that all this discounting might be setting up stores for future failure.

24:01 - Do you see an extra dark patch of snow behind the tail pipe of your Jeep Grand Cherokee?  You’re not alone as Forbes magazine names it America’s dirtiest vehicle.

32:08 - After hearing them six or seven thousand times, those debt relief commercials you hear on radio and TV might start to sound like a good idea.  Not surprisingly, Marketwatch’s Andrea Coombes says to beware of claims that are too good to be true.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

Everyone is still trying to make sense of Thursday’s killing rampage at Fort Hood.  We’ll go live to Central Texas to see how people are coping.  Plus…health care reform gets the thumbs up from the AARP, and Fannie lets you rent your foreclosed home.

For Friday November 6, 2009…

4:09- News this morning that the U.S. Army officer who went on a killing spree at Texas’ Fort Hood is alive in the hospital.  We chat with Todd Jeffries of KLBJ-AM in Austin to find out how folks are coping with this tragedy in this part of the Lone Star State.

8:52- The House health care reform bill gets a big thumbs up from the AARP and American Medical Association.  Meanwhile, some House Democrats would like to see a few revisions before giving the bill their seal of approval.

13:44- No matter what meaning you take from Tuesday’s elections, WSJ’s Jerry Seib says that overall, the country is in a foul mood.

20:28- Some good news for some who’s homes are in foreclosure.  WSJ’s Nick Timiraos says that Fannie Mae will allow homeowners to stay in their homes and rent them for up to a year.

24:11- Mike Salvatorelli is getting to the bottom of why we are tempted to be bad.  This segment could also be called “Mike Salvatorelli’s Looks Deeeep Inside Himself”.

31:37- Bargains abound if you’re looking to see a concert this fall or winter.  I chat with Steve Knopper of Rolling Stone magazine to get the lowdown.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

Philly resident Andrew Colton manages to quell his anti-Yankee rage this morning as he fills in for Gordon.  On today’s show…Democrats confront a split coalition, Mexican pot gangs infiltrate Indian reservations, Chrysler vows to make a comeback, Mike Salvatorelli can now tease AND tase Phillie fans from across the room, and Hollywood goes shopping for roomy planes that we’d love to fly in!

For Thursday November 5, 2009…

4:47 - House Democrats are pushing for a Saturday vote on a health care reform bill.

6:08- It sounds like a plot line from the TV show “Weeds” but, unfortunately, it’s all too real.  WSJ’s Joel Millman tells us how Mexican pot gangs have infiltrated U.S. Indian reservations.

9:14- Chrysler vows to profitable again, but some aren’t convinced they can pull off the same kind of turnaround we’ve seen from Ford and GM.

13:28- Democratic party leaders are scrambling to assess the damage from Tuesday’s elections.  University of Maryland Professor Peter Morici thinks that arrogance played a big part in the party’s loss of the New Jersey and Virginia governors’ races.

20:28 - Not all franchises are created equal, and some are downright risky!

21:42 - You may have heard that big bonuses are back on Wall Street (I’m not sure they ever left).  Needless to say, firms are going to have to do some spin control if their execs are taking home 40% fatter bonuses this year.

23:56- Bronx native Mike Salvatorelli has no need to tase anyone the day after his beloved Yankees brought some more hardware.  You never know though, when a taser that can zap someone the length of a football field away could come in handy. 

28:19- When not being hijacked, or crashing into the ocean, airplanes seen in TV shows and movies always seem very spacious and comfortable.  Even the bathrooms are big enough for seemingly endless amorous activity!  Yet, reality never seems to measure up.  WSJ’s Scott McCartney tells us how Hollywood takes flight in custom-built faux planes.

32:27- As the owner of a shiny new Blackberry, I’m particularly interested in this story by WSJ’s Russell Gold on devices that can charge up all of your gadgets…wirelessly! 

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

Republicans claim a momentum shift while the President says…no way!  We’ll dissect the post-Election Day spin, plus…GM shows signs of life, churches head online, cute kids help their parents make ends meet, the Yankees finally find some pitchers who can pitch, and lawmakers score cheap World Series tickets!

For Wednesday November 4, 2009…

4:41 - Republicans score victory in New Jersey and Virginia, bolstering Republican hopes for a congressional rebound in 2010.  WSJ Editorial Writer Brian Carney thinks that the policies of the Obama Administration seem to have affected the races.

10:10 - Small business owners catch a break in the House financial overhaul bill. 

13:38- GM isn’t ready to shrink into a mom and pop operation just yet.  Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl sees some positive signs from GM’s decision not to sell Opel.

20:45- Mom and Dad are short on cash.  Let’s put junior to work!  WSJ’s Anjali Athavaley says the number of parents banking on bucks from their kids’ modeling careers is growing along with unemployment.

23:53- Mike Salvatorelli wouldn’t replace his church experience by logging on to an online church, but there are many who are.

28:26- I have often wondered why someone would out themselves through the excruciating process of running for public office.  Now I know.  To get cheap World Series Tickets!

29:38- Believe it or not, it’s been nearly a decade since the Yankees won World Series trophy.  Since their last win in 2000, they’ve spent the GDP of several small countries trying to find someone who could pitch in New York.  WSJ’s Matthew Futterman details the Bombers search for an arm…any arm!

32:08- A heavy, but very interesting topic to end today’s show.  Spouses of Alzheimer’s patients are turning to outside relationships to satisfy their need for intimacy.  Some shocking details from WSJ’s Alicia Mundy.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

One thing’s noticeable about families in my close neighborhood with similar arrangements. Husbands and wives worry differently about different things.

For example, we’re currently trying to figure out why my young son has a weak stomach some mornings. It’s not nausea, and he’s not spending the time before the school bus in the bathroom. He’s just got some discomfort, and doesn’t feel like eating every morning. At the same time, we’re trying to figure out why my kindergarten daughter gets a terrible bout of the throw-ups every time she seems to catch a bug, which dehydrates her and sends her to the hospital.

My wife handles all of the details regarding their health. It’s the nature of her being home with the kids. Lately, it’s obviously more involved than just annual checkups and flu shots for the kids. The worry, the stool samples, the urine samples, the blood samples, the trips to the doctor, the trips to the hospital, the health-care bureaucracy, the detailed updates to the family and friends, and the lack of firm results are stressing her out.

We agree that there are families going through far worse than we are. That keeps it in perspective. Heck, we only have to look out our kitchen window at the home of a friend who’s a 35-year-old widow with four kids ages 4-12.

The stress on my wife though takes an emotional, psychological, and physical toll when she’s caught up “in the moment.” These “moments” include waiting anxiously for the latest results from blood work. Waiting for a return call from the doctor. Getting multiple referrals for MRIs and endoscopies, and then coordinating the schedules. Dialing her way through automated phone systems.

She’s the first to admit she doesn’t always manage the stress well. This will cause the occasional migraine or stomach pains. It’s as if she does enough worrying for me, too. I think it’s instinctual for many moms to do that.

I think, too, that as dads we stress over different things while our wives are managing other areas of the household.

A friend pointed this out when Kelly expressed frustration that she’s the one having to deal with all the kid-related medical stress.

For example, I worry about every family financial matter on practically a daily basis. How can we have enough money to pay the bills, save for retirement, sock away college money for the kids, improve our rainy day fund, afford a vacation, pay for Christmas, and whittle down the balance on the home equity line of credit? I’m still trying to figure out how to get blood from a stone and/or grow the money tree.

I also worry about losing my job, since I’m the breadwinner. How soon could I find another one if I got canned tomorrow? Is my resume up to date? Am I doing all I should be by networking on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter? How many industry associations do I need to join? If it takes too long to find a job, do I tap retirement savings to keep the house? If I have to sell the house and move to a more affordable location, would I at least break even? Would I be able to maintain a lifestyle similar to what the kids enjoy now if we relocated? If not, am I a failure to my family? Where would I go? Maybe just a smaller house or apartment nearby, so school and friends wouldn’t be disrupted? But wait, it’s not like there are an abundance of radio jobs around like the old days where you’d find a new gig quickly if one didn’t work out. What other line of work should I consider? Do I need more schooling if I change careers? Where do you find time for that, or the money to pay for it?

In the meantime, it’s soccer and dancing on Monday, dancing on Tuesday, CCD on Wednesday, and soccer on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In the end, it’s what we signed up for as parents, right? It reminds of the country music song, “Sounds Like Life to Me,” by Darryl Worley.

Feel free to share your stress-management techniques.

In the meantime, I’m shooting for Date Nights.

Who’s got the mojo heading into 2010?  We’ll find out when the polls close.  In the meantime…we discuss Ford’s big bucks quarter, home remedies for battling swine flu, how to manage when career and caring for an elder collide, and how to deal when playing the dating game with another couple!

For Tuesday November 3, 2009…

5:18 - Republicans appear poised for strong results in key elections today.  WSJ’s Jerry Seib says however, that polls are one thing, while actual voter turnout is another.

10:17 - How ’bout that Ford…huh?  A suprise billion dollar profit from the only bailout-less member of the big three Detroit auto makers has some thinking a car comeback could be on the horizon.

14:03 - Having trouble getting your hands on the H1N1 flue vaccine?  You’re not alone.  That’s why WSJ’s Melinda beck says that people are flocking to the internet to find homemade concoctions they hope will keep the swine away.

20:27 - Hedging their bets to prevent instant obsolecense, some makers of Blu-Ray players are allowing access to online video as well.

23:11 - Car rental taxes routinely get jacked up whenever states need money to balance their bloated budgets.  So, guess what’s happening now?

26:51 - Needing room to store his vast collection of antique pottery, Gordon doesn’t think that Eddie Murphy’s 32 room New Jersey house has enough square footage to suit him.

27:41 - Many of us (if we’re not already) will soon be called upon to care for an elderly or sick relative.  But, what if your company moves your job two states away?  WSJ’s Joann Lublin has tips on how to navigate these tricky waters.

32:18 - Sweaty palms…awkward conversation.  Dating is hard, right?  Well, what if the object of your affection sitting across from you at the table is a couple who you’d like you and your spouse to become friends with?  Tips, tricks, and no-no’s from WSJ’s Elizabeth Bernstein.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

If all the big banks were allowed to fail last fall, would bread lines have been far behind?  We’ll explore, plus…the U.S. clamps down on GMAC, the GOP gets set to propose it’s own health care bill, how to get your extra Halloween candy out of the house, and where to go in the world when you want to find a good, solid moustache!

For Monday November 2, 2009…

4:34 - The government flexes some muscle over bailed-out GMAC.  Meanwhile, author Andrew Ross Sorkin goes deep inside the much debated notion of “too big to fail”, predicting a complete collapse of the economy if the government didn’t step in to bail out failing financial institutions last fall.

9:16 - Feeling left out of the drafting of health care legislation, Republicans have crafted an alternative bill to the ones soon to be debated by the House.

13:24 - It doesn’t matter how many TV’s we buy, or Big Macs we consume, the U.S. economy will most likely fall to #2 in the world within the next decade.  WSJ’s Brett Arends has seen this coming, and has some ideas of how to put your money where the growth is.

20:44 - Small business lender CIT group presents a plan that could speed it through bankruptcy.  Then, WSJTM’s Joe Connolly reports how small businesses that innovate can keep an edge on their competition.

23:57 - It seems like it’s hard to find a good, robust moustache in the U.S. these days.  For those seeking photographic evidence of super soup-strainers, or for people  who seek to be around their own kind, Mike Salvatorelli has the list of the 10 most moustache dense countries!

29:12 - Buying a used car isn’t the craps shoot it used to be as more and more dealers are listing their inventory online.

30:22 - If you still have any Halloween candy left after a weekend of “Snickers for Breakfast” and “M & M’s for lunch”, WSJTM’s Jim Chesko has some ideas for donating your leftovers to charity.

32:24 - Distrust of the government is nothing new in this country, but WSJ’s Jerry Seib says that partisan bickering is helping to take anti-government sentiment to unprecedented heights.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

The economy snaps back, but what happens when stimulus bucks dry up?  We’ll explore.  Plus…the war on books leads to rationing, why you shouldn’t cry for banks executives, how the Village of Sleepy Hollow plans to cash in on a legend, and tweeting do’s and don’ts from Fox’s Troy Aikman!

For Friday October 30, 2009…

4:48- Champagne pops as the economy grows, but cynics wonder how long a stimulus-fueled recovery can last.  WSJ’s Sara Murray says that consumers are unlikely to keep pace.

9:49 - And to think, people thought the book business was in trouble.  As three big retailers engage in a price war on hot titles, rationing rules are put into place to prevent book scalping.

13:45- Curbing executive pay roils some folks who think the free market should dictate all.  WSJ’s Brett Arends thinks though, that cutting back on astronomical salaries will be beneficial to stockholders who gain nothing (and usually lose) when a CEO makes an eight figure salary.

21:04 - A clip from one of my favorite Halloween specials leads us into an interview with the administrator of the Village of Sleepy Hollow, who (as you might imagine) is busy this time of year catering to all manner of scary thrill seekers.

24:16- Gordon and MIke Salvatorelli both enjoy Willie Nelson’s rendition of “Hello Walls” leading into Mike’s story about, of all things, interactive wallpaper.  The only interaction I want with my wallpaper is for it to leave my walls immediately and never come back!

28:37- It’s a whole new world in late night TV as the struggles of the current crop of hosts could open things up for a new generation.  WSJ’s John Jurgensen sizes up the contenders.

32:09- Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman gets to preside over the Brett Favre return to Green Bay this Sunday as part of Fox’s lead broadcast team.  He’s also got some advice for Larry Johnson, who got himself into more than a bit of trouble this week with some questionable tweeting.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

The clock ticks on the first time home buyer credit, but a reprieve may be on the way.  Plus…politicians butt in at bailed out GM, the FAA’s delayed alert on Northwest Flight 188 sparks concern, how to rescue your soon-to-disappear frequent flier miles, and the do’s and don’ts of “power jeans”!

For Thursday October 29, 2009…

4:46 - Credited with helping jolt the housing market, the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit may get a longer life.  Now, if they could only make sure that the people getting credit are legit.  Easier said than done.

6:14- Never a group to shy away from using their sway to influence companies to spend money in their home states, WSJ’s Neil King says that lawmakers are now sticking their noses in the affairs of GM and other bailed out companies for political gain.

9:03- In a post 9/11 world, it’s of particular concern to most of us when a commercial airliner goes astray for any length of time.  For that reason, some are saying that the FAA needed to be a little quicker in alerting the military when Northwest Flight 188 went AWOL last week.

10:13 - Small business networking…how to press the flesh to help grow your business.

13:41- WSJ’s Sudeep Reddy says that Congress is weighing in on just how much authority the Fed should have over “too big to fail” banks.

20:13- WSj’s Rebecca Smith says that upgrades to the power grid could help us tap into electric cars, and so-called “smart” appliances.  That’s good, ’cause I’ve always thought my appliances were a little short on IQ points.

24:11- Mike Salvatorelli, always on top of the latest gadgets that none of us will ever get to own, tells us of a penny-sized nuclear battery.  A skeptical Gordon reminds us though, not to expect a paper-thin, nuclear-powered iPod any time soon.

28:16- If you’re not paying attention, your hard earned frequent flier miles can go up in smoke without so much as a warning.  WSJ’s Scott McCartney tells us some horror stories, and has tips for making sure you get what’s coming to you.

32:05- Finally, a fashion trend I can get behind!  WSJ’s Christina Binkley details the rise of the “power jean” as acceptable interview attire. 

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!

Some solutions emerge to the “Too Big to Fail” problem (besides…just letting them fail).  Plus…GMAC needs more cash, Americans sour on the economy, Northwest pilots lose their wings, a WSJ auto reporter loses his ride, and the Yankees prepare to ride the resilient arm of C.C. Sabathia into the World Series!

For Wednesday October 28, 2009…

4:52 - The Fed gains powers to crackdown on big banks.  Meanwhile, WSJ’s David Wessel discusses the three most popular solutions to the sticky problem of “Too Big to Fail” financial institutions.

8:55 - Long after bailout mania has subsided, GMAC is still in need of some help from it’s friends (friends=us).

10:05 - Apparently too busy updating their Facebook statuses to notice that they overshot the airport, the two pilots of Northwest Flight 188 have been grounded…for now.

13:55 - Just when we were starting to think the good times were on their way back, October happened.  That’s the word from WSJ’s Jonathan Weisman who dissects the latest WSJ/NBC poll.

20:09 - Shhhh!  Don’t tell the bosses, but one of our auto reporters doesn’t actually own a car anymore!  WSJ’s Joe White details how he (of all people) has given up his ride, and what the future holds as the push continues for migration back into city centers.

23:58 - Spray citrus…fight crime!  That’s the word from Mike Salvatorelli who says that a clean smelling environment leads to more moral behavior. 

28:10 - Gordon and Gina both hope that nobody spikes the soda here at WSJTM headquarters with meth, as tennis great Andre Agassi claimed happened to him.

29:09 - Small retail shops can’t compete with the big box stores on price, so they’re gonna get to us early.  That’s what WSJ’s Dana Mattioli found when she learned that some small stores are putting Santas up rignt next to their Halloween decorations!

33:35 - With all the babying of Major League Baseball pitchers these days (Joba, we’re looking at you), it’s nice to know that at least one pitcher thrives on short rest in between starts.  WSJ’s Matthew Futterman tells us about the Yankees C.C. Sabathia’s propensity for throwing gems with minimal rest.

That about wraps it up for today. Make sure you join our ever-growing legion of followers on Twitter to get instant tweets when new podcasts and blogs are posted. We’d also love to have you as a fan of the show on Facebook. And, you can always email your questions and comments to Gordon and Gina at morning@wsj.com.

Thanks for listening!