Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called him “one of the best strategic thinkers in uniform today”. Admiral William Fallon is known for his challenges to the war policies of the Bush-Cheney administration. His commitment to putting diplomacy first marked his career of 40 years as a leader to the U.S. military. The Common Good was thrilled to host Admiral William Fallon to brief us on U.S. national security needs at a time when the international climate is very unstable.
Do flaws in our justice system drive inequality in the United States? Journalist and two-time New York Times bestselling author, Matt Taibbi revealed his findings as an advocate journalist for the stories kept hidden, those of corruption and fraud. We heard Taibbi’s ideas about what is threatening our justice system and the power wealth has to tip the balance, as published in his recent book The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap.
The Common Good encouraged members to take a look beyond the numbers and the 24 hour news cycle for a dynamic and fascinating breakdown of the 2014 Elections with an incredible lineup of political experts: John Harwood, Patrick Caddell, Anna Greenberg, Carol E. Lee, Steve Kornacki, Jim McLaughlin, and Jefrey Pollock.
Incumbent Democratic Senator John Walsh was bidding for a second term in the Treasure State in the 2014 elections. Despite primary opposition and a Republican opponent who was polling 14 points ahead, Walsh counted on the appeal of his career in uniform, experience as lieutenant governor, and recent role as appointed Senator.
As the largest city in the United States, New York faces serious threats on a daily basis. New York Police Commissioner William J. Bratton spoke about a wide range of topics from the controversial Stop and Frisk, to terrorist scares, the head of the NYPD offered his expert insight on the state of our city—and its safety.
Fifty years after John F. Kennedy’s shocking and saddening death, our country is wrapped up in an era marked by political division, partisan bickering and cynicism. But attorney and author Scott Reich believes that Kennedy’s inspirational and timeless message of public service and active citizenship—values that The Common Good so proudly promotes—has a new resonance today.
Nicole Hockley made us remember, David Gergen made us think – and laugh – and Edie Windsor inspired us at The Common Good American Spirit Awards. All of us at The Common Good want to thank all our Sponsors, guests, friends and supporters who helped make this night a huge success! With your help, we look forward to a bright future.
President Obama announced executive actions in July to combat global climate change. Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants New York City to spend $20 billion to prepare for global warming-related dangers. The vast majority of climate scientists agree that human activity is contributing to changing climate, but polls still find large percentages of Americans don’t believe that climate change is real.
The Common Good hosted Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner who offered his insider’s perspective on events in Egypt and American options to the political turmoil that had dominated Egypt since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and led to a takeover of the government by the Egyptian military.
The Common Good hosted an important discussion with a highly respected journalist on how to get U.S. policy right in the Middle East. David Rohde has argued that U.S. military power in the region is limited, so that empowering civilian institutions may be the critical way forward for our foreign policy. Can Muslim moderates, not Americans, eradicate militancy? Rohde, led a discussion about how to make U.S. policy more effective in the region.
Joseph Lhota has spent years in the public and private sectors as a manager. He ran the MTA as chairman and CEO, and he served in Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s administration as budget director and deputy mayor. Lhota also helped run Cablevision and Madison Square Garden. He ran for the city’s top job, trying to stand out in a crowded field.
Bill Thompson lost a surprisingly close mayoral race to Michael Bloomberg in 2009. Now Thompson is back for another run for Gracie Mansion, hoping to emerge from the wide-open field as the Democratic nominee once again. With the support of the Teachers’ Union and years of private sector experience in addition to his long record as a public official, Thompson is tougher than ever.
The Common Good hosted Congressman Joseph Kennedy III for a power breakfast. The Massachusetts Democrat talked about his growing portfolio of legislation in the House of Representatives and his priorities for our country moving forward. He’s hard at work on everything from budget issues to civil rights, and has been busy promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, which is, as Joe puts it, “a vehicle not just for economic competitiveness abroad, but for economic opportunity at home.
