The Capitol Steps eavesdrop on President Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton as they try to stop the GOP in the 2010 midterm elections. Guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
Right Wing Striking Again
Archives for May 2010
U.S. Burdened By Huge Bureaucracy – Just Like Greece
One of the biggest reasons for the Greek financial crisis was the massive growth in government – and the money need to pay salaries and benefits of the ever-expanding government workforce. So how bad did it get in Greece? How bad is it here? How much bigger does President Obama want the federal bureaucracy to get? How much could our federal workforce be reduced while still performing all essential functions? And can this trend be reversed? We ask Lurita Doan, administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) for President George W. Bush.
Kagan Key to Radical Obama Agenda
While senators try to figure out what type of Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan would be, former Cincinnati mayor and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell says he already knows. Blackwell says the court and the Constitution are the only remaining hurdles for Obama to overcome in his march to European-style socialism. Why does he believe that? What kind of rulings does Obama expect from his nominees to the high court? What issue coming before the court will have a major impact on where our country heads in the years to come? We ask Blackwell, who is also co-author of a new book entitled “The Blueprint”.
Climate Bill An Act of Desperation
Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman are pushing the latest Senate version of climate change legislation. But is it really any different from the controversial bill that passed the House last year? How could it impact your bottom line? What would the bill accomplish even if humans do contribute to climate change? And how much has the massive oil spill hurt the effort to increase domestic energy exploration? We ask Arizona Rep. John Shadegg,a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
More Incumbents in Crosshairs
It’s been a rough week for longtime Congressional incumbents in both parties, and it may continue next week. John Gizzi of Human Events examines the Democratic Senate primaries in Pennsylvania and Arkansas and the GOP fight in Kentucky. We’ll also get his insights on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan and the unusual new coalition formed to rule in Great Britain.
‘Great Faith in the Marines’
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson serves on two House committees closely connected with the war in Afghanistan. How much progress does he think the U.S. and our allies are making against the Taliban? What kind of fight for Kandahar does he anticipate? Why does he believe Hamid Karzai is the right leader for Afghanistan? And will there be a fierce fight or smooth sailing in the debate over war funding? We ask Rep. Wilson.
Less Experience Than Harriet Miers
While supporters hail Elena Kagan’s lack of judicial experience as a breath of fresh air for the Supreme Court, Robert Knight of the American Civil Rights Union and Coral Ridge Ministries says many of the same people helped to sink Bush nominee Harriet Miers – who had more experience than Kagan. Knight explains why he thinks the Kagan pick is entirely political and why he would be an activist judge on the high court. He also previews the new Coral Ridge documentary “Socialism: A Clear and Present Danger”.
The News
President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai present a united front despite reports of deep rifts, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form coalition government in the UK, West Virginia Democrats soundly defeat longtime Rep. Alan Mollohan, health care cost estimates rise…again, Elena Kagan makes the rounds on Capitol Hill and all but one passenger dies in a Libyan plane crash.
Obama Refuses to Identify Enemy
President Obama says we are making considerable progress in our efforts to crush the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. He also insists there has been no major rift between him and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But retired U.S. Air Force General Tom McInerney says Obama still won’t explain who the enemy is in this war – which is radical Islam. McInerney also discusses the coming fight over Kandahar and whether the Afghans are capable of holding the military successes the U.S. achieves.
Congressional Incumbents Beware
In Tuesday’s primary, West Virginia Democrats booted 14-term Rep. Alan Mollohan by a wide margin. That follows Utah Republicans denying Sen. Robert Bennett a spot on their primary ballot for a fourth term. How endangered are incumbents in both parties? Are Senators Arlen Specter and Blanche Lincoln in big trouble in next week’s primaries? Could booting the incumbents now actually improve the parties’ chances of holding those seats? We ask Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.