Michigan Rep. Peter Hoekstra is the top Republican on the House Select Intelligence Committee. What is his assessment of the new TSA security measures designed to address the security threats to our nation? What does he see as TSA’s greatest mistake? Why hasn’t our government embraced terrorist profiling? And when do our liberties get to trump the effort to convince us that airport security is effective? We ask Rep. Hoekstra.
Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns is once again sponsoring legislation to repeal the provision in the new health care law that would require businesses to file a 1099 form with the IRS every time it piles up $600 in spending with a vendor. It’s the one provision, President Obama has suggested he would allow to be scrapped. So will it happen in the lame duck Congress or anytime soon? How has Johanns amended the bill to make it more fiscally friendly? How ready are Senate Republicans to begin trying to repeal the entire Obama health law? And why does Johanns call the repeal effort a ‘defining moment’ in American history? We discuss it all with Sen. Mike Johanns.
The Capitol Steps lampoon Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the government’s bureaucratic and reactionary policies on airline security. Guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
Defenders of the controversial new TSA security screenings and pat-downs say the new intrusive measures are necessary to preserve the security of the traveling public. But Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the sponsor of legislation against the new TSA policies that has passed the House, says that is a ‘false choice’. What does he mean by that? What security strategy does he believe would be more effective? And will Congress actually do anything about all of this? We ask Rep. Chaffetz.
President Obama is pressing the U.S. Senate to ratify a new START agreement concerning the levels of the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. But former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton says this is a ‘poorly negotiated treaty across a wide range of issues’. So what are his main objections? Why does he see an agreement premised upon fairness as much worse for us than the Russians? And why does he think this deal would only encourage Iran’s nuclear ambitions? Bolton also reacts to Guantanamo detainee and terrorism suspect Ahmed Ghailani being acquitted in civilian court of all but one of 284 charges related to the bombings of U.S. embassies in 1998. Why does Bolton see this as a ‘catastrophe’ for those favoring civilian trials for terror suspects? And what does he think of the Obama administration saying the one conviction shows civilian courts was the right venue? We discuss these two major issues with former Ambassador John Bolton.
John Gizzi of Human Events explains why Democrats remained loyal to Nancy Pelosi despite massive midterm losses. He also weighs in on a bizarre week for New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, who has now been convicted of 11 ethics violations. And Gizzi offers his predictions on which issues will get addressed in the lame duck session of Congress and how they will be settled.
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Stephen Spruiell discuss Nancy Pelosi’s bewildering arrogance in the face of historic election losses, the government’s poor showing in trying a terrorist suspect in civilian court and West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller wishing the FCC would shut down FOX News and MSNBC.
Fresh off a resounding win within Republican ranks over earmarks, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint tells us what we can expect from the larger GOP numbers in the new Congress. Can we really expect major differences in Washington when both parties in both the House and Senate re-elected the same leadership? How will Republicans try to rein in spending? What will they do on health care? What does the Tea Party expect from all of these new members? And how Congress deal with lame duck issues like taxes, immigration, gays in the military and more. Greg Corombos discusses all of these issues and more with Sen. Jim DeMint.
Welcome to Wednesday’s Three Martini Lunch featuring Radio America’s Greg Corombos and National Review’s Dan Foster filling in for Jim Geraghty. Today, Greg and Dan discuss the gift to conservatives of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid being re-elected as Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, the apparent victory of Lisa Murkowski in the Alaska U.S. Senate race and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s call for new technology to prevent the use of cell phones by anyone in a moving vehicle.
Tuesday’s Three Martini Lunch done in conjunction with National Review. NR’s Stephen Spruiell fills in for Jim Geraghty. Spruiell and Greg Corombos discuss Mitch McConnell’s change of heart on earmarks, the possibility of some bad bills getting passed in the lame duck Congress and Lisa Murkowski suggesting America succeeds when President Obama succeeds.
