Archives for December 2010

Republicans are generally perceived as getting the better end of the deal on their tax cut compromise with President Obama.  But Arizona Congressman-Elect Dave Schweikert says the plan stinks.  Why is he not impressed with the two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts?  What would be a better plan?  How will the huge freshman class in the new Congress approach the massive deficits?  And what issue will Schweikert personally be focused upon after taking office in January?  We ask all these questions to Congressman-Elect Schweikert.

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Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty celebrate the House Democrats admitting defeat on the tax cut fight after just a week of backlash.  They also gauge the danger that the No Labels group poses to Republicans in 2012 and revel in the bizarre theater played out between President Obama and Bill Clinton at the White House.

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While not liking all aspects of the tax cut compromise hammered out between President Obama and Republican leaders, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker says he is inclined to vote for the deal when it comes to the Senate floor.  Why does he believe this package is worth supporting even though he’s not ‘overly delighted’ with it?  Why does he say it needs to pass before the end of the year?  Will it spark the kind of small business growth needed to jump-start the economy?  How does he sum up the Democratic strategy on the economy?  And does he think it actually will pass in the coming days?  We discuss it all with Sen. Wicker, a member of the Senate Commerce and Small Business committees.

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The Capitol Steps use Christmas carol parodies to take aim at Vice President Biden and his many verbal gaffes.  They also lament the still-weak economy in the midst of the Christmas shopping season.  Guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.

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Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty watch with delight House Democrats ‘punishing’ President Obama by forcing Guantanamo Bay to stay open and denying funding for civilian trials of Gitmo detainees.  They also wince as House Republicans nominate a lawmaker known as the ‘prince of pork’ to lead the Appropriations Committee.  And they discuss the descent of House Democrats into profane name-calling of President Obama.

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On Thursday, the Senate refused to begin debate on the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill, which includes a repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy banning gays serving openly in the military.  So why is this exactly the wrong time to make this change?  Would there ever be a good time to lift the ban?  Did the Pentagon report discover any benefits to lifting the ban?  And what happens to the bill after today’s vote?  We ask Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and its Personnel Subcommittee.

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Iowa Rep. Steve King rips the House passage of the DREAM Act and Democratic leaders for what he considers subversion of the rule of law and defying the will of the American electorate in November.  Why does he feel this is wrong to take up in a lame duck session?  Why does he believe children who are illegals should not be allowed to move on a smooth path to legalization?  And how will a Republican majority in the House take a different approach to immigration.  We ask Rep. King, who is also the top Republican on the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration

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Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty enjoy the Democratic infighting over the tax cut compromise, including Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings giving Republicans WAY too much credit for laying a clever trap for President Obama.  They also express frustration over Harry Reid’s handling of the tax fight in the Senate and try to figure out how Nancy Pelosi tied the Founding Fathers to the effort to legalize illegal immigrants.

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On Wednesday, the House and Senate are scheduled to vote on the highly controversial DREAM Act, which would use taxpayer dollars to help fund the higher education of young illegal immigrants and expedite their path to legalization.  So are supporters correct when saying this is a great way to help these young people become great contributors to society?  How much would this legislation encourage further illegal immigration?  How much would this cost taxpayers?  Will the bill really put illegals with criminal records on the path to legal status?  And does opposing this plan put Republicans at risk of a permanent backlash from Hispanic voters or will legal Hispanic residents be harmed the most from this legislation?  We ask California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who is strongly opposed to the DREAM Act.

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Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty relish President Obama’s descroption of his Democratic critics as ‘sanctimonious’, worry that Obama finally understands the message from the midterm elections and scratch their heads over the strategy that some Democrats believe can propel Obama to victory in 2012.

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