In the wake of Sarah Palin’s television series and as we wait for her to decide on a possible White House bid, the Capitol Steps have some fun with the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.
Furry with a Singe on Top
Archives for January 2011
No More Anchor Babies
Iowa Rep. Steve King is starting the new Congress with a bill to end birthright citizenship – the practice of conveying U.S. citizenship to anyone born in America regardless of their parents’ immigration status. So why is he proposing this change? Will it require changing the Constitution? How much of a difference will ending birthright citizenship make in stemming the tide of illegals flowing into the country? And how does Rep. King respond to allegations that his legislation lacks compassion and is even discriminatory? We discuss it all with Rep. Steve King.
Getting Specific on Spending Cuts
Republicans won back control of the House of Representatives due in part to a promise to bring runaway spending under control. Now, House and Senate conservatives are unveiling $2.5 trillion in spending cuts through 2021. What specific programs are being targeted for spending reductions? Which ones would be scrapped completely? Will Democrats go along with any of this? And are Republicans ready to make major changes to the political lightning rods of Social Security and Medicare? We ask California Rep. John Campbell, a member of the House Budget Committee and the Republican Study Committee, which is proposing the spending cuts.
Senate Retirements and Red China
We discuss a busy week in politics with John Gizzi of Human Events. Why did Joe Lieberman decide to retire? Are Democrats a lock to keep the seat? Are Republicans heavy favorites to win the North Dakota seat being vacated by Democrat Kent Conrad? Did anything change in America’s favor after this week’s state visit by Chinese leader Hu Jintao? Will the Republicans be able to even force a vote on the repeal of Obamacare in the Senate? And Gizzi offers his memories of January 20, 1981, when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated and the U.S. hostages were freed by Iran.
Three Martini Lunch 1/20/11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Dan Foster applaud Mitch McConnell’s vow to force a vote on repealing Obamacare in the Senate. They also shred Tennessee Rep. Stephen Cohen for suggesting that Republicans calling Obamacare a government takeover of health care is the same as what Goebbels did in Nazi Germany. And Greg and Dan discuss whether today is the halfway point of the Obama presidency or just the midpoint of his first term.
Reflecting the Will of the People
Today, the House of Representatives will vote to repeal the president’s health care laws. And even though it won’t pass the Senate, Republicans are intent on doing what the voters told them to do – scrap the Obama health plan. Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy is also a longtime physician and says the current plan will kill jobs, reduce the quality of care and make our national debt much bigger. Hear his explanations about why Obamacare must be repealed.
China: A U.S.-Created ‘Frankenstein Monster’
As President Obama rolls out the red carpet for Chinese leader Hu Jintao, California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has a much more critical view of our fastest-growing competitor. Rohrabacher says China was a third-world entity until America decided to engage it economically. So how did we get into this very unfavorable economic posture with the Chinese? How do we reverse our horrible positions on trade and with respect our our massive debt? And Rohrabacher saves his strongest comments to describe China’s human rights record. Listen to the full conversation, as we discuss all this with Rep. Rohrabacher.
The Lieberman Legacy
On Wednesday, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman announced he will not seek re-election in 2012 and will retire after four terms in office. From the Clinton impeachment to the health care debate and from being the Democratic vice presidential nominee to being a party pariah just six years later, Lieberman has often been at the center of the political conversation. So what is his legacy? How tough would a re-election fight be? And who might be waiting in the wings to replace him? We discuss it all with former Lieberman chief of staff Michael Lewan.
Three Martini Lunch 1/19/11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty consider the good and bad aspects of Joe Lieberman’s retirement, the thoroughly bizarre case of Oregon Rep. David Wu and the resignations of almost everyone associated with him and why Rahm Emanuel would call upon Bill Clinton to vouch for his character.
Obamacare and Jobs
The House of Representatives has begun debate on repealing the Obama health care laws passed last year. What are the strongest arguments for scrapping the new laws? How will Republicans proceed on repealing individual parts of the law if the full repeal doesn’t get enacted? What answers will the Energy & Commerce Committee demand from Obama officials like HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius? We ask Illinois Rep. John Shimkus, a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health.