Archives for January 2012

He was a larger than life figure who was one of the most famous celebrities of his time.  He rose through the ranks of the military through incredible accomplishments but will always be remembered for the battlefield defeat that is synonymous with failure.  Gen. George Armstrong Custer is one of the most compelling personalities in American history.  And he is now the subject of a new documentary entitled “Custer’s Last Stand”.  It premiered earlier this week as part of the American Experience series on PBS.  Listen here as we discuss the Custer legacy with documentary writer and director Steven Ives.

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It’s all crazy martinis today as Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty try to figure out why Rick Perry stayed in the race after Iowa only to quit before South Carolina.  They’re also shaking their heads as Iowa GOP officials sort of announce Rick Santorum won the caucuses but say they really don’t know.  And they react to Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife saying the former Speaker of the House divorced here because she refused his request to have an ‘open marriage’.

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In December, Congressional Republicans forced President Obama to make a decision within 60 days on whether to approve or reject Canada’s offer to build the Keystone XL pipeline all the way through the U.S. and down to the Gulf of Mexico.  The Obama administration claims that three years has not been enough time to fully evaluate the environmental impact of the project.  Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry says that is “political bull” and explains why that excuse from Obama runs contrary to recent statements from the State Department.  Rep. Terry discusses the ecological issues involved with the pipeline and has some more choice comments for pipeline critics who claim the resources in the pipeline would end up in China anyway.

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On Wednesday, House Republicans approved a measure to reject an extension of the debt ceiling.  But thanks to the debt ceiling deal from last summer, the vote is largely symbolic.  South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney says today’s gesture doesn’t give him much solace because Republicans “gave up” on the debt ceiling battle last summer and essentially handed President Obama a free pass on the current $1.2 trillion extension request.  Mulvaney further explains why he believes the only real solution to the crisis was to reject any debt ceiling increases last year.  He also addresses critics who say his approach would have devastated the U.S. credit rating.

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On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to block President Obama’s request for a $1.2 trillion hike of the debt ceiling.  But the Senate is not expected to follow suit and, even if it did, neither chamber could stop President Obama from vetoing that rejection.  Oklahoma Rep. James Lankford is a member of the House Budget Committee.  He explains what statement can be made through this vote, what Republicans can do this year since they’re powerless to stop the additional borrowing and what kind of spending cuts his party is prepared to make.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review enjoy watching the Occupy movement lose the last shreds of any credibility.  They also fear Mitt Romney is not going to have a clear explanation about why he paid taxes at a 15 percent rate.  And we chuckle as Newt Gingrich asks all other conservatives in the race to quit so he can take on Romney.

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Earlier this month, President Obama outlined his plans to dramatically reduce military spending.  Part of the plan is to stop building new aircraft carriers and reduce the number we currently have.  James Robbins is a senior editorial writer at The Washington Times and served as a special assistant to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.  He explains why reducing our carrier fleet is a bad idea, why China’s plans should convince Obama to reconsider and why the notion that the Navy is an outdated form of American power is dead wrong.

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In four days, voters in South Carolina will cast their ballots in the Republican presidential primary.  But as they make up their minds, voters do not seem to be lining up behind the candidate that best reflects their views but rather the candidate they think can win in November.  The latest survey from Monmouth University shows Mitt Romney ahead of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – both among evangelical voters and Tea Party members.  We discuss it all with Patrick Murray, director of Monmouth’s polling institute.  He also explains what impact Ron Paul may have on Saturday and what it will take for someone other than Romney to seize the momentum.

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Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review cheer Newt Gingrich for his verbal pummeling of debate panelist Juan Williams on the issue of food stamps and poor kids getting jobs.  They also scold Mitt Romney for acting like he has no idea that a Super PAC is launching a relentless string of negative ads on his behalf.  And they pound South Carolina Democrat Jim Clyburn for claiming Romney’s denouncing of class warfare politics is the same as a bus driver telling Rosa Parks to go to the back of the bus.

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There are five days remaining until the critical South Carolina primary and now there are just five candidates left in the running.  That’s because former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman dropped out of the race on Monday and threw his support behind Mitt Romney.  South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan joins us to discuss how much this development shakes up the GOP race and whether voters agree with Huntsman that Romney is the inevitable nominee.  Duncan also explains what a huge percentage of undecided voters want to hear before making up their minds and what he hopes will be the first accomplishments in 2013 if Republicans take Congress and the White House.

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