Is today’s official merger between Chrysler and Fiat a sigh of relief for Chrysler’s future or another example of intrusive government? Will this deal ultimately be any good for Chrysler workers? How will the current auto industry crisis impact Michigan’s unemployment rate over the rest of this year? We ask Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who will also sound off on banks getting permission to repay their bailout money and the appointment of a “pay czar” to oversee compensation for corporate executives.
Obama Administration Orders Afghan Terror Suspects to Be Read Miranda Rights
The Obama Justice Department has reportedly ordered FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees in Afghanistan. How long has this been happening? How much valuable intelligence could we be losing? Is the U.S. reverting back to it’s 1990s policy of treating terrorism through the criminal justice system? How are Republicans in Congress reacting to all of this? And how explosive could this issue become on Capitol Hill? We ask Stephen Hayes of The Weekly Standard.
Police Executive Praises Security Response to Holocaust Museum Shooter
On Wednesday, an 89-year-old gunman opened fire at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington. One security guard was killed and the shooter was shot in the head. So how strong was the security response? How tough is it for security personnel to spring into action when they see so little violence on most days? And should we be worried about this string of high-profile murders targeting Jews, the military and an abortionist? We ask Jim Kouri, vice president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.
Consumers Now Optimistic About Where the Economy is Heading
The economic news continues to disappoint, but a majority of Americans are now optimistic about our nation’s economic course. What is triggering this rise? How much of it has to do with the gains on Wall Street? How do people feel about the actual economic policies being implemented? We ask Terry Jones, associate editor at Investor’s Business Daily, which conducted the survey.
Gen. Paul Vallely Addresses the North Korean Threat
North Korea is threatening to wage a nuclear offensive against any country that threatens its security. It has also sentenced two U.S. journalists to 12 years of hard labor. What message is North Korea trying to send? How seriously should we take these threats? Why did North Korea put the female journalists in prison? Will the Obama administration or the international community ever force their hand? And are the Chinese really interested in ending North Korea’s nuclear program? We ask retired U.S. Army Major General Paul Vallely, who served for 20 years as the Army’s deputy commanding general in the Pacific.
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson Slams Obama Call for PAYGO Rules in Congress
On Tuesday, President Obama asked Congress to officially install PAYGO rules in an effort to demand fiscal discipline. The concept calls for any tax cuts or increase in benefits to be offset in spending cuts or increased taxes before being implemented. So is this the smart way to get our country back on sound financial footing? Or is this just a slick way of pushing tax increases and costing the economy even more jobs? We ask South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson.
The News
We have Monday’s top news… How many new jobs is President Obama promising by the end of the summer? How does he plan to do it? What setback did Obama get from the Supreme Court on the Chrysler reorganization plan? What announcement did GM make today? What decisions did the Supreme Court also make today on gays in the military, Tyco executives and suing the government of Iraq? And what happened on Wall Street today? We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, June 8, 2009.
Previewing the Virginia Democratic Primary for Governor
On Tuesday, voters in Virginia will choose the Democratic nominee for governor. It’s a tight three-way race in these off-year elections. So who are the candidates and which one is likely to emerge as the nominee to face Republican Bob McDonnell in November? Is this campaign a referendum on President Obama or the Democratic Congress? What historical trend favors the GOP even though Virginia seems to be tilting further to the left? We ask Professor Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, and we’ll also discuss his new book “The Year of Obama: How Barack Obama Won the White House”.
Supreme Court Upholds Law Forbidding Gays in the Military
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 1993 law forbidding homosexuals from serving in the military. Is this decision a surprise? How vigorously will the Obama administration push for gays to serve openly in the armed forces? How would removing the ban impact military recruitment, retention, morale and performance? And why do political figures, activists and members of the media get it wrong when they say “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the current law when it comes to gays serving in the military? We ask Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness.
Ted Kennedy Proposing Critical First Step to Government-Run Health Care
As we get closer to a Congressional showdown on health care reform, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy is proposing language that would force employers to provide health coverage to their workers or face financial penalties. So why is this a critical step in the push for government-run health care? Could this provision get taken out or is this an essential component in the Democratic plan? Why are private insurance companies getting on board with all this? We ask Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute.