Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman are pushing the latest Senate version of climate change legislation. But is it really any different from the controversial bill that passed the House last year? How could it impact your bottom line? What would the bill accomplish even if humans do contribute to climate change? And how much has the massive oil spill hurt the effort to increase domestic energy exploration? We ask Arizona Rep. John Shadegg,a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
It’s been a rough week for longtime Congressional incumbents in both parties, and it may continue next week. John Gizzi of Human Events examines the Democratic Senate primaries in Pennsylvania and Arkansas and the GOP fight in Kentucky. We’ll also get his insights on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan and the unusual new coalition formed to rule in Great Britain.
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson serves on two House committees closely connected with the war in Afghanistan. How much progress does he think the U.S. and our allies are making against the Taliban? What kind of fight for Kandahar does he anticipate? Why does he believe Hamid Karzai is the right leader for Afghanistan? And will there be a fierce fight or smooth sailing in the debate over war funding? We ask Rep. Wilson.
While supporters hail Elena Kagan’s lack of judicial experience as a breath of fresh air for the Supreme Court, Robert Knight of the American Civil Rights Union and Coral Ridge Ministries says many of the same people helped to sink Bush nominee Harriet Miers – who had more experience than Kagan. Knight explains why he thinks the Kagan pick is entirely political and why he would be an activist judge on the high court. He also previews the new Coral Ridge documentary “Socialism: A Clear and Present Danger”.
President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai present a united front despite reports of deep rifts, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form coalition government in the UK, West Virginia Democrats soundly defeat longtime Rep. Alan Mollohan, health care cost estimates rise…again, Elena Kagan makes the rounds on Capitol Hill and all but one passenger dies in a Libyan plane crash.
President Obama says we are making considerable progress in our efforts to crush the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. He also insists there has been no major rift between him and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. But retired U.S. Air Force General Tom McInerney says Obama still won’t explain who the enemy is in this war – which is radical Islam. McInerney also discusses the coming fight over Kandahar and whether the Afghans are capable of holding the military successes the U.S. achieves.
In Tuesday’s primary, West Virginia Democrats booted 14-term Rep. Alan Mollohan by a wide margin. That follows Utah Republicans denying Sen. Robert Bennett a spot on their primary ballot for a fourth term. How endangered are incumbents in both parties? Are Senators Arlen Specter and Blanche Lincoln in big trouble in next week’s primaries? Could booting the incumbents now actually improve the parties’ chances of holding those seats? We ask Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Great Britain has a new prime minister in David Cameron, but only after Cameron’s Conservative Party forged a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. How will this partnership impact the Conservative agenda? What issues could spark major fights within the coalition? What LibDem ideas will get traction in Parliament? And how will this change in government impact Britain’s relationship with the U.S.? We ask former British diplomat Jonathan Clark.
Congressional incumbents are bracing for the wrath of the voters, and Marine Corps combat veteran Jesse Kelly hopes that works to his advantage against Democratic Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. How big of an issue will immigration policy be in this campaign? Why did Kelly enter the race long before the immigration debate erupted again? How does his combat experience impact his approach to national security? And where does he stand on hot-button social issues? We ask the candidate.
The British witness a changing of the guard in the Prime Minister position as Gordon Brown resigns and David Cameron replaces him. More horrific news from mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac demands reforms but Congress does nothing. Prominent evangelicals are propose immigration reform marked by secure borders and a path to citizenship. Oil executives and senators spent the day placing blame for the disaster now responsible for spilling four million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. A stunning development in the fight over the veterans’ cross in the Mojave Desert and Vice President Biden’s son suffers a mild stroke.
