The killing of Osama bin Laden is an accomplishment mentioned many times by President Obama and his administration. Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod once said the case for a second term could be summed up by saying, “General Motors is a live and Osama bin Laden is dead.” But even though the Al Qaeda mastermind is gone, many veterans of U.S. Special Operations are furious over how the Obama administration handled the matter. A new, scathing internet video accuses Obama of arrogantly taking credit for the kill when he had little to do with it and for revealing operational details they believe compromise our forces, our location, our sources and more. Retired U.S. Navy Captain Larry Bailey was also a Navy SEAL and is co-founder of Special Operations Speaks. He says Obama’s handling of that mission and other sensitive national security issues makes him unfit to be commander-in-chief. Bailey says Obama should have said almost nothing about the bin Laden mission except to say that bin Laden was dead. He contends the president’s ego led to far too much information being made public – all to the benefit of our enemies. When Obama defenders accuse these special ops veterans of being the 2012 version of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Bailey says he wears that allegation as a “badge of honor”. He says his group unequivocally endorses Mitt Romney and wants to see President Obama retired after just one term.
‘Don’t Go Fakin’ You’re Smart’
As the Capitol Steps put the finishing touches on their new ode to Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, the troupe thinks back to 2008 when little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shook up the political world by joining the McCain ticket. Our guest is Steps veteran Mike Tilford.
Three Martini Lunch 8/17/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Dan Foster of National Review are pleasantly surprised that Romney and Ryan seem to be winning the Medicare debate in the early stages. They also scold former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter after learning the voter registration fraud that kept him off the ballot this year should have ended his term in 2008 and 2010 as well. And they discuss Nancy Pelosi’s husband being sued for failure to pay the coach of the pro football team he owns.
I Will Not Vote for Debt Increases
Indiana’s second congressional district is regularly one of the most competitive in the nation. For the past eight years, Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly has held off his Republican challengers. But Donnelly is running for U.S. Senate and Republicans see their best chance to win the seat in years. Former state lawmaker Jackie Walorski is the GOP nominee. She says Indiana has proved that strong leadership can set the stage for strong economic growth by keeping taxes low and government regulations out of the way. Walorski says the same approach can work for our national economy. She vows never to vote in favor of a debt ceiling increase because she says efforts to slow or freeze debt never work because the inertia is too great. Walorski also wants a repeal of the Obama health plan to be the first bill introduced if Republicans gain power in November. That’s because Walorski says Obamacare is the greatest job killer facing businesses and taxes in items like medical devices are needlessly destroying great companies and lucrative careers. Walorski says her Democratic opponent, Brendan Mullen, is nothing more than a plant by national Democrats to hold the seat. She also says Mullen is a staunch supporter of the Obama health plan.
Three Martini Lunch 8/16/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are mildly encouraged that show Mitt Romney ahead or even in three key states. They also discuss why Sarah Palin and some other Republicans are publicly suggesting President Obama dump Joe Biden from the ticket. And they roll their eyes as Obama can’t imagine why anyone would accuse him of dividing America.
The Muslim Brotherhood Threat
Five members of the House of Representatives have come under bipartisan fire for requesting an investigation into government personnel who may have troubling ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The most high-profile name mentioned is Huma Abedin, a very close aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But as the call for a probe is roundly rejected, Act for America founder Brigitte Gabriel says such an investigation is badly needed. Gabriel details some of the reasons Abedin’s position concerns her and she believes there are many others in the government worthy of further scrutiny. Gabriel says the problem is real and growing. She says political correctness and a lack of proper oversight led to the Ft. Hood massacre and she says evidence shows some 100 radicalized Muslims are in the military right now. Gabriel says the United States should not recognize any government led by the Muslim Brotherhood regardless of how it comes to power.
Three Martini Lunch 8/15/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review enjoy learning that 2009 comments from President Obama about how his health plan cuts Medicare benefits directly contradicts what Obama is saying on the campaign trail now. They also groan as Obama brings back the issue of how Mitt Romney treated his dog on vacation 29 years ago. And they unload on Joe Biden for telling a largely black audience that Romney and Paul Ryan want them “back in chains”.
Medicare, Spending & Ryan’s Budget
Most Democrats are slamming newly minted Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan over what they contend are budgets that reduce deficits by gutting vital entitlement programs like Medicare. The critics allege Ryan will end Medicare as we know it and leave senior citizens paying much higher out-of-pocket costs. But that’s just not true, according to Tennessee Rep. Diane Black, a member of the House Budget Committee which Ryan chairs. Rep. Black says the Ryan budget preserves Medicare rather than kill it as Democrats claim. She says Ryan does not propose anything near the hundreds of billions in cuts that President Obama has already started through his health plan. Instead, Black says Ryan sets up market-based competition that would allow seniors to eventually choose between the existing Medicare program or a private sector competitor.
On the flip side of the debate, Black says she cannot say for certain whether the Ryan plan actually reduces Medicare spending or simply reduces the pace that spending increases. She’s also not worried about Ryan’s votes in favor of TARP, auto bailouts and last year’s hike in the debt ceiling. Rep. Black says Ryan is committed to growing the economy by unleashing the free market and rolling back many of the big government initiatives enacted by the Obama administration.
Three Martini Lunch 8/14/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are big fans of a video showing Clinton Chief of Staff and Obama debt commission chairman Erskine Bowles heaping praise upon Paul Ryan and his budget. They rip anonymous GOP operatives for telling Politico they think the Ryan pick is a loser. And they sigh as Michelle Obama tells Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas that she shouldn’t have eaten an Egg McMuffin after winning her first medal.
DeMint Defends Sovereignty
In the past few weeks, two proposed United Nations treaties failed to advance. The small arms treaty failed at the UN while opponents of the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) amassed enough votes to block it in the U.S. Senate. Now, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint says another UN treaty threatens American sovereignty. It’s called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Proponents, including many Republicans, claim it will help to expand rights and opportunities for disabled people in all nations, but DeMint isn’t buying it. The senator says the U.S. is by far the most accommodating nation in the world for people with disabilities and he sees no need to sign this or most other UN treaties because it can only erode American sovereignty. DeMint says the language of the treaty suggests it will promote abortion and chip away at parental rights – particularly the rights of homeschooling parents. DeMint explains what he thinks supporters of the treaty are missing and hos he thinks a Senate vote on the treaty would go if it were held today.