Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review cheer the choice of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s running mate – both for his intellect and his command of the economic problems we face. They also fear Ryan’s budget gives Democrats ample opportunity to make attacks that the GOP may have trouble defending. And they marvel as DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz claims she has no idea if the Super PAC behind anti-Romney ads is headed by Democrats.
‘We’ll Hold Her Accountable’
Former Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra easily won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this week. He now faces two-term Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. The senator holds a double-digit lead according to two different polls, but Hoekstra says when voters understand how Stabenow has been a loyal follower and supporter of President Obama’s agenda – which Hoekstra says has been terrible for Michigan and the nation. The GOP nominee also takes aim at a common Obama narrative that his administration’s bailout and restructuring saved the U.S. auto industry. Hoekstra says the Obama approach will reap temporary benefits because of all of the money spent but he insists a free market approach would have set up Detroit for much stronger growth in the long term. As for the state of his campaign, Hoekstra admits a Superbowl ad brought a lot of trouble for the campaign. The ad featured a girl in China thanking Debbie “Spend It Now” for making China rich off our debt and the recipient of U.S. jobs. Unions and other critics blasted the campaign on multiple fronts and Hoekstra slipped in the polls. Hoekstra says many lessons were learned in that experience and claims his campaign is stronger than ever for having endured it.
Roberts Takes Wrath from the Right
In late June, the Obama health plan and the individual mandate survived Supreme Court scrutiny. It happened because Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s four liberal justices to keep the law alive. Now the Capitol Steps go inside what the GOP calls a betrayal by one of their own.
Three Martini Lunch 8/10/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review think an attempted New York Times hit piece on Romney actually shows Mitt Romney to be thoughtful and generous. They also unload as President Obama accuses Romney of being complicit in tax fraud and possibly paying nothing in taxes. And they discuss reports that Guantanamo Bay detainees are completely fascinated by “The Fresh Prince from Bel Air”.
‘Fool Me Twice’
President Obama has been actively fundraising and campaigning for re-election, but other than claiming a superior tax plan, Obama has said very little about what he would pursue if given another four years in office. WND.com Senior Correspondent Aaron Klein tells us what we should be ready for if Obama wins again in November.
In his new book, “Fool Me Twice: Obama’s Shocking Plans for the Next Four Years Exposed,” Klein and co-author Brenda J. Elliott detail the goals being pushed by the same progressive organizations that influenced Obama on his stimulus plan, health care plan and many other policies over the past four years. Klein tells us explains what “fairness” could mean over the next four years – the government deciding wages in the private sector by determining the value of a job, much more government spending and even higher tax rates to pay for it all. Klein also says the agenda will likely include a major push for a single-payer health care system – possibly without consultation with Congress. Green jobs will remain a high priority according to Klein, who says the Left wants to create a Green Bank and kill disagreement to the climate change movement through the return of the Fairness Doctrine. Klein also asserts that Obama wants to radically change the military – away from a force ready to defend the nation to one that supplements diplomatic efforts and combats global warming and poverty around the world.
And Klein reveals how Obama’s leniency toward illegal immigrants will take on new dimensions, including an effective ban on policing out own borders. He explains why he believes these plans are good indications of where Obama would take the U.S. and why Obama isn’t saying much publicly about his intentions.
Three Martini Lunch 8/9/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty are pleasantly surprised to see CNN vigorously challenging the Democratic Super Pac Priorities USA on its ad contending that Mitt Romney’s callousness led to a woman dying of cancer. They’re also stunned to see MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski scolding the Obama campaign for not denouncing the ad. And they groan as Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul says the woman mentioned in the ad would have had access to medical care if she lived under Romney’s plan in Massachusetts.
Stopping More Solyndras
Since regaining control of the House of Representatives in 2011, Republicans have closely probed the loss of $535 million in taxpayer dollars on the failed green energy firm known as Solyndra. Now the man who chaired most of the Congressional hearings tells us about the report released by Republicans. Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns chairs the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversights and Investigations. Stearns details how taxpayers were supposed to be first in line to get their money back but private investors got their money back while taxpayers got nothing. He also discusses what he sees as the problems with the Energy Department’s loan program that Stearns says tried to pick winners and losers and failed miserably. moreover, Stearns says government should not be trying to artificially control the energy sector. The congressman contends that market forces should be allowed to dictate winners and losers and federal interference needs to be rooted out. As a result, Stearns is sponsoring the ‘No More Solyndras Act’. It would codify that taxpayers are always the first to be reimbursed when a firm receiving taxpayer dollars goes bankrupt. But it would also the type of investments government makes and encourage a market-oriented approach to the energy sector and beyond.
Three Martini Lunch 8/8/12
In a special edition of the Three Martini Lunch, Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review discuss who they think would be good, bad and crazy running mates for Mitt Romney. They consider the upsides and drawbacks of several names being reported as being under consideration by the Romney campaign.
‘White Girl Bleed A Lot’
One of the least reported and most alarming trends in recent years is the rise of flash mob racial violence that leaves battered victims and results in the media and political figures consistently downplaying the severity of the attacks. That’s the focus of the new book, “White Girl Bleed A Lot,” by acclaimed author Colin Flaherty, who was also speechwriter for the first black head of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Flaherty explains why he decided to document this surge in mob violence and reacts to contentions from black leaders that this violence has always been part of the inner city and is only getting attention now because it is spilling into the wealthier parts of town. Flaherty tells us to what extent the media and city leaders across the country try to avoid or downplay the racial component. He says admitting the facts in these cases would force liberal activists and politicians to admit decades of racial policies have not been successful. Flaherty also explains why he focuses on mob violence by blacks as opposed to other races.
Three Martini Lunch 8/7/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are encouraged that President Obama seems to have no vision for a second term other than to raise taxes. They also urge calm among Republicans worried about the lineup of convention speakers. And they wonder about the curious political timing of a Justice Department probe of prominent Republican donor Sheldon Adelson.