Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review Online cheer the FBI for breaking up the most sophisticated terrorism plot since 9-11. They also assess Rick Perry’s damage control efforts since his rough debate performance. And we we scold New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for suggesting the highest duty of government is to get people to make healthy eating choices.
Rep. Stearns Probes Planned Parenthood
Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns chairs the House subcommittee investigating Planned Parenthood’s use of taxpayer dollars. Are they being used to fund abortions? Are recent undercover videos accurate when they depict Planned Parenthood workers advising supposed pimps on how to keep abortions for underage prostitutes under wraps? How does Stearns plan to get to the bottom of these issues? We discuss it all with Florida Rep Cliff Stearns.
Taxpayers in the Back Seat
Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith reacts to the Solyndra officials refusing to testify before Congress last week. What does their refusal to testify suggest to him? Have there been any good answers on why taxpayer money kept flowing to Solyndra even after it was the clear the company would fail? Will the key answers come from Solyndra executives or from Obama administration officials? And important is the probe into why the private donors to Solyndra got priority in being paid back over U.S. taxpayers? We discuss it all with Rep. Griffith, a member of the House subcommittee investigating the controversy.
Three Martini Lunch 9/28/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review Online loved the way Chris Christie exposed President Obama as relying on fear, division and hatred for his re-election – the very things Obama denounced in 2008. They also rip former Obama budget director Peter Orzag for suggesting that gridlock could be solved by less democracy through Congress and more actions taken through executive orders and special commissions. And they slam the Obama administration for questioning Ford over a new ad highlighting that Ford is the only U.S. automaker that didn’t take bailout money. And they slam Ford for caving in and pulling the ad.
It’s Time for Congress to Grow Up
A dispute between parties over whether to offset additional disaster aid funding with cuts in other areas triggered another showdown in recent days on Capitol Hill. It turns out FEMA was able to find enough money to get through the month, but what did this latest debate show us? Why did Republicans insist on cuts elsewhere in exchange for more disaster recovery assistance? What was the Democratic response to GOP calls to pay for the extra disaster aid? How might the Democrats be compared to a teenager? We discuss it all with Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold, who also urges his own party to get moving on appropriations bills or else risk losing the moral high ground with Democrats on fiscal responsibility.
Obama’s Problem with Black Voters
On Saturday, President Obama told the Congressional Black Caucus to stop complaining and put on their marching shoes for him and his agenda. But how frustrated are black Americans with Obama and the results to date of his agenda? How are many of them reacting to his demand that they stop complaining? Why did such language get such a positive response from the very people he was scolding? And are black voters really ready to look for another candidate or sit out the 2012 campaign? We talk with Deneen Borelli, a fellow with the Project 21 Black Leadership Council.
Three Martini Lunch 9/27/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review Online are happy to see Obamacare and the individual mandate fight coming to the Supreme Court sooner than many expected. They also groan as President Obama fields a town hall question from a man pleading to have his taxes raised and unload as the government bans typical asthma inhalers and mandates more environmentally friendly ones that are much more expensive.
What’s Really Fair on Taxes?
President Obama says it’s time for the rich to pay their fair share in taxes. So, what percentage of income is earned by those targeted in the Obama plan, and how does that compare to the percentage they pay in taxes? What exactly does Obama mean by a “Buffett Tax” and how much would it be? Why will Americans see higher investment and Medicare taxes even if the Obama plan fails? What other taxes does the Obama plan include that could make an upcoming flight very uncomfortable for you? And will any of this make a serious dent in our national debt? We discuss it all with Peter Sepp, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union.
Three Martini Lunch 9/26/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review Online are glad to see Herman Cain’s campaign get a shot in the arm with a win in the Florida straw poll. They’re also weary of the latest Chris Christie speculation and fear he could be getting pushed into this race even though he doesn’t want to run. And they have some fun with Obama finding critical common ground with Lady Gaga – on the campaign against bullying.
No Palestinian State
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson says the Obama administration would be wise to veto any resolution trying to advance Palestinian statehood. But Wilson also believes Obama missed a golden opportunity at the United Nations to condemn Iran’s terrorist activities and nuclear weapons program. Why is Wilson strongly opposed to Palestinian statehood? Does a peace process even exist right now? What should be our policy toward Israel? And what does Wilson wish Obama would have said about Iran and Syria? We discuss it all with Rep. Joe Wilson.