Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review debate the strengths and weaknesses of a Jon Huntsman presidential bid. We also slam President Obama for his burdensome demands on Israel just to begin a peace process. And we have some fun with the CIA’s anti-leak memo about the bin Laden mission being leaked to the press.
‘We Stand with Israel’
On Thursday, President Obama vowed to protect Israel but also said the Jewish state needed to cede all land gained from the 1967 Six-Day War in order to set the stage for meaningful peace talks with the Palestinians. He also chided both our allies and adversaries for being anywhere from resistant to deadly violent against demonstrators. So what should we make of Obama’s latest speech on the Middle East? We ask Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh, a member of the House Israel Caucus.
Showdown in New York – 26
On Tuesday, voters in New York’s 26th Congressional district will choose a new representative in Congress. The latest polls show a pretty tight race among Republican Jane Corwin, Democrat Kathy Hochul and Tea Party hopeful Jack Davis. Who has the momentum in this race? Will the resignation of former GOP Rep. Mike Lee impact the outcome? Why are Republicans convinced the Tea Party candidate is actually a Democrat trying to siphon votes from Corwin? And is this race a referendum on the House GOP’s economic plan? We discuss it all with Nick Langworthy, chairman of the Erie County, NY, Republican party.
Three Martini Lunch 5/19/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are eagerly anticipating a very blunt political memoir from Dick Cheney. We wonder why a self-avowed socialist was ever allowed to run the International Monetary Fund in the first place. And we point out the insanity of a liberal group’s new web ad depicting Rep. Paul Ryan shoving grandma off a cliff because of what they see as his ill-conceived Medicare reform plan.
‘It’s Not True’
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter is strongly denouncing President Obama’s claim that all necessary measures have been implemented to ensure a secure southern border. What is the real state of our borders? What was the real purpose of Obama’s speech? And why is Sen. Vitter sponsoring legislation that would remove citizen status for the children of illegals born in the U.S.? We discuss it all with Sen. Vitter.
Drilling Proof is in the Permits
Last weekend, President Obama announced his intentions of expanding domestic energy production with new leases in various offshore drilling areas from the Gulf of Mexico to the waters off Alaska. But does his statement show a real commitment to greater production or is this just a political stunt to give the impression of more drilling when the reality is just the opposite? What will prove whether Obama is serious about more drilling or whether this is just rhetoric? What are Senate Republicans doing to force greater domestic energy production? And would full-scale energy production really just be a drop in the bucket compared to our consumption, or would it put us on the brink of energy independence? We discuss it all with Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Obamacare Waivers & Stumbles
The president’s health care bill was sure to be a major issue in the 2012 campaign – but not among Republicans. Both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have taken heat for their positions on the issue. Romney for backing mandates at the state level Gingrich for attacking the House GOP Medicare reform plan. So what is the impact of their statements on the national debate? We ask Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute. She also weighs in strongly on the political nature by which Obamacare waivers seem to be granted.
Three Martini Lunch 5/18/11
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are happy that a Republican appears to have qualified for the runoff in a predominantly Democratic Congressional district. We document Newt Gingrich’s latest political headache, and we speculate what might be involved with Al Qaeda naming an interim leader in the wake of bin Laden’s death.
Conservatives and Health Care
For the past few days, conservative circles have been buzzing as GOP presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich try to embrace mandates while denouncing the Obama health plan. Gingrich also called the new House Republican Medicare reform plan “right-wing social engineering”. So how are Congressional Republicans reacting to all of this? Where do most stand on mandates? And is the Ryan plan radical – especially when compared to Obamacare? We discuss it all with Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is also still a practicing physician.
How to Help Small Business
The unemployment rate is 9.0 percent and the real rate is much higher. Nearly all experts say mall businesses are the key to getting out of this jobs funk. But what do they need to start hiring? How is runaway spending in Washington hurting job creation efforts? And what can Congress do about burdensome bureaucratic regulations? We discuss it all with Tennessee Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a member of the House Small Business Committee.