Greg Corombos and National Review’s Kevin Williamson applaud the House GOP for trying to end taxpayer funding of presidential campaigns. They also assess the horrific CBO numbers on the deficit and the future of Social Security, and they try to find words capable of explaining just how awful Virginia Rep. Jim Moran is for suggesting racism is the reason for the 2010 midterm election results.
No Plan for Fiscal Sanity
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann delivered a response to the president’s State of the Union address for the Tea Party. Today, she tells us why today’s deficit news proves we are are on a very dangerous fiscal course. Why was President Obama ‘shameless’ in his remarks about deficits? How will Republicans fight back against the criticism that will inevitably follow their proposed spending cuts? Why does Bachmann think Republicans can make some major spending cuts despite Democratic control of the Senate and White House? And how exactly will Republicans reform entitlements that eat up so much of the budget? We discuss it all with Rep. Bachmann, chairwoman of the House Tea Party Caucus.
GOP Freshman Not Impressed
Oklahoma Rep. James Lankford was among the many GOP freshmen attending their first State of the Union address, but he was not very impressed. Why does Lankford say he was expecting steak and got leftovers instead? Why does he believe President Obama has the wrong approach to job creation and isn’t very serious about debt reduction? What did his experience as director of America’s largest Christian camp teach him about running a business and how jobs get created? And why does he say the scope of our debt problem is far worse than he ever realized even when running for Congress? We ask Rep. Lankford, a member of the House Budget Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Obama’s Missed Opportunity
President Obama and Rep. Paul Ryan both highlighted the need to attack our mounting debt. Did the president show he was ready to do what is necessary to get our fiscal house back in order? How about Rep. Ryan? What should we make of Obama not moving forward on the proposals offered by his own debt commission? And what should we look for in the president’s new budget to see how serious his reform efforts really are? We discuss it all with David Walker, former Comptroller General of the United States and founder of the Comeback America Initiative.
Three Martini Lunch 1-26-11
Greg Corombos and National Review’s Jim Geraghty celebrate a grim but honest and candid Republican response from Rep. Paul Ryan. They also groan as President Obama once again targeted Big Oil and “the rich” as needing to pay more to the government. And they discuss the lethargic response members of Congress seem to have throughout the speech.
More Spending Not the Answer
As President Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union message, Louisiana Rep. John Fleming says it’s time for Obama and all of Congress to commit to spending cuts and smaller government. What will that actually look like? Should Congress go along with any sort of additional stimulus plan designed to spur job creation? And what kind of showdown can we expect over funding of the president’s health care plan? We discuss it all with Rep. Fleming, who is also a longtime physician.
Three Martini Lunch 1/25/11
Greg Corombos and Jim Geraghty of National Review dread having to watch the State of the Union but are looking forward to Rep. Paul Ryan’s response. They also have fun with Rahm Emanuel’s ballot problems and wonder if a GOP House freshman is already in an ethics mess.
Murderous Child Bigotry
New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith is leading the fight against taxpayer-funded abortions. But as pro-life groups mark the Roe v. Wade anniversary and the grim reality of the lives taken over the past 38 years, Smith says the pro-choice side of the debate has skilfully kept Americans in the dark about the horrors that take place every day in U.S. abortion clinics – not just in the criminal practice of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. We discuss the Gosnell case and Monday’s March for Life with Rep. Smith.
The Pro-Abortion President
New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith is one of the leading pro-life voices among House Republicans and is man leading the fight to ban taxpayer-funded abortions. Are there taxpayer-funded abortions right now? What will happen when the Obama health plan is fully operational? What other fights are coming down the pike over abortion – including over Planned Parenthood? We discuss it all with Rep. Smith.
First Repeal, Now Replace
Last week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the president’s health care plan. Now the GOP is moving forward on its ideas to reform the health care system for the better. So what are its big ideas? What are the four major components of the plan sponsored by Georgia Rep. Paul Broun, who is also a longtime physician. How would Republicans expand consumer choice and keep health care costs down? Would they incorporate some of the components of the Democratic plan – like removing caps on coverage and rejecting patients with pre-existing conditions? How would Republicans use tax breaks to tax breaks to greatly ease the cost of health care? We discuss it all with Rep. Broun.