Sen. Arlen Specter was soundly defeated in Pennsylvania, Sen. Blanche Lincoln may not survive a runoff in Arkansas and the establishment GOP candidate in Kentucky was routed. What do these results tell us about the mood of voters in 2010? What role is the Tea Party having? Why should Republicans be very sobered by Democrats hanging on to an open House seat in Pennsylvania? We get insight from Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Another Tea Party Senate Nominee?
Fresh off Rand Paul’s huge win in the Kentucky Republican U.S. Senate primary, Tea Party activists are looking to lift another GOP underdog to the November ballot – this time in California. Why is Assemblyman Chuck DeVore running to unseat Democrat Barbara Boxer? What issues are driving his campaign? How does he plan to overcome two other Republicans currently ahead of him in the polls? We ask U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore.
The News
Key Senate primaries in several states, Connecticut Senate front-runner faces accusations of lying about his military service, Indiana Rep. Mark Souder to resign this week, embed reporter says Karzai brothers contributing to U.S. troop deaths.
The Trouble with the Karzais
Ann Marlowe of the Hudson Institute has just returned from her sixth embed assignment with U.S. troops in Afghanistan. What has she learned about Hamid Karzai’s brother secretly – and legally – helping our terrorist enemies build improvised explosive devices (IED). How is this happening? What connection is there to President Karzai? What can the U.S. really do about any of this? And what other challenges are facing our troops? We ask Ann Marlowe.
Permanent Lockup
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that ‘sexually dangerous’ prisoners can be incarcerated beyond the terms of their prison sentence. Is this a good decision? Can the worst sex offenders be rehabilitated? Are there other ways to ‘fix’ them? What is most responsible for the apparent rise in sexual predators? And are further laws necessary? We ask Marc Klaas, founder of The Klaas Kids Foundation in honor of his daughter, Polly, who was abducted and killed in 1993.
Boxer, Reid Top Pro-Life Targets
Reports suggest Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will veto a bill require women to undergo an ultrasound before going forward with an abortion. Is this a good step to make sure women understand what’s really happening or is it forcing them to have a procedure they may not want? We ask Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List. She will explain her own conversion from pro-choice to pro-life and detail the midterm election races her group will try to influence in the months ahead.
The News
The political fates of Arlen Specter, Blanche Lincoln and others are on the line in Tuesday’s primaries. The Supreme Court issues major rulings on sentencing for juveniles and incarceration for the ‘sexually dangerous’. BP makes progress on the oil spill. And Iran is allowing outside enrichment of its uranium – sort of.
Primary Drama in Pennsylvania
Tuesday is primary day in Pennsylvania…Will Arlen Specter win a Democratic primary after serving as a Republican in the U.S. Senate for nearly 30 years? Do Republicans want him as their opponent or would they rather see Rep. Joe Sestak as the Democratic nominee? Why does the GOP look like the favorite in the special House race to replace the late Rep. John Murtha? How dissatisfied are voters with the leadership of Gov. Ed Rendell for the past eight years? We ask Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason.
The Politics of the Oil Spill
BP is finally able to capture some of the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, but when will the problem really be under control? How can the sensitive coastline be protected? What is the ongoing impact on the economy? What blame does the federal government deserve in this whole mess – beyond President Obama’s latest explanation? We ask Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise.
EPA Pushes New Climate Mandate
As climate change legislation lands with a thud in the U.S. Senate, the Obama administration remains undeterred in its pursuit of new restrictions on carbon emissions. So how can the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do this without Congressional authorization? What does the EPA actually want to do? What would the new regulations mean for your bottom line? We ask Georgia Rep. Tom Price, who is also chairman of the Republican Study Committee – the coalition of House conservatives.