The Justice Department may soon file a series of corruption charges against Mahmood Karzai, brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. So what has Karzai done? How significant would an indictment be against a sibling of the Afghan president? How does the rampant corruption in Afghanistan imperil our military efforts? We ask Ann Marlowe, visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute and frequent embed with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The Republican establishment has been frustrated by the Tea Party movement in many primary races, but former Mitt Romney campaign manager Ben Coes says the rift won’t hurt the party in November. Why not? What will determine how much progress Republicans make in November? If Republicans do win a majority, are they more likely to stay true to their promises now that the Tea Party is watching their every move? We discuss all these questions with Ben Coes, who is also author of the new novel “Power Down”.
On Monday, President Obama signed the small business bill he has been championing for months. So why is the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) saying the bill does very little to help businesses and create jobs? Why is certainty in the tax code and government regulations much more important? What else do business owners want from Washington? And how well do politicians in Washington understand small business? We ask Dan Danner, president and CEO of NFIB.
The polls suggest Republicans will gain seats this year, but why does one GOP pollster suggest the shift could be anywhere from 60-100 seats? Are voters returning to the Republican Party or are they just furious at the Democrats? How big is the enthusiasm gap between supporters of the two parties? How certain are voters about whom they will support more than five weeks before the elections? And will a barrage of negative ads help the Democrats? We ask David Johnson, CEO of of the polling firm Strategic Vision.
On Thursday, President Obama addressed the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly. But why does former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton say the president said almost nothing new and basically ‘phoned in’ his speech? What should Obama have said that would have made a greater impact? Should he get high marks for his defense of Israel? And is the U.S. perfectly content to let Iran run out the clock and acquire nuclear program? We ask Ambassador Bolton.
Congressional leaders have made it known that a vote to extend some or all of the Bush income tax cuts will likely be postponed until after the midterm elections. How is the economy impacted as this issue remains in limbo? Which tax cuts are also set to expire that could have a much bigger impact on the economy than the income tax rates? And are Republicans right to insist that all or none of the tax cuts be extended? We ask Peter Sepp, executive vice president at the National Taxpayers Union.
Most polls show Democrats are headed for a bruising round of midterm elections, but how does President Obama view this campaign and what’s going on beneath that calm exterior? The Capitol Steps offer their take in “What Kind of Cool Am I”. Our guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
The Republicans are outlining priorities for the next Congress if voters return them to the majority. But how will the GOP show they really are different from the free-spending bunch that voters ran out of power just four years ago? And how will they avoid the slide from principled to complacent that afflicted them over 12 years in the majority the last time around? What’s the biggest message the party wants voters to hear? And do Republicans think they’ll be back in power next year? We ask Texas Rep. Randy Neugebauer.
House Republicans are unveiling their promises if returned to the majority this year, one defeated Republican is mounting a write-in campaign and another is considering it and President Obama made the Middle East peace process the centerpiece of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. We discuss all these topics and more with John Gizzi of Human Events.
With just 40 days remaining before the midterm elections, Republican House members and Congressional hopefuls are listing their goals and priorities for the coming Congress in a plan called “Pledge to America”. What is the national message the GOP is trying to communicate to voters? What is their plan to control federal spending? Can voters trust them just four years after firing Republicans in part over excessive spending? What would the GOP pursue after repealing the Obama health care laws? Would any aspects of the new law be part of a replacement plan? And could a Republican majority find any common ground with President Obama? We discuss it all with Georgia Rep. Tom Price, chairman of the Republican Study Committee.
