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Special Report Online: 8/1/12

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    Congratulations to Juan Williams; Romney lacking aggression?

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Welcome to another edition special report on line I'm Bret -- in Los Angeles we thought -- try this remotely see how it worked.

It's not working so far but that's okay it's early.

So bear with me but if you haven't been here before.

You can take your questions and comments.

And eventually I'll be able to read them and we'll bring in the panel and have a discussion here for a little bit also you can vote on the polls here.

On the screen let's bring in our panel again Byron York chief political correspondent for the Washington examiner Juan Williams columnist with the hill and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer.

I forgot to say in the show by the way Juan congratulations.

On your new twin grand babies.

Thank you somewhat better it's really you know -- -- moments in Everett clinic.

-- -- even the crew here in DC is excited so we're all -- thank you.

Twin grand babies what are the names.

Well it says while pepper.

Pepper and Wesley and then in the middle names are content -- -- conjunction -- grandmother's name so you know you come out with.

Halloween is and I Sloan and that just it's just -- a wonderful moment you know I'm I'm a big cynic.

And I never give much attention -- stuff and then all of a sudden I found myself just very emotional the idea being a grandfather.

That's also now are these the first two not to give your third degree here but none I haven't I grandsons two years old and and so now in these two girls so it's gonna.

It's going to -- turn my life upside down.

Man get ready for Christmas.

OK let's talk about politics you know we left off.

Talking about the presidential race and how things and shifted Charles you were saying that you think the Romney campaign needs to get more aggressive.

And kind of really hit home some of those lines were talking about is there a sense do you think that Romney's not.

As aggressive as he needs today.

Where that is my sense I mean you know they they were given a gift with is terrible gaffe that Obama may -- to present just to slip it was sort of the the trailers political philosophy when he would not on this -- You know you you think you've built it was your hard work -- -- -- And you're ingenuity and you didn't.

It's society especially its government we built the bridges -- roads.

And that kind of philosophy is basically -- -- into the United -- it's a fairly left wing philosophy wouldn't hear of Bill Clinton saying that.

A Bill Clinton whose prestige Obama wants to borrow in the convention.

By having him speak on the third night was a guy who declare the error of big government is over and he signed.

Reform of welfare that Obama is now by administrative action on doing.

I'm doing the work requirements so this is a new kind of liberal and all of a sudden he gives Romney campaigning gift within context if you play the whole tape.

Which was -- which is what I would do on a loop over and over again hit Obama on this idea that he's ideologically.

Philosophically.

-- -- touch with the Americans because this attack on Romney of being out of touch socially.

Is being polluted creditors and don't care that he's taking.

I'm not sure Obama -- -- he's gonna have a good.

Opportunity to undo that he'll have one opportunity in the debates.

But he better hit really well there and humanize himself.

But I think in the meantime in the interim while he's still getting hurt.

And the image of Obama cares and Romney doesn't he's taking hold he has to counter -- I think and the way to do it as -- -- very honestly.

In the realm of ideas and that's where I think Barack Obama is vulnerable.

Fill in Pennsylvania says congrats -- my favorite -- substitute Jackie says nothing in the world as wonderful as a baby and Colin says.

Is -- old enough for grandchildren.

So nobody really cares about the politics sales -- wants to grand babies for.

That's the way out -- -- I don't have an -- Joker.

It so -- -- notoriety of the grand children is that.

You get -- -- rentals.

You can return to -- at the end of the day.

Half that's what I'm Smart friends -- he's got it right kicked Chara got it right -- it's.

Joker here typed in -- K hall Eric wants to know.

Whether Romney can win Ohio want I mean listen we've seen these polls go up and down.

It's been fairly solid for President Obama in Ohio but as -- mentioned Romney -- probably going to deploy a lot there.

And probably will be there a lot and we don't even know if Rob Portman is going to be the VP nominee or not so a lot can change in the short time.

I think a lot can change in the course the big one is something you touched down during the show -- which is the amount of money.

That's going to be available to the Romney forces after the convention once he is the general election candidate officially.

The doors will open to a lot of dollars.

That are now being stacked up in those states a state like they'll hire -- ready getting super pac ads running.

But again to reinforce something I was trying to -- earlier those ads -- general negative ads about President Obama.

And still pres Obama's favorability far outstrips.

Mitt Romney's but during the general election if you get the ideological argument Charles was referring to earlier -- get really hard hitting ads that attempt to.

Damage President Obama we don't know exactly what they will do and we don't know president Obama's forces will have the money.

To respond because his burn rate is so astronomical at this moment he is using a lot of dollars to get the lead that he has right now.

And he's begging for money right now.

-- Go right back well it -- Obama is certainly begging for money right now and Romney will have more money it's the campaign finance laws.

That don't allow him to use money raised for the general election until after the convention.

He -- a huge amount of money winning the Republican primaries.

And Obama spent nothing to -- -- winning the democratic nomination so that's that disparity now but I think a lot of Republicans when it comes to Romney.

Are worried that yes he needs to do more attacking he needs to be tough -- -- -- all these attack ads and perhaps bring down the president's numbers a little bit.

But they're worried that he's not making a positive enough.

-- and these new poll numbers do suggest.

That there a lot of people to have just kind of given up they don't think the economy is going to get better no matter who is elected president and and and Romney needs to tell them.

Things can get better there is stuff we can do follow me I know what to do we can make this better and he has not been able to convince people of that so far.

Yeah we'll probably get a lot of that at the convention and that in a few weeks Alice in Manhattan Beach.

Asked if I can ask the panel if they think this election is more important than oh wait and if so why Byron you know a lot of people say.

This is a stark choice and it is.

The most important election in generation but we always hear that about elections -- this our a leash I should say from Manhattan Beach.

Wants to know what you think.

Well specifically -- I do think it's more important than no -- -- -- -- you have an exhausted party the Republicans.

Leaving power they'd lost control of congress in 06 and then President Bush exited after the 08 election so.

This.

Obama has has turned.

The country in the direction of the US government has created it and massive new entitlement.

Is spending as -- levels and it's never been before.

Which Democrats hope I think to establish is kind of a baseline for future spending.

And if it.

If he's able to consolidate those things and in a second Obama term will be in part about protecting the accomplishments of the first Obama term so I I -- Very important -- I agree entirely I think what was important about it away -- that we didn't really know.

Well what who Obama was ideologically and his use charismatic he came out of nowhere.

But he didn't have a paper trail he didn't have a legislative record.

He had no signature achievements.

He was a mystery man who were -- who wrote two books about himself.

And spoke in many ways to appeal to a lot of constituencies.

What I thought was fascinating around his presidency.

Is that he didn't declare himself and -- -- a month after he was sworn in when he made that speech to a joint session of congress.

What he said I'm here to change America he was very specific.

In three ways to fundamentally change health care.

A six of the US economy energy which is what industrial economy.

Lives on an education which is the future this is a man who was huge ideological ambitions and he's governed that way with the stimulus.

And Byron indicated huge amounts -- spending.

I nationalizing health -- essentially trying to nationalize energy with cap and trade but he failed so that if he serves one term.

I think -- all be on -- and then we will be a parenthesis in American history.

You have this conservative ascendancy starting -- Reagan and they'll be a parenthesis of Obama Obama wins we are on a new.

Trajectory which is going to be a real liberal ascendancy.

I would say left liberal ascendancy.

That would change of the country fundamentally.

Sharon writes Romney should watch videos of Ronald Reagan get tough.

But also loosen up Charles you made the point on the panel that these debates may be really important this time around.

For that very point if Romney could loosen up or show people that he's.

Somehow connecting with them while also getting tough on personal -- These could be the most important debate since debates of 1980.

Where Reagan showed up you -- -- it has.

Extremist -- -- that guy kind of a radical he showed up and he says to Jimmy Carter there you go again.

-- are shucks he's G -- that scary.

He has no horns look most Americans who don't spend all their lives as we do.

As we do for our sins following all these guys day and night.

Have no idea little Romney is except what they're getting from the barrage of ads in these swing states about.

-- -- grad who cares nothing about the workers.

Who lost their jobs.

In the in the companies he took over so he's gonna have one chance three chances actually in the debates.

To show himself to be more human -- guy who cares and that's scary about that that's attached.

He's never going to be the charismatic hands -- hands -- guy.

That Obama is but if you could just soften the image.

And humanize it it to some degree either way the Reagan did.

I think he wins presidency.

-- -- -- we're getting closer to this VP pick.

Just by the fact that another day has gone by right we are closer.

Has so we don't know what it's gonna be but it looks like maybe the week of the twelfth.

People are now bubble and up all kinds of things Paul Ryan.

Really getting a lot of whispers.

And the in the folks inside.

Rubio again in the mix and he was thought not to be in the -- What do you think.

I don't think rubio is really back in the mix but you must say that you know if you talk to people.

You know including Bill O'Reilly our own Bill O'Reilly if they only -- they think rubio is the guy they see rubio as.

It's kind of a change agent he would shake up their race and Condi Rice is also I think in that same categories and we shake up there is but I don't take either of them.

At this point as serious contenders I think it really is.

The case that Paul Ryan is getting much more talk much more chatter -- -- well.

In the back rooms as someone who really wrapped presents and I think this fits with the rest of our conversation here tonight.

Fits with someone who is has strong ideological -- who can make the case aggressively.

He's not only -- guy who can talk about the need to erase the debt that that's a big issue and that they have split.

The Republican Party has sprint when it comes to handling economic issues to being very clear -- about what it's gonna take to get this economy back on track.

That's what Paul Ryan brings in addition to his youth.

You see youth would be the change agent there this is the future of the Republican Party and here is someone.

Who can really come in and shake it -- that the downside would be it would open the door to Democrats think.

All right you have not identified what cuts you would make in order to have any kind of balanced budget.

Neither has Mitt Romney where your ideas and we -- look at them on the panel earlier tonight.

Where the idea for you guys have.

For how to straighten out this economy and why is it that you wanna give tax cuts for the rich but you won't tell us what loopholes you wanna close -- so we can anticipate that -- -- that would be the flag that part of that.

-- and he's gonna.

-- gonna get painted with Ryan's budget anyway I mean there you look at any lawmaker to -- on the democratic side on the on the floor they called the Romney Ryan plan -- -- you know so it's it's he's gonna get -- with -- anyway why not have the guy who can talk about it best.

And as far as tax loopholes.

You know that they've talked about tax reform.

But -- you're right haven't -- specific now about exactly how it's going to go let me ask oh by the way by the way -- let me just interject and get a Rob Portman.

Hi and I think I think Byron said this earlier you know he could help in Ohio I think he would help he's pretty popular senator.

And he has the budget experience the down -- there would be the bush associations or affiliations.

But thought you know who do you yeah you have to -- here on the inner -- you have to wait what's the positive what the negative and I think in that.

In that calculation.

Ryan comes out on top.

Byron you mentioned this earlier and -- -- Some people's attention on here that they're upset about the way polls.

The much how much weight we give different polls.

The fact that we are focused on polls it is.

The barometer and which we cannot measure these different battlegrounds it's what we have to -- -- But people say or reading too much -- -- stuff polls that way over sampled Democrats.

You made -- mention -- this about the sampling.

What about polls and how much would pay attention to.

Well Republicans have been some Republicans have been upset about the the New York Times poll in particular and its mix of Democrats and Republicans.

All day but I've I've talked to some pollsters about this specific one they they don't find the changes that -- they do find -- -- a little bit toward Democrats but other polls have shown.

The president ahead in in some of the swing states so -- that's not a big deal I think I do think.

That.

You.

The polls turn out to be reasonably accurate accurate if you put them all together I mean that the 2000 -- election results were very close to what the real clear politics average of polls showed right before.

The election you can say -- got the polls in July or August are are never how it ultimately turns out -- the race changes.

Between July and August and November Election Day.

But they tell us a lot about what's happening right now in and you can look conceived of Romney is not.

Appealing to of this need during this desire of the electorate Obama is not appealing to that.

And you can tell a lot about what's going on.

Charles let's turn the topic to GSA this latest scandal.

This investigation continues some 77 conferences in which -- money was clearly wasted according to Republicans running these hearings.

Does that sink -- to that collective.

Electorate.

About being in a big deal.

I think it does it depends how much.

It gets played in the media.

But even know the money's here relatively small compared to the size of a three point eight trillion dollar.

Budget annual budget.

You know they're only in in the thousands or tens of tens of thousands.

I think it has a huge effect and the reason is there's.

I think -- I just hers and Democrats arguing today I think it was could have been -- of them aren't sure exactly who was.

That unless you raise taxes on the rich you're gonna have to cut defense that that's where the money's gonna come from.

You know there's going to be a piggy bank that taxes on the rates this 2%.

Is going to be what's responsible for an axis of money in anything.

It'll be schools and fire departments and battleships and everything will be short because in this 2% it's of course nonsense.

Because that 2% even if you have.

The abolition of the tax -- for the opportunity to percent it raises eighty billion dollars a year.

It was a one point two trillion dollar deficit.

So it's a miniscule amount of money.

So -- -- -- put the Democrats are going to be arguing that you have to raising taxes but then what the Republican answer will be look at TSA.

This is money that you think is gonna be it's gonna go to two carriers.

And two flak jackets for soldiers know this is money that we all know every day.

Gets wasted on a colossal scale and the federal government.

And you're getting the Democrats arguing.

That movie have to cut -- the flak jackets and the teachers and not this waste and abuse.

And stuff that we see -- on GSA.

So I think it's a very strong arm because people have a sense that just a huge amount of waste in government.

And the Democrat argument I'm raising taxes hinges on a belief.

That government is super efficient and unless you raise a small amount in taxes you have drastic cuts in services I -- it can be a potent line.

But of course of the -- the other ones who decide how much.

It gets on the air and I don't see a lot of -- I'm glad that we had -- on tonight.

Yeah out you know I mean one indeed story but the first time around -- this scandal with the picture from Las Vegas with -- administrator GSA administrator with the wind and the hot in the tub.

You know most people -- -- that most media organizations.

Some of these videos and some of the spending is pretty egregious.

They were way way way out of touch with the realities and you know.

They -- Majorly in order around the country and I think that they became somewhat insulated not in the course.

The tremendous crisis that the real estate market has had it gave them added power because they were stabilizing force their rates.

Really were keeping lots of people afloat and internally.

It led to high ratings and all these kinds of excessive bonuses and this money floating around.

I think it became a really a poisonous culture now.

The larger argument here -- is.

Also is this indicative of big government at this time is this something that let's say a Mitt Romney could use -- think this is evidence of the president President Obama.

Being out of touch and not being able to control the growth of government.

At least from my perch I don't see it and you know I mean I know that Charles is gonna have a strong disagreement with me on this but when it comes to increases in rate is spending -- A percentage of GO GDP.

I don't see Obama as the big spender I don't seem as expanding the size of government so radically.

You know even when he came to comes to the welfare set that we -- -- earlier the idea that in the middle.

Of this economic transformation in America's going through Republican or democratic president that you would say yes education retraining.

Would give you some allow you to stay on your welfare -- I just don't see that evidence that this guy is creating.

This tremendously.

You know -- for a bunch of people who wanna sit on their -- and not do anything.

Yeah Byron but.

You can also point to the national debt expanding by five trillion dollars under this present.

And I think people could make this case the Romney campaign likely will about spending.

Well you know the one thing that I thought was extremely valuable about this new video that that fox has been showing about this one day conference that they had.

And not in Washington where they had the drummers there and everybody got drum sticks and there were tapping along to the I don't know refocus their consciousness or do something it was just an incredibly.

Dumb exercise.

Just ridiculous.

And if it I think it's good for people to see.

That that if the government is doing that kind of thing.

It's good for people to see that the bigger argument I agree with Charles and you could make it a little bit bigger about taxes which is Republicans say.

Not a penny more in taxes until we stop throwing it away.

And Charles is right it's a it's a tiny amount 275000.

Dollars for this one day conference is that a tiny amount compared to a billion dollars or certainly a trillion dollars.

But the Republicans can say.

So under this kind of ways to stop throwing it away we won't even think about.

Increasing taxes until we fix that first.

And.

That's a great point -- because I talked to Charles I talked to a lot of small business owners and big CEO's you know and they say listen will pay eight.

Will pay more taxes.

But we don't want it to go to the guy in the tub we don't want it to be going to the drum sticks we don't want it to go out the door to -- lenders that don't.

You don't pan out.

-- I think there are two separate arguments or lines of attack.

The one is independent of Obama apart from all -- simply say look we know that we have a huge behemoth.

And it wastes money back -- a lot of that TSA stuff happened years ago.

Obama obviously wasn't the one who organized that conference it's just the nature of the beast and as we just heard.

It's a very strong argument to say why raise anybody's taxes -- penny.

Until you begin to attack this nonsense and Jim -- He comes out I think every is is it him or is it.

-- cobra.

-- comes out where this stuff and -- he lists.

The hundreds of thousands -- millions to billions of dollars wasted all the payments.

That end up in the mailbox of dead people.

You know as just a single example of the the the redundancy.

You know 82 programs for job retraining everybody understands this crazy.

So there's one argument simply about the nature of the government that's that large.

A separate why these Obama is he is even worse he makes it worse because he's a believer.

In the efficacy of big government he believes in Solyndra.

In the fact that his government has gotten.

Be the engine of new enterprise innovation.

And the future's so there's this extra level of waste.

That you're gonna get from people who really believe.

It's all about government you have a two pronged argument it's intrinsic in government and Obama and the liberals want to make it even worse he got to cut.

Before you raise anybody's taxes.

Bob says what about baseline budgeting.

Number of other people say cut the spending and if you have to raise the taxes on the top tier.

Other people say don't raise taxes and all deal with the spending.

Laura and Florida says about the polls all polls except.

-- -- and are registered voters not likely voters big difference bar this poll today they put in PX CBS near times is actually.

Of likely voter poll but you are right to suggested is a different kind of polling that the type results you're getting.

Our final word on -- to vote question down the row does it help or hurt the Democrats are not make a difference on the gay marriage in the platform to -- I think it's a wash I think of those independents.

Whom -- this will offend.

Will be I think -- evenly over equally.

By those independents who think it's kind of sign of tolerance and good will so I think it might be -- Want I heard you on the panel but -- you know there are African American pastors have a real problem with that there are some Democrats who are have a problem with that.

Is it a problem inside the Democratic Party at all.

Not much I think that date as you point out some of the democratic -- black ministers in particular or or organizing around a bit.

I don't think they believe that this is enough to make people turn away from our president -- in the democratic ranks.

But you know I want to be one of the 87%.

-- I want to be one of the guys on this team voting for so.

I don't know what to do here but I guess I'd say look if you're looking for something they could be -- you know to turn the tide in this.

I don't think it's going to be there's I think it's great to go out and support your claim that man that owner Dan Cathy has a right to say anything he wants to say.

I hope he's not just putting down any kind of family but really saying that he believes in traditional families in which case god bless them.

Yeah all right -- last word well I think actually Democrats are not -- -- of.

I think you could actually hurt Democrats just a little bit one in three Democrats according to the latest Gallup poll one in three Democrats opposes gay marriage about 40% of independents.

Oppose gay marriage at the platform drafting committee.

Meeting in Minneapolis.

In which approved this this proposed plan for the platform it was him -- a unanimous vote of the fifteen member committee and they invited people to testify.

In favor of gay marriage but they only invited people who were in favor of gay marriage there were -- descending voices in this.

And I think they're not paying attention to significant number of Democrats and independents who don't like gay marriage.

OK panel Susan from Paul city I did see.

Your message just so you know I could see it and it's now on the middle.

Some people get very frustrated if they don't see their little thing in.

And the middle section but we'll get there were were put -- man hey we made the extra effort from LA.

Panel thank you very much for being here stand after a little bit extra and control room a little -- back in DC tomorrow.

After red eye flight.

Not might need a little bit more -- -- --

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