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And those.
Are three people who may yet.
Be nominated or maimed by Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney -- his running mate.
It's in this 2012 election you CD for you.
Virginia governor Bob McDonnell Florida senator Marco Rubio.
And Ohio senator Rob Portman and this is power play and I and in fact -- firewall and I'm taking myself out of contention right now so you can just go ahead.
And lay that aside I will not be -- -- if if asked I will refuse.
Governor Romney's vice presidents.
Running mate status.
But the questions about -- it's going to be and we and it's going to be have become a -- -- -- the brew of speculation inside the political press and for political insiders like you.
That as people wonder who's gonna -- when's -- gonna pick everything that Romney does and he knows this.
Everything that -- does a tea leaf will be -- for example he got.
Cherie Diet Pepsi when he was at the grocery store the of the -- -- who drinks cherry Diet Pepsi I don't know maybe Tim Pawlenty likes it.
Everything that Romney does now is seen through the lens of his running mate choice.
So let's talk about that and it is fitting.
That -- you are political insiders that you would have the editor in chief of one of of arguably the most political insider -- publication on the Internet.
And this is Reid Wilson editor in chief of the hotline from National Journal and it is a must stop -- for every political junkie read welcome to the show -- -- Police show.
Who's gonna be we just I was now have to say yes.
Others -- or actually your intro reminded me of the great line by the great late congressman Mo Udall.
Who asked if he was gonna run for president again said you know if if nominated I will flee to Mexico.
If elected I will fight extradition.
I don't think any of these guys are are fleeing to Mexico and a moment but they're willing to -- but -- they are fleeing to the campaign trail and they've they've been I I've been very impressed by the way Romney's campaign -- used.
All of the potential vice presidential candidates and -- on the campaign trail raising money for them animal out to that does summit in park city Utah a couple of a couple of weeks ago views -- -- -- -- -- their -- -- is fundraisers yes by the way not only in their home states but every single one of them has -- to North Carolina they've all gone round tables -- fundraisers or something like that in North Carolina everybody from Bobby Jindal to Paul Ryan to.
You mentioned Bob McDonnell and and Tim Pawlenty and Rob Portman I mean everybody can possibly name.
If we're talking about a real short list -- I'm I think this -- comes down to about three people.
And there too serious contenders there Rob Portman Tim Pawlenty that you boring white guys so called.
There's anything wrong with that -- hey -- -- do remember Al Gore one -- to Vice President Dick Cheney wasn't terribly fascinating.
Figure in a different way in a different -- furniture -- -- could have been a boring -- -- to -- The third candidate who I think is a longer shot but it's still kind of in the mix is congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin think those are the three names that we should be focused -- Now the governor Romney starts a bus tour and they do -- -- the bus -- is a strange creature now no longer is it a bus tour it's sort of like tour buses -- governor Romney well the appear with a -- in Virginia now and in North Carolina then you look here with the -- down in Florida Tennessee not the same bus and that -- -- -- -- to Ohio to appear with the different -- so it's a tour bus is not a bus tour.
But as he does this.
If he's going to be with McDonnell and he's going to be with rubio and he's going to be with Portland let me posit.
An aid.
Ache it counter theory which is this.
This is -- goodbye -- there hello that he stopping by to see these folks and just as we saw the announcement of the speakers at the Republican Convention which basically showed that they were out of contention maybe this is sort of the -- the final.
Lack of American Idol before we hear -- somebody else stuff.
That's that's a good way to put it -- your last song before you played -- the stage.
The all three of these guys will still be if they're not pick assuming none of those three affect we'll still be tough targets they're still pretty popular -- -- -- Bob McDonnell especially his approval ratings are.
North of 60% at the moment for a one term governor who's you know lame duck the -- he steps in office that's pretty good.
So he'll be an important surrogate.
You know Portman is going to be of the big time -- Ohio no matter whether or not he's picked.
And rubio of course is the entree into the Cuban community that that Mitt Romney really needs to do well if he's gonna win for.
-- -- key in Florida's -- this.
The Republican because of the large and growing population of Puerto Rican Americans Asians.
Other people who are not Cuban Cubans used to be the dominant minority Hispanic minority in Florida.
Now a Republican needs to really get over about the 45%.
Threshold with the Hispanic vote down there to not get wiped out.
All fueled by the Cuban vote which has been a big Republican stronghold since the 1960s they do not like communism they -- very aides say it very clear on that note -- way to they're not they do not rule like that.
So the question is.
About menu now it's now I wrote in the power play today which you -- -- -- -- you know you can get simply for the cost of following me on Twitter.
Patsy start while I treated -- -- every day for you a little mash note for the Internet.
But I argued today that we've been talking for a long time that that the week.
-- that this was the week now is the time the as the Olympics get ready to wrap up and then it was closing ceremonies on the twelfth time will be Monday to be out there and do it.
I argued today.
That why why not wait why not you know if we think back for before all that people upset about the way Sarah Palin's choice was handled.
One thing that.
Absolutely worked was they waited until -- there -- after Barack Obama had finished his speech you know they started leaking it and then -- boom.
When that rolled out the Friday after the Democratic Convention it was a earthquake -- after all this attention -- for this incredible stage when she came out to speak.
So why go sooner.
Well you one of the arguments is this is a different kind of campaign and it is a campaign that is -- -- far more -- money.
Odd than any other -- in history -- -- neither President Obama nor Mitt -- are going to opt in to.
Federal financing like John McCain did so we both of them are gonna have to spend time raising money over the next three months before Election Day.
With a vice presidential nominee you have two principles who can go raise money at twice the -- assuming that.
Assuming that that's that's you know and an available option.
With -- with only Romney and he's gonna focus on.
Raising money himself so I tend to think that that -- should make the pick a little bit earlier.
Primarily because I think it gives a better I'm sort of roll out to towards a convention I was -- it gives somebody you know another prominent voice attacking the President Obama.
Look if if you've got Bob McDonnell in Virginia the governor of Virginia attacking the president okay that's interesting you know that merits a small and local paper if you got the vice presidential nominee in that state attacking president mommy you're gonna have every single newspaper and every single radio and every single TV coming this -- to do you know Kim would take a look at.
What that person has to say just as much as if it were -- -- -- let's split the difference power -- predicts mark this date on your calendar and that is August the twentieth.
1 week before the convention gives them it splits the difference it would give them time to do the things that you've described it sort of -- into the convention roll across Florida so marked the twentieth of August.
And if that's not true it's a free show so that's what's you know you get what you pay for.
I want speaking of stuff that's free.
Let's take a look today at the Twitter political index -- like Twitter so much.
Which today.
President Obama stands at 61 down thirteen Mitt Romney.
At 24 down three both since yesterday and let's scroll down their -- and show them the curly lines is that a dating back and forth one up one down over time.
Which explain as we've learned about the Twitter political index this is not like a poll this is not gonna tell you who wins basically this talks about.
The mastery of social media for these campaigns.
Romney doing that better than he had been before and all that kind of stuff read the question is this.
How important do you suspect that in -- this campaign and especially with the running mate.
That.
-- going to be able to use Twitter to create big search activity yeah of course he has asked for a everybody to download is apt to be the first to know if you're going to be a lot of people who -- first to know this particular decision.
Well hey remember remember back in 2004 with a first and I was an aviation blogger who saw a bunch of you would do of the -- you know -- the spreading the word Edwards and John -- point so.
-- an -- might not via -- -- way to democratize this a little more but.
You know social media is a way to sort of engage in the 24 hour news cycle it excuse me the 242 news cycles but I'm not sure -- survives that long these days.
But that's -- that's the way people are using here in Washington DC social media is much more effective when you're talking about.
Apps or FaceBook or things that can that can sort of -- spread the message in and get a get one voters preferences to all of their friends.
Get that fraud frothing reboots and we thank you very much for making time for us today -- because at the hotline could you should be wanna know if you like me are political -- and you have to read it.
So we're gonna take a quick break then when we come back we're gonna try something different.
We're going to introduce facts into the political discussion.
Your friend -- -- Jim Angle will be with us and we're gonna break down.
Who are the 99% who were the 1% what's the real story on income inequality in the United States.
I found it fascinating I suspect you will too therefore you should stick around.
The Romans.
On the ladder of opportunity.
Have grown farther and farther apart.
The middle class -- -- That was President Obama.
In his signifying.
Flaming speech on his view of what's wrong with the American economy.
That he delivered and Oshawa automate Kansas last fall when he really set up the contacts for his reelection campaign.
Probably expecting that the Republicans were going to nominate a quarter billionaire -- former CEO.
Talking about the big problem facing America.
Is inequality that the poor get poor the rich get richer the middle class is shrinking.
And the notions of economic mobility that once animated this great republic.
Are fading in this power play welcome back now the question is this.
We hear a lot of we are the 99% fewer than 1% well is it fixed in stone.
Are they the same people are we talking about the same people all the time here's another question.
Are the rich really getting richer.
Well this is a cornerstone debate that's going on given our.
Quarter billionaire and Republican candidate in our very liberal democratic president.
This debate is front and center.
So what's the truth so let's try truth for a change we do mostly -- here but let's go with it let's go with actual fact.
Acts.
And Jim Angle who is the guy who is the human weed wacker.
Who rolls -- -- the Sox and easy bureau takes care of things that confuse us people who are more more accustomed to -- And welcome back to the -- -- thank you very much okay so.
And by the -- follow him.
Follow him.
Wherever he goes but also Jim Angle fox on Twitter you should do that that's worth doing.
But the question Jim is this the president talks a great deal about income inequality what did you find.
Well he talks about a lot of things I don't know we have discovered when -- -- -- not a -- let's let's hear it let's hear it this is an average disregards the middle class and the president's assertion.
-- -- Essentially that it's more difficult for the middle class Joseph Biden puts it a little more crudely he says.
The middle class is quote.
Getting screwed getting screwed in being made suckers by rich dude yeah I went ship of workings.
Has done a lot of research looking at Congressional Budget Office report among many other things and doing his own research and here's what he says about that.
You often hear that the middle class is in decline.
-- or shrinking and that's just not the case.
If you look at the latest Congressional Budget Office figures for instance on since 1979.
In the eight the average income of the household in the middle -- Has increased by a third.
For the bottom fifth it's actually increased by over 40%.
Now the good what -- -- there that CBO report.
Basically says this.
There's tremendous fluidity inside the mayor and economic life that are just that we do not have the kind of rigid it's just your economics ratification.
That.
That a lot of people say we didn't.
That's right well -- what happens is that the people administration essentially described.
The the income levels as geological strata.
Set in stone can't move when in fact researchers such as when -- say it's more like an escalator -- people going up and down all the time.
In fact in this most recent downturn.
Those that in the bottom twenty lost 5% of their income.
Those in the top 1% lost 36%.
Of their income because they were invested in the markets in the markets crash.
So what happens is anytime you have same thing happened 2001 when you had the dotcom bubble.
You lost eight trillion dollars.
Eight trillion dollars in value.
Who gets hurt by that people who are invested that hugely wealthy wealthier people so.
Those people get hurt.
In addition to that as you heard wood -- say people on the on the bottoms incomes have been rising.
It if you look at the numbers you'll see that people come off.
If you inferences were the figures is that about 60% of people who started the bottom fifth.
Make it out of the bottom fifteen years later and look Chris it's like anybody you know.
You go to college you get at a college.
You're taking your first job you know make it much time.
Five years -- as an -- can I can get 250.
American dollars a week am I glad it was worth the outset -- my first job was like you know 105000.
Years and allies.
And -- really went and bought a new car you accept accept that about you yeah.
But the thing is then you you know you you're several years the end you have more experience made you get another job maybe your ten years -- made you start a business.
What are you do -- moving up the ladder you're gaining experience you're moving to better jobs and your income grows and maybe you get married you have dual income.
So what happens is over time people move up.
It is also true that single mothers tend to have low incomes.
So if you're single mother you're going to be you know toward the bottom in many cases.
There are a lot of different factors.
All of which explain why some people are at the bottom at some point but -- up over time what it really is like an escalator when -- thing that I.
Found -- that CBO report was this.
That when we talk about who that 1% the big -- are.
Oftentimes that includes people who get one big boom of the year that for some reason they catch something out -- they were something they transact something.
And they have one year where they go from being in the third went out to prove all the right after the top well and and look ears of fundamental question -- all this.
Let's consider mark -- over.
Founder of FaceBook yes they go public right recently.
Aside from the problems we're going public they think might like.
Quasi public yeah I almost made yes yes.
But he made a billion dollar -- Now the fact that he made a million dollars does that harm anyone else do people with lower incomes get hurt.
Because Mark Zuckerberg made a billion dollars off FaceBook.
In fact you could argue the opposite.
That because he made a billion dollars off FaceBook more people will get jobs on FaceBook FaceBook and other businesses will form and that other people have employment there is no evidence that because someone does well the top that other people suffer.
Larry Ellison oracle found.
Made 500 billion -- -- to a 2000 debt right.
He may he may not always be at the top but the fact is there are people moving up and down and where they're not the rich make more doesn't necessarily mean the poor don't make as much.
And as you can see from the numbers they do.
One other key thing in all this yes cash -- OK so the president argues that taxes are here may have to pay their fair share right.
Well if you look at the current.
Burden of taxes.
It has nothing to do with income inequality in fact it may do something to repair.
The latest report from Congressional Budget Office shows -- of the total income taxes collected.
The bottom 40%.
Pay eight point 3%.
Of the total taxes paid.
Yeah total income taxes the middle 20% pay nine point 4% and the top 20%.
67.
Point 9% of total income taxes back.
You hear that Jim Angle he knows facts that are useful try that everyone -- -- and that's very it's very it's very enlightening we find your city at three Jim thanks for being -- you -- okay so here's the deal we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back -- -- little political fisticuffs where you won't get back into the the realms of spin and posture.
As we talk about.
What Mitt Romney is gonna face when he gets down to Tampa -- his party highlights both the libertarian band of itself and also the social conservatives we will get to your excellent chance we will do many fun things so stick around.
-- You giving people it's -- Was former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum in -- speech and -- any San Antonio Texas on March 22.
Fresh off -- spanking in the Illinois primary saying something that probably now.
He wishes he hadn't.
About Mitt Romney who he later clarified the remarks to say that he was speaking in the voice.
Of some conservatives who might not vote for Romney because he wasn't different enough from President Obama this power play welcome back.
And so Rick Santorum.
Who was and there -- many bitter rivalry -- the Republican nominating process this -- all of them involving the former governor of Massachusetts but if anybody except for Newt Gingrich's.
As Peggy -- call it.
Angry attack -- -- if anybody.
Had a blood feud with Mitt Romney it was his 2008 -- sure.
Rick Santorum so how's that gonna -- but here's another question.
You know who else is talking the son of Ron Paul Rand Paul the senator from Kentucky he also.
It's a big deal slot at the Republican National Convention and it would be hard to find two prominent Republicans.
Further apart really on issues of national security and issues how the government ought to legislate and regulate.
Social behavior the way people do stuff and all those things -- how does this all going to work out.
We have people who can tell us we are blessed we are blessed Internet we are blessed because we have two of your old friends back with this -- Nixon.
He is a radio show host is a man of the left you can listen to him on W gift idea if you are here in the Washington metro -- but you can catch him on Fox News occasionally as he comes on.
To try to settle the conservative straight.
And -- T Collins now he's in Ireland as but it seems like about a third of everybody in politics -- I don't know why that is.
But he's the former political director for the Republican National Committee and huge difference what -- public affairs which helps people and stuff and do things and things like that.
Okay so I -- let's start with you.
Your team.
Rick Santorum by the end even when he had to do that.
Grudging endorsement of Mitt Romney and it was done in writing at like 11 o'clock at night and it was like it is with a heavy heart that I now and that's the great.
What does this what is he need to do when he takes the stage it.
Well look -- obviously he is all for Mitt Romney in this general election was -- for Mitt Romney and in 2008 and I think I think people expect our primaries to be hard fought -- I don't think that all of this talk about you know the things that he may have said.
He's always turn out he had.
My point is Hillary Clinton -- some stuff right -- at Gerald Ford and end.
And Ronald Reagan said some stuff I think the history.
Of these these primaries is that a good hard fought primary helps prepare -- for general election it was true in 2008 for Barack Obama.
Yet that party healed and of course now you look at Hillary Clinton who is President -- secretary of state I think our party is -- similarly in fact if you look at if you look at polling about how many conservatives are planning to vote for Mitt Romney uses less than 10%.
President Obama and that loses more liberals.
Then governor Romney loses conservative -- I really think this issues this.
Is -- why should I should clarify that my -- roll that I just gave gentry was not about Rick Santorum but it was about the fact that the that the future's fueled inside the Democratic Party there's still face scratching going on between Clinton and Obama factions that's not that's not well what my point is that we do they healed well enough well it went seven -- election they'll -- to aren't -- aren't -- -- The Republican Party.
Was dominated by social conservatives.
Really starting with the Reagan revolution.
Strong presence delivered and -- their fellow travelers they can live in the same space.
Because basically they all agree that they -- the government.
But then they get to certain crossroads things like foreign policy especially in an interventionist foreign policy.
Things like drug decriminalization and other things -- get to be some sticky wicket.
What does it need to have Rand Paul.
Who is.
The founder of the Tea Party caucus in the senate and outspoken voice for lower case no libertarian as what does that.
Well that means I think it just represents the tight -- and Mitt Romney is walking you know he has a loose coalition in his own party that he's trying to hold -- hold together that's the very -- -- -- -- -- these days and ended -- just little you know -- ideological -- for a number of reasons but he has to be careful because he doesn't want to scare -- the independence and the reality -- people like the libertarians -- you -- when -- talk about legalizing -- drugs and -- pretty much everything -- just.
Yeah.
I booted again -- -- can scare the independence for some reason I don't think -- Rick Santorum would end up in an in Mitt Romney's cabinet.
No I I think I think that's pretty safe bet that it -- the question now is.
As as they do this.
When you look at the Republican Party and you see the direction it's going and you don't like the direction -- going to try to get -- but I never did so that we -- -- via the difference.
Which which wing of this party is got their hands on the wheel the Tea Party certainly seem to apparently -- Certainly the right certainly the social conservatives in the right into the U I think so yeah I think they do because they're such a tight block.
You know it's kind of like in the Democratic Party African American -- is a very tight voting block and is a large voting -- and you can you can lose all of -- at the same time that an and that's why I think they've got on the -- -- today they've got such a tight grip on the part of some of the other means you can get part of what part of bullying and you lose part of my thinking either have.
We're gonna have a way to fit where the heck is Newt Gingrich you know.
-- and let you wanna talk about a guy that would rock the Tampa.
Tribune -- the Tampa times conventions that the next guy would bring and other big.
Well for so I don't think we know.
What the full list of speakers looks like us and we've heard that passed half dozen first.
-- -- we don't even know what nights they're speaking what what slots -- speaking and so.
I wouldn't I wouldn't say just yet that the speaker Gingrich won't be there I think he himself I was out saying that he wasn't expecting to speak -- but there is gonna play a big role at the convention with respect to training activists this passion really guys for making sure that.
There were using all of the turnout tools and not just the -- -- pre digital turnout tools -- our party seems to have been stuck on over the last several cycles and if he does that that's a great service whether it doesn't from the podium or not.
But let's admit it would be a good speech there be agreement -- that Newt Gingrich would that if there is a moment that -- Gingrich would love to have the crowd up and honesty.
He'd be like Giuliani when I guess the Giuliani -- from 2004 is all about the look.
The Republican another another Italian American politician.
From that part of the United States.
Look I think the Republican Party as a sort of an embarrassment of riches -- to -- we've got wouldn't look.
We'll look out anyway yeah it isn't very well but I don't yeah.
Arlen the last sorry we didn't get more -- -- a lot of it was good to the whoever said that the twentieth can't be the twentieth the date of the vice president to -- out.
There's the Rick Warren's forum is that we don't know exactly when the -- form.
Rick -- performance so I'm gonna stand my ground.
For at least the next -- news cycle we thank you gentlemen for being with us we thank you for being with us on the -- with Jonathan Hunt is up next and now as we like to do every day.
Who only used the word from our French -- It's this is a president came -- -- hope and change transcending partisanship a new kind of politics for years later with a failed administration.
Where is the administration stupid with McCarthy like tactics which -- refuses to disavow.
This is about as well would you pay --
