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Can republicans survive the 'fiscal cliff' negotiations? Will Hillary Clinton make a run in 2012? General Jack Keane discusses Syria
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A lot of people are putting forth a theory and I actually think it has merit where you go -- give the president the 2%.
Increase that he's talking about the right increase on the top 2%.
And all of a sudden shift goes back to entitlements and all of a sudden once -- -- Helm the right on the top 2% it's actually.
Much lesser tax increase then what he's been talking about.
And that -- senator Bob Korver from the volunteer state of Tennessee on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace.
And this is power play and I am in fact Monday or not still Chris -- -- Now I want you to think about what you just heard that is a Republican that fairly senior -- -- not a real leadership got its senior Republican.
Saying that what Republicans need to do -- -- raise taxes so they can start talking about cutting entitlement programs that people but.
Now I don't know about you but that doesn't exactly sound like -- winning the hearts and minds kind of argument for the GOP.
But is this process continues as the president continues to hammer hammer hammer hammer away on Republicans demanding attacks -- rate increase for the top 2% of earners.
In the United States -- to 36000 dollars per household in that bracket.
Republicans are getting weird it's getting weird out there.
What's going to happen can they survive the Obama onslaught we'll talk about that.
We'll talk about one of your very favorite things.
Hillary Clinton who seems like Democrats are probably just go ahead and aim at their -- he sixteen nominee will save everybody a lot of time and money.
They could do that we'll talk about that and we're lucky today because general Jack -- Will be here with us to talk about US options in Syria will talk about all of that and more and have fun I promise.
And we will start the -- with Matthew -- many.
He's the editor in chief of the Washington -- and as Smart and a fair minded he is demanded the right but he -- he is at the clear idea human being who would you take that is -- I realized there was this much in my glasses but I clean them before coming -- it happens it happens okay so the president today goes to Michigan.
Which.
He's going to a plant that is owned by -- -- you know better as Mercedes but a truck plant there.
Two payroll the announcement.
Of a hundred million dollars in investment that I'm -- plants making its US operations.
And all of that what the president is gonna argue.
Is that.
The Republicans need to help middle class taxpayers by doing two things.
Number one shield them from the looming tax increase at the end of the year is the book is the current bush era tax rates expire.
And give him the ability to spend money to invest in programs that will encourage that kind of foreign investment.
Meanwhile the Republicans seem to mostly be talking about what they're going to do to give -- the best way for them given the president doesn't seem like the red team is having a great December.
They thought they did it have a very good November -- I don't remember that it does show that there is public keeps waiting from lost the loss and I don't really expect the trend to stop any time soon they're they're.
Put pins are in a horrible position here partly of their own making them in the truth was the time to make these bush tax rates permanent.
Was right after bush won reelection in 2004.
That and it happened bush had other priorities and so now we've we've got a temporary extension 2010 that was of course right after the Republicans had.
One of their most historic victories and in decades.
And other up again in 2012 Obama just won the status quo election but Democrats can say it looked at the end of today.
We we picked up seats in the house we picked up seats in the senate Obama was reelected.
There are more democratic votes in the for the house members then there were Republican votes because the tend to be high density districts right.
But you know that these -- the talking points and now Republicans have basically spent the last two months arguing among themselves.
About which concessions they're going to make -- -- one thing about senator -- -- -- I mean I respect senator -- greatly I think he just lets you sit right for -- let's take McCain -- yet but I think he's big he's a very intelligent man I think he's been a great senator from Tennessee he's in the -- the kind of Tennessee Republicans kind of moderate you do you.
You've made your now.
I -- compliment to -- about what he does.
Matter you know hey that's that's the meat in the -- and graduate.
At the end of the day what matters is going on between Boehner and Obama they met on Sunday in the White House.
And those -- the two guys are gonna decide whether we have to deal in Canada.
But Johnny saved to make the point forming and he says this this is entertaining -- all.
But I'm beginning -- care less and less about whatever they do there's zero chance of any long term solution just more political games and it will always be that way.
Now I understand the press that pressure that is on the Republicans.
But the New York Times on Sunday had a great piece that talked about this.
The 2%.
Tax rate increase -- the president's talking about is a quarter.
Of these one point six trillion dollars in tax increases he wants over the next decade.
But the Republicans are floundering -- I mean they're diving all over this thinking it.
Do any thing but talk about this.
Is there a way for the Republican -- -- -- talking in general less about this or get around this or do they just -- in the next three or four weeks for them.
-- necessarily be all about tax rates.
You know we've moved into this era in our politics for for objective for so many years.
Everywhere everyone was able to benefit from the engine of the American economy we have high annual average growth in our economy and that allowed Republicans to cut taxes and it also allowed.
Democrats and Republicans to be very generous with with the spending right.
In the last decade that growth has plummeted -- he's getting older more people are retiring that means heavier costs health care for example.
And it does so there's no more money and so I I think in the long run it it in the foreseeable future.
These types of fights are never gonna end you -- -- two camps among conservatives want.
It's the Wall Street Journal camp Charles Krauthammer is kind of in this -- Pat Buchanan it's kind of in this camp it's always funny to see Krauthammer Buchanan -- saying let's just go over the cliff.
-- just let's just do it let's give this give Obama what he wants he knows.
We -- know at the end of the day even these top pre tax increases aren't enough to pay for all the spending -- -- as -- call his bluff and see what happens.
And then there's a group -- Tom Cole of course in Oklahoma and Bill Kristol editor of the weekly standard we say now.
Republicans just lost -- selection because we reviewed is out of touch with the middle class.
We need to be on the side of the middle class and what that means is we walk in the tax rates for the 98% now and then negotiate with Obama next year over the top two.
Person to look at how old confident presence here.
Today he is going to Detroit.
And he will by my calculations -- three miles away.
From Livonia Michigan he will be Redmond township right next door to a phony attacks it's all in Detroit and I'm excited about this -- investment.
But just down the road.
Yesterday.
-- sale was arranged for a battery plant by the company they've won two straight to a Chinese firm.
That -- got something like -- 130 million dollars.
In stimulus money from the president president today is going to talk about the need.
For infrastructure in stimulative spending now and the need to raise taxes to do it.
And yet I watched the Republican Party not talking about that I watch them instead talking about.
How much they're going to raise taxes.
Is there a way to get this for Republicans to find some message discipline because right now they're just getting rabbit.
And I absolutely and and in this trap and just like you said it's not only -- how much are we gonna race track and attacks is fine how are we going to do that whether this combination of rates in this combination of closing loopholes.
It's also we wanted to settle the tax questions that we can go on and talk about -- entitlements question.
Of course brought -- and -- just ran.
Against the 716.
Billion in Medicare cuts that were included obamacare so I don't think it's a winning issue for -- to turn around and talk about entitlement cuts now.
Even though Ryan reforms are are kind of state -- to you know they're there they're set to go in ten years of people aren't immediately cut.
Dear America helped us raise taxes so that we can move on to cut your Medicare that sounds like a killer message.
For the Republicans and sixteen anyway Matthew stay with us -- this.
We're going to definitely get more of your cats we're gonna talk about you know what else we're gonna talk about.
About why you should follow me -- -- -- -- on Twitter and here's why.
As I write for you each day and that's it and you can have a little something a little love note from me.
And today's headline meltdown of subsidized battery -- -- Obama Detroit visits is just the kind of headline that you could get for free just for the cost of the putter problems I'd heard you do that.
Gonna take a quick break but when we come back your friend of the -- -- join us -- stick around.
This is entirely different.
Every Democrat on notion of god I hope she runs we don't need a primary there's just go to -- -- just think a lot of -- would anybody -- anything.
The Republicans they -- Take somebody's got to meet somebody somebody's got to -- beaten Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann don't you gotta be somebody good.
That was James Carville on this week which is ADC's Sunday morning news program.
Talking to his fellow Clinton White House and veteran George Stephanopoulos.
Who is now.
An -- of that television show it's complicated but anyway.
This is power -- and welcome back.
And here's the deal the Democrat -- what started as a slight.
Tap -- has turned into a bass -- pound pound pound -- You hear horrible saying every Democrat he knows says god I hope she runs -- usually.
Obviously Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Who right now is dealing with a little illness before she sets off on a trip to the Middle East to try to help.
The pro democracy forces.
That she says are the key to success in the region -- -- -- -- there after should be secretary of state no more so what becomes of her.
Do you know who probably knows.
Or can probably guess Doug shown he is you know him as the co anchor of politics insiders.
Right here on foxnews.com.
But you also know that he is a former pollster for the house of Clinton.
Doug welcome back thank you so much press.
OK and with us still is Matthew -- any from the Washington afridi did all right so -- here's the deal.
Hillary if she doesn't run already the expectations are so high for her candidacy she doesn't run Democrats are just going to be sad.
Well we'll be sad and disappointed because what James Carville said.
Is undeniably true if she runs -- get the nomination.
She'll run.
Unopposed in the primaries to be sure she will be able to raise I think north of a billion dollars without a lot of effort.
And look I don't think that the Obama administration.
Necessarily will be all that popular in four years' time will tell.
But even if they're not she will be -- -- strong position.
To take on whoever comes out of -- Almost certainly bruising Republican nomination fight.
Right now Matthew -- the Republicans.
In 2008.
Did this before.
Which was arranged -- nominating process with the expectation that Hillary Clinton was going to win and it helped moderates like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
Get to the front of the pack and Mitt Romney gets the front of the pack because they -- -- oh my gosh.
-- Hillary Clinton is the nominee we're gonna have to be ready to face or how does Ed Ed prospective HRC candidacy effect through.
Public -- process.
Well I think Carville is right in another sense -- -- the Republicans need to fight that they get a clean hitting cleanup since and I think that will happen and you know the big X-Factor here on the Republican side is all the super pac money it's washing around it's obvious effects of that.
In the 2012 campaign where some of these candidates Santorum -- Foster freeze Gingrich and Sheldon Adelson Romney had his super pac.
The -- Brothers -- play all these different -- -- billionaires are good to have their own prize candidates and unless there's a way.
-- -- -- to kind of clear the inventions like the Republican Party did after the 98 elections for George W.
Bush.
-- I think we'll have a heavily contested Republican primary and with.
You know a dozen candidates -- -- and I think that would help Hillary and I doubt this is she's gonna run right.
My guess is that -- element.
She says no.
But the passage of time the certainty of the nomination.
The enormity of a financial and political support shall get Chris if I was a betting man I'd Ventura.
So she runs and if she does.
She will she's already well positioned as a moderate inside the Democratic Party so she wouldn't have to waste a lot of time.
Pleasing the democratic base the way the Republican front runner Mitt Romney had to do with his -- right.
I couldn't agree mark she is uniquely positioned to please the base.
Assuage the moderates and even reach out to some moderate Republican.
So Matthew you guys should probably do the Republicans should probably just acted like now's the time to focus on the -- like I said Chris I have heard -- -- from -- the loss here I don't see any relief to I think 2014 it typically the sixty your -- -- -- -- for dal party let's not forget that.
It is rare.
-- one party to win the presidency three elections in a row and there are what you quote you've written political scientist called -- -- -- factors things happening outside the system.
That would you possibly -- and Hillary's chances recession.
God help -- -- war and other financial crisis and looks like I was saying earlier.
Let's not forget these new politics of austerity is really making American politics unpredictable and a lot more bitter than I think we've seen in the past not its not fun no -- Anxieties.
Aside the question is there's it wasn't.
Anything outside that hurt Hillary Clinton in 2008.
It seem like she was not prepared for challenge from Barack Obama she was overconfident you think.
-- I think.
That's probably choose who made some his judgments.
About the caucuses and ideological positioning but I don't think anybody's gonna challenger -- and -- -- I could be wrong I think there's only one person.
Who could potentially rally the party and she will almost certainly not run and that's Elizabeth Warren.
Really now.
Really so -- but now she would be Hillary's right she would be okay with -- he would be Hillary's.
-- campaign chairman.
But bottom line the only way Hillary could be beaten.
Would be east a left wing opponent without cause a following an argument and I don't see anyone.
-- -- So Matthew you see the Clinton bush -- would be Hillary -- It's possible I mean Christie Chris Christie is I think -- also -- in the republic.
You never know I mean pro choice guy from the comptroller's -- yeah he's -- Floyd did hit the end of the day looked -- -- through this right wing radical party we have had this record -- last two elections of nominating these kind of moderate center right people let's say this I was looking over.
Some presidential elections you know in the last six presidential elections that the since 92 -- the younger candidate has won the popular vote in every election and one liability and again I'm not saying this is gonna ruin it for because I agree with Doug I think she's she's a -- but.
One possibility is a younger candidate from the Republican Party one who maybe you know more charismatic -- certainly our last nominee.
May pose a chance in this kind of you know eight the eight year democratic.
Triumphant in DC make sure it may pose a chance against it Hillary.
Because -- don't sound we thank you very much for your crime and we thank you always do what's -- the excellence that you do.
On political insiders and Matthew we thank you.
Thank you for making time for us today thank you OK Internet says this.
Bread tanks -- we know Obama has a lot of failures on his list.
But are there any success stories.
Won't get they will say that they have success stories and it's their job -- say that there are success stories the challenge for Republicans bread is this.
Talking more than fifty years than the successes that's.
By the -- politics okay we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back general Jack Keane will make his debut appearance here on power but we'll talk to him about what's going on Syria.
And the rest of that troubled region when we come back.
So stick around.
Is this scene in the ongoing civil war in Syria where -- the government continues to fall back.
And rebels continue to gain ground the threat of chemical weapons looms large.
The threat of those chemical weapons -- Falling into the hands of Islamist radicals grows.
-- to be concerned about they -- and this is power play.
And Internet let me tell you that this scene in Syria.
Seems to be heading towards the tipping point and remember this is a very bad neighborhood fighting -- just spilled over into Lebanon.
Which is next door to Israel on the other side Iran and its nuclear program continues to get going get going get going.
So what's going on in Syria could prove -- -- this could be the Balkans of the Middle East.
-- for Americans to think about and worry about somebody who's been thinking about and worrying about situations like this for a long career.
Is Jack -- general -- is -- former vice chief of staff to the army.
That means that he is retired four star general that's a lot of stars general welcome to the -- -- -- -- OK so we do cynical politics here so we need a little refresher as to this question about what's going on Syria.
What can the United States be doing as this situations spins out of control.
Well politically we are trying to influence the situation by trying to established.
And national Syrian.
Coalition which would be the political -- to the that would control the rubble from a political perspective and also would be -- open -- the world could recognize -- -- we're helping in.
We're also try and to help in the formation.
Of a central military command.
And this is going to be to the -- military council that would attempt to integrate.
The various groups on the one authority and that's ambitious as anyone who knows a situation.
Would recognize.
But those -- who strategic things were doing quite frankly we're providing nonlethal aid.
And that is very controversial because.
There's a -- along the rebels particularly the Free Syrian Army that we should it be providing lethal aid to them and as a result of not having done this the jihadist -- grown in scale and in numbers and an influence.
And in the post -- -- error and there will be one it appears at the United States will have considerably less influence.
City and at that table than what we would have.
If we had got into this thing -- a little bit more significantly that we.
-- Egypt.
Across the way.
We are seeing some signs from president -- That.
He is gonna pull back a bit on his power -- it to your point.
You know the best thing that the United States had going for it in Egypt and probably still today is a western oriented military right.
That's correct I mean we have had.
Views -- Mutual partnership with this notorious over we've provided them significant amount of aid as well.
And as you well know right now they're aligned with the -- -- government.
And -- more see in this new constitutional.
Referendum that being voted on if it takes place this weekend gives the military essentially autonomy and he ransacked.
As you may remember a number of the Mubarak generals.
And he's got no -- in there who at least for the president absolutely backing him but this much I do know about that military.
They do not want this chaos in this instability to continue.
And necessarily influence and more -- to that fact.
And on I don't believe he would have been making the concessions he's made to the minorities.
Here if -- wasn't for the military's influence.
That they do not want to situation continued it it'll be -- -- see what happens this weekend.
When this referendum takes place in terms of the scale protests and demonstrations and what follows on.
Now back in Syria.
The concern about these jihadist concerned about Islamist radicals in their government.
It seems like it's pretty clear.
That in this country where you have an -- white.
Minority where you have the Assad -- Which is used -- they're only 10% of the population in the country it seems like what he's trying to do.
It did since it's clear he can't stay in power he's trying to either kill a bunch of his enemies -- create some path of exit for his people is that what it looks like.
Well I think first and foremost -- I think he believes.
That he can stay in power.
And that's why he's still continuing to fight that could still continued and you know to kill sort of smell.
In excess of a 40000.
I mean what I think will unfold in front of us is eventually.
Damascus will be besieged by the rebels a level as well.
And and then.
What will happen is regime.
We'll use that Damascus.
To to the coast Carter.
To move in that direction and and to move north and will have tough.
The rebels went up the fight to open up Carter.
And then move move north where the follow -- will have -- -- -- -- the mountains of a sudden makes it through all of that which I think is probably doubtful it I suspect somewhere along the way.
He's going to be killed or.
Someone close to Campbell -- in fact kill them but the -- wise will.
Will attempt to protect themselves and that out and out on clay because they know these.
These rebel formations on this forces come and ask for them as a result of they were in a minority in the very repressive rule that they've imposed on the up the rest of the majority and inside the country.
To -- -- -- think every time that we mostly thank you for your service that spanned from Vietnam to Iraq we thank you okay Chris good talking to you -- Okay Internet that was not bad for Monday -- -- especially rainy Monday here in Washington DC we hope you enjoyed that we hope you're looking forward to being on -- With Jonathan Hunt which will happen for you next it's Monday so you don't get to have a word from Charles sorry.
-- hope keep our fingers crossed on the panel tonight I'll stop by -- office and make sure that Charles is coming on for years -- But how about some power points as slim solace.
Today's power points Detroit rock city.
Now look the president's going to Detroit today and it's a hot -- it is absolutely a hotbed of political controversy these days not just.
With his visit they -- but also of course they're having a back and forth back and forth back and forth.
Over -- proposed right to work which means you can't force people to join a union just because the majority of people.
And a company -- to join -- union they've got legislation in what used to be this bastion.
Union strongly got legislation that's working through the Republican legislature there that's a big deal and of course we all remember the video of the Detroit councilwoman who said president need to bring home the bacon and start sending -- stuff because Detroit voted -- so it's there's a lot swirling around in Detroit these days.
Not the least of which is that.
Car battery maker that went belly up so here's your first -- down a quarter.
Down a quarter.
What's -- a quarter the population.
Of the city of Detroit since 1990.
What you think about this the falling falling falling population of Detroit -- and Wayne county.
Is now down.
Back to the same level as it was in 1910.
It.
A century of growth once upon a time to -- it was the fifth largest city in the United States and the greatest economic powerhouse of them all in many ways.
And now it is a shadow of itself back to the days before.
The internal combustion engine revolutionize the whole world before Henry Ford got rich.
So to why why.
Why is Detroit so bad off.
Well it's double -- blame.
Forty years really.
Management and labor mistakes in the auto industry political failings on the left and on the right.
Have track Detroit in this cycle.
And it is a sad when I point this out because it's true.
That power play and end power plays mom were both born in Detroit.
I mean part of the hillbilly guy asked for a but Detroit was for a long time a City of Hope begin.
A good opportunity for.
African Americans from the deep south from I 4 Irish immigrants for eastern and southern European immigrants.
For this aforementioned hillbillies it's not been that for a long time.
And today.
We will hear.
Point three.
It's a little hat -- to.
Motown the same old song.
That's what we'll -- today not just from the president but we'll hear from industry leaders we'll hear from labor leaders we'll hear from Republicans.
About what the insurer is for Michigan the answer has to be for Detroit and -- -- something different to think anew and act anew.
As Abraham Lincoln would say so those are some power points for you to multi target date.
As you get ready for on the on the job content through -- you back here 1130 tomorrow.
