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Hillary's road to 2016 takes Benghazi detour, Republicans try to squeeze Senate and Reid threatens to nuke filibuster
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And that's is James Buchanan about whom many things can be said the only lifelong bachelor to be the president of the United States.
The only president to -- from Pennsylvania despite its one time massive electoral clout.
But here's why he's important today he's the only lady he's the last.
Former secretary of state to ascend to the presidency.
And this is power play that's Hillary Clinton's big day and I'm -- -- -- I should stipulate that -- point out.
That I'm -- are all but it's Hillary Clinton's big -- as secretary -- big day on Capitol Hill as she goes up to joust.
Growl drool.
And otherwise be in -- crabby and charming.
With Republicans and Democrats as they ask her about what in the heck happened on September 11 2012 attack.
On the US consulate in been -- by Islamist militants.
And she has been having an and up and down.
Trip but so far holding her own.
So what is this portend for her chances as the democratic front runner for -- -- should she decide that she would like go back to the White House.
We'll talk about that we'll talk about the effort by Republicans to put the squeeze on senate Democrats by asking them to pass -- budget.
In exchange for a temporary extension of the debt limit we'll do that and we'll talk about the nuclear option -- there and we mean Harry Reid -- his threat.
To change the rules for the filibuster and change threshold for votes in the senate.
In the next 36 hours if Republicans don't cough up an offer but our points will have Charles.
It will be great fun.
And -- part of the fun of course will be Jonathan strong he's -- staff writer for roll call.
You've covered congress and do their doings over there.
And as somebody who does a good job of covering.
Of people with -- 9% approval rating welcome.
Good morning okay there we go did you know that about James you can I did not only did none -- that change you can see in the old days and secretary of state.
Was the stepping stone to the presidency Thomas Jefferson.
That was back before you can travel places quickly and that was back before instant communications as secretary -- -- was a very important job because you were basically speaking for the United States.
World diplomacy and all of that.
-- president's -- into their own stuff.
And secretaries of state go for photo ops.
And stuff like that anyway.
But Hillary Clinton is the undeniable democratic front runner for 26.
It can't.
Nobody else comes close Joseph Biden.
Andrew Cuomo both have have flirted with toys already with the idea of running to succeed President Obama but it's it looks.
-- it often looks like it's hers for the taking.
What does she do you assuming that she survives this day of testimony.
What did she do after this.
You know she -- got a lot of options that she can take.
You know -- Hillary Clinton's interesting because this -- -- up one of the worst scandals for this administration but she did an expert job of of keeping it from coming to her doorstep -- yeah but.
Why do those hurry -- agency or department right and she was -- she wasn't the one on the Sunday shows you know peddling this false information it was Susan Rice.
But I will say today -- -- -- seen from the hearing I don't think she's doing herself any favors right now we've -- -- Boca because by getting you know losing your temper with Ron Johnson lol yeah.
There's -- -- to have to ask questions about that's indignation don't you know if that is the that righteous indignation and she would that.
To be described as being fiery in the wings when confronted by the perfidy of Republicans here is you've got to.
There's little argument where she says.
You know basically it's your call Republicans gives you.
Cut -- they they didn't really cut and it wasn't really about this but that Republican reductions to use -- budgets.
Or two outlays in the future.
For the State Department.
Have left them unsafe and unable to do all the things they need to do so it's their fault it's a nice escape hatch but let me just say you make this point.
If she's -- in the senate hearing which is the chamber controlled by Democrats.
When she goes into the house this afternoon with members who might be a little more anxious even -- Ron Johnson.
We -- c.'s -- real fireworks quite quite.
And that's true and she does have achieved she does have we've seen as good as she is at defeating difficult questions and this is the -- about it this way.
Twenty years ago.
She was facing a lot more difficult kind of questions thirty years ago it was -- a lot more -- kind of questions everything from the Rose Law Firm billing records to the Whitewater land deal to her sudden.
Very lucrative interest in cattle futures.
All kinds of stuff is the First Lady -- -- -- and -- -- the attorney general of Arkansas.
And -- his run for the presidency she's been doing this for a long time but sometimes she does get kind of crappy that's true so it might it might not look good but let's assume just as soon.
Indulgent chair assume that -- and that today.
Do Republicans think she did terrible the Democrats think she did great it's a split decision she leaves office strategically.
What does she do if she wants to run for president.
You know her husband has done a great job of building up his image.
-- -- through his charity work.
She's got to find a way to.
Do that but with her own profile the -- she asked to stay in the news but.
In a way that appeals to kind of everyone not take any polarizing stands.
But -- the danger for her is that.
By not having an official position in government.
She's not.
Doing anything if people kind of forget about it Dwight Eisenhower.
President of Columbia University.
He didn't need to have a high profile -- was so famous I was still -- in this.
Hillary Clinton.
-- got to be as famous as Dwight Eisenhower was -- -- and she is rich oh she's Richard increases my god she's got they have.
They had a hundred million dollars in 2008 imagine the kind of scratch that they have now.
-- -- she needs the money I mean couldn't she just sort of like write books and NB a dignified person -- occasionally do interviews the book.
Is the first step and I think if it were the things that people have been reporting on is she's trying to decide what kind of book.
She's gonna right because if she is gonna run for president -- It's going to be a little bit more closely guarded right -- is you know four years ago she might have been thinking that eventually she'll write this kind of tell all.
And really give an intimate look at.
Her work in government.
So I was reading the book will be a little bit of a -- what she's gonna do after you know what what her plans are and then.
Behind the scenes she's going to be having to organize really top notch team.
If you remember the 2008 primary that was one of her top weaknesses as a candidate was.
Her campaign manager was a disaster.
Her tough weakness in 2008 is there's -- candidate was as she looked asked.
The Iowa Caucuses and left and did not take Barack Obama seriously unless he won the Iowa Caucuses in the giant had been slain.
He was on the role of the less said what do we have to compromise for was somebody who voted for the Iraq War whose husband was in favor of NAFTA this moderate.
-- -- rising.
Centrist Democrat stuff why don't we go for the real deal.
Well out of this retort where.
Overlooking the Iowa Caucuses have a really good job there OK here are right now support your return and his retort is duly noted.
Having 9053 says this she did -- nicely on what difference does it make.
She knows what difference it makes to run or not to run.
And marriage talking -- that exchange with Ron Johnson talking about and she got into with Marco Rubio a little bit too but talking about.
Win did the president know and what did he know and why did they say that it was spontaneous when they knew -- was terrorism and back and forth and she did.
She did not sound she did not send warm and Fuzzy in that one but again we'll be -- left we'll excuse.
The right -- the directly condemn.
And and so it goes what else is said what else is that is this.
Big -- three G three I like big thing and start to have a real appreciation for -- -- Big -- three -- -- as -- -- the hearing at all the only way you can find out what really happens in Washington is reading it in history books years later so true.
It's so true it's so true what you say because it all gets sucked into the -- vortex and gets glossed over and by the time -- -- the threads apart.
It's doesn't make any sense you have to wait until enough people have died that the living people can say well actually you know -- understand when -- asked that question we were totally lying about that that was not true at all.
And about this quite a going away.
Party for Hillary should government -- have to waste time lives.
And and what we have a lot of stuff from.
The FaceBook -- Jonathan is going to stay with us we will get to more of your -- I promise you when we come back but when we come back.
We're gonna talk about Republicans try to finally -- pressure on senate Democrats who've been.
Having their way since Election Day we'll talk about that when we come back.
So stick around.
Most Americans believe you don't do your job you shouldn't get paid.
That's -- of the bases before no budget no pay.
-- time for the senate to act.
And that was that's -- John Boehner.
-- Senate Democrats to not pass a budget.
In response who is expected to pass today in the house.
Which would extend the federal borrowing limit from its current sixteen point four trillion dollars back to a dollar amounted to a date certain the eighteenth of may.
When the Republicans hope that by then they will have been able to exact some spending cuts.
From the president and his team in the senate this -- -- got the strong from roll call is with this bill helping us navigate these murky waters.
But -- the man who -- concede to the bottom of this murky stream I bet.
Somebody that you know in like Internet is congressman David -- from the great state of Arizona congressman.
-- back bad day at the murky -- -- that didn't care.
You can see the bottom and it's it isn't pretty murky stream out there I think yeah you'll have to you'll have to allow.
Oh yeah in this case people are kicking up the mud in trying to figure out what ultimately happens here.
OK so here's the question are you gonna vote for this plan.
I am going to vote for but got to take -- this is one of those you worry about all the possible unintended consequences.
If the plan goes -- laid out where we actually are going to produce a budget in the house.
That balances in ten years if we're going to make sure we hold those dollars amount that are posted in the sequestration numbers.
This is actually a good deal.
But ultimately.
I I think the environment look very different couple months from now if you actually have a senate.
That's being able to put -- budget because we get some sense of where were really going.
And it is not coincidental congressman that.
Probably that those lose budget votes tend to be very politically difficult votes for senators especially those.
Who are running and more conservative states.
The clear that that might not like might not like to have to vote for something that has big.
-- -- tax increases and I think it's even further than that.
I believe there's -- -- and number of members in the US senate that are living in a fantasy world.
They -- if you read their speeches -- look at their their comments publicly.
It's as if they're completely detached from the reality.
What's going on it it's almost like -- deficits and -- over there.
And putting it on paper and forcing them to vote about the reality.
What's happening budget terribly in this country I think it will be very powerful to educate the country in reality.
Now the senate Democrats says seem to think that what they can be basically is that -- we meant to pass a budget the whole time.
So we just were busy.
-- -- going to do that the president says he'll sign it if it comes through.
And all of that stuff -- that all happens then were set up for real fights over as you say the sequestration.
Which is which comes into play next in March.
And the continuing resolution operating government an absence of -- budget wouldn't get what happens that.
Well actually I think you you may we have your -- slightly out of order as -- -- -- -- mechanically.
Can you imagine.
The discussions the fight that the shows you're going to be doing on the realities.
Of where the money it's.
The growth in the debt and deficits particularly when you look at the explosion and mandatory that's taking place right now substantially driven by baby boomers.
I actually believe the reality of that wheel drive all conversations.
So it's going to be the budgeting that's gonna drive the conversations.
Congressman David -- thank you for reordering our -- we thank you for your time today I insightful as always.
Take care of -- Right here's what frank and cola says on the Twitter and by the way you know frank and -- -- and all of your friends are Smart.
There's fun for a lot of reasons no doubt that there's -- because they follow me on Twitter at cease tire -- and in so doing they get my power play that I read every day that I write for human.
My gentle -- -- Internet each morning.
That I do you get it just by calling me -- -- -- and then you can join the discussion frank says this.
He's not the story the GOP game -- on debt ceiling and Otis seeming approval is much bigger Harry.
-- -- right frank and you'll excuse us you'll excuse Jonathan and I for trafficking and cynical politics because we can't wait.
For the 2016 presidential cycle to start because it's going to be awesome the democratic side can you imagine raised that included Joseph Biden and Hillary Clinton road the epic that would be -- beyond that.
I mean and I think by the -- Biden just embraced the onion caricature -- himself and he would have if you just like campaign like a leather vest and just go around it like smoke in theory he's it would be it would be awesome.
So you'll excuse us frank for indulging.
Our our political fantasies but.
He's right about this the Republicans you know people who made a big deal about how the Republicans have backed down on the debt ceiling and not -- -- have been -- dollar for dollar cuts.
-- reichert is an example of somebody who is pretty conservative.
And Boehner seems to have convinced.
Schweigert and his ilk who are have been.
-- -- on several things that Boehner wanted is convince them that the.
Is the way to yeah well if -- did it emerge pretty organically it wasn't top down from Boehner which is part of the reason these conservatives kind of like how it was presented to them.
It's emerging that this is a very Smart strategy politically Chris van Holland one of the top.
Budget guys on the democratic side.
Went to Kevin McCarthy and Paul Ryan on inauguration day and said.
I give you an -- For political strategy and asked for economic strategy but okay he disagrees -- whatever he's conceding that this puts Democrats in real mind.
They're not.
Going to be able to controlled.
Votes in the house little on the senate in the president's already folding.
The president said he was not going to negotiate whatsoever on debt ceiling.
That's dead now.
He's now playing this game so they've engage the Democrats they only gave up.
34 months worth of debt ceiling.
And they get in the -- whack at the pentagon and another another couple and.
President can't say no to any extent having having just terrified the nation over what would happen.
In the event of a debt ceiling breach.
He can hardly say no to any extension right it's like you can't then say -- woman it's terrible but it's worth doing it if we can get longer than three months.
And now the last thing -- and is this.
For.
Republicans.
They.
They know the president's coming to get a and he's made it very plain that the goal is to break to divide the Republican conference in the house just as happened on the fiscal -- -- Federer -- -- Can they those successfully used the senate.
As -- two to absorb the blows -- you have folks apparently Andrew and others.
We're up for reelection from red states that don't want to go along with the president's agenda has successfully can they keep the ball in Harry Reid's court.
In some cases of easier than -- -- Saddam on the gun control issue everyone that conventional wisdom here in DC in the elite.
Media circles is that Republicans.
Let me.
The Republicans are in big trouble here the polls say people sport background checks well.
I don't think so I think there's a major risks for those red state senate seats.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And you know that the senate may go Republican putting fourteen if they keep pushing these little things in these red state senators have to.
To swallow it Jeanne thank you for being with us even if you didn't know about change you can have a great.
We well I talk more about that in and probably other terrible presidents Franklin Pierce may come into the discussion who knows Zachary Taylor he did 1850s we're -- right time for all homeless in the presidency.
But instead.
We will probably talk about changes to voting rules in the senate is Harry Reid threatens Republicans.
Either come up with -- plan.
Or they'll come up with one for them talk about that when we come back -- stick around.
I hope for the next week -- 36 hours we can get something.
And we agree on if not we're gonna move forward.
One.
But I think he's redone the caucus support me on that and.
And that's.
In the parlance of the senate is equivalent to -- -- they call out.
-- a drive by rhetorical shooting in the senate is Harry Reid says.
That Mitch McConnell the minority leader better come up with what he's willing to accept and changes to the filibuster rule.
Or -- the Democrats we use what they -- the nuclear option.
-- -- you get one vote with 51 votes.
To change the rule that says you need sixty votes a super majority to move legislation forward.
And this is power play.
And this all sounds arcane and and and I know -- your interest in -- because you wouldn't be watching this if you weren't.
Because we're a little bit of Arcadia here -- Washington is argument this very much because -- -- acts on this.
And change the rules of the senate that it basically in the way that they are since the seventies has about 74.
We -- this legislative rules that we have now if he changes this it's gonna change where things work in Washington.
People who know how things -- in Washington Post Terry Holt.
He's a partner at HT MK.
And he's a former spokesperson for the speaker of the house John Boehner and strategist for a -- Bush Cheney came into 2002004.
While bacteria -- and you know and like Garland next and he is a radio show host.
To be PFW POWs is pretty big deal -- is a man of the left and also a friend of the show OK so.
Here is the question and -- start with you -- The Republicans don't like this.
They want to cut a deal.
But Democrats Liberal Democrats have been really pushing hard to end the filibuster -- -- its constituent constituted.
What's McConnell -- do.
I don't know but I do you think it.
A lot of talk is.
Occurred about.
-- the house is so messed up -- And dysfunction of the congress -- the dysfunction of the congress rest equally on the back of the senate and the fact that this senate.
Can't do its business is is a fundamental element of why Washington is broken and perceived to be broken.
I worry that the Harry Reid wants to change the rules just so that he can do he wants to do.
But I've also been very aware that Harry Reid has had wider majorities in the past he's.
Had votes from Republicans in the past to do things he said.
Sixty votes in the past to do certain things but he hasn't been able to do a budget in a very very long time.
-- might be willing to help Harry Reid change the rules if that would get him to finally write a budget so that we could move on and have.
-- -- it fixed -- fixing our fiscal house.
Agree on what basically the rule change would be within their lot of potential rule changes one proposal though is prior to the 1974 rule changes.
If you wanted to filibuster something.
You had a filibuster you had to the famous story about Strom Thurmond trying to block civil rights legislation sadness on -- for three days to be hydrate himself.
So that the water that he drank.
Would not be have to be mature rated taking him from the floor.
And he'd have to yield the floor in those dramatic moments.
And and things like that Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington game do -- famous Frank Capra movie portrayal.
Is it would it be a good thing to have that come back but if you want to filibuster you gotta talk.
I think so and I think he's desperately needed and I think he -- Republicans have only themselves to blame I needed in 2012.
Mitch McConnell.
Thrust upon himself is dubious distinction of being the first senator in the history of America.
To filibuster his own bill because I didn't -- so what are you gonna do when people introduce bills until you can if you now if you try to nominate a janitor the assistant to the assistance assistant.
They filibustered.
So it's some -- Democrats are pretty good at that -- during the -- -- but then if you look at the numbers the Republicans have broken every number.
Every record in the history of filibusters of the last three years I think they brought it upon themselves and whatever.
Whatever Reid decides to do to make this and it worked as opposed to gonna have to look in the mirror if they want things changed because.
The rules may very well only lasts for this particular.
-- if they wanna change release today it's a little more civil.
The rules doorsteps in 1974 -- rules of convenience that it it it made it easier to you.
To manipulate the arcane rules of the senate so that people could go home at night -- sleep in their own bed and so forth.
I do think that were going Washington where people expect these people.
Senators and congressmen to do their jobs and and if it means that we have real filibusters now I I think that's a good thing because we would have.
More.
Good the order let letting the house and the senate work its will -- maybe getting something.
Look at this bipartisan board coming together right here on out but we should both runs to sit I think it's something good.
-- -- I think president.
Very -- came here for free but we and that's why we really thank.
Thank -- OK guys we appreciate your time have a good day.
And -- -- Jonathan Hunt is up next which I know you like.
And before we get to that lets have some power points hot water.
Hot water those are your -- points today.
First SharePoint 51015101000.
That's how many barrels of oil.
Could be carried in the keystone XL pipeline.
A lot of oil per day from Alberta in western -- -- -- the Gulf of Mexico and the governor of Nebraska says it's okay with him if it comes through his state despite concerns about snowboarders or whatever in the wetlands of Nebraska.
So this creates.
Second PowerPoint which is.
Foreign and domestic.
The president's.
Does not like.
Burning all of these fossil fuels because he says that it creates global warming and super storms and drought -- all of these problems but here's the deal.
Labor supporters of the president desperately want the jobs that would come from building this giant pipeline all the way across the middle part of the country so that's pressure on him and people have been paying a lot of money for gasoline so they might like cheaper gas that would come from these refineries so.
What are you supposed to do so that your third PowerPoint laying it on the pipeline.
President has an opportunity he's talking now about running are being a much more liberal president and we saw -- the first term.
He's talked about being more ideological and -- more vice principals.
The Keystone Pipeline.
Provides the first test.
If you let it go forward he's doing deals if he stands up and says no -- the future of the earth is too important.
That will be an important sign that he's gonna stick to his guns to rule C eight.
And now is we like to do every day we want to leave you with the word from our friend Charles.
It's and they did ask one question that nobody in the press is asking.
Where are the embassy personnel who are at the -- who work thrown out who were -- Who know when you can say what happened and who have not even been named.
By the State Department and why behind.
And they allowed to speak to the American people and to the congress almost no one -- -- of course.
Because I exclude us -- standing above the preface it.
