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Power Play 2/6/2013

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    Angst over drone killings, can Obama corral Senate democrats? Big steps or baby steps on immigration?

  • Duration 23:27
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These reforms would reduce our government's bill.

Is that president.

In a press conference yesterday.

-- statement yesterday calling for a round of tax increases in some cuts to do you delay the imposition of the sequester.

And the joke was supposed to be I don't know what happened in the video but the joke was supposed to date that he accused of photographer of breaking up his slow all the time that they're with their clicking and they're -- and -- -- -- This is power play and I'm Chris firewall that something else that's breaking up the president's -- these days is the fact that Democrats.

And especially Liberal Democrats.

Are very unhappy.

About his stance as it relates to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles you call them drones.

To kill people.

Including American citizens overseas.

Because he says so.

So this is starting to be a bit of -- thorny issue and it's been actually want to develop we'll talk about that today we'll talk about the president heading.

To Annapolis to talk to his fellow Democrats in the United States senate about is very aggressive very ambitious second term agenda and whether or not those folks.

Are going to get on board intent not all of them.

And then we will also talk about immigration.

Juan Williams will be here match lap will be here power points today frolic some -- some time today.

And I don't know whether he will be -- -- but I expect that he will be edifying.

Please -- Internet Terry Jeffrey he's the editor in chief.

Of cnet's news.com.

And Terry I think I can fairly and without fear.

I think correction save you guys are.

The dominant.

Christian news outlet in America right well we're Christians -- conservatives know.

I -- -- he was repression.

Actually see is bad for cyber cast news here is what it.

It's okay.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- So here's what we now.

We know that in the past.

That Democrats were very angry at the Bush Administration -- angry at the bush administration for.

Legal justifications for what Democrats call torture which Republicans called enhanced interrogation techniques.

Islamist militants.

Waterboarding and things like that.

Yesterday we saw in a leak from the administration.

A it was sort of a jaw dropping rationalizations.

In which the president.

Took the president's team took the same justifications.

That team bush had used.

To back up waterboarding.

And use those investigations which is the entire -- was a battlefield.

And the president is the commander in chief of everything around the globe and he and only -- has the power to decide these things.

And now conscientious liberals and a lot of Democrats are feeling a little.

We believe Chris I think people need to get back -- -- -- middle governing principle here is what is the constitution say the president who do use military force.

In -- -- it's actually very clear the record straight clear.

That tape that congress has -- declare war but does it mean the -- -- convention as 1987.

The original language is cut congress I'm Perry make more -- -- days -- and -- and we exchange is the state congress should have parted declare war why they didn't.

Madison and his -- ahead.

To leave to the executive the power to repel sudden attacks.

Since 2000 president he's military force it has been authorized -- -- -- congress.

And if he needs to repel said attacks and -- obviously kicking action authorization.

-- -- -- the question of targeting an al-Qaeda member.

-- -- -- In 2001 after -- September -- -- congress.

Approved an authorization for the use military force that specifically said the president can go after those people are responsible for 9/11.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Theoretically that authorization is still -- stance.

If there's a member of al-Qaeda that's involved in terrorism against the United States the presence those authorization from congress -- that.

And even in the Obama administration is he's he's also arguing that -- they're targeting people who were.

Imminent threats the United States suggesting that they -- trinity repel said.

I think maybe we can debate the specifics of specific attacks.

They tell congress repeals the authorization the United States to be able and so I think basically -- the president can go after al-Qaeda with plans or any other legitimate -- including the sixteen year old.

Colorado native son.

And while Iraqi.

-- -- Killed a couple of weeks after his dad be questioned and I think here from my view this as a moral principle -- to see the Catholic understanding of this war.

In one of days is sad.

Yeah you can only do -- work it's -- last resort.

And this is the Dynegy cars can not outweigh the kid you're cheating.

You have to be discriminate in the use of force says it thinks it's gonna be some collateral damage and if you go -- -- -- get this underlined his legitimate target.

And you have no choice it inadvertently not as relevant really to kill an innocent person if it -- That if you're killing twenty innocent people think that one guy is called peripheral member of al-Qaeda and its moral assessment.

Right you can bomb -- And there will be civilian deaths if you are engaged in -- just -- -- the idea that civilian casualties or unintentional casualties.

As part of and overall war effort but what now.

And while Iraqis kid I mean this is again I think it was sixteen years old resident -- today -- -- -- he was not -- they specifically targeted.

Bledsoe or so it would seem that he was the only person of value of any value and you have to -- the guys.

Right it will likely -- another question that arises from this is it's only that they leaked this memory -- would rather than the actual Justice Department legal argument in favor of and -- -- They're not allowing the congressional Intelligence Committees look at this.

And I think that under our constitution it is congress -- -- this in the administration has no right keep cram.

The congressional Intelligence Committees he's -- it's the -- heavy duty.

To have tightened oversight that's an after only.

9/11.

And I think we have to reevaluate exactly the tactics and our strategy in dealing with al-Qaeda at this time.

And whether what was appropriate not favored 2001 is appropriate today.

-- it's complicated out there president I also want whenever he wrote a piece.

Which is available on -- Internet.

Karl Rove is not a conservative you said today and it's -- he's -- politics it is not he is not he.

I think.

Probably.

This rove would even say that he is the pragmatists believe -- he he likes to get people left.

That's his business right.

Right end dead sometimes -- -- good -- -- and sometimes he's been bad.

And 2008 vs our 2004.

Vs 2012 for example in the 2006 mid term elections which I think we're a referendum on president -- just like that and I think Carl Rosen very Smart he obviously understands politics -- He's not a conservative and in the primary reason I say that is because.

If there's anything conservatives believe is keeping the federal government within the constitutional limits it in place.

-- -- -- -- it may not be possible craft entered through Republican conservative president to eliminate unconstitutional programs that have been initiated by.

Prior administration -- -- hadn't cracked understanding and respect the constitution.

But the Bush Administration did in -- -- these programs.

Where is increased the power and scope and things that liberal administrations had started that -- not an event.

For example the No Child Left Behind act as wind and -- receive Medicare prescription right.

And do you think that.

I mean I guess I guess the point is -- the question is this.

What we're talking about here is rove and his group crossroads which was the dominant outside group in the 2012 election they did not have a good year.

They didn't win any of the senate race is that they wanted to win and he's saying that the reason is is that in Missouri and Indiana.

The an undesirable.

Conservative candidates one thing.

-- -- -- To -- now this does not by the way.

Let's say anything about Montana and North Dakota which went for Mitt Romney like gangbusters where they did where Republicans -- senate races that they should have won there aren't I I would argue but certainly we can -- knowledge that topic it was and it running percent right.

I think I think he made a rhetorical -- in describing his position on abortion.

And I think there is magnified and Mitt Romney and people like -- red turning -- targeting -- A good hearted man who is defending him morally correct position.

Trying to defend innocent human life and making -- the perpetrators of wrongdoing because either -- -- -- on the run to actually -- as an app.

Actually capitulation to the liberal establishment press they're standing at the liberal status with stuff like suck it like Aiken Richard in Iraq.

If tennis is these guys do something that maybe can be mildly split about the democrats' big jump on and they're -- they're so well it isn't as the business.

It is figured on the particularly on the pro life issue right now.

Will students bush was you know the pro life issue he waffled at the beginning this term and the question the sense that he's lucky he was good.

Right thank Pacific Grove -- understood the politics that abortion in Anderson understood that in fact the majority of the American people and I believe the abortion issue.

If politicians stand strong speak the truth and what sparked the fight.

He's an opportunity to explain -- the American people and educate the American people persuade the American people the pro life causal link -- ultimately the reason we're income.

Politics is not to win an election but to move the policy of the country in the right direction if we can't do -- protecting innocent life -- We do know.

Well I tell you what is.

This is the kind of high -- sentiment that has.

That gets very little traffic here in Washington so we will we would since -- your maiden voyage -- power play we'll just let it would just let it stand and thank you.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Who are going to have a good conversation I guarantee you.

So stick around.

And those are crabs.

Maryland and blue crabs to be specific.

The delectable to -- most associated with Annapolis Maryland.

Where President Obama is headed today to try to -- senate Democrats into doing stuff.

A lot of stuff that they don't wanna do.

-- -- they do want to do but will the president find.

His fellow Democrats to be as difficult to -- and manage as those -- simply grabs.

This is power play and welcome match lap things that you should know about match like is that he's -- former White House political director.

For president George W.

Bush he is a Republican strategist and is -- -- -- yes yes I've learned I've learned I've learned.

And you know.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And about that but thank you very much all thought you won't Alan dot com I mean you've got that that's that's kind of a big twelve hours smarter I would have gotten Chris -- comments all the -- for millions of dollars at the time but -- I think of myself.

OK so here's the question -- we were -- in the previous segment.

We're talking about.

The president is going to his fellow Democrats in the senate with a big wishlists he has a lot of things very ambitious second term that -- laid out by the senate that was famous for not doing stuff with the senate likes most is too.

Be deliberative.

The world's most deliberative body and I say.

And he has some grousing on the left and the right.

From inside his own conference what what's he gonna get out of these folks.

Well I think he's gonna get it whatever is in their best interest as you have written and I read the piece you wrote the senate is most interest -- getting themselves reelected.

The president does have to worry about that.

So what they need to do is.

They want to keep their jobs that they get a very different agenda than the president does they may stand for some of the that same things but that doesn't mean they had to do the same thing so.

Because a real problem in congress from my standpoint as the Republicans because they can't get their act together.

But we want to talk here about how horrible the Democrats are now -- with the divide and conquer them right.

Is that they are -- We will stipulate.

Electricity and horrible mess of both houses of congress and and -- -- in the gross dysfunction.

But -- the good news for Republicans.

Is in this that the president can't start really putting pressure on them.

Until the senate until he can until Harry Reid and the other democratic leaders and senate decide what trains they want to run right.

Yeah I mean first -- may -- Allen feel better.

I I -- -- specific exit interviews where there's a lot on the naval gazing about how inept.

My party is so don't worry there's a lot of people timeline.

The political positions at the party pretty picture right look Kerry Reid here's one thing -- and you've written about this each one of these members has their own delicate balance back home.

Harry Reid is that are really interesting balance he himself.

Has quietly.

Negotiate with prominent Republicans to make sure that they don't go after him.

In the home state when he's up for reelection.

Other members if you go through -- -- this cycle is a whole slew Democrats.

That one in red states in that in in purple states so yeah I think Harry Reid is really.

Has to be sensitive to the fact that there's a large number in his pockets.

Who are saying to him look it's great that President Obama got reelected he's a leader of our party.

But the bottom line is I don't win in my state in order win in my state I have to go less intensity goes right war.

More accurately I -- -- right when the president goes left in the presence going reliably left and everything.

Is six years and -- presidency that was very thin with America.

As a -- so isn't it true -- that now is the time as the president has ever gonna get stuff.

He's got to do it before the lame duck shadows start to sell so well as the time now's the time to make the express -- he did this first term he realized he had about a year and a half to get stuff done that's when he did health care went to the big push.

And the things he felt were important and he's got the same situation -- -- about a year and a half to go.

Then we start talking about mid term elections and it's into who's running for president 2016.

And it all becomes a lame -- time so yes I think he's very Smart to realizes he's got a very small window within which he cannot get his agenda through.

How serious Alan do you think liberals are.

When they brass about the president and this this kill list stuff in the drone -- -- very serious.

I talked about it at great length on radio last night.

Judge -- -- -- our senior judicial analyst there's quite libertarian direction the same page about this.

I was extremely critical of some of the stuff bush did if Republican president did this I'd be apoplectic I am not at all happy.

-- this memo that came out.

That was revealed yesterday that says some -- -- government official.

Unnamed.

Can make a decision to kill Americans if they are associated with al-Qaeda what is -- who is the government official.

What is associated with al-Qaeda -- al-Qaeda -- become an amorphous term that is still the fine.

And I'm very uncomfortable with the notion that we can have these either Jones strikes or other means they're going after American citizens without due process I'm upset about it.

I'd -- I'd also I don't like the lack of transparency.

Where this administration won't really talk about it very much or tell the American people.

Who and why as concerns.

The notion that we would do something like that.

Internet do you like your political comment dating conscientious and fair minded we give you Alan Colmes Alan we thank you very much -- -- us today thank you.

OK Matt are you prepared to stick this out.

Yes -- -- say we'll see because Juan Williams is coming up.

And we believe that one is in the building the last time met with security he why no showed him and was like George Jones concert and heroes and Matt got to debate himself and he want -- So the question when one comes and can't came on you can't can Matthew better against not an empty chair we'll see.

When he comes back because we're gonna talk about immigration something that both of these guys.

Something about -- -- that.

Talked about today is the fact.

You know we've we have got to go and deal with this issue.

And I said that the best place to start is with children.

You know we have a history in this country are not holding children accountable for the deeds of their parents.

And we've got children have been brought here.

Due to no fault of their own and no no other place and home.

-- support giving those children residency permanent residency and citizenship.

That was Eric -- he is the majority leader of the House of Representatives -- from the commonwealth of Virginia and there he was saying it's time.

And he was -- special report prepared by the way trying -- John Roberts who's coming -- you saying it's time for Republicans do stuff on immigration.

-- may be a little bit at a time maybe start with the DREAM Act kind of people people who were brought to the United States.

As my nurse.

And the kind of young people not for -- And who came here who through no choice your fault of their own and that -- that ties them.

And then onward and onward from there is piecemeal the approach the Republicans are gonna -- and will it work.

People who know the answer match -- and welcome to good show.

Juan Williams because he is and we have to remember one is a Fox News political analyst yes.

He's also a columnist for the though he's also a columnist and foxnews.com.

But I -- I like to point you are also a columnist and contributor and presence.

-- at Fox News Latino.

Are growing and growing enterprise here in the process are good exactly this is good this is good.

Now despite -- considerable power.

He knows a thing or two about this issue of being married to -- Hispanic American woman.

Republicans are really struggling for way to do this.

And it sounded like yesterday.

-- that -- kind of -- back and said maybe we'll start with the dreamers it we don't do broad amnesty program he would just do little first and then try the next thing you think that's what -- I take it in the house dear Chris I don't disagree if you offer about I I took the tour does a little differently -- -- -- and I think the house is very restrained -- the conservatives in the house.

Have by the -- have by and large held back their firepower there's a lot of very public statements against any efforts here.

And I think it affected -- -- -- kind of seen as their person leadership many times.

To actually have him come out and offer something proactive I think is positive now if we were -- this piecemeal.

I'd be open to it -- I think that can work I really don't.

Did you talk to Democrats who're really leading this ever lose -- tears and others they're gonna go for that took the end of the day as much as I like to think.

Republican -- house which they do that also means that we can actually do it our way we can't learn have to figure out a way to work with the president to -- Democrats -- -- to get this done.

By expanding the playing field -- the idea is.

That everybody's ox gets bored a little bit that -- only by having a broad deal will -- what Keenan likes to do what we've seen conservatives tried to do before.

Is narrow things down and do dollar for dollar -- cut for cut or whatever it is and do things in his own way but.

Democrats -- would have been in this effort if it turned into incremental -- right.

They were -- -- and you know -- right.

It -- it we would have to agree with Matt in the NBA feels good it's good stood by.

The Democrats don't want any part of a piecemeal -- and the political dynamic here is critical which is that the Democrats have an advantage if there's no deal.

They still have an advantage if they get a deal -- some advantage but for Republicans there's an advantage in a deal.

With this to this extent.

If they want to put this issue behind them and get in position to attract Hispanics as voters.

They need it desperately.

And I think that's why you've seen restraint -- spoke about restraint on the part of some of the louder voices and the Tea Party or hard right action in the house.

But what I've noticed is -- also on the part of talk show host media -- Who normally have a very some tough line and in fact undercut.

Immigration reform under President Bush back in hopes that.

You don't see that the -- I'll disagree on how good -- neglect but on the restraint I think actually they -- -- -- Marco Rubio.

He was long if you listen to the days that following will be ratcheted pretty high went it's a process okay there.

We thank you very much thank you for your generous sharing your time -- Internet the Internet is appreciative.

-- says if you don't win it is pointless this is that true about so many things isn't it true about so many things.

Today by the way the question the -- decide question is this.

-- what do you think about the post office you going to start being like the Pittsburgh Panthers.

That that -- and not delivering on Saturday.

We'll see we'll find out about that.

But there's -- -- in there on the hunt Jonathan Hunt is up next but how about some power points.

The games people play.

First our point is Russell to hamper.

And that is to say that the Republican Party has been re -- now more times than Russell would have -- it has been re branded as compassionate and caring in this that the other thing and have.

Happy go lucky and whatever it's fine.

Second PowerPoint.

Dismal day.

The election was bad man that 2012 election was bad in a lot of ways for the Republicans they lost seats that they should wind.

They had a rough going now they -- the house it's true it's it's all true.

But -- -- this and there is now discussion about.

What Karl Rove is doing and trying to defeat conservative.

So this is back and forth and we heard mr.

Jeffrey talk about that before in this battle is roiling about the future of the Republican Party will be well guess what it doesn't matter.

Because here's the third PowerPoint buckle your chin straps politics is about elections.

You win you lose and Karl Rove is laid down his marker and saying this is what he's going to do -- the question will be for conservative groups are they going to go out and meet him and match him.

Because that's how politics is conducted you fight it's the purpose of this thing is to fight to raise money you spend money fine candidate to go do the stuff so rather than grousing.

Conservatives about what -- doing if you don't like it.

Go beat -- -- That's the name of the game that's the deal -- your power points on the hunt Jonathan Hunt up next and now as we like to do every day we -- -- leave you the word from our French are.

Yes I think it well and we'll be quite -- To you Democrats liberals who spent half a decade apoplectic.

About enhanced interrogation in the Bush Administration.

Who are now hooked up until now have been silent about a program.

Which doesn't interrogate people harshly -- kills them.

Without a judge or jury or even a lot of evidence and the criterion here is astonishing new reason even imminent plot.