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Power Play 3/20/2013

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    Did Obama cave on gun ban? Obama tries to repair bond with Netanyahu and sequester scare far from over

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Strains of the star spangled banner ringing out and tell the V this morning as President Obama arrived in Israel for his first visit.

To that nation as for as the United States and this is power play.

-- -- -- -- -- Show alone in an -- so.

We will talk about that -- we'll talk about president arriving at a difficult moment for not only Israel but that region Middle East.

We will talk about.

This question also.

Did the president quit on a ban on certain types of firearms.

We're did Harry -- up and him.

What the heck is going on with what was supposed to be -- the piece of legislation carried forward.

-- The tragedy in Newtown Connecticut going away yesterday Harry Reid unceremoniously dumped it will explore that question.

And we will talk to a congressman.

Who has done battle perhaps most successfully -- any Republican.

We the Obama administration and the question of the legitimacy.

Of threats over sequestration cuts it will be an interest excitement so you should stick around that -- before you enjoy anything else.

Wait no longer for your -- again.

And welcome Fred Barnes.

He is of course executive editor executive is still reflects the executive editor of the weekly standard -- part of titled inflation protected exactly cheaper than raises.

But Fred is of course.

Somebody who and I think the important thing I think about you and I think about -- in this category think about other people in this category who have the ability to take the plane up.

Too little higher altitude and look down at the passing political parade and make sense of things and put them in context so.

We're very happy that you're as another way -- laurel.

Yeah -- -- -- -- -- what I LII helps to know stuff I accept the compliment and it doesn't it helps to know stuff there's there's no doubt.

But it -- I was thinking about this today.

So President Obama arrives in Israel.

And there will be much much discussion about his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu there will be much discussion about that composition of the Likud Party.

In the key message there will be all of this theory -- stuff.

But to dial back out and you look at this condition of the region.

At the moment of this first presidential trip.

So at ten years on Iraq is becoming a basket case or is getting worse anyway.

These suicide attacks struck sectarian violence is up things are not -- are not seemingly going the right direction in Iraq.

The gains made in the search seemed to be perhaps slipping Iran seems to be ascendant.

Syria is a disaster and there are accusations now both sides using chemical weapons.

Egypt is once a staunch ally of the United States now slipping into something that looks different.

And that.

And the fighting in Syria threatens to is who is spilling over into Lebanon.

It looks like things are unraveling over there.

Feel they have yet they have unraveled and he didn't even mention Tunisia.

-- -- country that's.

Been badly affected ultimately by the Arab Spring and so now Obama's -- sits down in Israel.

I think he's just touching a base that he hadn't -- before being -- and he really needed to do it.

-- a little odd but anyway the areas.

And there is great there is that -- really high hopes for at least among the Palestinians because but the Palestinians believe.

He's always gonna that the president of the United States will always deliver Israel to us if they're -- be.

Great concessions they have the public that -- with Israel the Israeli prime minister won't do them on his own and so.

It's gonna have to be the US it delivers them.

But oddly you know normally it.

Real progress was going to be made.

The secretary of state in this case John Kerry would have gone -- first receded -- and preceded him and made arrangements and work things out so -- an announcement of some kind could be made.

-- by the president when he's there after -- Netanyahu and in.

Abbas the head of the Palestinian.

-- the government and and nothing like that has happened so that this may be just.

President Obama reintroducing himself.

Abbas is -- sort of hey implicit threat.

The Palestinians have made an implicit threat which is that if Obama cannot as you describe it deliver Israel -- -- cannot get them.

Into that concessionary mode.

To start giving on territorial claims and other things with the Palestinians that they're going to continue to press their case with the United Nations.

And circumvent the United States and -- One other thing though and that is not continue their negotiations with Hamas.

About reconciliation the problem with that is.

It as I heard someone say it's a paradox of the -- they reconcile with Hamas that means that the chances of they peace process working in new negotiations -- -- law.

So yeah I think Abbas prediction that.

We'll -- electoral -- walk this.

The -- line where he's the he's trying to reconcile at least nominally but he's leaving open the possibility of and having negotiations or at least pushing the peace process along one way or another.

-- we've we've we've heard.

Particularly from a former deputy Richard Holbrooke.

Former US envoy to Afghanistan among other top diplomatic posts.

The criticism that the president.

Either did not wish to engage.

Or.

That his team kept it from him.

Any sort of real foreign policy push for making foreign policy a big part of who he was this is it.

A criticism that has has gathered.

Facts to it and seems to be sticking.

Part of that could be attributed I guess having it politically potent in her own right secretary of state.

Do you think that this for tells the new kind of Obama engagement.

Or it would burden to your gut tell you this is based touching coming he promised to visit Israel even if I note that he had Debbie Wasserman Schultz the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee with -- Yeah well you know they're not mutually exclusive -- it is going to be a base touching and and it can also be as happens often in presidential second -- More -- emphasis on foreign policy.

It because it's the one thing that the president can do with the least amount of interference by congress he doesn't have to go to congress do.

They're going to propose.

New terms that the Israelis and the Palestinians should follow in in the peace process no I don't think he's gonna do that but.

But he beat them that he can do these things on his own.

And -- his relationship with congress is he really can't make any headway that just.

-- pushes him and his foreign policy direction but not necessarily.

On this trip.

You because they're.

The the ground work has not been -- done.

The last refuge of the lame duck -- is the best -- on which a lame duck candlelight often is foreign policy.

Fred against the counsels -- doubt.

Bill crystal and Steve -- who who have been through this before has agreed to stay for another segment.

Because when we come back of -- -- different girl Nixon and we will talk about the assault weapons ban here is a headline for you Internet.

Cowardly congress ruthless and RA -- if it hit Obama conspire against assault weapons ban that was from Ron Fournier the former AP bureau chief here in Washington now over at National Journal so the establishment press and liberals particularly.

Are getting -- upset about these scuttling by Harry Reid of this assault weapons ban so whodunit.

Good read actually respond today thereby thumbing his nose at the presidents -- this was a priority.

It was Obama in on the play.

We will explore that when we come back and get your tweets and -- -- comments and all that good stuff system correct.

And those people are either practice thing and expressing their Second Amendment right to bear arms that shall be infringed or.

They are taking aim at.

With deadly assault weapons which is the answer depends on where you -- which -- of the IOUs and on and this.

Is power -- and I and Chris Farrell.

Question.

Who done it who is responsible for the fact that what had been a centerpiece of the second Obama term.

Remember we talk about the three -- global warming.

Gun control.

And game -- those are three the probably the top three.

Four.

Liberals.

As they -- -- President Obama how come gun control today did not yesterday's Harry Reid came out instead.

Don't have the votes -- I cannot risk it see you later Dianne feinstein's legislation she had that hole by -- -- nothing.

And that would who done -- why why did it go away and how.

People who know or can at least engage in reckless -- with me.

Include Fred Barnes who was with us -- and your friend -- mine early next and he's in radio show host WP FW and -- and it is it.

It is -- -- it is and it if you live right here -- to.

And by the way.

You can people get your show on the Internet it's online at that -- -- battle through Friday from six to seven you know you -- -- -- cheating yourself so you've been cheating yourself all across country to be listening to Garland OK so.

Don't start with you.

I want to share with you this quote from Dianne Feinstein.

She's a Democrat or if she said this I made my argument that that's the way senate majority leader Harry Reid feels he just said I decided.

She was hurt yesterday you could see you could hear in her words.

Like a sense of betrayal and we heard from her a week ago.

Two weeks ago president much -- that needs to get in this fight with her.

How did it come to pass that this legislation that was going to be so important just went away yesterday.

Well I'll share a little secret but it has -- it's it doesn't look so this really limited in Canada and that's.

They have cancer and there was never any delusions on the left that that didn't assault weapons ban.

If you remember.

In 1994.

The Democrats had a 79 seat majority in the house as they did and in a -- majority and -- -- to sixteen to fourteen I know so this.

It was a bargain we usually did you know that related to look at it because my.

-- in the New York Daily News is they win.

-- today they put the pictures of all.

The -- victims on the front page.

-- goes on this lengthy tirade it's something to read against the president and against Harry Reid.

That I guess.

The expectation that so Fred Garland has -- point there was probably low expectation in terms of open past that there was -- at least.

That on the left that that that they would be able to get this through the senate -- get close to getting it through the senate.

To put pressure on Republicans for opposing it that was the that was the -- that was done in the president's campaign arm organizing for action was gonna.

And the pressure up and help get it passed not -- president.

Remember the president said he was gonna get.

Deeply involved now whether he was in this with Harry Reid.

Or not I don't know it's Harry Reid is capable of doing this on his own.

One he's not much of a gun controller itself and to.

He cares greatly.

About the that this is that the senate staying in democratic hands and and got a lot of these red state democratic senators who are you know in Arkansas and and Alaska and Louisiana and he doesn't want to put them in the bad position of voting for a gun control bill -- Don't pressure them to do that and it would hurt their reelection so he has.

He really does have a vested interest in this and the -- you know he is one who has been very unhappy at things the president has done particularly.

Negotiating having meetings with Republicans without telling him first this is -- so it's quite capable here.

It doesn't that he that he deep six the president that he be sentenced this legislation without and so the president I think he could have done that but figuring that.

You know the president on spare you an update I'm -- doing -- a favorite -- it.

It wasn't gonna tell that it's a bargaining chip what are they get it.

Universal background -- thing that.

That was there.

But they look a little better now after the assault weapons there it is my belief is this they never thought they can get it.

Really didn't want to get it through as you -- you've got Alaska or Arkansas Louisiana West Virginia you know would have gone to fourteen upsetting people there who are very pro Second Amendment so you wouldn't want that to happen a -- you know it's probably not gonna happen and now because the president -- to get something you know we've made a lot of noise about -- It's because the two things -- bad -- that's what evidence do things that Reid is letting go forward.

There's an open question whether background checks and what defines universal background checks do there's that is fungible definition a broad range of things that could be described as universal background -- -- that the NRA can endorse and some that you Mike Bloomberg likes there's -- there's a broad spectrum that.

But the two things that Reid says he is definitely letting go forward.

Are why are both non controversial one is additional grant money for schools to have security.

Who everybody is okay with that and the other one is two toughened penalties on gun trafficking also a non controversial issue.

Neither of those things or something the president could say.

We did it never again right.

Absolutely be universal background checks it's something and we've got over 90% of Americans who either supported or say I'm OK with -- so it's something I think they feel they have a chance at getting.

On something that will benefit them and they won't lose and so let's not.

Overlook the insider politics and -- it is that's what we do.

That's like our -- here that's like -- thing.

Fred.

Universality.

Of background check it out so you have even some.

NRA backed kind of people who say we like the idea of everybody who purchases at gun.

Undergoing a background checking -- we do not want the creation of a federal registry.

And where Chuck Schumer who the Democrat from New York who is who was.

Previously partnering on this legislation Schumer wants a group Ed background -- that leads to a registry he Republicans were trying to do business with -- and and Joseph mansion Democrat from West Virginia say this doesn't create a file we just want to check to occur.

Is that something that can be rectified.

Yeah despite dropping the idea of the registry and I don't I don't think it's going to be particularly without popular with the rural Democrats in a lot of states Garland mention that I mentioned and look.

That the did that the universal background checks.

It is the one achievement that.

That can be gotten here and they're gonna have to settle for that -- -- -- the federal registry I mean the NRA.

Would go who would go crazy and remember.

It that the polling really doesn't matter it's who was the most intense in the most deeply involved.

And -- he had already I don't think you could and they can commit a lot of votes.

And you know it's -- Tuesday the president has talked about the dangers of what because well funded special interest groups by which he means the end of it.

It -- -- -- oppose Internet use religion other than that it believes are that would politician -- but he's well funded special interest groups.

I start -- -- the other side when he talks about stakeholders he's talking about his -- that's that that is always the case but.

-- in the effort to ramp up.

Well funded special interest on the gun control side of things.

From Mike Bloomberg.

From -- -- Giffords and mark Kelly and from the president himself with organizing for action.

They haven't had enough time to really get in the fight right.

Right and I mean this is nothing new remember the Brady bill in the normal that they did little Manila organization behind that so I yeah I think you're right this this the -- -- situation happened kind of suddenly and I think it opened an opportunity for people who wanted some.

More.

Gun legislation of some type and they didn't have a lot of time that wasn't well thought out long term -- such as universal healthcare.

It usually update every day of fighting and we thought we saw how smoothly that get laid out once it got going there were no no no problems noted got its taxable get will close with a prediction from both of you -- You you don't something that we can call universal background checks will passable unlikely but that's something that we can go universe that residents will pass yeah -- that he says that Brett -- OK something that we can call universal background checks will ask.

The question is how universal -- background.

And do the files -- some place those things are all remaining to be seen in every day closer that we get to primary elections in 2014.

More fungible that definition -- -- predict.

-- -- thank you very much for your wise counsel.

We always fun guys have fun.

Okay Internet let's take a break so you can composure stuff and when we come back we will talk to any -- he is a Republican is congressman from Maryland.

And he has been it crossed swords with the administration -- sequestration.

And what gets sequestered and what doesn't I believe you'll find it interesting informative and -- -- So stick around.

Just not appropriate.

Mr.

President.

That have more military can't train and do you mean it's necessary these men and women who are Marines were training and -- them.

And with the sequester it's gonna cut the stuff back.

And these -- hope everyone understands.

Sacrifices sacrifices made by our military they are significant.

And that was senate majority leader Harry Reid using the deaths of seven Marines in a training accident at an ammunition -- wealth to warn of the danger of automatic reductions automatic increases in federal spending and this is power but now this question for you Internet.

How much money would you give Yale University to study.

These actual conflict social behavior and evolution of waterfowl genitalia if you said 384000.

Dollars three 384.

1949.

Dollars you would be the National Science Foundation we just gave them money to -- to study -- genitalia so what about.

These sequestration is it causing the deaths of troops training.

Or is it and so meaningless as to allow waterfowl genitalia to still be studied.

That's a good question somebody that has an answer.

Is any -- he is the only Republican.

To represent the old line state of Maryland in the United States congress.

Lonesome but looks a bit unique congressman welcome to the big show.

And it's good to be with you this morning.

OK so here's the question you you did it any Republican can claim a victory on the sequestration fight it is you do.

Because of when it came to question of who could afford vaccinations and performing vaccinations your doctor and you went right back after it.

-- the Internet a little bit about your experience.

Absolutely you know that the president had threatened that that children would not get vaccinated including took over 2000 children Maryland.

By the opportunity to question the director of the CDC a couple of weeks ago when he came in front of the Appropriations Committee obviously to ask for money.

And I asked them how to explain that the president's own budget actually cut it turns out three times as much money from that vaccination program.

And yet he claimed in his testimony that under the president's budget cuts all children would be vaccinated but under the much smaller sequestration -- Thousands of children -- nationwide wouldn't be vaccinated.

-- -- -- -- -- What did he say -- rationale if they had it well he had to get back to us later about YE under there under the sequester cuts blamed on Republicans.

They wouldn't be able to vaccinated -- -- but under the president's much larger cut to that Bob budget item.

That they could backs an adult children -- just hand and caught a -- they if he got caught in the line.

So you still waiting for that answer right.

How will will never get that answer the bottom line is if you can make up your own opinion on this I mean these numbers are clear in fact the -- and even the Washington Post.

Gave the president to Pinocchio is on this one.

Now I was just I was I was Fred Barnes earlier on this question.

Which is Republicans can can claim a victory now.

On pushing back against the president's.

-- on this sequestration.

Whether it's the White House to where the Easter egg roll you and the vaccinations.

Or whatever else that the Republican I would say the president's job approval numbers are a reflection of this public.

Is as is maybe turning a deaf ear to this but.

Once you get past that continuing resolution the president's gonna have six months to make this stick.

Before you get to the real fight over the budget in the fall.

Look that's true but outside of the military these cuts just aren't that large.

These are cuts that could easily be absorbed by these departments look we proved it in the CDC.

Because could easily be absorbed and I think people aren't gonna notice much happening.

The last Republican standing in Maryland Andy Harris doctor we thank you for making time for us to -- thank you.

Okay Internet would you like to have some power points.

Care you're getting them that's because I want to share these because I think that -- important.

And because soon you will be carried away by Harris Faulkner.

In the 12 o'clock eastern hour as she will entertain and inform and enlighten you.

But before you get to -- good stuff let's do some power points in today's -- points are jockey shorts jockey shorts and no Internet.

I'm not talking about your cities I'm not talking about that I'm talking about jockeying.

For position.

For the when he sixteen Republican -- and the first one is two man race two man race Hulu.

Who knew.

That you would able to what you would be able to say with a straight face here on the on the Vernal equinox congratulations W -- bouncers.

That the Republican primary process 12016.

Wouldn't have broken out into the first two front runners Marco Rubio and Rand Paul both senators both freshmen senators as they buy back and forth to see who can stake out the position.

That is the most conservative but the most broadly acceptable as they do this on immigration on drones and everything else it's like a NASCAR race already with these two guys and senate and it's fascinating to watch okay.

So and number two is known unknowns as Donald Rumsfeld -- perhaps appropriately here.

Just after the anniversary of the tenth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War -- known unknowns so Republicans believe.

That they'll be facing Hillary Clinton.

In 2016 Republicans believe.

A lot of things about what the electorate what the -- -- gonna look like with the democratic party's gonna look like two point six team that's what you don't know Republicans have no idea.

You think you know that you don't know what's gonna -- that's a long time ago so anybody who is trying to make a decision.

Or undertake a strategy predicated on what somebody else is gonna do or what's gonna happen in the world between now and -- don't bet on it okay so that's something to think about.

And here's your third -- point -- -- Obama yes we know that both these guys are anti Obama Rand Paul in Marco Rubio but they're also doing things very differently than Obama when Obama -- freshman senator was making moves to run for the presidency at this point.

After the 2004 election you know what he did.

Almost nothing he made sure that he did almost nothing in the United States senate one piece of legislation bears his.

In -- and it is largely.

-- significant.

Modification to who can have lunch with lobbyists.

But he spent most of his time talking about things being in the right place is going on congressional delegation he didn't sponsored -- legislation or do much legislation that was gonna get him in trouble with voters and he could remaining blank -- well guess what.

Paul and -- are going the exact opposite way they are cranking out legislation and they are coming up with ideas and they are being active and they are being involved.

It is riskier but perhaps better and its own land but we shall sit.

Those are your -- points for today and now as we'd like to do every day we want to leave you with the word from our French girls.

The problem is for Americans.

They sacrifice was huge.

And tragic and his strategic game to finish -- we had hoped to gain to have something of an ally in Iraq I think was.

Squandered at the end of -- --

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