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Special Report Online: 3/20/13

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    Politics behind change in Senate gun control bill

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Business special report on line I'm Bret Baier thanks for joining us if you have been here before.

We didn't know about the show we didn't actually mentioned the show online show on the regulation we apologize for that ran out of time because.

People were talking about their brackets.

Far too long at the end of the show we -- teased him and show but.

Here we are.

And if you haven't been here before welcome aboard you type in questions or comments we get them as fast as -- -- in the middle you don't see him don't get mad they'll get there.

Also you can vote on some.

Different questions throughout the half hour here and our panel Steve -- Charles back again.

You wanna start with is.

Shannon -- story is big gun issue.

Boy you have this thing that turned on its head.

Senator Reid saying the assault weapons -- is not going to be a part of the -- Dianne Feinstein saying she's disappointed.

The left.

Kind of really upset about it more I mean this is some.

I think that certainly tuned into a big part of the democratic base is the way you -- gun control with an assault weapons ban.

However the assault weapons ban that was never given much of a chance of survival by any one.

Certainly not the White House I think a pretty telling fact is that organizing for action which is the Obama campaign's new iteration.

Has chosen to make universal background checks it's big push they are not out there activating their twenty million emails you know list.

For assault weapons ban.

I think that and the president.

Has called for a vote get a call to pass that he keep something most important thing that these things get a vote and she's gonna get a vote -- for the man enough votes.

To pass that so I think that's the most likely thing to come out of this is universal or more robust background checks and then the question is how does the president.

Package that as a success.

If that's only gets.

But is it is a loss.

Right -- -- -- big.

-- -- to us I think look I think with senator Reid is if that's really trying to do is to protect.

Democratic senators particularly ones -- up for election.

From having.

Do exercise a vote.

The assault weapons ban because some of them in red states.

Would be hurt by that I don't think there's anyway he can avoid the vote.

And he says he won't be bringing it -- but the president has insisted over and over again.

He at least wants to see an up and down votes he's sort of been pushing.

And I think Republicans are relishing -- effective.

Democratic senators are gonna have to.

-- have to declare themselves one way or the other on this particularly in states where where gun control is extremely unpopular.

Rick from Minnesota says great more use of background checks.

Tiny Duffy and -- Connecticut he he he said this.

Applies the gun thing a surprise -- a moderate senators from Democrats can't take the heat even the president doesn't want to fight for perhaps today.

Understand the threat at the ballot box to charles' point there.

Is that it Steve.

Is this I don't know I guess a big big part of and I think I -- Marat I don't know too many people at the very beginning and it's.

Who thought that there were going to be dramatic changes what I guess surprises me a little bit is that the president didn't push harder for them I know you go back and you don't know too many but there were a lot of people talking about it.

On and on TV this is different this is the time this you let us hope that's true but I think you know sandy hook SharePoint.

-- -- and yeah -- -- this led by the president.

I'm sure you know echoing the comments -- the president I mean that's a fair point I guess -- -- we were expressing some skepticism.

Here really -- of those realities in particular the point the Charles raises with a particularly make up on the senate and the senators.

In red states would have to vote for this was always I think unlikely.

I thought that the president would make a harder push many did precisely because he.

Immediately.

Put so seemingly put so much political capital.

-- he said I will stake my presidency on this I will do everything I can with the power of my office.

To implement these changes and to think that what he meant that the time was.

A background check just doesn't seem to fit with that that the passion with which he spoke.

You know -- it it.

I -- -- to a lot of experts on this who actually say that really good background checks and a bill on gun trafficking straw purchasers would do more to prevent gun violence and assault weapons ban precisely because the assault weapons -- -- all the current assault weapons.

Out there on the street.

-- we go back and look at the president's speech.

At new town.

The passion I think that who's -- because you know you really felt for him this is a kind of rule -- He made it sound that way who's gonna risk everything on this.

And I am surprised by the fact that he's sort of let this -- Whether or not the background checks alone will be of assistance.

From venture though I have no objection and it's got a 91% of the -- so that's sort of -- give me.

But I don't think there ever was a chance of -- so whoever you have an Obama seemed to say.

I am so change -- this country -- so tank -- -- -- insist on this and now it is quite remarkable.

He's nowhere to be -- us.

And not having a vote that is quite remarkable.

-- Carter in Pennsylvania says universal background checks your first step to a national gun registry.

Which will allow feds know who's Jordan not gonna confiscate their guns look at what's happening in California the people who have been -- to MH.

And mental health facilities in the past.

It sounds like there's and there are enough votes for universal background checks.

-- I think so.

My despite what would stop current assets and here -- -- -- polls extremely high over 90% in many many states.

And you hear a lot of Republicans saying they wouldn't mind that even John Boehner and today or yesterday -- -- said.

That he doesn't have a problem with you with universal background checks I don't think that that is the controversial part of this this package that assault weapons and definitely is.

But I do think -- -- Charles raises an interest in question which is the president suggested he was gonna do more than he has done.

Even though this thing was thrust on his agenda by the new -- shooting it's not something that he was always planning to do in this term.

What about Jim for melanoma brings this -- wonder if the mental health topic will be considered.

By political leaders it's a silent issue it seems to me Steve.

I mean for all the talk about Vice President Biden meeting with all these different groups it was going to be a comprehensive piece of legislation.

We have heard anything about that now and now looks -- things -- always clear they -- they -- gonna take a comprehensive look because.

It was one of the things that are recent they had to do right after new town was to take a comprehensive look but it was.

That was that was never gonna happen this was always all about guns I think the president.

Pushed on guns Joseph Biden chose to meet with people he met with because they want to restrict guns to the extent that they could and I think that was what this was likely to -- this was going to be their focus.

Whether it was everybody else's focus or not.

I guess the point of this is it the whole thing from the beginning roll out it has fallen -- I mean the way it was package the way it was presented.

Is nowhere near what it's.

It's it's really quite -- fizzle and I think good to elements that I'm not discussed.

At all today the mental health aspect.

And they aspect of the violence in the media that may -- may not contribute.

They are completely ignored.

And you would have thought the way the president spoke about things.

Would've at least as perhaps out of commission.

Or -- they have I'd say you'd be hard to pass laws all of a sudden to make it easier.

To have somebody you like the Tucson shooter whom everybody knew -- was a a bomb about.

Ultimately to go off.

I'm not saying you you have to change all the laws overnight on.

Commitment but at least to have the beginning of a process nothing has come out there and I think there was anything that would really have an effect in the future.

If you would be changing the laws on commitment.

And they have become so relax and it is impossible.

-- -- -- is different the guy was a recluse to know anything about them.

And nobody suspected much.

But if you look at the Tucson shooter everybody who came in contact there was a classmate of his who said she sat at the back of the room.

Holding her person -- -- she thought.

It could be and he might sprayed the room with the bullets she wanted to be able to get out.

The door if that isn't an indictment of the system that he had to kill -- before we did end up.

Diagnosed as he is as as a psychotic.

David and I think nothing will move people to do it senator Barbara Dave just types boring -- for -- exclamation points so I think we're.

Gonna live on.

What about.

What senator Reid said yesterday linking that Nevada.

Mortar accident.

And then talking about the sequester.

Did you see this -- and and the sound but we ran.

You know that the office came back very quickly and said you know he.

Wasn't doing that ended it's it's wrong to even put the two together but if you just play the sound play it right he's saying.

The seven Marines died in the sequester is going to prevent this training camp is -- Quite something to look if anybody deserves.

Well let's just say this way Harry Reid has a long history of saying stupid things that he has to then -- call so.

I think it's entirely possible that Harry Reid said something stupid that he didn't mean.

However as you point out if you just claim to tape it certainly sounds like he was implicitly.

Blaming the sequestered and the number of emails I got from my friends who are Marines.

Well I mean and furious.

People were outraged that he would do this and try to politicize something.

Immediately.

On -- you know on the on the senate floor stock was.

Incredible the on the record response from Hawthorne out there in Nevada was.

Very pointed.

The off the record response was.

Much -- -- pointed.

The larger story here with -- -- he's been a lot of shark jumping.

On the sequestered and this is the biggest.

You remind them I want you love it's love fish are going to waters it is there it is -- its dealers and jumping -- is.

Yeah I'm happy days of when and where I thought that bonds.

OK I'm not gonna -- it.

-- ratios in the next week we should have a clip of him -- so we will chart on the -- revolution have a a part of the online -- that's just yet who jumped the shark this weekend -- just ahead we'll know a snapshot of the fonds -- Which was.

Of course I.

People like people like your explanation of Japanese although I have got to let me wrong I got a lot of feedback about that yeah people like that.

OK well anyway he jumped the shark with sequester linkage.

But I mean the the reason I think that this is all really rebounded that badly for the Democrats.

Is they have tried again and again and again.

-- everything on Republicans on the sequestered.

You know of the death -- Marines is really seen when you do that.

But on the trivial stuff like the white house with two wars which somebody in a way past must have really -- clever way.

To start don't you know the entire.

Process of blaming Republicans for hurting little Ohio talks.

It is so obviously cynical there was even talk about the -- -- world being.

You know held back this year after 116.

New -- yourself.

They have completely over -- On this and they really ought to stop because it is it -- work.

The sequester is done but you know there will be effects later on but I think having.

Exaggerated and all of this stuff particularly this thing about the Marines.

They ought to stay far away because it's not -- -- help -- and it will be seen it accurately is completely cynical.

When he says -- please keep their reporting have been Ghazi alive were behind all of the reporting.

We'll get tons and tons of messages about that rather talk about right now but -- we are.

Trust us following up on a lot of leads we're trying to get these survivors.

To talk to us and it's been very difficult to do.

And were working with a number of different people to try to do that.

People are asking about these.

Supposedly he met these emails from Hillary Clinton -- hacked emails we can't confirm that that's actually accurate their on line.

But were following all the stuff so trust us that we're we're looking into.

Everything that you think that we're not.

We are.

Believe there -- what about people want to talk about serious -- 48% voted next traffic I think.

We talked about the administration being in a tough spot it seemed like they even got in that tough first what was said today.

Well I think if they raised expectations I think from the president says -- a game changer.

If they use chemical weapons that means something has to change if they did I don't know what else could mean.

I think it's a mistake to keep on saying you're gonna do something if X is true and -- turns out to be -- -- you don't do anything I think it just destroys your credibility.

So I have to assume that pretty soon we're gonna see evidence that they did use chemical weapons and the administration is going to have to do something differently.

Steve.

Talking about the jihadist I mean estimated 101000.

Plus al-Qaeda types.

It's probably more now -- in Syria.

So it's the you know we don't know really this rebel force now it's been interesting to talk to people about -- people who know a lot more about it -- -- intelligence folks.

Who say that in effect what has happened is Free Syrian Army which was seen the original challenge to -- -- -- side.

Has changed has been transformed by the this infusion of -- -- from outside and now you see.

Most of the suicide videos most of -- being made are.

By foreigners not by serious and the -- of that.

These Free Syrian Army groups have changed is they added these jihadist units.

To the pre existing units to add these jihadist to these groups and -- the jihadist -- they're better fighters to better trained they -- better equipped and so.

If you're commander met extensively secular commander in you have these people coming in to help you.

He ended your immediate goal is the overthrow -- -- -- side.

You want to bring a man in that you're not thinking about what's gonna happen in six months or twelve months but the likelihood that Assad will go and then.

All of the jihadist who have who have come to Syria will suddenly just disappear rather than trying to it to make it.

And Islamist state I think is sorely.

Sorely.

Mistaken and the problem in my view is.

There was a moment when the United States had a much greater opportunity of shaping this outcome -- -- shaping.

That forced by arming it earlier at least establishing no fly zones and even number of the things that.

Some people were calling for at the very outset.

And now pretty much everybody -- called for.

And the North Korea threats.

Are happening at the same time.

Matty says there was reporting it was chlorine that was used is that considered a chemical weapons.

What -- might be the one out this sort of I think it would not look good for the administration to make that case but what is is right because chlorine is a World War I -- And what we're talking about it is chemically actually using chemical.

If that distinction using a chemical -- kinetic weapon meaning a bullet.

He clearly is -- -- but what the president actually added when he talked about it.

Is he said weapons that can cause potential devastation in mass casualties.

Now if you wanted to be.

-- political about it you would say chlorine is not -- that kind of weapon kills.

Groups of soldiers but you're not gonna wipe out a city whereas a scud carrying the X number of cash remaining in the city could kill.

Thousands at a time so if they wanted to they might -- I wouldn't advise it but they might say it was this -- -- a weapon of mass destruction.

Chemical yes that might be the case but once they say that.

Then and then people say really right.

You've -- 70000 people die without doing anything and now you're saying -- which chemical weapon is worse it's.

I agree with you.

And -- anything -- hammered the other thing is if he said the chemicals or red line.

-- damages.

He says there of the -- there's a red line with Iran which is even a bigger issue a nuclear Iran.

And if he won't act on a red line which is a simpler.

Less dangerous ones Syria.

And nobody believed what he says about Iraq and that was my question about credibility in the region.

I think -- this incredibly damaging but look.

You know if they do what I did the president -- mass casualties I don't know.

Unless he had this in mind.

Originally he said as you for them show moving their networks was going to be enough so as -- now that's -- -- to her and Africa to the church troops.

But wanted -- -- religion.

I think -- like the sweater that the brim hat on that great -- that's nuclear dismantlement who nuclear sense.

That's my radio -- that's -- you know it I guess anything.

Do you think that that we are going to see more of this back and forth on Syria on this trip.

Yeah I think it's hard to avoid I think getting where he goes -- -- asked -- question is gonna get asked about it.

I'm in there was only this press conference no.

-- to give any other interviews or does anything else yes.

Otherwise if it's also set pieces he's giving a speech tomorrow about the peace process and I suppose -- can avoid it but not seriously -- I don't think so -- mean -- when you have right now is the Israelis saying one thing.

Our.

-- congressional intelligence leaders basically agreeing with them based presumably on briefings that they hadn't by the US intelligence.

Community.

And then the administration over here saying nothing yet no evidence yet now the president was a little bit more forward leaning then his former -- that and then as ambassador to Syria was.

This morning but at some point and I think it's someone very soon -- has to be reconciled I'm led to believe that they are actually.

That there will be some sort of forensic testing and we will have if not a definitive answer something closer -- that.

We could end up like a big guys who do you stretch it down long enough.

He say we have to send FBI we have to -- and experts.

It'll be a week or two for the analysis and they stretch it out but I think it won't come -- when he goes to Ramallah.

Palestinians have no interest in this and we'll come up I think he's gonna -- -- with.

You know those.

Because -- Jordanians are now suffering under this huge.

Influx of Syrian refugees and that's where we station our special forces.

Who would swoop is for the chemical weapons if they get used or if -- mood I suppose and the Israelis -- really that would be a major operation.

And I'm sure that's going to be major subject of discussion with the Jordanians -- Unwillingly but necessarily you.

Vote.

Blocked a lot of defenders and -- sweater.

A lot of them but it was and has.

Radioactive zone.

-- -- -- -- from Orlando's is nuclear salmon was a grunge band that played in the Pacific northwest.

I'm Jim that was like a bucket in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniforms back in the days after they tell that they're really learning.

Others have called it coral.

Anyway.

There's going to be popular culture segment we do just an hour -- day on Saturday -- shark jumping yeah.

David in San Diego -- pretty sure you can Stoppard sweater from the International Space Station.

Lots -- comments here we'll obviously -- find out if -- -- -- the online show yeah.

I think I'm on the air now Marriott San Jose I saw -- nuclear -- and open for the dead and 84.

Again.

And leftovers.

And -- Vincent.

There's no -- -- -- isn't -- Vivendi.

-- to handle little that's a little to -- national -- there was more pinkish.

I wave affect.

OK we've straight we have straight okay where we're coming to the -- -- -- segment here final thoughts.

Final four press.

Who final four picks I must say you used to it farmed it out completely clueless.

I couldn't name a single college.

But I do think the nationals will be in the world to really -- I wanted to go out weigh on a live -- they need to be for it to be successful season yes.

-- a lot of pressure.

You have good you know I didn't get the ravens were strict here about half -- -- -- forever I that a Mediterranean.

I -- your mind and you farmed it out there platform -- I can do it myself young people young people.

So I have a friend is the coach of Illinois John -- When I was at local TV and W Oreo and Raleigh he was an assistant coach -- state.

Now he's the head coach at Illinois.

And he's doing well so I decided.

You know what they could do it lineup they beat Indiana this year.

Sure wanna Penn and Georgetown this kind of hometown pick.

You think it'll -- -- anyway guys you know -- -- teams from the heartland was how Big Ten teams but the big I -- I used to get in these long email arguments with my ACC and big -- friends about what was the dominant conference both in college football college basketball.

And I always argued on behalf of the Big Ten.

And it so happened that this year the Big -- truly is the dominant.

Conference in college basketball so I think picking any Big Ten team.

Particularly in the early rounds you get a pretty good chance you -- make excellent cheese.

This is -- this is -- true.

It was hard not to pick Wisconsin over Indiana in the final.

Wisconsin's beaten Indiana twice in the past.

Month I think and it's it's hard to see them do it again.

-- going really had.

No interest in the Laura and -- tunnel and that this real men Wear pink now OK today you've got a little hill that I can.

Thank you all.

With -- putter to the end but I I think jumped the shark segment might my work thank you for Joseph -- Nightly sessions -- -- We'll see you next Wednesday on the online show control room.

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