Another jam-packed show this week. Leading off, the now-former Republican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich talked to Candy about his victorious opponent, Mitt Romney and how he plans to help him in his general election campaign. He also discussed Tuesday's Indiana GOP Senate primary. Former Republican Virginia Congressman, Tom Davis and Ohio’s former governor, Democrat Ted Strickland joined Candy to discuss the politics of the crucial battleground states. Following their meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Candy talked to Rep. Mike Rogers and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the heads of the House and Senate Intelligence committees about the challenges the United States still faces in Afghanistan. Finally, National Journal correspondent Major Garrett and economists Alice Rivlin and Douglas Holtz-Eakin dissected the April unemployment numbers and their impact on the 2012 campaign.
State of the Union Highlights
It was a big morning of breaking news today on State of the Union. After deadly tornadoes swept through the Midwest overnight, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback gave Candy an update on the damage done in his state.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan the Taliban launched a coordinated series of attacks in Kabul and across the country. First on CNN, ISAF Spokesman Jimmie Cummings praised the response of Afghan National Security Forces to the attacks.
Also first on CNN, Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker spoke to Candy while his embassy in Kabul was on lockdown. He said that the attacks showed that the US still needed a military presence in Afghanistan.
After a week in which the “War on Women” was at the forefront of political discourse, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Rep. Carolyn Maloney discussed the politics of gender.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus downplayed the potential impact of the so-called Buffett Rule and questioned President Obama’s priorities in promoting it.
Finally, legendary actor and comedian Bill Cosby gave Candy his take on President Obama’s job performance and on the Trayvon Martin case.
Following a shooting rampage that left 16 Afghan civilians dead, new questions are being raised about how the United States should continue fighting the war in Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday sharply criticized the United States for not cooperating with their investigation into the killings. Have relations between the two countries ever been more tenuous? We’ll ask the Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Eklil Hakimi in an exclusive interview.
Then, we’ll change gears and focus on politics and the 2012 presidential race. Fresh off his twin victories in Alabama and Mississippi, Rick Santorum will join us from the campaign trail. Can he maintain the momentum this weekend in Puerto Rico and on Tuesday in Illinois? Should conservatives ditch Newt Gingrich to consolidate around him? We’ll ask.
And finally, we’ll tie up the loose ends with former Obama White House Communications Director Anita Dunn and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie.
Stay tuned for more as we continue our booking efforts.
Today, Candy spoke with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid gave his reaction to this morning’s shooting incident in Afghanistan in which an American soldier opened fire on Afghan civilians. He also discussed his meeting with members of President Obama’s re-election team and expressed confidence that the Democrats will maintain control of the Senate in November.
Amid calls for Newt Gingrich to drop out of the Republican race, Candy also talked to two veterans of the presidential campaign trail, former candidates Dick Gephardt and Steve Forbes. They explained what was involved in their decisions to end their campaigns and also gave their opinions on the state of the 2012 race.
Finally, Candy was joined by the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore, the Washington Post’s Dan Balz and former OMB Director Alice Rivlin to dissect this week’s unemployment numbers and how the state of the economy is impacting the 2012 presidential race.
Alice Rivlin, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and Ron Brownstein analyze the state of the economy in the U.S.
Alice Rivlin, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and Ron Brownstein analyze the state of the economy in the U.S.
Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Indiana) weighs in on payroll tax cut deal and also shares his thoughts on the Tea Party.
Here are some stories we’re following today:
Payroll tax cut: President Obama has hit the campaign trail and ramped up his rhetoric; he says he’ll forego his annual Hawaiian vacation to stay in Washington until Congress passes an extension of last year’s payroll tax holiday. Failure to extend the cuts would mean the average American family would see an additional $1000 taken out of their paychecks in 2012. With less than three weeks until the new year, Congress continues to battle over this legislation.
Debate night: A string of new polls this week confirm Newt Gingrich as the current GOP frontrunner. His surge couldn’t have come at a better time, with only three and a half weeks until the Iowa caucuses. Gingrich and the other leading Republican presidential candidates will take the stage on Saturday for another presidential debate. After being knocked off his top-of-the-pack perch, will Mitt Romney go on the attack?
But wait, there's more: FULL POST
Alice Rivlin, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Ron Brownstein talk a "potpourri" of politics and the economy.
Herman Cain talks about Congress and his "targeted identification" security plan.