Good evening, im michael shure. Tonight, its with equal parts pride and humility that i take over for governor Jennifer Granholm as host of the war room. She bros a position to politics and it is there where we are cut from the same clots. Its enraging, fascinating and really fun. I hope to continue to bring out all those emotions on this show. With that, welcome inside the war room. [ theme ] it shocked the world. I dont think im exaggerating when i say that Pope Benedict shocked the world announcing his resign that is. The last was pope gregory the 12th before the cubs won their last world series. He said he no longer that the mental and physical strength to carry out his responsibilities approximately many believe there is more to the story. This pope has been incredibly difficult vicive, many say complicit in covering up the churchs sexual abuse scandal. He opposed homosexuality doesnt believe women should ever become priests and is against modern medicine, including stem cell research. Many moidores were angered when the vatican attacked american nuns. John fugelsang host of viewpoints father was a franciscan monk before marrying a nun. The pope has been a part of your life im guessing since you were a small boy. You had to be surprised today. I was completely shocked. I was up very early doing an appearance on bill presss show here and his producer told me about it. I never would have seen this coming. He has been pope for a long time. Many consider him to have been the pope the last several years of Pope John Pauls papacy. The poor man was so wracked with illness and kept on coming out in an ever more frail state. He hasnt canceled any engagements. Were hearing rumors that he decided no more transatlantaic travel after trips to south america. The word were hearing is fatigue. Were going to hear conspiracy theories ranging from everything to the vatican bank to the horrible sexual scandals. Pope gregory in the 1400s was forced out. It wasnt volunteer. It was like a much more pleasant version of what happened to an curry. The last time this happened was back in the 1200s so almost 700 years since this has been done voluntarily. Its really, really a shock. This had guy has always been renowned for his command of power within the vatican walls. Listening to everything youre saying and the history there, theres got to be more behind this. Its just not a job people and you can away from, and as history has shown us, i know there are conspiracies and all. What do you think is the reason he is leaving now . I wouldnt want to speculate. Well hear a lot more in the weeks to come. I would advice everyone to google the story about the vaticans butler who lived with his wife inside the walls. He went to jail for leaking the popes emails last year. Many tell the he was a fall guy the pontiff visited him in prison. Hes been invited to come back and live in the vatican once his term has ended raising eyebrows as to what that is about. I do want toage the good positive progressive things this pope oh has done. Were going to be talking about his deplorable record on women gay folks, this pope is the most famous live to have been against the iraq war from the beginning a leading voice to embrace Climate Change science. There is not a more famous Death Penalty advocate in the world. He says every nation on earth has an obligation to provide health care to its poorest residents. Hes been left of our left and right of our right making him a confounding figure. Thats not breaking with the Catholic Church. They are against the Death Penalty. He is still the pope. Absolutely. He hasnt set himself apart. Do you see this church, the catholic population in this country shrinking, do you see this, you know, this group of i guess whats it called, the synod coming together and picking a more progressive pope or do you think theyre like the Republican Party stuck in the past . Id like to see them give it to sister campbell. I dont see it happening. Many say the church is on a slope to being a third world religion and its looking to many like the next pontiff will come from latin america or africa. Id like to see a progressive american become pope and usher this church into the 20th 20th century or maybe the 18th or 19th centuries. If you travel this country and visit churches, as i do, youll see older congregations and a priest who is not from america more often than not. Something that to be done if they want to save this church. I could talk all night about the fact that the c. Jennifer celibacy rule is antiquated. Its the man made hang ups of an unauthorized fan club getting in the way of a lot of people. The facebook one religious group in our people are people raised religious and feel spiritual but let down by american religion. 24 identify with religion today that they were raised in. I want to ask you about money and the church. Im going to get skeptical on you. How big a driving force is the ability for a european pope or to a degree an american pope to raise money for the church, where they would avoid latin america, avoid africa, where the fundraising would be a lot more challenging. I agree. If you travel the country i went to college at n. Y. U. And at the Catholic Center gay couples were openly welcome. They send the liberal priests to the liberal areas and conservative priests to the conservative areas. A big part of the priest is to get people to open their pocketbooks and put money in the baskets. It is the business sense that has caused it to marginalize itself. I think if they could open themselves up to a whole new array of parishioners that want to give money to the church, getting baaing to the message of jesus and get over the hang ups about the dirty parts. I dont see that happening anymore than you having a pocketbook john. Im sure youll have more on viewpoint tonight. Thanks so much, john. Thank you epic politics man great to see you there. All right. Coming up here on the war room, the state of the union the sport, the spectacle and the policy and performance. Michael tomasky of newsweek daily beast will give us a taste of what we can expect from tomorrow nights big speech. We can be fairly certain that guns will be part of the conversation. Were going to introduce you to the congressman trying to make sure that thats the case regardless of what the president says. Later texas Representative Steve Stockman is doing his part to reestablish credibility in the Republican Party. By doing his part, i mean doing something crazy. Just ahead, in the war room. The chill of peppermint. The rich dark chocolate. York peppermint pattie get the sensation. Irene, drop the itch. We dropped the itch, you can too. Maximum strength scalpicin® is not a shampoo so you can stop intense itch fast, wherever you are. I dropped the itch. Drop the itch with scalpicin®. vo later tonight current tv is the place for compelling true stories. Jack, how old are you . Nine. This is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. vo with Award Winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. vo from the underworld, to the world of privilege. Everyone in Michael Jacksons life was out to use him. vo no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. Tomorrow, president obama will deliver his state of the Union Address where hes expected to layout an ambitious second term agenda. We might get an indication of whether or not he can pass that when the senate votes tomorrow on his defense secretary nominee, chuck headachele, the first nomination fight of the president s second term. While hes one of them, he sided with the democrats on the iraq war, leading to a major falling out with his one time friend, senator john mccain. For then senator hagel to see hell let history be the judge he was there and involved. He knows hes wrong on the basis of what happens. You saw the hearing know his record, are you going to support him for defense secretary . I will see the rest of the answers to his questions, but certainly i have very grave concerns. Its not just john mccain, senator Lindsey Graham probably wont vote for him. She tried to link him to the attacks on oh the u. S. Personnel in benghazi, now threatening to hold up the confirmation unless the administration answers more questions on that attack. No confirmation without information. This is complete system failure and im going to get to the bottom of it. Now that might have been the craziest turn in the story but former Vice President dick cheney criticized the president s choice of Foreign Policy leaders. He told a group of wyoming republicans cheney should know from sect rate people, because dick cheney is now criticizing someone elses Foreign Policy team. I give you the least self aware political figure in modern history. While reports last week that he might withdraw his nomination, his brother said today joining me now is another man who keeps fighting, michael tomasky, coming to us from washington d. C. Thanks for being here in the war room. My great pleasure. Hi. Hi, by the way, you are now the official answer to who is the first get since the trivia question is going to be asked many times the first guest that i had on the war room. Fugelsang doesnt count huh . He doesnt count hes in the family. He doesnt count unfortunately. Dont tell him that. All right. Michael, lets get to the business of business here. Today, jim. Jennifer nhoff is going to hold the nomination. Whether or not hell follow through on that, im not sure. He has the power to do it. Chuck hagel is in a precarious position. He did a bad job in that confirmation hearing. He came unprepared and left a lot of questions in a lot of peoples minds. Hes sort of open game for the republicans a little bit at this point. Whether they really really, really really do this and mount a filibuster, which has never been done, the democrats, you know the people point to john tower back in 1989, but the democrats didnt filibuster john tower, they voted against him and defeated him. Whether the republicans in the minority actually filibuster a president ial nomination for defense secretary that would be unprecedented and quite surprising and very controversial. I personally dont think its going to happen. His performance was not good, but i dont think it had anything to do with that. I think there were minds made up before they got there. I think this is what, you know, is part of republican dog in a now. I think its really the big problem that they have is that their minds are made up before they get there. They think theyre going to vote a certain way and just do it. Youre right. I was merely making the point that he made the accuse to do it. Lindsey graham is up for reelection and afraid of a tea party primary. Hes going to be as right wing as he can possibly be from now until then. There is no place on the right for anybody to challenge him. Mccain has other concerns, maybe still mad that he lost in 2008, he was very close a hagel at one point, they had a fall out over these questions. There are all these other motivations going on, its true. What i found so interesting in this whole conversation about the president s appointees is, you know, john kerry gets a free ride, seems like brennan is going to get through. When it comes to the republican that was put up there, thats the one the republicans go after the hardest. It used to be you were giving an olive branch by even naming a republican. I can think of cohen ray lahood. Is this so unusual . Its really mind boggling to me. Its very surprising. Not only is the fact that hagel is a republican, but the fact that, you know, if theyre upset about benghazi and the question of diplomatic security, wasnt the person to block the secretary of state because its the state department that actually has jurisdiction over that question . So why didnt they mess with john kerry who to ability was a democratic . You know, i dont know. I dont understand it, theres personal stuff going on here. Thats true. I mean, were seeing that. Were seeing this dirty laundry being aired right in front of us. They know how to go after john kerry. They proved that. They could have done so if they wanted to. Im going to put you on the spot chuck hagel confirmed or not confirmed . I think confirmed. Still, i dont think theyll filibuster him at the end of the day, i think fairly narrowly confirmed, but i dont think it matters whether youre rowley confirmed for 99nothing. Clarence tames was confirmed. His opinions still matter as if hed been confirmed 990. Thats true, i dont think anybody remembers those votes. Lets shift gears alleges built. I want to get out of you what you think were going to hear from the president tomorrow. Hes giving this big speech. How different do you think its going to be prom the inaugural speech, how much will he get into details . The other question similar to that, this executive action he wants to take, do you think hes going to speak about that, thats going to be a big part of what he says tomorrow to the congress . I dont think that will be a big part. Hell mention that and gesture toward that. I think if he exif a sizes executive orders too much, hell get congresss back up more than its already up. Hell mention that to make democrats happy but not so much that it will make republicans too, too upset. Now, as for the Bigger Picture it will be very different from the inaugural address. I think, you know, a lot of journalists always complain that state of the Union Addresses are too wonky too long, too detailed. The fact of the matter is, americans watch them. Bill clip to know go ahead go on for an hour and a half. Journalists would say people must have been flipping the channels like crazy. No, people watched. This is an important moment for obama. Hes got a lot on his plate. Theres gun control. He has to make a very important case for his gun control proposals. Immigration is in trouble, i believe in this town. Hes got to make a very forceful case for immigration. Hes got to most of all perhaps make a very strong occasion for his position on the upcoming sequestration site and budget cuts. The republicans are positioning so that theyre going to try to blame obama if sequestration takes effect and those cuts take effect and obamas going to have to say no, heres my position and heres why you, american voters, should support it. Hes got to talk about jobs and the middle class and growth for the american country. Theres a lot. He does have a big list. Thanks for going through that with us. When we see the president tomorrow were going to see all of what you just mentioned. I think the things that are sexiest to america right now are guns and sequestration. The guns are sexiest to washington. We really appreciate your in sights, again. Michael tomasky newsweek and the daily beast. Up next, a group of democratic congressman will bring victims of gun violence to the state of the Union Address. Well speak with the representative who put that idea in motion, right after the break. Annual state of the Union Address. Hell address gun control, immigration reform, and the economy. We however, promise to bring you a current perspective. Only on current tv. What we need are people prepared for the careers of our new economy. By 2025 we could have 20 million jobs without enough College Graduates to fill them. Thats why at Devry University were teaming up with Companies Like cisco to help make sure everyones ready with the know how we need for a new tomorrow. [ male announcer ] make sure americas ready. Make sure youre ready. At devry. Edu. People with sore throats have something new to say. Ahh mmm ahh finally, theres cepacol sensations. Serious sore throat medicine seriously great taste. Plus the medicine lasts long after the lozenge is gone. Ahh mmm cepacol sensations. And so is head shoulders deep clean. [ male announcer ] with 7 benefits it goes deep to remove grease, gunk and flakes. Deep. Like me. [ male announcer ] head shoulders deep clean for men. We have a problem where we shop where we pray, where our children go to school. And that problem is, of course, gun violence. The voice in that new ad is gun violence survivor former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of arizona. It was put out by american for responsible solutions founded by giffords and her husband mark kelly. It will run in d. C. , san francisco, cincinnati, louisville and las vegas which just happen to be the cities represented by congressional leaders nancy pelosi, john boehner. Perhaps the most visible symbol of the damage caused by firearms is jim langevin. He had a gun accident as a Police Station where he was serving as a junior cadet. Hes urged his colleagues on capitol hill to invite victims of gun violence to be their guests at the state of the union tomorrow. Thirty democrats are planning to do so, with over 190 shooting on an average day in america, they should have no problem finding people whos lives have been scarred by guns. Joining me tonight, it is my pressure to welcome from washington, d. C. Jim langevin. Welcome to the war room, thank you for being with us, head of this speech and head of your big idea. Good evening. Thanks for having me on the program. Of course. Tell me, what do you hope to achieve by bringing victims of gun violence to the state of the union . Well, were all touched and our hearts broken when we heard the news of what transpired in newtown connecticut. No one wants to see that happen again. We need to keep the focus on meaningful gun control to the congress. I really applaud president obama for taking on this issue so early on in his new administration. He spoke about it, alluded to it in his inaugural address traveled the country talking about the need for gun safety legislation to be passed. I want president obama to know along with the American People that we are united in this effort to try to make sure that members of Congress Hear us loud and clear that we want meaningful Gun Legislation passed through the congress that is going to require universal background checks, that is going to work hard to make sure we eliminate assault weapons and high capacity magazines that could carry 30 or 100 rounds of ammunition. These are weapon was war that had no business being on our streets anymore than an army tank does and clearly theyre designed only to kill large numbers of people very quickly. Unless we keep the pressure on members of the house and senate, im afraid this issue would fade away and were not going to allow that to happen. Im determined to make a difference on this issue. All right you are making a difference, and we know that. I want to know the differences with which you hope to hear and i think you just shared that with us, but what do you expect from the president tomorrow . His voice has been consistent to that of the Vice President but what do you think well hear in fronts of the congress and america tomorrow night . I think the president s is going to reach out and speak directly to the American People about why we need to tanned united and see meaningful beGun Legislation making its way through the congress as i stated. Hes going to i believe remind people about the tragedies that we have faced over the last several years these Mass Shootings that seem to keep taking place because weapons get in the wrong hands. The time to act is now. Its really long since time to act, that congress passed. We need to act now to make sure were taking tougher measures, putting them in place to make sure guns arent getting in the hands of criminals or those who would have a Mental Health issue that would preclude them from owning a weapon because theyd be a danger to themselves or others. We have to act or these things are going to keep happening. We cant allow another sandy hook to happen anywhere else in the country. Congressman, i couldnt agree with you more, but you know the reality of the building in which you work. You look around and see the people on the other side of that aisle. What are the chances of anything passing now . It wont be easy, its a challenge. I believe if we speak oh to the American People that we can see this happen. Do you think that the president , you know, coming to the Congress Tomorrow talking about these issues, its going to be a house where, you know, one of your colleagues we mentioned at the top of the show, Steve Stockman is going to be coming with a rock star, ted nugent. Do you see this message getting out in a different way than it did when Gabrielle Giffords was shot . I think its clear that our hearts were broken with what happened in newtown, as it was when gabby was nearly killed and all those lives lost in arizona. We clearly we have to do something to change course or these things could very well continue to happen. I dont want to have see he that. This isnt a democratic or a republican issue. It should be a bipartisan issue. Certainly the American People overwhelmingly favor some type of reform in the way our gun laws written right now. At the very least both the American People, gun owners and nongun owners, we should have universal background checks. Anyone thats purchasing a weapon, there should be a thorough background check so we know these weapons around going to find their way into the wrong hands. We can make a difference on this if we stand United States, if were firm in our resolve to make sure we see meaningful reform actually happen. I give the president high marks acknowledge issue. I applaud Michael Bloomberg for putting his personal prestige and name out there, as well as his resources. The mayors against illegal guns are speaking out the Brady Campaign and the American People, and including the victims of gun violence who have lost people to gun violence, who weve invited to join us at the state of the union message. Well all be joining together and speaking with one loud voice that we want to see gun safety legislation enacted. I can see your position. Congressman, who will be sitting next to you at the state of the union tomorrow . My guest is jim tyrell. He unfortunately sadly lost his sister nine years ago when his sister was killed in the place where she visits that she owns. She was behind the counter the family was out celebrating a family anniversary that evening and they were expecting her to arrive and she never did. She was tragically killed that night. The last nine years jim tyrell has tried to honor his sisters memory, keep her memory alive and hes been very active in promoting efforts to eliminate gun violence. Hes worked with the practice of nonviolence an organization that tries to intervene and diffuse violence in gang issues and work with local law enforcement. Hes an incredible guy. Im proud to have him as my guest. I applaud what youre doing. Its impactful when you see victims of gun violence, as yourself up there talking about it and showing america the problems that we have in this country with guns. Congressman jim langevin. Youre watching the war room. Its only here on current tv. Thinking. Ok, so theres wiggle room in the ten commandments, thats vo shes joy behar. Current will let me say anything. The bar harbor bake is really worth trying. [ male announcer ] get more during red lobsters lobsterfest. With the years Largest Selection of mouthwatering lobster entrees. Like our delicious lobster lovers dream, featuring two kinds of succulent lobster tails. Or our savory, new grilled Maine Lobster and lobster tacos. Its back, but not for long. [ woman ] our guests go crazy for lobsterfest. My favorite entree is the lobster lovers dream. Whats yours . Come celebrate lobsterfest and sea food differently. You are back inside the war room. Im mike sell sure. Obviously the news making headlines around the world today is Pope Benedicts decision to resign. I want to revisit some of the fallout by going to naples, florida. She is a lobbyist network a National Click social justice lobby, also a member of the original nuns on the bus tour last summer. Welcome sister mary ellen, how are you . Thanks, very well. Good. I want to talk to you about the state of the Catholic Church here in america. Its shrinking as you know, but its also growing in other places, growing in latin america, in africa. In 1978, this were 55 million catholics in africa, now more than 150 million. What are the chances that the cardinals are going to pick a pope from africa . Its exciting to think about i think. Ive heard names touted throughout the day from nigeria and other places. I think thats a possibility. What are the chances . I dont know. I would hope that in choosing the next pope, they would be more interested not so much in his country of birth but origin of heart and reach out to the countries dwindling and bring them back. A lot of talk is about what the next pope will be like, whether hell steer the church in a more progressive way. How much autonomy does a pope really have . Once a pope is named by the cardinals and becomes the pope, how much of the changes that he wants to implement is he able to just by virtue of the fact that hes pope . Well, i guess he has considerable influence over the bishops that are under him and the cardinals but i think the reality is that any real change thats going to happen, hes going to have to get consensus and people have to buy into your projects that you want to push forward, so i think in that sense, he has as much autonomy as he has ability to dialogue with his people and get them onboard with his agenda. And do you see any hint, im going to oh ask you why you think Pope Benedict xvi is resigning. Do you see any insistence on the rank and file catholic population to move in that progressive direction . Well, being a lobbyist for the social justice lobby certainly the people i hang around with are more liberal and progressive and people i know would like to see us explore more creative means to enliven our social traditions. Our catholic social justice conditions are hard in stone and very traditional. We need to liven them more and really exercise new type was measures that will bring social justice and Economic Equity throughout our world. I also your grassroots type of activism within the church, does that have any currency . Can you influence the cardinals who will all head to the vatican over the next few weeks . Not that im aware of directly, but i think the cardinals, the cardinals who pastor over their flock have a duty to listen to us, and its important for us to stay in dialogue with our leaders our church leaders. It cant be dig your feet in the ground and im not going to meet you, im not going to talk about this because then nobody wins. The importance is dialogue. Yeah, it just seems. Hopefully theyll take our desires. I love hearing you talk about dialogue, but within an institution that seems not to want to have a conversation with anybody except themselves and not want to move forward at all. Do you think this next pope is going to be more of the same or do you think there will be incremental, i know what youre hopeful for but whats the reality within your church . The reality is the church changes what, every thousand years . One person is not going to make dramatic changes. Its just an impossibility given the structure and institution of our church. However, every person brings a little newness. The holy spirit gives him certain gifts and a means by which he can bring the Church Forward and closer to an expression of the values of our lord. This neck pope is going to do that in his way. Everyones going to make a difference. Sister mary ellen. Whether it will be a big difference. From the outside there are a lot of people who follow organized religion who hope that the words you said are heard by some of those cardinals walking into that room and sending white smoke up into the air. I really do hope so. Thank you for your time and advocacy. We will be back to find out what happens when a republican congressman gets mixed up in the sordid world of rock and roll. My take on the pontiffs resignation. Dont go away. I think that the audience gets i think youll like it is the young turks. Were honest. The audience catches that this guy to the best of his ability is trying to look out for us. The young turks with chenk uygur, next, only on current tv. [ male announcer ] to many men, shaving can be a sensitive issue. But take comfort. It may not be you; it may be your razor. Upgrade to gillette fusion proglide. Our microthin blades are thinner than a surgeons scalpel to put less stress on your skin by gliding through hair. Switch to fusion proglide. Number one dermatologist recommended on sensitive skin. And now introducing new fusion proglide sensitive shave gel. Gillette. The best a man can get. [ rosa ] im rosa and i quit smoking with chantix. When the doctor told me that i could smoke for the first week. Im like. Yeah, ok. Little did i know that one week later i wasnt smoking. [ male announcer ] along with support chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. It reduces the urge to smoke. Some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood hostility, agitation depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. If you notice any of these stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. Tell your doctor about any history of depression or other Mental Health problems which could get worse while taking chantix. Dont take chantix if youve had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. If you develop these stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be lifethreatening. If you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems tell your doctor if you have new or worse symptoms. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack. Use caution when driving or operating machinery. Common side effects include nausea trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. It helps to have people around you. They say youre much bigger than this. And you are. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. vo later tonight current tv is the place for compelling true stories. Jack, how old are you . Nine. This is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. vo with Award Winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. vo from the underworld, to the world of privilege. Everyone in Michael Jacksons life was out to use him. vo no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. So now, lets go down it is coast and check in on my old stomping grounds by old i mean yesterday, with chenk uygur. Cenk. How are you doing michael . Miss you too brother except were looking for a new epic politics man. Dont tell me that. Youre crushing me, man youre crushing me. Theyre very nice to me up here. Im having a good time. What have you got that im not going to be participating in today . Ok, the pope is stepping out. Im not necessarily buying the reason for why. Oh, im aging. Come on. Its shocking that youre not buying that. Im so surprised. Wasnt to announce this on national television. I ran a papal pool the last time a pope died and the winner, chenk uygur, is you or was you wasnt it . Not a big deal. By the way, im going to have both sides though. Were going to have somebody saying that hes a great guy another guy saying listen, its very important that the next pope do better on the sex scandals. We have a rice on the program connie rice, a progressive who actually represent africanamerican lapd here. The question is is there a point about racism in the lapd. As long as its not jerry rice, i dont care which rice you have on the show. The young turks, right after this. The state of the union as a speech has changed quite a bit over the years its become much more of a speech to the American People as opposed to a report to congress. This things have not changed all that much. Take a listen to this. I can i am part to you that the state of this old but equal union is good. Ive come to report to you on the state of the union and im pleads to report that america is much improved. My fellow americans the state of our union is the strongest it has ever been. As we gather tonight our nation is at war our economy is in recession, and the civilized world faces unprecedented dangers, yet the state of our union has never been stronger. As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve our journey moves forward and our future is hopeful and the state of ourin will always be strong. Wow. Its nice to see all the different ways our president s can say that the United States of america is great. It has never been stronger. When george bush said that, it reminded me of all those years. We are being graded on a curve. We can expect a similar sentiment tomorrow with president obama delivers the state of the Union Address. There will be a lot more in there. With me to review is democratic strategist don ohy donnie fowler. Its incredible. The old days of the state of our union is strong, gone. Everybody has to tweak it just a little bit. So, you know, were talking about this speech tomorrow, were, you know, we can guess whats going to be in the speech. Jobs. You think its going to be jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs. You think its not going to be guns, sequestration you think its all going to be jobs . A good bit of criticism about the inauguration speech in that it didnt cover the middle class, what theyre most concerned about not gay rights or Climate Change or immigration. Theyre concerned about paying the bills and job security. Most americans have a job want a job but theres a sense of insecurity that still lingers out there from the 2007, 2008 recession. How much resonance does that have . I remember the president going out making the last speech he remembered. He went out there and he made this speech about jobs. It was just a jobsbased speech, a jobs initiative. Yeah, is resonated a little bit. Of course, he won, but how much of that is appropriate for this speech when people are looking for these real hot button issues to be talked about. Look, jobs can be a hot button issue. A lot depends on what happens tomorrow night is how the president talks about it. If he says jobs bring more Infrastructure Spending on bridges and roads it becomes a partisan thing. If he says simple thing like more Unemployment Insurance then it may fall flat. So some degree, jobs has some hot buttons in it. It can be torn apart as a partisan thing. Its not what the pundits say its what the American People hear. The president does need to speak to what americans are thinking about right now. His presidency was about job creation. He talked about it the numbers went incrementally in his favor during the campaign. Doesnt he run the risk then of minimizing the gun issue the civil rights issue the immigration . Those arent going to be minimized. Theyre on the front page every day, because theyre the newest, hottest story to talk about. Weve had a jobs problem for four or five years now. We can chew gum and walk at the same time, even washington d. C. His predecessor couldnt. Lets see if he is able to pull that off. One of the interesting facts about whats going to happen tomorrow, we were talk to senator langevin from rhode island earlier some congressman are going to be bringing a guest with them. Theyre all allowed to bring one guest. A lot of the democrats are bringing gun violence victims but Representative Steve Stockman is going to bring rock star or rock artist. Was. I dont even know what he is, rock, ted nuke gent to the state of the Union Address. This is what ted new nugent said. If barack obama becomes president , i will be dead or in jail by this time next year. Hes apparently neither. I hope he keeps his promise. Should ted newgent having said that be so close to the president . Theyre not going to let him carry a gun into the hauls of congress and shoot the president. The question is a question of judgment. Once again the right wing of the Republican Party which is now most of the Republican Party has just shown that theyre nuts. Theyre crazy. They have no sense of common decency to do Something Like this. Of all the people the congressman could have invited he invites some nut bag just because he thinks thats the cool thing to do. Its an infuriating thing to do and not the productive thing to do. I couldnt agree with you more. Lets very quickly theres one story, senator robert menendez, apparently tried to stop the u. S. From lending another Port Security instrument to the Dominican Republic because he has a big donor and friend in that business and it wouldnt be good for his business if we lent them more Port Security in. How much trouble is he in . Im shocked to see so much meddling. He says he didnt do it. Is he in a lot of trouble . They are saying that a politician never gives up power one have to take it away, and so the question for the senator from new jersey is whether the Democratic Party is going to tell him go away, weve had enough. Menendez is never going to come clean unless somebody makes him. Hes too big a senator with too big a position for him not to go away on his own otherwise, i think nothing will happen unless they find something really egregious. Come back very soon, well keep talking politics, appreciate it. 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Given the big news from the vatican today, it would be a sin if we didnt hear from our favorite jewish contributor, the product of seven years of catholic education. Here to give us in sight on the past, present and future of the papacy is our own brett erlich. Everybody calm down, bretts talking now. Yes the pope is going to resign leaving millions to wonder, what are you