Justice department. This as were learning about Additional Supreme Court nominees that the president met with today. Were out front at the white house. What can you tell us about the appeal from pruitt directly to the president . Kate this is just another interesting chapter and twist in this ever running scott pruitt story. Were told earlier that scott pruitt the head of the epa met with the president in the oval office. He had a solution for him about one of the president s biggest problems, that, of course, is the attorney general Jeff Sessions. We know the president has been displeased at Jeff Sessions for a long time for refusing himself. Scott pruitt offered to be the next attorney general. And its called he essentially would have filled the position for a couple hundred days under the vacancies act. It takes a confirmed member of the cabinet who is a lawyer to replace a fired attorney general. Of course the president has not fired the attorney general. This didnt come to pass. S
Protect Counsel Robert Mueller is brought to a vote on the senate floor. Something Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has so far refused to do. We dont know how the president feels about the Mueller Investigation but hes never said he wants to shut it down. Ive never heard anybody down there say they want to shut it down. I think its a no danger and i dont think any legislature is necessary. Paul lets bring in wall street journal columnist and Deputy Editor dan henninger, columnist kim strassel and editorial page Kate Bachelder odell, kim, lets start with powerful democrats in the house of representatives, nancy pelosi, is she really seriously challenged for speaker . She does seem to have a potential math problem. Theres repeatedly a letter out there which 17 democrats already signed they would not vote for her, that would come up short getting 218 she would need and the other thing thats become problematic the emergence of marsha fudge, people talking about whether or not she could run
Tallahassee tuesday morning. I can tell you that the rick Scott Campaign, Governor Scott who hardfought nelson for the race, u. S. Senate seat, senator bill nelson who graciously conceded and i thanked him for Public Service and the election is behind us. Eric nelson 76 years old. Look, hes been in office 46 years, first elected 1972, what do you think the Tipping Point was in the race, so close 10,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast, Scott Campaign really tried to portray nelson as out of touch and out of sink and in office too long. The Scott Campaign an scott himself also repeatedly used the word confused saying senator nelson is confused. It was a tight race, a lot of money spent, the governor alone spent about 60 million of his own and the state flooded with tv campaign spots. This was also a big call by scott to nelson during the race that, you know, he also hit career politician, kept going with that, three terms is enough, its time to move on and thats what Governor Scott
You think where the big hits and accomplishments for donald trump this second year. I think the biggest one would have been getting Brett Cavanaugh confirmed. Including clarence thomas. The president stuck with them through the end. I think it has to be the highlight of this year. The first year since 2005 we would be above 3 gdp growth. I think he has a lot less control over. He gets a lot of credit for the strong economy. He is in a take the foot off that neck of the businessman. He has damaged himself quite a bit from his trade agenda. And i think that has caused a lot more uncertainty in the economy. And they have thrown down those in the second half. That can take a while to heal. What about the setbacks. You get the downside. I think the trade war would be the chief among them. The recent decision. I think that has to be counted among the top setbacks of the year. How little they really accomplished in the last chance. You fought for very hard as i recall. The cost was not a lot
Credit because, look, there were a lot of people who were saying, criticizing her and she routed her opponents. How did she do it . Well, paul, consolidated her base. There were 15 members. They were in tough districts and she could win without them and didnt need support. I dont read that as opposition so much, you know, being allowed to walk. But, look, i think she did it by basically agreeing to tilt left on a lot of major issues on the next 2 years. Paul interesting no real Freedom Caucus to pelosi, there hasnt been in previous congress, democrats seem to fall in line, very interest nothing watch. Is that just because they figure, we have power, lets use it, whats behind that . I think thats a philosophical question, they are better than the right is, i think that, look, pelosi has made gestures in your direction, hearings on medicare for all and pelosi supports them. Thats a risk going to American Public and saying thats an idea that we are flirting with. Paul kim, what do you exp