this is the issue we can actually take back. not just a question of more money. washington d.c. spends over $15,000 per student per year i doubt there is a person in this room that would allow your kids to go to school in washington d.c.. it is that bad. not just a question of money but how it is spent. let me give you one quick example of the answers. our gifted kids today come with those of the ones we really want to be inspired because the bill create most of the jobs and come up with those neat ideas to become entrepreneurs for the future. 20% of gifted kids drop out of school. one out of five gifted kids dropped out of school because they are not challenge. we have an incredible school in norah third nevada for the very labor lehigh the gifted.

-- one-tenth of one-tenth one-tenth of a percent of the kids in fifth grade that can handle college calculus by midday 15 year-old who just submitted for a science competition his project it is using a nuclear fusion reactor to produce neutrons that at a port for instance you could send the neutron through on this side and measure the radiation changed on the other side to five there was a nuclear bomb type of material in the container itself. this is a 15 year-old. if you don't have those kids challenge in school america is not a better place to live. we want to challenge those kids there are problems in the country but we need to

replicate those programs we do not need 20% of dropping out we want them to advance that would ever level their brains can handle instead of being pigeonholed in a classroom. they do that and other countries but we do not do that in the united states. there are answers but once again if we say we will put kids first-come it education first before special-interest we can take the kids back and taken away from the democrats and use that issue to attract women, minorities back to the party and help us to become a majority party again. love the paint what i believe is a vision for the united states. e imagined a few things with me. imagine a country that actually balances the budget, pays down a debt and does not hand our children a huge debts that they will have to have higher taxes. imagine a country that has a

health care system that you and your doctor make the decisions that encourages healthier choices and we actually spend less money on health care and therefore make it affordable and accessible for all americans. imagine a country that all -- that produces its own energy and balances that with taking care of the environment and provide economic security and national security at the same time. imagine a country that it actually educates its children to not the second worst level in the industrialized society but is number one. that is the kind of country that we need in america. lastly, imagine a country that respects the constitution enough's when we appointed judges and justices to the supreme court the respect the constitution to protect the bill of rights including the

second amendment that is the kind of america i want to see together, you and i come a that is the kind of america we can build and we will build if we care enough. really to join me in that effort? [applause] thank you. >> we have questions for the senator tonight. they were submitted by members of the audience and some were submitted off of our website is we have questions from around the country. before we go to questions i want to make sure i can introduce our former congressman and a good friend of northwest iowa congressmen tom late some who came in [applause]

and a tough questions i say call him up. >> the first question and is asking for your thoughts with the general motors bankruptcy filing. >> first of all, i thought president bush made a used huge mistake to bail out the accompanies in the first place [applause] i tried to promote last year that i thought they of our companies should have gone through chapter 11 reorganization they could have reorganize come out stronger at the time the government could have done some of the things they're talking about today, a guarantee warranties so people would feel comfortable than provide debtor in possession financing that is what you do with do go through chapter 11 1/2 cost a lot less money, probably not anything we would not be in

the auto business owning stock they already would be much for -- more on their way to recovery we should not all the auto companies the way the president is proposing [applause] >> the next question comes from illinois, of what you doing to reach the younger voters? the macbeth is a great question because it is a great challenge president obama did a great job inspiring younger people. first of all, we need fresh voices and fresh face is we have two use technology per our party was behind the learning curve on technology. you have to be on facebook and myspace all of us in office obviously have used witter i have twittered several times a day at while i have been in this be eight we have to do a

better job of not only using technology that they use to communicate in a way they can hear it. on the budget for instance i have to understand what his budget means they supported the they have to understand the policy to their pocketbook and future. said is a huge issue we can take back. enough people believe in education but they anderson and when you mentioned we should be able to fire bad teachers, who in this room to not have at least one bad teacher of longs the way? or your child? we have people over here with big smiles. [laughter] they understand. 51 to pay good teachers more but i want to get rid of bad teachers and get rid of kids and the educational system. if we talk issues, not only to young people but also the same kind of things with minorities we cannot afford to be at a

party that does not attract minorities. not only to vote but run for office and to be leaders we have to have a different future otherwise we will be a minority party and stay that way. >> next question if israel is forced to take out iran's nuclear program what should u.s. policy be toward iran and should regime change become official policy? >> now for the easy question of. [laughter] this is unbelievably difficult because it is not the same as when iraq had started developing their nuclear program back in the '80s when israel took out their program back then. ivory and has learned from that so they spread it around the country and they bury is so it is not as easy for israel to take out the nuclear capabilities.

the world cannot afford for iran to have a nuclear weapon. cannot afford it. no option should be taken off of the table the president has said that i agree with those statements he has made by countries like ivory and come with a really only understand strength. remember libya? when ronald reagan was president i may veterinarians why can use this analogy he neutered khaddafi. [laughter] [applause] i did not mean to offend anybody. [laughter] but the better dairy and come stock and that really is they understand the strength. you can not pass it by ahmadinejad. they understand strength we have to get the roll committee behind us it cannot be idle talk they have to be prepared to act if necessary.

>> the next question can you define conservatism and how would you promote it? >> conservatism is one word goes to the heart and that is freedom whether free enterprise system, whether it is freedom from government intervention come and means less regulation and, if you were laws that encourage litigation, lower taxes because that is freedom from government oppression come you can be taxed and oppressed by taxes, all lots of things but freedom is the core principle of what i believe the conservative message. i do not believe in big government conservatism. i am not one of those people. i think people to make better decisions with their own money than the government and

business is know how to invest their money better than business -- government. does not create jobs but take jobs away from the private sector it should only do what it is required to do. whenever the private sector can do it it should do it. this actually is what i talk about personal responsibility. our welfare system was put into place for a very good reason as far as compassion. it did the reverse effect but put it in for the right reason. but we have responsibility as individual citizens for those who are down and out to give them the hand up so the government does not give them a handout that is the conservatism i believe that we all have personal responsibilities to care about our community so the government doesn't have to so we can keep taxes low and attract businesses and make

american businesses more competitive but freedom of our founders believed it came with responsibility that is the conservative thought i believe our party should stand buy. >> your questioner is sitting here in the front row what is your program to counter a government run health care? to back as i mentioned before about presenting the healthy choices come i am drafting a plan right now. we're working with the democrats starting out bipartisan and it is what president obama promised we just don't know how long it will continue so we're trying to work with democrats we can peel off a case the bipartisan talks break down which because they put into place a budget rule that they can use reconciliation, it eliminates

the minority from the process if they want to act as a trigger they can force it down our throats if they get to that point*. we have to be prepared to work together but if not, we have to me and have to have alternatives and taken to the american people and that is what we're working on. we can afford what they call a public option. but as the government run health care plan i midday bureaucrats same thing. [laughter] freudian slip. we cannot afford that because when you start to ration care, do they care and health care is delayed it is the guy. >> from sacramento, what if any sanctions should president to bomb a place on north korea in light of recent events

waxed that is another difficult question. time was born outside of sacramento number three at and, -- kim jong-il what he would do with nuclear weapons but also transfer those two places like i ran the chinese are the absolute key to the north korea problem. they know it to everybody knows it they are afraid to put too much pressure because they don't when hundreds of thousands of refugees coming across the border but the bottom line is they have two cut off oil and get tough with the north korea is. this is one of those things that the chinese don't want the japanese to have a nuclear program but that may be one of those things that you have two say i am not sure we can hold the japanese back if you're

not willing to do something about the curious because the japanese to not want three hands and this can work of the chinese participate in the right way. that is the tough diplomacy that needs to be had. >> final question for two nights this question comes from sioux city. some and republican party suggest eight departure from conservatism toward moderation to be successful. >> to ba a majority party you have to you have to allow for disagreements on some issues but that is why i try to talk about how we get to the core principles that unites republicans. reagan said if you agree with somebody 80% of the time that

somebody wanted your party we have to be respectful in our disagreements the intermountain west, trust me has so many different issues than you have in the midwest just on the environment better complete the different and the northeast a lot of the things that you do with farming issues they are different kinds of farming issues you would have and other parts of the country and we have to understand the differences but the core principles that i talked about with limited government and being fiscally responsible along with personal responsibility and caring about our communities come with those things getting back to the constitution that is a conservative is some that is attracting the moderate republicans, conservative democrats, independents come back to make a majority party again. if those that say we should

moderate meaning more government come a more spending the last eight years come mckown riyal that is not the part by want to be part of i want to be part of the republican party that is fiscally conservative that says we care about the future so much we're willing to sacrifice ourselves so you will have a bright future for america. thank you very much [applause] >> we want to take everybody for coming tonight those people that being fat conservatism is dead in

america tonight we went a long way to prove that is not the case. watch the website to see the next step in the lecture series and thank you for coming. >> how were you? was that okay? >> very nice. hi will run for president one day. >> how old are you? >> i just turned 15. >> i have a 13 year-old daughter but she was to be a veterinarian not a politician. >> working very hard. >> that is okay i challenge people to think. was liberal when i was younger but think through the issues in the implications of the issues. i think when you do that it is like welfare i care deeply about people. but then i saw what the democrats did with their welfare system and destroy the people they were intending to help. when you think through some of these issues for instance on

regulation and taxation those make a big business more competitive, at 80% of our opportunities are minorities and women are small business. we want women owned businesses we need to support republican and principles for smaller business so think about some of those things. nice to have you here. no. no. i want to help rebuild our party. some day maybe but not right now. no. what is your name? >> nice to meet you. did you enjoy that? could. could. yes, sir? i have a question. >> with all of the taxes in america do think there will be another revolution or a civil four?

>> i do not think you will see nothing like that the you will see a revolution of sorts in people's minds. that is what you are seeing with the tea parties. when people get so sick in the united states we do not need a bloody revolution we can have fun at the ballot box. it will be up to your generation. to say you are mortgaging our future. we have to do something about this quit being so selfish you are giving people what they wanted now instead of pouring about our future. it is up to you guys. i appreciate you being your. how are you? are we taking a picture? go-ahead. go ahead. that is a great thing about having a camera phone. do you want me to sign something for you? sure.

right here? and there you go. >> thank you. >> you are rock on days wellcome. >> [inaudible] it. >> thank you for saying that. do have a camera? go-ahead i like everything you have two say but we have two address the pro-life agenda. >> no question here is what i think we need to do on that issue when i talk about caring for people we have two talk of changing people's hearts and have people value human life. that is part of the carrying and creating a culture of life that we talked about. we will not change anything for quite some time until we

change people's hearts and let them know that every child is a child of god. every life has value. when we find out the nine out of 10 it down syndrome babies are aborted, if you know, if a down syndrome people they are some of the most unbelievable people around. my son has a genetic problem. it seems like the more touched a child is the better their heart is. for us not to want them as part of our society we lose value when we do that. >> people and the two year that. >> thank you very much. you want a picture? come on over. >> i have a question. will we see a society

[inaudible] >> we have to be very objective if she is like what some of us suspect then i eighth think there will be a fight. because her record is mixed on some of the issues. we have to ask your tough questions and have to get into the issues i talk about today. sometimes it is not what they say by how they say is. we've really review her record very, very carefully. the president does deserve his nominees if they are halfway reasonable although the president himself voted for people he disagrees with political a so that may come back to haunt him. >> [inaudible]

at. >> jiggy for saying that. i appreciate it. >> i just want to say thank you for doing what you can to preserve the second amendment. >> you don't have two worry about that from be on that one.

>> a quanex a the senate

meeting on hurricane prepared is part of 14 tropical storms called for in 20097 of which to become hurricanes. merry landrieu chairs the subcommittee on disaster recovery bridges to hour. >> our committee on disaster recovery will come to order. let me welcome everyone that has joined us today for what i think is a very important hearing. and one is a serious of hearings that has happened today war will continue to happen as we strive to get our nation's response in the best possible shape that we can for hurricanes and all disasters that is the subject of this hearing today. to see where we are and to have the opportunity to have on our first panel of the new fema administrator who will be

testifying for the first time since his confirmation wellcome mr. fugate and the general who will be testifying today as well. let me say this hearing is focused on hurricane response because we started hurricane season and this week. but we will be examining issues that affect not just the hurricane region but all regions of the country. and we will be focusing on playpens and processes that actually have applicability across the board for many types of threats earth quakes come hurricanes, , etc. the ranking member and i represent states that have seen the large portions of our states major cities and a very important role areas

devastated by recent hurricanes. 2004, 2005 and 2008 were particularly hard years for cities and communities throughout the gulf coast from florida to texas. the last century has been difficult for many, many states. i would like to put to the first chart up. these are the number of hurricanes that have hit in this particular region of the country which is the hurricane belts 1955 through 2005. the blue line is hurricane katrina which was the greatest among all of those storms depicted there by a significant amount in terms of size of damage and hurricane

it rita which ranks second among those storms in terms of damage and i would like to show you the next graph it is even more startling which are the storms since 1851, led to the president. when we in the gulf coast talk about the threat to combat it is real, it is frightening and it is important to this committee and all committees of this congress to continue to focus as best we can on the threat of hurricanes that is getting more and more predictable. we can be better focused on where they will hit and when they are hitting of like earthquakes although our science is getting much better on