final years and emergency legacy of ronald reagan. washington journal live every morning on c-span. you can join a conversation with your calls and comments on facebook and twitter. >> host: good morning, and merry christmas. it's the "washington journal" program live on this december 25th. we have two guests joining us later today. but first, we want to get your of the on this idea american dream, and if it's still attainable today. a recent poll shows that about half of those responding said that it's not attainable and that poll later, but first, wept to ask -- we you about this idea of the american dream and if it this day and d in age. if you think it can be, tell us 202-748-8000. if you think it can't be

achieved, 8001, and if you're not sure, and you want to give us your thoughts on that as well, 202-748-8002. you can post on twitter and our facebook page. pating 50 people partici in that so far, at facebook.com/cspan, and if you e-mail on d us an this topic, you can do that too. @journal@c-span.org. as we take this idea as far as dream is concerned, it was the historian james adams, who wrote this book, the epic america and coined this dream, and american he said this, it's the dream of of a land in which life should be better and richer and uller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain, regardless of

fortuittous circumstances of birth or position. to this idea of an american dream and if can still be achieved, we want to get your it.ughts on again, this morning, if you 202-748-8000. if you think it can't, 202-748-8001. if you are not sure, 202-748-8002. this idea of the american dream was asked in a poll of the "new york times" last year, actually. of last year, about 2014. 64% he results showed that of respondents said they still believed in the american dream. twolowest result in roughly decades, and even near the depth f a financial crisis in only 2009, 72% of americans still believe that hard work could result in riches. again, the lines will be on your screen if you want to let us know, and you can also post on twitter and facebook too. let's start with george this

morning in ohio. he is not sure. george, thanks for calling us today. go ahead. caller: thanks. show, a comment on the "washington journal" on c-span, shelter gun violence from charleston shootings in north carolina. will be ow the victims remembered, a step toward totalitarianism and government dishonors their memories. host: okay. so this idea -- caller: i think what this has to do with the american dream, i think the american dream is to life, and i think the people who were shot in harleston did live good lives, but i think their memories are the to be dishonored, and ultimate of fact, i think it's going to be bad. host: okay. eric is up next. he says the american dream is still achievable from rome, georgia. eric, tell us why. caller: i feel like the american dream is still

attainable because the dream really is in peoples' minds, and as far as a black person who have growed up in the united states and ancestors that came here, you know, i feel like, you know, we are still trying to form that more perfect union, nd i feel like now that black using their ally rights to be recognized citizens in the united states, and i feel like our kids and grandkids will have a better opportunity than my parents and grandparents. it's a fault line there, and it comes from the discrimination, it came from the housing, red-lining, i feel like we'll be able to move a lot of white people were given homes during this time, fha loans, the government actually helped them. but now they want to pull that rug out. e aided bye on medicar white people, they have lived american dream through the help of the government. and now i feel like it's time for this to be presented to

everyone, especially the blacks. all these rights and things that were given with affirmative ction, they were designed to correct the wrongs that had been committed to blacks, and i feel, like, yes, the american dream is still attainable. host: that's the question we posed to you this morning, the lines are yes, no and not sure. choose the one that best represents you. ken is in jackson, michigan. he says no. hello. ken from jackson, michigan. caller: this is jackson, mississippi. host: oh, sorry about that. go ahead. caller: okay. merry christmas, by the way, and thank you for being with us this morning. i always enjoy c-span. i don't think the american dream is for everyone. dream is e american just as it's defined. that a dream and a goal hopefully can be achieved. ut there must be some

realization within our populous that you're never going to make that. and so if you can make the best of where you are, maybe indeed you are living the american ream, because we have so many opportunities here. and thank you, again, for being there with us this morning and merry christmas. host: so can you say that it's possible that the american dream ould be achieved anymore, but that it's not probable it's going to be achieved anymore? is that what you're -- he's gone? let's hear from joe. indiana, on our yes line. hello, joe. good morning. caller: good morning. merry christmas. host: thank you. caller: my comment is that i think the american dream is more achievable now than ever before due to technology and just a there's a lot more avenues to achieving the dream. about t have to be smart it, and if you're willing to work and continue to adapt,

way to achieve your dream, your version of the merican dream, which doesn't necessarily mean making it into aire class, buton it could mean finding security for your family and achieving satisfaction with your career. case, do you our think you've achieved the american dream? g ller: no, no, i'm strivin for it, and i'm tracking, and i've got a ways to go, but i where i oals and i see want to be. host: uh-huh. and when you see where you want o be, because of what you said before, is that a certain income level? is that a certain job title? fall in line for you? yeah, it does, it definitely is defined financially. that's part of it, and i think that has to do with a certain financial security, and

i don't think it necessarily means inter-generational also. i think that there are ways to achieve the american dream with some financial security by having a deeper sense of security in the way that you have developed your family and what you see in yourself and your own sense of integrity. host: that's joe in indiana. he tells us that the american dream is still achievable. we want to hear from you too. again, the phone lines, if you're just joining us, if you 202-748-8000. if you don't think it's 202-748-8001. if you are not sure, 202-748-8002. this was based in part from a poll done by the harvard institute. generally, to, millenials about this idea of the american dream. they specifically asked the person, for you personally, is the american dream alive or

dead. 49% of those saying that the them was ream for alive. 48% saying that it was dead to them. a couple of weeks ago on this put am, the person who together this poll, john delavote, he asked the question and joined us on the program to talk about it. concept of out the the american dream and why specifically millenials weren't it.ositive about there's just a lot of stress in young people, especially those in college. justre concerned about not finishing college and paying for it, but the first job. x andmember of generation i know we had stress when we were that age. we were never as concerned i think in this generation about finding a job. we know the unemployment rate is in the double digits, close to 20% among this group. factor, ind of one key that certainly could have connected to the stress and difficulty of combination of

paying a job, as well as for student debt. host: so when it comes to -- if us attainable or not, give a call on the phone lines. some people making comments on twitter this morning. saying that the american dream is all relative, what may rily mine.sn't necessa and also bill king this morning on the program saying the merican dream is still attainable but only with help, and that includes help from the mario is up next. he says, no, it is not attainable. mario, good morning. doing? how are you host: i'm well, thank you. go ahead. caller: i'm on a treadmill so i may be breathing a little heavy. class-like system where the classes of race and hindrances or obstacles to achieve the american dream. i don't think it's possible or as the other callers see it. host: and how do you think that

might change? happen to possibly make it possible? we need more opportunities for minorities or we need to better enforce those opportunities, and to -- that's pretty much it, provide more opportunities for minorities and those who are lower class or not in the middle class. is in california, says the american dream is still attainable. austin, good morning. caller: good morning. merry christmas. much. thank you very go ahead. a ler: well, yeah, i am reluctant advocate for the american dream, from my own experience. survived missed diagnosis, brain damage, and a wheelchair and ambulatory.

reluctantly had to sign up for a kaiser health fact that there's good people keeping this alive. say: you think that -- you you're elected to this idea. do you think it applies for everyone or not? caller: unfortunately, not. you can date it from roosevelt, i guess. improvement a big in the social safety net. it wn persuasion is that start with the republicans in power and flow with the democrats, and i uppose that's just the nature of politics. host: keep calling in on this idea on if the american dream is still attainable. if you believe so, 202-748-8000. sure, 're not

202-748-8001. 8001., no is if you're not sure, 202-748-8002. with the passage of the $2 trillion spending bill, there's groups identifying themselves as tea party groups and specifically that reaction towards the house speaker paul ryan. the headline in sa miller this orning, tea partiers want ryan out after $2 trillion spending bill. he writes this morning quoting crow, a tea party activist in iowa gave voice to a for tisfaction and calling a grass roots uprising to unseat mr. ryan. uote, if this ominous bill is any sort of indication of the way speaker ryan is going to govern, it's time to do what barnie fife told us to do years ago, nip it in the bud. the american legal immigration opposes illegal immigration, it launched a drive to find primary republicans to back the bill.

quote, those sell-out republicans have made a huge mistake angered at dc politicians and have deprayed their constituents, said william gheen president of the political action committee. brenda from houston, texas. you say the american dream is not attainable. good morning. caller: good morning. call. you for taking my merry christmas, pedro. host: thank you. aller: no, i don't think it's attainable anymore. fortunately, i'm 62 years old and i came along at a time it was. i lived the american dream. i have no complaints on my end. and er, the millions trillions of people to follow, there is no american dream why, e, and the reason pedro, is because of the unscrupulous republican party greed of godly corporate america. host: and you don't think those when you sted even were growing up and you said you had the american dream? aller: not to the extent they exist now. look at the republican party. partye not the republican

that it used to be, and also, the ungodly greed. hershey, when he was coming long, he built a town for his employees. paid their employees enough where they could afford the cars and on and and on. the wealthy people in those days willing to rate and share their wealth. this ungodly greed of wal-mart, brothers, and the list goes on. o, it doesn't exist anymore, with this illegal immigration they so these visas that allow them to come and take american jobs and taking jobs overseas. no, the american dream is no longer attainable for americans. ost: you said you think you achieved -- in your mind, what does the american dream have? include? t caller: it included the fact

that my husband and i were able to raise a daughter and live in a comfortable three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home. we own two cars. we're able to travel. to send our daughter to baylor college and rivate schools throughout her life, and we had those luxuries. those luxuries don't exist to american anymore. host: idaho, daniel says the achievable.am is daniel, you're next up. hello. hello, you're on, go ahead. caller: yes. i come from a -- yes, sir, i ome from a farming background . d i was able to host: we're going to put you on hold, and if you would while

hold, turn the television, only because if you try to watch the television hile you're on the phone with us, there's a bit of a delay. we want to get your thoughts in this. go ahead you on hold, and turn your television down. we will get back to you. ay from arlington, virginia, says he is not sure about this idea of the american dream. jay, hi, there. sir.r: good morning, morning. my point here is that this merican dream that, you know, always tried has to reach for is less and less to happen nowadays. the reason being is, you know, the economic factors that weigh everybody, you know, just the ability to move upward, you just the whole sense of community, people being able to to work ther and try towards any kind of cause, you

section 8, broken down, and people not being able to get along for any kind of reason now. i just don't see it now. host: how do you think it changes? and do you think it's possible to change that? caller: i do think it's just so but there's many forces working against every person. got things like black lives matter, that people talk about want to education, black, family life that.hings like same things that affect white people. and you know, there should be a commonality there but we see, at work, ing forces being pushed into those same communities, and so, therefore, never come together and collectively reach this dream. i'm slightly optimistic but becoming more and more pessimistic every day unfortunately. have a great day. host: that's jay in virginia.

idaho again.iel in daniel from idaho, you're up. go ahead. caller: yes, sir. as i started to say, i came from i was ng background, and able to go into business for did so for 30 years, when everybody said i couldn't. i think this is the land of opportunity. still believe that anybody ith the fortitude, if they choose to, can rise and, i mean, in the world place myself, ebody like coming from no background at education, could own and operate a business in and do fferent states, very well for myself, and i think, you know, it's not a matter of the democrats or the whatever, but if

ou choose and apply yourself and go after it, you know, if a thought in mind in terms of business or whatever, it's the only place that i know go out and can still be able ur dreams and o, you know, like myself, own and operate a business and like i said, in three different by es, i was licensed the -- by each of these states a business carry on and excel. mean -- and make a living for myself. and i think anybody -- i would just -- and nd coach anybody that thinks they're downtrodden because of this or that.

this is the one place in the still have that opportuni of rtunity, regardless color, of democrats or republicans, whatever, we're fortunate to be able o pursue it, if you have the audacity to go out and do it. host: how about daniel in idaho, thank you for calling in thoughts this r morning. if you're just joining us, by the way, we're asking about the dream, if it's still attainable. getting your thoughts on that. 202-748-8000. 202-748-8001.s, if you're not sure, 202-748-8002. definition at the beginning of the program but on twitter, steve harrison says this morning: the american dream, in quotes, says it's a nebulous concept. homeownership. is it a job? is it making millions. whatever it is, it still takes opportunity and hard work.

as you give your comments to us this morning, you may want to include a definition of what you think the american dream is, if thatthose things listed in tweet or if there are other things involved in it as well. you can call the numbers posted on twitter and our facebook page as well. from louisiana, this is kevin in ruston, louisiana, who says it's not attainable. kevin, hi, there. caller: hi, i think the entleman on the treadmill who called in earlier nailed it, but i'm going to add a little bit to this. whole ree with the concept of an american dream. i don't think it's ever existed in this country. i think that the american dream mythology that americans have collectibly perpetually nd bought into from generation to generation, because this kind of dream, y of an american kind of similar to our mythological conception of american exceptionalism sanitizes just how truly

dysfunctional our society and our political system is. speaking, the american dream, ill designed, hanges from generation to generation. for example, thomas jefferson's was to e american dream be the young farmer, this egrarrian, r which ficient produce didn't even exist in jefferson's time. after the civil war, the merican dream became much more about business ownership, homeownership. things that are not available for large segments of the american population, people who are not of the appropriate color, the class, the appropriate background. i one of the last things want to say is that, you know, we look back historically on how built from, you know, from colonization into a today, ower that we are

america has been built on greed and exploitation, and that's my comment for today. taking my call. host: john smith on twitter says this, that the american attainable, also adding the caveat though, if you win the lottery. twitterpost thoughts on there and also on the phone lines. n the paper this morning, also at the time magazine web site, more information about those hostages in the late '70s and financial compensation, saying that the citizens held captive during that crisis of receive that compensation after u.s. lawmakers pass legislation this payments to their be completed. the 53 former hostages will be given up to $4.4 million or $10,000 for each of the 444 days held, according to agence france-presse. exacerbated ich already existing tensions between the u.s. and iran began

when militants besieged the u.s. embassy in hehran on november 4, 1979. the terms under which they were released was secured in 1981. however prevented them from seeking compensation from iran. the compensation has been enabled now 36 years later companies es from that have defied u.s. sanctions against iran and other countries north korea, paid by the paribas.ank bnp dale, you say the american dream attainable, you're not sure. caller: dale from annapolis maryland. i am not positive that it is still attainable. the reason i'm saying that, i'm 64 years of age. i've worked 33 years on one job. benefits that were given to me, the opportunity hat was given to me just through things that you can write off on taxes, certain

available just not now, and it just seems like the owers that be, namely the politicians, republicans, and the rats, it seemed like decks is stacked against the average everyday working person. the gentleman before me completely stole my thunder. it, wereally think about have become such a, i guess, a greedy society, because we seem like we don't know what possibly happy.ake us is it a million dollars? s it just having a job just to keep a roof over your head? is it somebody that's living on welfare? just become we have so greedy and we talk about and trying to do the right thing for the lord, ut then again, we go to church on sunday, and we turn around and monday through saturday, we're sinning, we're living the jesus would t what

do, and the gentleman that building a roof, why would you think somebody as young as he is, would walk into a church and slaughter nine people, because he wanted to war.t a race it's something statistically and orally wrong with today's society, and been a long time coming and i appreciate you taking my call, and have a blessed today. host: in south carolina, tom dream is stillan achiefable. hello. sir.er: good morning, it is still achievable. there's no question about it. 'll give you a very brief .ackground of myself i was affected by the great october flood, you may have south bout it in carolina. my house was ruined. i asked for help from fema, from u.s. senators. i never heard from any one of

them. one morning, early i woke up and said you know, it's up to me to get this mess cleaned up. and i made my dream come true. 5'4".d up, i'm i don't have a college education. i just barely got out of high school, but i decided it was up to me to make it happen and that's what's wrong with this country now. that gentleman before me, wailing about oh, well, you yaw-yaw-yaw. you can do it. you can do it if you want to. it up, get busy, and get done. those are my comments. thank you. host: from wanesboro, massachusetts, harry up next on the line for those that don't believe the american dream is still attainable. hi, there. caller: thank you. it's barry. i think it's -- the dream roebt thatme kind of

there's no kind of dream because on the ng is based military and industrial complex in what's going on in the world today, associating american life with a dream is cray-cray. that's all. host: if you go to the op-end section of the washington post, there is a junior at the university of washington, a bos refugee, and she writes, what makes us american. some of her thoughts this morning include this, saying that we are, in fact, bos nian war refugees, but i don't feel like one. my parents and i have a house in st. louis with hard wood floors and stairs and a little dog. we have a family room with real becausee, that we chose we liked it, not because someone was giving it away. a colors are painted in because we don't have to rent our home anymore.

he says, we are american because we know that every time the economy dips or the real estate market crashes or tragedy unfolds that we will not just regain our strength but also emerge better than we've ever been. we insist on believing that we are special even if the rest of the world rolls its eyes at us we prove them wrong. we root for the underdogs and ote for the president that is come from nothing. we were awarded love and help. poor ept the tired, the and persecuted out of the goodness of our hearts and nothing more. available on the washington post web site this morning. let's hear from john in syracuse, new york, on our yes line. hello. caller: good morning, pedro. i love the show. thank you for broadcasting and coming in today. t -- i was couldn' stunned by those words you just her out on ll seek the "washington post" because that's really my message, that

there's so much to look forward to. there's so much opportunity if eople had the imagination to pursue it. the computer has changed everything. now you have kids that didn't at their ged, winding up with virtual college education, just because they applied themselves computer. huge k this is a game-changer and that the american dream is still possible. you just have to have a little in you, but mer also, you have to have a lot of action. really all i have to say. host: on our no line, hank from new york is up. caller: good morning. merry christmas to you. need to explain that o" line simply says unless it is inside of you, to ss you have it available yourself, the dream is there,

free country, a even though it has gone down ted way back in 1959, and became a proud citizen in 1964. so in other words, it starts yourself. america gives you the opportunities. say. s all i have to host: where did you immigrant from? caller: the netherlands, sir. host: and so tell us a little bit about, i guess, because we've been asking some people about what defines for them as an american dream. how does it specifically defined for you? caller: as a young man, at the age of about 12, i was liberated by american troops and i saw an and, lot of warfare basically, my dream was to pilot, and rplane the armed forces provided that

to the and i was sent united states as a 20-year-old man. i learned to fly here. was sent back as a fully-fledged fighter pilot, and i served air force. in the met a lady in the dutch air force, married her, and some 58 years and nine months later, i'm still checking her out, by the way. ost: thanks from new york, sharing his idea of the american dream. again, you can give your thoughts as well. achievable it's 202-748-8000. if you say no, 202-748-8001. if you're not sure, 202-748-8002. oshea this morning on twitter adds to the conversation his morning saying, yes, it's achievable, but it requires more education, training and more minorities. for again, twitter, the whole

conversation is going on there there and to join kind of add that concept and talk with them there. if you go to our facebook page, you can post on that as well. we had about 150 this morning efore the show started here in washington d.c. on this christmas day. d.c. as pty washington you'll probably see since the federal government and other businesses are closed. but, again, two guests joining us later to talk about various we want to or you, hear for the next 15 minutes or so about this idea of the american dream. terry in greenville, florida, on our "yes" line. hi, there. caller: good morning and merry christmas to you. host: thank you. caller: happy holidays, whatever you may be believing in. i want to say that, yes, the absolutely am is attainable if you have the right attitude. you have to have the attitude to want to work more so than believe in the government taking of you. hen you go through life

learning and believing that the government will take care of get the attitude of entitlement. who vice to the youngsters have this attitude of only time , it's the work comes before success is in the dictionary. i'm sorry. i said that backwards. he only time success comes before work is in the dictionary. and i said it backwards for a reason, because a good part of the american population now that they can have success before work, and it doesn't work that way. the government is there to help those who are not lazy. newcoming year, get off your butts and get a job, able to you'll be attain the american dream. and thank you for giving me the

time to speak. i appreciate it greatly. have a wonderful and blessed holiday. host: thank you. let's hear from pete, chester, virginia, who says no. hi, pete. caller: hello. how are you doing. i'd like to give a tip to your viewing public. i'm retired now. i've been in a lot of different things, failed and succeeded. around the world three times so i've seen a lot. i'll tell you this, that the college education and baccalaureate degree you get today isn't worth the price you pay for it. don't waste your time and your money. if you need to find a path to prosperity, get a trade degree. go to a college where you get a education in some form of trade. does, what the blue collar and then improve on that. hat will be your path to prosperity. host: so pete, what led you to come to this way of thinking that a trade is better than, say, a college degree? caller: i've seen it in others. i started out with a trade and

a college education, a business degree, and it really all.t help me at i went to -- i'm sorry, i stayed in my technical area where i did have success. what i did was i used my experience in reading and experience of traveling to improve on what i in the it was always trade. it was auto motive technology, teaching in that area. host: you talked about successes and failures. what have you learned more from es or failures? caller: well, the successes are gratifying. mind you, i've not been someone the ecame wealthy, but wealth and success i've obtained was of the heart and the conscience. my failures told me what i did going to makesn't those mistakes again. i will say about failures, if blood, l, you put your sweat and tears into something. if you fail, cry the tears, but

and try again. host: pete in chester, virginia. let's hear from randy. williamsburg, virginia. says the dream is still attainable. hi, there. caller: yes, good morning. good morning, america, and merry christmas. nd i do believe the dream is obtainable. i don't think that the government is where you need to look for approval. i think it's from within. i've had great successes with my businesses. yet had had very little financial reward. my reward has always come from satisfied clients, healthier educated and safer clients, and what my dream, my merican dream is, is that everybody else in america has a dream. nd there are no bad ideas in america. you have to try your ideas and through, and if you have

o financial reward at the end of that effort, just know and be thankful that you have the make of being able to that effort. o i don't think the government is where anybody needs to find recognition. i suggest to america that you and things and hard will work out for you in the end. i see that everywhere i go, , what's so lems great about america, is we get paid to solve problems. and what our government needs to do is get out of the way of who solve problems and labels. i don't think americans need to led to solve problems. own. ve them on our host: gotcha.

again, we've divided the lines as far as this idea of the american dream, if it's still attainable. yes, no and not sure. "not-sure" line, georgia. good morning. morning. good in line with what the previous caller said, i think if it can be attained, it's going to be internal. i don't know if it is because i don't know if people have the internal fortitude to apply themselves in the next generation, the coming generation. but hopefully, that might change. and when it does, it will be attainable again. but i really wanted to -- i had who mment on the lady called earlier lambasting the republican -- i'm a libertarian, so i'm not really a republican. but i thought it was an unfair republicans and greedy corporations, because the hershey she cited corporation and ford motor

company. hese companies were very generous. they paid their people well. hershey did build a town but she didn't payo say they income tax at that time. rubberbarons.wn as they're lambasted today for their gilded wealth and now the using them as models of generosity. ou know, i never cease to be amazed by the left. host: and before you go, a question to you. you were concerned about the upcoming generation about their internal fortitude. that ives you pause about generation as opposed to a previous generation? caller: well, i think it's -- i think multiple -- you know, you american dream mostly in the newest -- in the people who immigrate here. they come here because of the idea of america and what it represents, it's that idea, i think, is what -- and i'm like

an 18th generation. i've got people going back to the early 1800s. stone not written in that it's going to be that way, but it seems to me that the more -- well, i guess it goes back to what people said about government. know, when you fall for the fades.ent class, the idea when you need to get out and figure out how you're going to come up with and ideas and things, as that one gentleman said about serving solvingit's truly about problems, serving people, coming up with ideas that can make you do good.and also that's how the american dream is attained. attained through that. host: let's hear from ronald, detroit lakes, minnesota, on our yes line. hi. caller: how are you doing today? host: fine, thank you. caller: i think it's attainable, you know, the american dream. it all depends on the individual. if you work hard all your life, sometimes you make mistakes, and

if you fall down, get back up. you know, like me, i came from not a really good background, from inner city. now i'm in the suburbs, and it's great up here where i live at, jobs are up here. if you work hard, you can get anything you want. the ou can't blame president or society. ou know, by being a man of color, you're born behind one step. you're one step behind already. and if you could just push hard and work hard, you can get anything you want. achieved the american dream yet, but i'm trying. do you think, what the american dream is specifically? what is it to you? a nice having a house, car, and being able to go on vacations and do your things, get rewards s and for doing the right things, you know. ost: from new hampshire, here's john. says the american dream is not attainable.

hello there. you.er: how are i have a question to you. years, i was already successful in my life. i was very fortunate. indiscernible] for a company, and it started to disappear. hey laid off thousands of people there. pensions gone. like you can have all that stuff. and i see what he and he's what i had, in college but i just don't see successf ad a uccessful -- security, job security. we had health care. it was affordable.

if you talk to the young generation, they seem to have a very different view, because i worked for companies for 30 pensions, just don't see it anymore. security. host: that's john from new hampshire. call. take one more guy from nebraska who says the dream is still attainable. guy, good morning. caller: yes, good morning, and merry christmas. i would definitely say that the american dream is still attainable for people. y family literally came over around the mayflower, along with religious persecution. yes, in that aspect, the american dream was here. we have a great opportunity as farmer from nebraska, but i would still say that for some, it is at risk. because i'll give you an example of how entitlements may actually ruin the american dream for some

people, even though i believe in it. i had an individual work for me newly ould describe as a married 26-year-old, healthy individual, but second-generation welfare. i put him to work on a job roughly $200 a day to help the crops. he went on about two weeks. it was going to be a 40-day job. he told me he and had to stop working because, and to quote, i can't afford work. and he went on to explain to me hat if he would stop working for me, he could go back onto everything picked up and everything would go back to food stamps and get his cell phone paid for. i would say maybe our government, through their may kill t process, the american dream. so all these generations that we've talked about, you know, downs in en ups and our country, but we need to address the situation of entitlements and get the government away from people and let them work.

can achieve they anything. host: that's guy. he will be the last call on this topic. this christmas day, two guests are joining us to talk to us and home.tching at the first guest will be the washington monthly's paul glastoris, talking about this year's cycles. and craig shirley will discuss his book on ronald reagan's years after the white house, including how he and his family dealt with his alzheimer's disease. first, the president of the united states barack obama released his weekly address. this one in the theme of christmas and he's joined by the wish people a merry christmas and happy holidays. here's the president of the united states. president obama: merry christmas, everybody. this is one of our favorite times of the year in the obama household filled with family and friends, warmth, and good cheer. that's even true when i spend

away ght chasing the dogs from the cookies we leave for santa. 'm also joined by a special holiday guest star, mrs. obama. first lady obama: merry christmas, everyone. here at the white house, we spent the past month helping everyone get into the holiday spirit. our theme this year is a timeless tradition. decoration in each room reflect some of our country's times from ed past absoluting our troops to their families to helping children dreams for their future, and we've invited thousands of families to the white house to enjoy the festivities because there's no holiday tradition more timeless han opening our doors to others. president obama: today, like millions of americans and ourstians around the world, family celebrates the birth of jesus and the values he lived in his own life. treating one another with love and compassion, caring for those margins, the sick and the hungry, the poor and the

persecuted. the stranger in need of shelter. kindness. an act of that's the spirit that binds us together, not just as christians, but as americans of all faiths. it's what the holidays are about. coming together as one american celebrate our blessings and the values we hold dear. season, we also honor all those who defend those uniform.n our country's every day, the brave men and women of our military serve to eep us safe and so do their families. first lady obama: as we sing presents, as we win snowball fights. president obama: or lose snowball fights. let's thank ama: those who give so much. orces.gov, and together we can show them just how grateful we are for their sacrifice. that is the tradition that we can embrace today and every day.

behalf of bama: on malia, sasha, bo, sunny, at dma, and everyone here the white house, merry christmas. may god bless our troops and heir families, and may god bless you all with peace and joy in the year ahead. >> "washington journal" continues. host: joining us on the first guest of the morning is paul glastris, the editor in chief of the washington monthly and clinton the administration. merry christmas. guest: merry christmas. about those le bit on the washington monthly, tell us about it. guest: the magazine has been around 46 years. it was founded by charlie peters who worked for jack kennedy. politics, azine of government, washington culture. very focused on policy. a web site that's with a analytical blog covering politics in the

campaigns constantly. ranking of ual colleges. nlike "us news" we rank them based on contribution to the country. the magazine is center left. as you said, i worked for bill clinton. but we have a lot of republicans read the for us, magazine. we try to cover a broad spectrum of both politics and government. host: a recent piece on up with 14, how to keep the most bizarre election in recent history and there's a line i want to get your thoughts and highlight on. merican politics based on changes in the underlying realities of an american society. could we start by saying what you think the new rules might be in this cycle as opposed to others you may have seen? the great hink example of that is what we're seeing on the republican side with donald trump. side, we have tic something unique or somewhat very strong ery, frontrunner who's largely not

been touched. side, you republican had this emergence of donald trump. eople have really struggled to explain why somebody -- why off the main s stream in a sense from both parties, has done so well. i think what you're seeing is the splitting up of two pieces that thepublican party party has long been unable to of the white sort collar republicans who sort of values but ative don't necessarily follow the economic doctrines of the stablishment party, which are focused on lowering tax rates nd benefits for employers, corporations. and you know, so you have this re-emergence of a group that's been out there for years, and has been played to and

promised a lot but has been neglected, lied to, and had candidates who have talked to this group in had anyonee've never candidacy their around this group. really, you have to go back to wallace to ke george see something similar. host: so this has only become the notion of this outsider candidate that we've been hearing about, someone who doesn't follow the political playbooks of most or are there other aspects there as well? guest: i think the outsider bit of a hoary abiding trend in american politics. there's always an outside candidate. even insiders run as outsiders. what you have now, if you look polling, probably three-quarters of republicans support somebody with no experience in national politics. they want somebody literally

untouched, unsullied by the process, where the numbers are almost always the opposite on the democratic side. he democrats are looking for experience, capacity, somebody to fight for them, to be able to manipulate washington in ways that benefit them. republicans are looking for somebody to overturn washington. they have lost faith in the people they've been sending, the republicans they've been sending. outsiderness, of i don't think we've seen, certainly in my life time. host: paul glastris, our guest, f you want to ask questions about politics or campaign 2016. 202-748-8001, republicans, 202-748-8000, democrats, and 202-748-t 202-748-8002 for independents. have you seen for president barack obama in the white house. guest: there's no question that personally been seen by

some in the republican party as a kind of foreign element, somebody who's not quite american. he stands for both an educated roup as well as a racial minorities, but i don't really in particular or his background in particular for what we're seeing. mean, bill clinton was, you know, almost equally reviled by many on the right, you know, well w. bush was not hay day.ut during his attributable to the decline in the percentage -- i think there's a acial element to it or an the growth nt that

of the minority populations that ago, in ist 20 years the numbers, and the general polyglott culture of america, which is actually quite old and goes back to our founding, but eems very different now, has rattled a lot of folks, and you know, i covered the end of the war in yugoslavia and saw what feel other groups groups are getting special treatment, threatening their place, threatening their power. you see this all over the country. in europe, absolutely. this is a natural occurrence in some ways. and i think it has a lot to do with the economy. i mean, you cannot discount the degree to which, especially that group that we were talking about, the sort of working class, middle class, white suffered enormously in the last decade, decade-plus. and so there's numbers on their

health. they are dying in extraordinary numbers from alcoholism, suicide. i mean, there's tremendous pain there. and i think that's -- that is these two things are what is driving this. host: i want to talk a little bit about what that means for the democrats. the first call for you is from ts l, on the georgia democra line. you're on with our guest, paul glastris. good morning. go ahead. that donaldnowledge trump is writing the tsunami racist hate. nd white people -- to hear white people talk about suffering, you guys have no clue on.t's really going

in this country. it's way worse for us than you even know. and, man, we've seen some type real nt horizontal here, soon. host: earl, thank you. stats, he's right on the right. if you look at how african-americans, hispanics, and even middle to lower income recession, her the blacks and hispanics have lost have had a hard time finding new jobs. they are in worst shape coming out of this recession even than white americans, many of whom have also had their wealth wiped out and their futures essentially taken from them. don't see the same mortality numbers. there are various explanations this. but -- i don't mean to discount a lot of different groups are feeling this season,

year. my other point is that this white americans ren't used to this level of economic assault, and i think them.coming as a shock to they just, you know, african-americans, hispanics, have seen their maybees rise and fall and expected it more. but the gentleman is absolutely right. host: because your background as a speech writer, how do you think they have done about their role in current economics, and job numbers, et cetera, do you job it's done a good telling that story? guest: no, i'll be honest with you. i don't think the administration anything like the job , taking ould have done credit for some of its actions, actions g some of its to results. i think they try.

it's been difficult in that a administration did early didn't impact guest: bailing out of banks that may have stabilize financial systems set the stage for growth later, but was not seen as very welcomed by most americans. they struggle to make their case. i don't think president obama is comfortable to the his own point. in sosort of a normal guy many ways. most politicians don't have that reticence. they are willing to get up there and take it for the sunrise. it is not his style. but it is part of the job. i don't think they have been terribly effective in -- i think obama has a significant legacy.

i don't think most americans quite grasp it. host: from vancouver, washington . matthew, you are on. go ahead. caller: 50 for taking my call. . appreciate c-span and paul it is very honest reporting, which is hard to find these days. i was an occupier in portland, oregon. i don't agree with the democrats and republicans with the billionaires. offad been getting ripped since 9/11. that is why i am an independent. i think that people like donald because even if he makes a mistake on something he says, he does not back up. he is honest. i don't agree with everyone he says, that at least he is honest, and that is hard to find. don'trying to push for

vote for anyone who has been in office before. guest: although this is a gentleman that was in the occupy movement, which is more liberal than conservative left than conservative, sounds like what i was talking about earlier. people who feel that any engagement and lawmaking and , it is not a crazy idea. has -- really is the place where the economy and the rules of that economy are made. the economy is not done well for most people for a long time. crazy to point to washington to say, what have you folks been doing with all the power we have given you? how is it that my life in the neighborhood i see are suffering

, and the corporations and wealthy people as billionaires seem to be doing just fine. the professional class seem to be doing ok, and i am not. that is a feeling and belief that really does stride both parties. the question is, are people with no knowledge of how this place works going to be able to affect a change this general -- just when one's? host: bob is next. caller: hello, how are you? guest: good. caller: i can't believe i got through. i admit longtime listener answer order of your -- i am a longtime listener and a supporter. of any other medium that does this, not even the press. anyway, my simple question i

i was thinking the other , i felton charlie rohs like i was speaking myself. anyway, how does the republican party project the idea of inclusion and tolerance? i personally believe that they are the key to harmony in the world. that is my question. thank you. guest: that is a good question. just that under george w. bush, the administration had attempted to reach out to different groups -- hispanics, asians -- there was a belief that the republican party had a lot to say, a lot to offer on issues of cultural conservatism, religion, entrepreneurial ship,

past aublicans can't get lot of where their voters are in terms of immigration. immigration may not be the ofber one issue of both -- ethnic people in the united states, especially latinos, but it is an issue that if you don't get right, it sends a signal of disrespect. with donald trump, and talking about mexico sending in its rapists -- sitting in a , it is very, very hard. people are pulling their hair out about donald trump and feeling that with every day, he is undercutting the brand. so, i do think that there's in everyive voters

ethnic group. republicans could theoretically -- despite for, but the best strategy i think of their experts, they may not be able to do it. with marco rubio has touted, there is a lot of differences on this current field of what to do about it. i have ahad left -- lot of differences according to what they are talking about. rubio, he had to more or less -- he has tried to keep the door of that open with the voters. republican voters have spoken very loudly on it. there really isn't a lot of room for the candidates right now to pro-comprehensive

immigration control as they would like to be. host: james is next. democrat line. caller: good morning, sir. i would like to make a statement. respect you and this christmas morning. hello? host: you are on, go ahead. caller: ok. this is christmas morning. i feel like the american people know the truth. i feel like they just don't have the will to do what is right. think it will happen, but i think we have a long way to go. of course, on the political scene, in a country that is supposed to be free, and you have to be politically correct to say everything correct, and nobody believes in a conspiracy

theory. if they do, they get run out of town. gestapo that flows through america and corruption is what is killing this country down. james, you are online with paul glastris, what would you like to ask him? caller: i would like to ask him he is able to put out in his ok, everything of mine is gone off. host: ok, james. thank you for that. caller: good morning. want to thank the gentleman for being brave enough to tall -- to tell the truth. i want to thank you for saying

about what president obama did and how it did help our economy grow. -- i was just thinking, when we started off, we were 13% unemployment. i was thinking about the gas prices and things like that. i was thinking about donald trump. i like donald trump as a businessman. for a president, we need someone to talk about the issue. i would like for you to mention more about president obama and some of the things he has done that's good because we have a lot of americans in the second term -- when we went to the polls on the second term, -- second term to vote for president obama, he had the economy and everything going forward. we know the news media has

shattered it and try to say how bad things are, but we need strong americans, like the millions of us who knew that what president obama has done is great. for the war, we are leading in that war. over 100 or so nations helping us. i want him to respond to some of the things that president obama have done so the american people knows that he has done a great thing. host: mr. glastris, take that thought. the final state of the union address -- what is a mission for president obama in this final one? guest: that is a great question. this is his final state of the union address. .e does control congress the strategy that would be wise and i expect his administration will take, would be to use this

moment to do exactly what the gentleman was saying, lay out all the achievements of his administration from saving the auto industry to international agreement on climate change. 5% unemployment. finally getting a little lift in wages and people can perhaps take a little bit of a victory lap on that. in terms of sheer legislative hemorrhage, will go down in -- in history as someone who did a great deal. if he can't lay out his own legacy, his own accomplishments, i don't think he is than that very well. not only would that be appropriate for that moment, that lasted of the union address, because no one thinks he is going to roll out a big

legislative agenda and have much success with it. although i think you should talk about long-term challenges. host: if you were to do that, people would accept that as the appropriate thing to do. guest: you may begin the conversation around his legacy that the gentleman was talking about and get his approval numbers up. that is important for the other main thing -- the big unfinished thing in his legacy, and that is, having the democratic nominee follow him. we know from political science and polling that president -- nominees, candidates have a lot of theance of winning president of the office in their party have higher poll numbers. he needs to get his numbers up into the high 40's or 50's. glastris with the "washington monthly." he is the editor in chief. you can go to the website and

check it off. he was former speechwriter and the clinton administration from 1998 to 2001. debate, she spoke about several things. one of the things he talked about was foreign policy. i want to listen to a clip we have of her. at about what she faces in the foreign-policy front of the campaign goes on. [video clip] >> i believe if we leave and air continue tof we build back up the iraqi army that has had recent success in ramadi, if we get back talking to the tribal shake to try to rebel those relationships, which were very successful in going we get theeda, and turks to pay more attention to isis, if we do put together the kind of coalition what the specific task that i am

outlining, i think we can be successful in destroying isis. host: so paul glastris, those are specifics. what is she face in terms of facing foreign policy in the campaign? guest: i think she faces something politically that works to her strength. she is up against bernie sanders, who is a friend of hers , served in the senate, but in all his years in office, never really taken that much interest in foreign affairs, or national security outside of his admirable role of veterans issues. and, he is the only person running with the possible exception of someone like marco rubio who did sit on some national security committees with significant foreign-policy experience. having both been in the senate and secretary of state. if there is -- if there is a

is one of this that she outlined, with some exceptions, pretty much what the obama administration is already doing. voters don't think that has been successful, or think that will be successful. that is a hurdle. the latent sense of republicans that they are tougher and therefore will be more successful conducting foreign policy. host: our next call for paul glastris, steve from maine republican line. steve, go ahead. caller: you, merry christmas. think iton is, i don't could get more nasty after hillary clinton's comments directed at mr. trump.

and i don't the guy ever heard it in a presidential campaign, threatened her with what he is do in regards to her. mean, isn't this talk getting everyone off of their game? is this going to get nastier and nastier and nastier? donald trump has an very successful at getting his numbers up by saying the statements that, let's be honest, our unique. we have not seen this level diatribe and sort of violent statements about women and body parts -- it really is extraordinary. but it works for him. or, you know, expected voters, give him more

support when he says it, he is on to keep doing it. we will see when it stops working, but about 65% of the country won't elect donald trump. i don't see that as a winning strategy in the end. my guess is that we will see more of it because it is working for him. host: washington reporter offered analysis on donald trump's strategy. analogies,o perfect one must scroll back decades of echoes, however imperfect, of what he is saying, from populist of racially-based appeals been alabama governor george wallace in 1968 and 1972. is that a fair analysis? guest: when estimating who is going to win this thing, of course, anybody can win. we won't know until the future. what nominee has there ever been like donald trump? and what nominee has ever won

the presidency who is like donald trump? someone with zero policy experience with very few specific proposals floating a emotion and populism and rhetoric, and skilled debating rhetoric and so forth. i don't think there has ever been a president elected like him. is it me it couldn't happen. but you have to at least a knowledge that nowhere in our history have we ever put someone like that in power. host: from wenzel, north carolina on our life for democrats, this is mike with paul glastris. go ahead. caller: go ahead, merry christmas to both of you guys. earlier on in your statements, you attributed the bank bailout to our current president, and to

the best of my knowledge, i think that belongs to mr. bush, doesn't it? host: it was actually both, right? i think it was part one and part two. guest: a huge trust of money came in under george w. bush. and then the administration went back to congress after some more money and more restructuring. it was both host:. but that is a good host: point. philip from des moines, iowa. you are next. caller: thank you for taking my call. i have it -- an analogy to explain of what trump has done. for generations now, more so since reagan, the republican run to winnt has elections, while the democrats run to push an agenda. the republican establishment is not listened to the common

person in a regular country. all of this is written on a piece of paper that does not equal making america great. it just equals winning elections. fighting over making this equation works written on a piece of paper, trump realized he can take this piece of paper, put it in a shred been, sit down and put on the right side of the equation, and now he is writing the left side of the equation would doesn't include political correctness, doesn't include following what the media says and following the narrative. it is still being written. in the meantime, the republican thatlishment of pretending they don't know what is going on. they are already in the shred bin. they have failed.

they are eviscerated. top is where he is today. -- trump is where he is today. question, donald trump has tossed the playbook. there is no republican recently who has run for president who is of followed the strictures cutting back on entitlements, talking about the importance of cutting taxes to revive the economy. sort of the classic political formula of winning republicans. well, a lot of the trump voters really don't want to hear that we are going to modify social security, modernized medicare. these are programs they like. don't want them touched. maybe put a little bit of money in them. -- that is what trump is talking about. that is not the only thing he is talking about.

that it aligns with the desires and interests of the because of the republican base. republican candidates going back to mitt romney and paul ryan just in the last cycle, they were talking about major rollbacks in investment and benefits in those programs. so, yes, this is a very different equation. host: do you think trump wins iowa? guest: i don't think trump wins iowa. i think ted cruz is going to win iowa. i think trouble come back and win new hampshire. i think ted cruz is likely to give him a raise. in thelly, trump is stratosphere, but state-by-state, it is not so clear. she talked about trump's ride in the polls. if you was another candidate, she would wonder why other

candidates were running. i could think of as a nominee because i am not blind. trumpone else but donald was leading the polls this dramatically for this long, they would wonder why is everyone else still in the race? what are they hope to prove, accomplish? i am a realist. i have to look at the polls and say, well, if people have said for five or six months now, i can go in and vote for donald trump, then maybe they will. host: you agree with her? guest: i do agree with her. there was a statistic that no nominee that had a 20% lead in december has failed to win the nomination in the last 40 years. that doesn't mean he is slated to win. in the early months, it was probably fear of people to say, well, donald trump is up now,

but lots of candidates have been up and seeing their numbers collapse from giuliani on down. as of a couple of months ago, i think that analysis clearly flawed and honestly could see it is flawed. today, i think he is the front runner. yeah, and here we are still. guest: this is an astonishing thing. i have not sure donald trump predicted this. he is certainly full of self-confidence beyond reason, certain stimulus response. he says things, they work, he says more things, and they work. i am sure he is extraordinarily pleased with himself, but i am not sure he knew this was coming. host: carnegie, pennsylvania. mike, republican line. caller: please don't hang up on me because i want to ask paul something.

is it costing anything by the republicans to nominate trop -- trump to be president? it's not costing the republicans a dime, is it not? guest: what are occurring to the fact that trump is not taking a lot of campaign contributions himself. he is self funding, using his own funds to run, is that what you are saying? caller: hillary is saying that when she left the white house, she was dead broke, if you remember. when did he think the idea that she comes on and says, what difference does it make how the three americans died? she lied to the people whose sons were killed in the ghazi, telling them that it was a photo op and not terrorists. she told the families that it was terrorists.

now do the one someone there that lies. she says she was almost killed in another country. i'm not angry or mad, but i think they did this straight. thank you. he is right that donald trump has not had to go to the lobbyists. contributors big us some of the others. hillary was in fact dead broke. she and, at least, when the president left the oval office. they owed a tremendous amount of money in legal bills. they did not own a lot of stock or real estate. sort of seen as inappropriate about that comment is that everyone knew they were going to make with the of money when they left. they had both deals coming in speeches. coming andls

speeches. benghaziza, what -- on , what is left to say? host: this will be a campaign issue? guest: yes, but it will be a campaign issue that candidates pull out to stoke their own supporters without expecting that it is going to catch fire with the press, or convince others. this gentleman believes it. there are plenty of people who do regardless of anything else that has come out. they had a firm belief. up next onie democrats line. good morning. caller: hello, pedro. thank you for taking my call. i watch c-span religiously. i fell he got in for a call. thanks. still there? host: yes, you are on. caller: i want to comment on the

trunk situation. mp.tru the guy from indiana kind of took my thunder back. i like to use a phrase that we say in the old school, front street. donald trump but the platform onbrand or front street when he first mentioned immigration and gave thesemes of murderers and and robbers and so on. -- what else could the republican candidates say after he said it all? phrase about calling all those names. to me, that is what the republican party stands for as their platform. host: we will let our guess respond to you. guest: it is interesting. if you go back to 2012, mitt romney was able to get to the right of work.

rick governor of texas -- perry, the governor of texas. that was the end of his candidacy. it was an early indication of how to win and republican party presidential nomination today. donald trump did the same thing. he just got way to the right, with more radical on the issue of immigration generally and hispanic generation -- immigration. than any other candidate wanted to go and it has worked for him. the gentleman is right. host: from jersey, jean is next, independent line. go ahead. caller: good morning. happy holidays to both of you. questions ande of a very brief statement. except for immigration for which he was stunningly superficial in

his discourse of china, the republican front runner does not have any specific knowledge base or plan. away from paying any attention to the issues, and we are more about real housewives of new york. general, the republican campaign, what my question is, where is this taking our country , and how are we perceived in ,he world by what is going on particularly in the campaign? sir, i would like to ask for your thoughts on why democratic, ofublican, and independent good, decent, and human nature, why are they not standing up and emphatically