article and you would like republicans to focus on welfare. why is that? >> i think it's an issue that has to be handled sensitively. i think it's portrays president obama which is ideologically liberal. a lot of people middle of the road don't get that. they are disappointed in lack of results, but it's one of those things you can build the case, his values are different from middle american values when it comes to these issues. >> why don't you run for office. [ laughter ] >> why not. you got a super pac, why not? >> because it's a lot harder than it looks. doing what mitt romney does and what barack obama, it's tough on your family and out there. we what we get to do is talk about issues and draw strong contrasts. >> nice to have your perspective

on this. we'll check in with how the strategy. thank you for your time. >> thank you so much. >> jon: the eye of tropical storm isaac is about to hit the florida keys. this storm now threatening to hit the gulf coast as a category 2 hurricane. perhaps even higher. we'll check in with meteorologist maria molina in three minutes. america's financial crisis at the forefront but who is winning the political argument over debt. brand-new polls and our panel debates. [ male announcer ] research suggests the health of our cells plays a key role

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nominating romney and ryan as the research ticket. there is lot of other business that will happen in tampa including the platform. a statement of the parties principles on everything from economy and immigration and more. james rosen is live in tampa. the number of prominent faces won't be appearing a at this year's a gathering, what can you tell us about that? >> it's not the way republicans wish it to be. tropical storm isaac is bringing uncertainty but a whole host of

gulf state communities will be hit. florida's governor rick to scott has cancelled his appearance. robert bentley has cancelled his appearance here and phil bryant have cancelled their appearances here. louisiana governor bobby jindal has yet to announce his plans. a spokesman told fox news, the governor was speculated to speak in 2008 when gustav hit. he didn't even go. he will not leave the state of louisiana if our people are peril. they will holding a conference call to update reporters on the latest scheduled changes. the sounds you hear behind me is the house band warming up. >> i didn't know if that was you on the side. kind of adds things to the report, james.

the weather issues, and republicans are going to have to come together around what we call this party platform. there has been controversy over the party platform for republicans and democrats. what do you expect to see for the g.o.p. >> all of the major hut button issues is addressed in some way in this document that have not been officially released just yet but from sources say, platform boasts tougher immigration laws, including a call for the completion of a border fence, entirely new planks perceived threats to internet freedom and emphasizing the centrality of the constitution. and platform aopposes abortion and remains silent on exceptions. you've got individuals in the party who are pro-life as am

i, that do reserve exceptions of rape and incest and life of the mother. i recognize the party platform supports life and then also recognizes we rescind the issue to the states. >> reporter: because she said of the federalism issues involved. mitt romney does favor the allowance louse in case of rape or incest are involved. it's soon to be the home of the convention forks news. >> i think that is bill and martha getting ready for their 5:00 show. james, we apologize for some of the music in the background. thank you. >> my son is a droumer, you have to tune that drum kit.

72 days before election day, a race that is a dead heat and debt issues increasingly on voters mind. paul ryan has brought entitlement spending to the forefront of the campaign, some argue that honest conversations about spending could hurt the g.o.p. and others say america is ready to talk about social security and medicare. let's talk to joe sestak and matt schlap. matt, first of all do you agree with the premise that up until now talking entitlements was poisonous for republican candidates? >> i think you are right. history has shown us the ballot box when it looked like republicans just wanted to raid medicare for other they got themselves in trouble. what we are noticing over the last couple days and weeks,

we've had a national conversation about entitlements about medicare, about the ryan budget. from all the polls i'm seeing including the one you talked, things are better for romney and ryan. >> jon: mitt romney has said we think, we in his team they can talk about medicare. they can argue the point and they think they can win the argument? >> it's a debated we have to have. when you look at the respected sides, they both agree on one thing. they cap medicare growth to g.d.p., where they differ how do we go about reducing the spending. so republicans are going to have to to citizens and say we believe it could be on private market and help control costs. but they will have to answer the question, insurance companies

provide 25% medicare but they charge more. democratic side they can control spending by changing the incentive of doctors and hospitals. so no longer do they pay for service, like father had a heart operation, two days he was back with a staph infection. two separate fees, rather than saying you didn't take care of the quality of my father's healthcare. it's going to be a debate we have to have because we have to control spending costs. >> jon: the republican side is saying, we don't want to rip off or change medicare. president has taken $716 billion from medicare. are they winning that argument? >> i think all the polls show that they are. if you look at president obama he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

he took $716 billion and used it to pay for healthcare for americans that are younger to get healthcare. he made this decision. it was political decision to try to help folks that don't have insurance in this country, but he did it the wrong way. he did it by making medicare less stable. this is a program that if we don't take major steps it will go bankrupt within two decades. these are steps we have to take as a country. i wish joe sestak was still in power. mitt romney is going to do that. >> we're supposed to be having a debate. >> i think romney, he might have the ability, i have to tell you there is a difference why i voted for that bill. what we did we said, private health insurance companies, you

providing 20% more cost than medicare. you can still provide it but you have to do the same costs. that was $300 million. other $400 million. you have 30 million customers because of the new obamacare and you are like walmart. you get a lot more customers you can have a large lower margin to make a profit. it was a good business sense. we might be able to have good private efficiency. >> now we have a debate now. >> jon: the debate is on. we'll let you finish it at another time. thank you both. we'll be right back. heerios has oats that can help lower cholesterol? and it tastes good? sure does! wow. it's the honey, it makes it taste so... well, would you look at the time... what's the rush? be happy. be healthy.

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>>. >> jon: tropical storm isaac about to cross the florida keys. let's take a look at the weather. lots of rain and heavy winds. homes and businesses boarded up.

they are hunkered down for the storm. those that didn't take the evacuation warning. forecasters say it could hit the northern gulf coast as a major hurricane. we'll keep you updated with the latest developments from fox weather center. >> we're watching where that storm is moving. new orleans is under a hurricane watch as isaac threatens to hammer that city still recovering from hurricane katrina. seven years ago katrina damaged 169 miles of 350 mile levee system that protects the new orleans area. one of the questions, will those levees hold again as f a major hurricane strikes. joining us is the chief of emergency management at the u.s. corps of army engineers. mike, are we ready? >> yes, we're ready. we have done a lot of work over the last six years on this

system. it is complete and operate as necessary to make sure we can defend against this event. >> a hundred year event and right now the storm doesn't look as strong as katrina. we want to add a little context. with this storm, just hearing about a headed in your direction, what sort of preparations? >> we have emergency responsible plan and initiated any time a hurricane threatens. we have the local levee district in the area we can make sure it's ready to go. >> it's my understanding that according to the information we have most of projects that were started in 2006 are completed. is there anything that is not complete still that being worked on to make sure the levees are prepared? >> no are still spots in the

system that are under construction but we have design construction enclosures so can put those in to fight against the impact of a surge. we have initiated the plans for knows. >> where are those areas? >> they are spread out around the system. there is four of them on what we call the west bank, the southern end of the system. two of them on the northern end. >> thank you for the information. $14.5 billion in civil work to try to make sure the levee system is ready to go. and we're pretty much there. thank you very much. >> jon: as we continue to watch tropical storm isaac taking aim at the florida keys. the folks in florida have a lot of experience dealing with destructive hurricanes. labor day hurricane came before they were named, it hit the

florida keys in 1935 pushing a 15-foot wall of water that swept away everything in its path. it was the first category five storm to hit the united states packing winds up to 200 miles an hour, strong enough to knock a train packed with passengers right off the rails. another hurricane later that same year was only a category two storm, but it caught everyone by surprise, this one came down from the north heading south and made landfall miami beach. >> we'll keep i updated on the changing weather. in the meantime, the whole world was trance fixed when neil armstrong walked on the moon. his small steps leaving a giant foot priont history. we'll take a look back at his amazing life and career. y.

but because of business people like you, things are beginning to get rolling. and regions is here to help. making it easier with the expertise and service to keep those wheels turning. from business loans to cash management, we want to be your partner moving forward. so switch to regions. and let's get going. together.

quick fox news alert. a large swarm of earthquakes in california. we counted 19 and centered around east of san diego. we're told the quakes are being felt as far as san diego. largest initial reading of 5.3 magnitude. so that is enough to wake you up and get you out of bed. we'll keep an eye on the situation. >> earthquakes on one coast, hurricanes on the other. it's not a good weekend. neil armstrong the first man to walk on the moon has died at th. armstrong called himself a quiet nerdy engineer but he commanded apollo spacecraft that landed on

the moon in 1969. his one small step heard around the world. >> that is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. >> anna is live with more. >> we've been getting reaction from neil armstrong family and every day people spanning multiple generations watching armstrong leading the way for american space exploration. first man to put his footprint on the moon is also known for his heart. as americans sat glued to the moon walk and armstrong paused to have a patch and soviet cosmonaut that died. his legacy is felt in the past and present but will have a lasting impact in the future. >> he is an american hero.

he put his life on the line. he did things in support of his country that are extraordinary. he'll be missed. we thank him for his service. >> before the moon walk he was praised for piloting the x-15 rocketed plane and making the first space docking during the gemini docking mission. following his iconic achievement he continued working at nasa. he devoted much of his life to academia. >> stage is set in tampa bay. much more to complete our coverage of the republican national convention and the latest on tropical storm isaac, just ahead.