>> schieffer: welcome back to "face the nation." what a great day to sit by the fire and talk politics. the center for american progress, david sanger of the "new york times." jennifer rubin of the "washington post," glad to have her. and john harris. let me just ask you you saw senator din what do you think the state of the republican party is right now? >> i was actually optimistic by what he said. taken on john boehner, has been extremely critical. boehner's leadership his decision on debt limit. there has been a civil war in the republican party i'm hoping the fact that jim demint was not willing to call for speaker's ouster is a sign that perhaps --

which would be good for governing we can get some things done. see other things happen because civil war itself. >> schieffer: what did you think of senator deminute this morning? >> i was a little bit priced. of course he is very much involved in the civil war, heritage action which resides in his building of which he has great influence goes out on the stump and does campaign type events for them. it is very much vouched in this fight. they have an attitude towards governance which is unlike reagan administration which the reagan movement which he alluded to that is that they really think to -- they did that with shut down last year, they had designs on doing it again. and i think what you've seen is a reaction, backlash in the republican party since the shut down. there are many more mainstream

republicans, consider good conservatives. tom coburn is attacked by these folks they are no longer willing to take that. they are running mainstream candidates. actual ideas and actual creative solutions to governing. that is direct result of the -- >> schieffer: i'm seeing a yes. i didn't think we were going to see that. >> look, maybe governance happens, maybe here and there. i think that's right. debt limit decision has been an important one and building on the budget agreement and hopeful that there is government action needs to solve some problems. >> just to give a little blast of ice water here -- >> schieffer: i was going to say -- >> these represent a return to conventional politics enone day. on process questions, debt limit fund mentholly a process limit. the heat of the matter is ideological. i don't really see either the

two parties or the two factions region the republican party revolving the issues. let's not over interpret basically process cool could you lakes. >> schieffer: i think there is something here in washington that think maybe congress already done everything it's going to do. not much is going to happen from here on in because we have already seen bane or say, immigration is not going to happen. what is your take? >> i don't think it's just a process question. it's a vote to say we will pay our bills and it's about one trillion dollars of spending. you can't just say that that is process. i think you're quite right you talk to people about this they say everything is dead it's an election year, i think it's possible because of this moment, particularly the president could say, let's work something out. remember what the president's agenda is which is, he's been talking a lot about inequality.

i think he feels that very deeply. about the unemployment problem and he can actually work some deals with the republicans in congress to help those two things in a measurable way. as we say the ball is in his court. >> you know, david, you went to harvard you understand phrases like income inequality and things like that. talk about jobs things like that. i think that's better way to go at it myself. >> there's been an interesting -- i missed this course at school, but there's been interesting differences in language between income and equality which is what president obama is talking about. and income mobility, which is what you're hearing more and more from conservatives. the question of whether or not you can move up in the ladder. and they do require somewhat different kinds of policies. i think the interesting question

is whether that is debate that takes off this year. i doubt it's going to, i have to say i'm sort of more in john's cold water camp here because the debt limit as bob was discussing in the first half is really about money we've already spent. to some degree to get in to that argument wasn't going to be terribly productive. the budget going forward, you'll see a new budget in early march, that is about future spending i suspect that is going to be where we see the resumption to the norm here. which may be -- >> let me just -- i want to get back to politics here. we talked about john boehner all that have, what about mitch mcconnell. what about ted cruz and, i assume that ted cruz is trying to figure out how to run for president. but he's not making very good friends among his colleagues. >> i think both things are true. he's trying to position himself

for president and he's made a lot of unhappy republicans on his colleagues in the senate. i think what bother the republicans, i had prominent think tanker say, what they resent that he uses these events at the detriment of his party to advance himself personally. he didn't have an alternative in this latest struggle. he didn't have an alternative as it turned out last year. but he can grandstand, people like mitch mccontinental have to keep the country operating they he can crow he's been the purest of the pure. there is a lot of resentment in the republican party. whether that destructive quality is enough to carry him with republican base which is just matters about everything, remains to be seen. getting back to what david said, one of the problems we're not going to see a lot of motion forward because of obamacare. the democrats are settling, they

think that can be the totality of their agenda going in to the mid term election, i think that's wrong. they're going to need other issues, going to need a positive agenda. back to large degree actually put kibosh on immigration reform. people in favor of immigration say we don't need to do this now we want to talk about obamacare. >> it's true that republicans are kind of putting everything in the bank on obamacare, affordable care act. i think that thing they should be worried about that narrative is changing. absolutely big problems with the website, now seeing people didn't expect, 3.3 million people covered through the affordable care act over six million covered, seven million covered through the affordable care act overall. this is something i actually agree with jennifer, we have to

ensure that i think republicans are going to base some -- if the affordable care act starts moving to be not such an important issue they're going to need something else to talk about. >> john harris, on the democratic side. is hillary clinton now going to be the nominee? everybody says, i don't know who else would even glenn if you look at the surface level, i can't think of anybody historically who has been in such a formidable position in terms of stature, in terms of reason knicks nationally. obviously the polls don't mean a lot this far out what she dominates the field in way that i don't think we've ever seen. that's the surface reality. beneath that, life is complicated. we don't know her intentions. i think it's a very difficult position for her to be in as sort of presumptive nominee in waiting. we've seen over time people tend to like hillary clinton in nonpolitical setting as a

person, as secretary of state became very popular. you put in irrelevant political setting if it is, presumptive nominee people don't like her as much. to sit there in that status, pregnant status for two years that is a big challenge for her. >> i think so. >> schieffer: david sanger, syria, round two of the talks, we've talked mostly about domestic policy. but there are some really important things going on, not altogether good. >> i'm beginning to detect a change not only administration's view, they have been very reluctant you heard a little bit of the change in the patsy, very long answer at press consee. which he expressed huge frustration with the russians who have kept this discussion from even turning in to a way to have a humanitarian corridor. there are now estimates up to

140,000 syrian dead, i think that there are many people in the obama administration, have been very split about what to do who now fear they're going to have this great human tragedy on their record and on their hands. >> do you think we'll do anything more than what we're doing right now? >> i think you're debeginning to see more. but basically small turns of the dial. i think you're going to see more arms go to some of the rebels, i think they understand the rebel groups now. at the geneva 2 conference they got to know a few more. i think that they are going to be putting more money in to helping fund the fighters. but there's a big conflict with congress right here. congress has been very reluctant to provide more funds for fear that this would slip the u.s. with other conflict in the middle east. what the president won't do, i think, is put any american forces at rest. >> schieffer: we can talk about this all often but we have

to leave it there. we'll be back with one minute to talk about michael sam what does that really mean that he came out.

>> schieffer: all right. we're back now to talk about this big story that came out this week that was that university of michigan announced he is gay. going through the next nfl draft. he'll become the first openly gay player in the nfl, yesterday the all-american received a standing ovation at a missouri basketball game where he and the rest of the football team were honored for their compote on bowl victory. we're joined by howard bragman who represents michael sam. he is in los angeles. sid is in new york he broke this story. nfl wide receiver dante' stallworth, free agent with the new england operates he works

who principlal 6. organization focused on ending homophobia in sports. he is in miami here in the studio jared bell, the nfl columnist for usa today. sid, you broke this story, why is this a big story? >> it's a big story because it's history. we've never had an openly gay player try to enter the nfl or play in the nfl and there laugh been so much talk about how this will be impossible. last year i had meeting that what we are seeing unfold right now was literally impossible. that the front offices and locker rooms in the nfl weren't ready for it. we are seeing this unfold before our eyes. the nfl is ready for it. fans are ready, america is ready for it. the kids who are struggling with their sexual orientation they are really read auto to see this. >> schieffer: i also read "sports illustrated" this week, they say this is something that

goes far beyond sports, their story indicated there are still people in the nfl that are not quite ready for it. they talked about players, didn't quote anybody by name m. coaches who talked about how this, that some teams will be reluctant to draft him. you worked with michael sam on making this, is he ready for what's ahead? >> he really is. we broke the story a week ago, we broke it last sunday evening, michael did two interviews. espn and "new york times," michael got on the plane, went back to his training facility a lot of people used distracted. he's the least distracted. he understands his only job right now to get ready to play the best football of his life. he's going to the combine in indianapolis this week to show his stuff to the nfl scouts.

he is so ready for this. if you saw michael's back story he had a very hard scrabble upbringing, one of eight kids, two siblings, one was murdered, one disappeared, one drowned, two in jail. this is a courageous young man with a lot of character who is going through a lot in his life. this is just one dimension of what defines him as ambitious and talented young man. >> schieffer: you say you were once homophobic, you've been in a lot of locker rooms in the nfl, what do you think the atmosphere is going to be? do you think, number one, that he will be drafted? will he be an early draft pick? will teams be reluctant to try to get him? >> i think the initial consensus was that he would be a mid round draft pick anywhere from third round to the fifth round of the nfl draft. you hear the guys speaking how

focused he is. the biggest thing is that he's changed the conversation about homophobia in all of sports. it's no longer a question for the nfl if the nfl is ready for a gay player. the nfl has to be ready. the onus is on everyone to make sure that he is in a safe workplace, the nfl has all of these policies and action now. i think that is important that we understand that michael sam will be accepted in to an nfl locker room regardless of what you've heard from other anonymous general managerrers, i think eventually over time everyone will accept him. but it will take some time. i think he'll be fine at the end of the day. >> schieffer: i've leftivity for you to be the clean up man. you kind of stand back from this, you're a reporter, everybody else on the panel has kind of have an interest in this. you do, as a reporter, but you can give us a little overview,

how do you think -- what do you think is going to happen? >> obviously i think he'll get his opportunity, the nfl as it has expressed with roger good dell on down that it will welcome him with open arms. we'll see how that plays out. but i think, bob, that this entire story is forcing people, particularly those within the nfl to confront whatever stereotypes. how tolerant the nfl is. another thing that's interesting is that we're kind of in this age of enlightenment in the nfl. we've had so many different issues from a social standpoint that have come before us just within the past few months. three incidents during the past football season where the use of racial slurs was germane to the story. the jonathan martin, ritchie incog knee tee situation. the football right right here with racial slur as nickname

much debate about that. that is going to continue. so the nfl is in extremely unique position to really show some social leadership right now. i think roger goodell have put the right messages out there we're going find out exactly if the money is where the mouth is. >> schieffer: cyd, this is a story that goes beyond sports which is why we're doing it on "face the nation" today where we normally concentrate on politics and things of that nature. how big a story do you think this is? for the cultures this a sign that things are changing, are we going to find out if they're changing or not. where do you put this? >> i think this is arguably the most coming out in our culture's history. when ellen degeneres came out. that was hugely impact of the. because of the power that the nfl and football has half of

america calls football their favorite sport. going forward what is amazing about this is michael sam himself. so focused about talking about a gay football player. we need to talk about michael sam. he is gregariousa sense of humor, he's warm, he's engaging, 'he's going to be so successful. american is going to fall in love with his personality instead of looking at him as a gay football player. going forward super important and part of the reason because of who the man is. >> schieffer: why did he decide to do this, when you come right down to it? he told his teammates at missouri last year. they said, we already know. why did he find this was important to do it now? >> actually, bob, we were going to do it instead of sunday going to do it monday. it became very clear to us on saturday that media outlets were prepared to break this. he was about to be outed. and what was always important to

michael is he come out in his terms, in his words, at his timetable so we moved it up. he wanted to tell his story and tell his truth. that's what's so important here. that he owned his story and the courage that goes with it. and that we found the kind of journalist allow him to tell his own story in the best way possible. >> schieffer: dante', we all know the wonderful story of jackie robinson how the reason he was picked because -- not because he was the very best african american ballplayer at that time, turned out he probably was. but because he knew he had the personality and character to go through what he knew what he was going to go through. here, michael has decided he -- what advice would you have for him when he walks in to that

locker room wherever he winds up playing? >> i think just be yourself. i talked to plenty of people in the university of missouri, the football family over there. i talked to former players, the coach that was there. and the guys, everyone had nothing but glowing remarks, he's a hard worker, he's a leader, he jokes around with his teammate just like everyone else does. i think the big e thing that we should all understand that he's going to be fine. there may be guy or two in the locker room that won't agree with his lifestyle and what his sexual preference is, i've talked to many guys in the nfl i don't think anyone is going to confront him. but my biggest advice for him just be yourself. do that going in to the nfl draft and combine this weekend and following week. reel be okay. he'll be fine. >> schieffer: i guess in the end what will settle this is this he's a good football player. >> no question. so important that michael sam

end up with a team that can support him and to really be able to deal with the attention and support that is going to be necessary for this to really be successful and for us to get beyond this. one thing to point out, bob, there have been gay players that have played in the nfl for decades, just didn't know them when they were outed. this will be an interesting development to follow. >> schieffer: we'll be back in a minute.

>> schieffer: the olympics are always a learning experience for me. but all these new x game contests i've never heard of, the slopestyle and the halfpipe made me almost nostalgic for the not so long ago when i was still trying to figure out curling. that's our "face the nation" flashback. here is me back in 20002. >> i know everyone else is worried about skating but here is my olympic question, what is all this about curling. what is curling anyway? my wife wondered by the tell slicks, they bowling on ice? no, and they are not waxing the floor with those long-handled

squeegees nor are they skating without skates. they are sliding around on the ice in their shoes. the way we used to do it at kids when we'd slide down the hall in our socks. whatever it is, it is beyond me. the team strategize then they slide those little smudge pots or tea kettles or whatever they are down the ice then the announcer says, it's 4-0. but i have no idea why. even though that's pretty simple when you try to understand what today's olympians are talking about. >> there's so much, rodeo, double court, 16, 20, japan grabs, trails, it keeps going on and on. it's unreal. >> schieffer: what is real that the russians new they face new competition for attention and released this picture of their star curler this year. this curling may be a better game than i thought it was. our "face the nation" flashback. ,

>> schieffer: that's it for today. we'll see you right here same place, "face the nation." next week.

to an entire community. but this home was intentionally ire -- and allow flames tearing through a mobile home with an explosive threat to an entire community. this home was intentionally set on fire and allowed to burn to the ground. good evening. that mobile home was in a quiet community in redding and dozens of families were told to leave because of the explosive threat. don kna pp explains why they wanted to blow it up. >> it seriously injured a man charged with making home made explosives. >>