as soon as we have that incident where there is a big fight at john mcconnell and there was a drive-by shooting. thank god that nobody got hit. that happened on a friday. we all met ed john o'connell high school. the lieutenant attended the meeting. this is what we were going to do together to face the violence. it is important that we continue to build this. in our perspective, the chief said something very important when he came to visit us. just like there is sometimes 99.9% of the police department doing their job, you have good officers like that. in the gangs, you have 99.9% that are good and then the 1% that are the real gang members. we are trying to work together to make sure that we worked as a collaborative. we have meetings every month. i am made little nervous. sari if i am rambling. -- sorry if i am ramblin. maybe he can talk about the important work that we are doing. i think is as important. law enforcement enforces the law. i think that work is very important. thank you for letting me speak. >> good evening, commissioner and president. i am very familiar ring with ms.

so should john thune, mitch mcconnell and john cornyn be thrown out of office? because on those major issues you're so upset about, they voted the exact same way as these candidates that got thrown out by the republican party? >> well, i didn't campaign against lisa or bob bennett. this was a decision -- >> but you supported bob bennett's -- one of the people who challenged him? >> with well, once bob was out, yeah, i was supportive of mike lee, because he's a great candidate. but these are appropriators, bob bennett, lisa murkowski. they believe their job is to take home the bacon. it's a big part of the culture here in washington. and frankly, i've been around long enough to know that people are tired. even in alaska, candy, in alaska the voters there threw out someone who was bringing home the bacon. joe miller, running against earmarks, because i think we're hearing all over american, it's -- i don't one for my state if it's going to bankrupt my country. >> but we're talking really, 1, 2% of a budget here, when you're talking about the earmarks. that doesn't

>> no. >> john boehner, mitch mcconnell the ugliest guys in america. >> john boehner is a friend of mineho john boehner is. >> we know he smokes. >> who cares. >> this doesn't look presidential. you have the president of the united states saying john boehner and mitch mcconnell. you have the bully pulpit. >> you make your point. isn't that a problem for the president of the united states, don't blame me, blame this guy from ohio that smokes and playing golf. >> it happens to be true they are the ones standing in the way. >> he said on sunday he would vote for the bill. >> the midterms for democrats is a referendum on the economy and what the white house is trying to do and i think it is a smart to do is to make it a choice. that is what voters are making, a choice between obama's direction or john boehner's and the republicans' direction. that is the only way you can say it. >> the bottom line. the tea parties are out there. almost insurrection for a year. they have won seven big races knocking out establishment figures, specter, charlie crist, bob bennett. incumbents and challengers. kn

but we're still in this wrestling match where john boehner and mitch mcconnell about the last 2% to 3% where on average where you make $100,000 for people making $1 million or more. >> president obama heads to philly today to deliver the second back-to-school speech. last year, the speech got some national attention. according to the text released by the white house last night, the president will tell students your future is in your hands, your life is what you make of it. and nothing, absolutely nothing is beyond your reach. last year, obama gave a similar televised pep talk at wakefield high school in arlington. but as you remember, that speech sparked controversy beforehand as critics suggested it could inject ideology into the classroom. they said he was spreading propaganda to children. >>> new surveillance video out of california shows the deadly pipeline explosion in san bruno that killed four and left four others missing. meanwhile, pacific gas and electric company -- the owner of that pipeline is setting aside $100 million for victims of last week's disaster. the company says

you can see president obama trying to drive a wedge between john boehner and mitch mcconnell. john boehner said republicans are unified saying they don't want any expiration of the bush tax cuts. that is somewhat contrary to what boehner said on sunday, where he said if all he could get was the middle class tax cuts he would support that. one republican said he wperson boehner was saying boehner was there for the middle class. that being said, any movement on this issue will start in the united states senate where there are not 60 votes right now for president obama's middle class tax plan. there are only maybe in the number of around 52. folks i've spoken to in the united states senate said between six and eight democrats have reservations about this. so you could be looking at a compromise in the future. it might not get done before the november midterms, it could happen in a lame duck session. listen to what chris van holland had to say, a man in charge of the congressional house races. he said this this weekend -- if republicans were to come back and say hey, let's just do

. >> we are still in this wrestling match with john boehner and mcconnell about the last two%-3%. >> the tax hike this administration is proposing would apply to have of all small business income in this country. >> the nonpartisan congressional budget office says if the bush tax cuts are extended, economic growth could nearly double in the next year. >>> as bp continues drilling a relief well in the gulf, for a disturbing discovery under water. researchers found new patches of oral at the bottom of the sea. some of the patches are two inches thick. scientists are testing to see if it's from the oil well that ruptured six months ago. pacific gas and electric in california setting up a $100 million refund for people affected by last week's natural gas explosion near san francisco. residents could get up to $50,000 per gosnold until they get back on their feet. 50 homes were destroyed and four people were killed. >>> in cottle, 47 identify the causes of the dadullah major wildfires. -- in colorado, officials have identified the cause of two major wildfires. embers in a fire pit caused

. >> we're still in this wrestling match with john bainer and mitch mcconnell, about the last two to three percent where on average we'd be giving them $100,000 for people making a million dollars or more. >> the two to three percent mentioned by the president are people making more than $250,000 per year. >> that's why i'm introducing legislation today that ensures that no one in this country will pay higher income taxes next year than they are right now. >> reporter: republicans and a growing number of moderate democrats would like to see the bush tax cuts due to expire at the end of this year extended for at least another year for everybody, arguing the recovery is too fragile to increase taxes on anybody. independent senator joe lieberman of connecticut makers this argument. >> i want them to have the confidence that we're not going to raise their taxes so they go out and spend all of that money and what happens when they spend? jobs are created. that's what we need. >> reporter: fox news has obtained a draft of a letter from some rank and file moderate house democrats to their l

you have the president of the united states out there saying john boehner and mcconnell. the bully plat form, you have the pulpit. >> you make that point well. isn't that the problem for the president of the united states, don't blame me, i'm running the country. i've got a democratic party running the congress. blame this guy from ohio that smokes and plays golf. >> it happens to be true, that they are the ones standing in the way of him doing -- his problem with the midterms for the democrats have been that it's just referendum on the economy and what the white house is trying to do, and i think it's smart to do, is to make it a choice. that is what voters make it. they are making a choice between obama's direction and john boehner's republican direction. >> let me ask you the bottom line. the tea party throughout there, it's been almost an insurrection for a year and very effective. they've won seven big races, knocking out establishment figures, people that couldn't be beaten. specter, crist, murkowski, bob bennet, incumbents and challengers. knocked them all out. the

mcconnell. we'll ask him about his dispute with john boehner and after a year in an iranian prison, sharh shourd is released. good morning. it's tuesday, september 14th, 2010. 49 days until the midterm elections. i'm savannah guthrie. >> i'm chuck todd. we'll start in tehran with the developing story. sarah shourd was released from iranian custody. not quite free filling out paperwork. andrea mitchell broke the story and she has the latest on the ground in tehran. andrea, take it away. >> reporter: well, chuck and savannah, this is obviously emotional. it's an up and down crazy kind of story. sarah shourd has been released. the iranian government announced that now. we don't know first of all whether bail is being paid. there are a lot of reports that bail is being paid and there are reports that we cannot confirm that some gulf nations may be involved. some u.s. allies who have very close relationships here. we don't know if money is being transferred but it is not u.s. government money and the paperwork still being done. the swiss ambassador downstairs below me waiting for her arrival here. so

it gave the white house and opening to split john banner from mitch mcconnell and the other republicansthey just a check -- they just attacked him again. >> that was churlish. he ran away from his own comments so fast. he caved in. you ask what kind of metal is in the minority leader's backbone of the cannot stand up? >> congress should do what ados -- does best, nothing. if congress does nothing, those tax cuts go away. we need the revenue. it is not great timing but if you return rates to where they were in the 1990's, the economy was doing well, the government desperately needs that revenue. i think gridlock is a good thing that i do you think that will happen? >> you can argue about the $250,000 and above but there seems to be an overwhelming consensus that people under that amount want to retain their bush tax cuts. >> i think there'll be no action until after the elections in a lame duck session. i think you will have an expansion of all the tax cuts. peter orszag was obama's own budget director and he wrote a piece in which he argued that you either keep the mall or let them all

i don't think you really believe that john boehner and mitch mcconnell want to wreck the economy. >>h, i do. i do. just look at how they vote. >> by the way, there are people on my side who say barack obama is deliberately wrecking the economy and they are wrong. we all want the economy to get better. we all have a stake in it. this rhetoric that one side wants violence and one side is decent and one side is good. listen, that's why we got to get together. that's why people voted for barack obama. >> explain the record filibuster we had to live through. you are living in a cocoon if you think we're live -- it's the party of no. you know that. >> ed, you have big majorities in both houses. nancy pelosi talked about a big, strong, democratic majority. you have it. you're responsible for what's happened last two years. >> look home bills the house has passed and what the senate has done? the 60 votes has been a problem for the democrats. there is obstruction big time. >> all of the things he wanted from congress. he got financial reform, obama care, stimulus. he got it all and now look.

currently senate minority leader mitch mcconnell and john boehner locked in a standoff with president obama and democrats over the fate of the bush tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year. democratic leaders are pushing to extend the cuts to the middle class but not to the nation's highest earners. republican leaders want all the cuts to be made permanent. but, according to "the post," some republican senators argue a two-year extension of all the bush tax cuts would give the economy time to improve and give congress time to help develop policies that restore the country's fiscal health. this has been the third alternative that they've put out there. we'll see. yesterday house speaker nancy pelosi got a letter from a freshman democratic congressman from virginia who collected more than 30 signatures from other moderate democrats who want to preserve all the expiring tax cuts, including those for upper bracket earners. but pelosi does not seem to be budging, insisting the cuts should only remain for the middle class. >> is it fair to say you're not open to the one to two

john, that's hardly balancing the budget. this charge of obama being arrogant. i mean, mitch mcconnelln boehner who said, up front, we're going to oppose anything president obama's for. that's hardly listening to the people and trying to get some things done. and, ed, quick story, when president obama went up to the hill to have lunch with the republican caucus to talk about the stimulus, john boehner had a news conference and said they were against it before obama got in the car to go to the congress. talk about arrogance. >> because they knew it wasn't going to work and they were right, bill, it doesn't work. >> 3 million jobs, john. ask the cbo. >> it hasn't worked at all. >> john, would you admit that this pledge for america on its surface is exactly what the republicans had for eight years? where's the change? >> i think it's an updated version. i think they've -- one of the things that eye think one of the things that they've done is said that you know for three days, you've got a chance to read every bill and i think that's an important change and you think that the fact of the

mcconnell. it's a choice between nancy pelosi and john boehner. and it's almost impossible with only a month to go and they've been doing it for maybe a month to fill up the tank as much and -- but it's worth reminding americans that every election is a choice. if you have to run against the ideal, if it's a referendum, every one of us will get beats. we'd have nobody in office because there's no such thing as the perfect public servant. the choices you make in politics are like the choices you make in life. you make the best available choice. >> that's an interesting insight into the obama's strategy. he talked about how what obama is doing is to try to draw mitch mcconnell and john boehner on to television where they aren't so good and expose them as part of the no team. part of a long interview we did today. part of an upcoming documentary. by the way, that was taped today at the clinton institute on american politics, university college dublin. one of the many institutes being set up by the former president. >>> james clyburn said if republica

mcconnell. >> they should definitely get an extension of the tax cuts that were instituted in 2001 and 2003. we could get that done this week. but we're still in this wrestling match with johnoehner and mitch mcconnell about the last 2% to 3% where on average we'd be giving them $100,000 for people making $1 million or more. >> and there you hear the president trying to frame the debate exactly what's going on within the republican party trying to suggest that there is a wedge between boehner and mcconnell. there is not much of a way between what john boehner was doing was not allowing democrats to being for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. we are mostly going to see up here on capitol hill, richard, the senate will take the lead on this. a lot of vulnerable house democrats, folks that come from rural districts that don't like taxes and folks that come from wealthy districts that don't like taxes would not want nancy pelosi to walk the plank on a passable tax vote. they want that to come out of the senate so they know exactly what they have to do. that is really interesting to see what occurs over there. there are not 60 votes right now for president obama's

of what came out of delaware, people who voted for her would probably not vote for a john boehner or a mitch mcconnellaisle when they're in your caucus? >> you know, one thing that's very good about john boehner is he has been here a while. he has dealt with all kinds of different egos, and he knows how to get the kind of flame-throwing ideological person working with somebody who is maybe a committee chairman, holding the gavel and actually has to pass a bill and work with democrats in order to do it. i think boehner is that kind of manager. he's a calm guy. he's a smooth guy. but in another sense, he's seen it all. so i think that we can make it happen. you know, when the election is over, people tend to say, o karks now get the job done. how do you get the job done. it's a little more difficult. i think we'll get there. >> john heilemann, news breaking yesterday that there may be a deal on taxes. barack obama talking about possibly negotiating with republicans about extending tax cuts. steny hoyer suggesting, after hearing from house democrats who were scared, they want the bush tax cuts extended m

. >> we are still in this wrestling match with john boehner and mitch mcconnell about the last two to percent where on average we'd be giving them $100,000 for people making a million dollars or more and we just can't afford it. >> reporter: if congress fails to pass any extension at all the tax cuts will run out for every taxpayer. >>> tonight you will get a second chance to learn more about phase two of metro's silver line project. last night was the first open house about the extension. it will go from wheely avenue to herndon to dulles and ashburn. the line is scheduled to open in six years. on the's meeting is at the loudoun heritage farm museum just off of the cascades parkway in sterling, virginia. >>> in sports, the nationals need just three more wins in order to not lose 100 games. they are struggling to get them. they struck out a career high 1 batters last night and the nationals bell fell to the braves the orioles snapped a losing streak against the blue jays. scott singled in the game winning run last night. baltimore topped toronto 4-3. >>> 65 degrees here in northwest w

mitch mcconnell and john boehner made their listen in the center who draw federal paychecks from a majority district who vote for them who do not include a major istnuts obviously. i don't know what they make. isn't there a whistle in this playground to make your point, no adult supervision, a great line. here he is, former secretary, colin powell, the very opposite of being newt gingrich on "meet the press" yesterday. let's lift seen in mr. gingrich does this from time to time with a big bold statement and he does it occasionally to make news and also stir up dust. it may appeal to the fringe elements of the party, but i don't think it appeals to all republicans. and i don't think it appeals to the whole country. this kind of chatter he's a kenyon channeler and all of this sort of stuff makes a lot of news. and you will find that governor palin and people on the right side of the political spectrum and along with the tea party move the really are getting a lot of attention, a lot of news and a lot -- they're making a lot of noise and they're making a lot of -- a lot of chatter throughout o

mcconnell's disagreement. he spoke to a small group of supporters in a fairfax county virginia backyard. >> we could get that done this week , but we're still in this wrestling match with john boehner and mitch mcconnell about the last two to three percent where, on average, we'd be giving them $100,000 for people making a million dollars or more. >> ifill: the debate over tax cuts within the democratic party as well is expected to grow more heated as lawmakers return to washington from a six-week break. let's start with john boehner on face the nation yesterday. what did he mean? >> well, that's really hard to say. i mean my sense is that he made a little bit of a mistake. he went off message. the republicans have been so adamant that they don't think the tax cuts should expire for anyone no matter how much they make. for john boehner to say maybe he'd go along if forced with a proposal that would let them elapse for people who make more than $250,000. that seemed off message. the republicans were very much backpedaling and retracting some of that. >> ifill: he came out with a statement this afternoon saying we need to stop all tax cuts and cut spending now. do we think hi

mitch mcconnell and john boehner, are they going to be entering, assuming one or both of them gets thehat are they leading? they cannot cut a deal -- what you're saying here is that the rank and file, unlike 1994, might be more powerful than the leadership -- >> i think -- i completely agree. i think there is a shift in power. i was out in colorado this weekend on the senate race. it is pretty clear if you look at ken buck, sharron angle, if you look at rand paul, these folks do not believe they're being sent to washington to compromise with barack obama, particularly on the core issues of spending and taxes. and when you see the sentiment of the republican electorate behind that inclination and the elected officials, it does, i think, point toward a 2011 -- if republicans gain either chamber -- defined more by confrontation. but their own inclination, they're going ton torn, i think, as well, because they're fully aware of the sentiment. they understand if they're able to obtain the chamber, what brought them into power, and i think that mood is a real inhibitor on their ability to re

. >> we're still in this wrestling match with john boehner and mitch mcconnell about the last 2% to 3%ter: most democrats want to extend the bush tax cuts for those earning under $250,000. most republicans want to extend them for all americans, including the wealthy. this weekend house republican leader john boehner seemed to cave. >> if the only option i have is to vote for those at 250 and below, of course i'm going to do that. but i think that's bad policy. >> reporter: now boehner finds himself a but alone, with few >> reporter: now boehner finds himself a but alone, with few republans n him. hike. the tax hike the administration is proposing, according to irs, would apply to half of all small business income in this country. >> reporter: both sides are making tax cuts the wedge issue of the midterm election as the president did on the back patio of john and nicole armstrong along with democrats jim moran and jerry connelly. >> how state and local governments are able to deal with these budget challenges next year is in part going to depeno whether the peop who next year is in part

i'm supporting everyone on the republican ticket i know mitch mcconnell is and john cornyn. our whole party is. we are out working. christine o'donnell raised over a million dollars in the last 24 hours. america is with her. it is going to be an interesting election. >> greta: she needs delaware to be with her. you endorsed her. how much did you vet her ahead of time? >> i talked with her a lot. i know that she is gonna vote for a balanced budget. repealing obamacare. term limits. getting rid of earmarks. what i'm concerned about what she is going to do when she gets here. i know, mike castle is a good friend and great man. we are not going to appeal to america with republicans who supported a lot of obama, pelosi agenda. if we are running with mike castle and arlen specter and crist there's not going to be the energy we see number if you are running with a pat toomey and marco rubio and rand paul and sharron angle, we've got a great slate of candidates that i think reflect where america is. we've got common sense conservatives, who are gonna win in every state they are runn

that shows that when the president comes out and tries to marginalize john boehner or mitch mcconnell, he has to get his own house in order as well. >> sure. outgoing senator from indiana, evan bayh -- i was stunned by this. >> stunning indeed. he sat with katie couric and had a little interview with her. he's been a moderate and independent guy. he's going to get out. on the way out he did a little slamming of the president's advisers. listen to this. >> i think his advisers are very idealistic people and things they want do 50 or 60 years in the waiting. that's a good thing. but maybe they tried to deal rather than playing the hands of the cards they were dealt, they wanted to play the cards they wished they'd been dealt. >> listen to the american people. unpopular paying the price to kevin bye. >> remember when he said running for re-election, nothing to do with wanting to be president. >> i wonder if it's the start of his campaign for president. >> he said when asked midterm, likely to be democrats, byed say unfortunately, yes. gives us something to talk about every day. thanks fo

but we're still in this wrestling match with john boehner and mitch mcconnell about the last 2% to 3% where on average we'd be giving them $100,000 for people making $1 million or more. >> so the white house basically feels like they finally after months of having the president's plans out there and getting hit by everybody, they now have a foil. somebody they can, you know, lay out their alternative in the case of john boehner and say, look, this is what the president wants, and this is what the republicans want. we should point out, though, as brianna knows full well, not all the democrats are on the same page. some of them are pressing speaker pelosi to put -- extend all the tax cuts, including the tax cuts for the rich. not something the white house wants to hear. i think the leadership on both sides are having some problems within the ranks as we get closer and closer to this election. jim, candy? >> and it may be a preview of things to come in the new congress if they're having to put together coalitions of republicans and democrats to get things done. heaven forbid. but ed, let

john boehner was making the decisions. the decisions about what was covered. or mitch mcconnell. that is how it would shake out. we have had these problems over the years where high-profile exhibits cannot -- cannot -- came up with any number of barriers between the funding and the practitioners. you will have greater government control over content. the issue that i wanted to address, sandy, you talked about being connected to the diversity. ron, you talked about the current toxic atmosphere. you'll mentioned -- several of you have mentioned that quality journalism is happening in this country. there is no question about that. the global post and in international areas, there is quality journalism. the question to me is not whether there can be quality journalism, but how as the news media becomes increasingly atomized around the country, how can anyone get a comprehensive view of the world? it used to be that we could pick up the chronicle and hope to find at least as close to a comprehensive review as possible. no longer. they will have a couple of stories per day plus a lot of opinion pieces and a map telli

and we're going to count in two years that this is going to be ready, speaker john boehner and majority leader mitch mcconnellthis had going to be their galvanizing idea is to repeal the tax cuts, as described. they will extend them in perpetuity. there is one organizing principles among all the republicans, whether they are tea partyists or just garden variety republicans that is we don't raise taxes. barack obama has created more private sector jobs in this year, in his had mrtion than bush did in eight. so i don't know what we are talk approximating being raising taxes. >> i'm talking about the right policy. >> no. >> the political thing is hard but the right policy is worth talking about. and the right policy is that the tax cuts on the middle class, the tax cuts on the upper-class, something in the range of $700 billion cost to the deficit. the middle tax tax cuts which nobody is willing to talk about, are in the trillions. and they are simply and fordable. and so the politics of that are all terrible. i agree with mark. but the right policy is to get rid of all of them. now again why not get rid of-- wh