on radio, shoot me an email, tweet me, we want to know what you're doing up or do what rocking rick perry and text awake to 622639. we'll read the best responses later in the show. >>> next 30 minutes your cram session. a lot to tell you about including the latest on the mortgage settlement between the government and banks, who does it help and who doesn't it help? >>> stephen colbert is at the center of nancy pelosi's argument against super panks. -- super pacs. a spot attacks couhim with a wi >>> here at 30 rock, in the republican race for president, mitt romney says he's not threatened by rick santorum's rise this week but judging by the new level of attacks, santorum has the attention of the front runner. >> well, i think you've seen rick santorum get his opportunity now to be one of the leading contenders, he hasn't been as visible in the sweepstakes but is now, and that means that he will be under the microscope like all the rest of us have been, obviously some of the things on his record are troubling the fact he voted five times to raise the debt ceiling without getting compensati

at cpac 2012, hey rick perry clint eastwood is a celebrity crush of mine, let me

thanks for joining us. >>> texas governor rick perry never lost an election. was a difficult one for him and his family. in part two of our exclusive from austin, texas first lady anina perry joins us is to talk about the challenges on and off the campaign trail. how tough is it for you to watch the attacks whether from fellow candidates or from the media. how tough as a wife is that? >> it was extremely hard for me to do that. whenever you are attack the one that you love is attacked but it is harder for me when my children were always attacked. we put ourselves out there, we expected that. but i will tell you it is a little bit of comfort knowing that we are not being attacked right now and some of those other candidates are so, you know -- >> god bless them. >> i shake my head and golly, sorry. >> shannon: do you think before you went into it you had any real idea what the reality of it would be like? >> probably not, not the scope and magnitude of the scope. i don't think we did. i think my faith has definitely gotten stronger and i'm more black and white

in fact, when newt gingrich attempted to go after mitt romney on bain capital, and rick perry did as well, talking about it as vulture capitalism, it backfired on both of them. because it was seen as an attack from within the republican party on capitalism. gwen: but i'm very curious about newt gingrich's continued survival in this. he is not going -- i think we can safely say going to win tomorrow in nevada. there's not a poll anywhere that shows he has a shot. so -- he seems to think there's a path that exists. and maybe this genuine conservative thing you mentioned is part of what he sees. but share with us what that is. >> what is the path? well, it's kind of hard to figure out exactly what it is. and i've been talking to the gingrich campaign to get a clear sense of the strategy. it's really kind of out there on a wing and a prayer. it's one part of it is continuing to make this genuine conservative appeal. hoping that mitt romney hits a brick wall somewhere that we can't see yet. >> and you do have some southern states coming up where the ideology plays a bigger role. >> you do

first came donald trump, then michele bachmann, rick perry, herman cain and newt gingrich twice. now it's rick santorum. anyone but mitt. is santorum the flavor of the month or an existential threat to mitt romney? three polls out in the last two days suggest santorum is for real. this time, mitt has reason to be worried. for the first time now, president obama's campaign team has to consider the possibility that santorum could be the gop nominee facing him. would a race against a candidate who questions women, not just at the warfront but also in the workplace be an easy target for team obama? plus, the brilliant andrew sullivan writes for "newsweek" that the birth control fight could end up as a big winner for president obama. he says the further the right wing, the farther is identified on birth control, the better it is for the president. andrew sullivan joins us tonight. >>> when house republicans caved on allowing an extension of the payroll tax cut, it was an admission that once again, this was a loser issue for the rs. >>> finally why rick santorum is real and romney ain't

was usually on the sidelines, wasn't necessarily the target because it was either romney versus rick perryr, or newt gingrich when he was up, michele bachmann when she was up. and rick santorum is the front-runner. >> how did he handle it? >> he did not do that great. i'm sure he and his advisers acknowledged that. he spoke in washington, you know, sort of talk, and he made it sound like he's -- even though he denies he's a washington insider, he sounded like a washington insider. >> it did sound like that, like he would use you. >> he talked about the earmarks and he did or didn't support and he was a team player, wasn't a team player, when it came to supporting president bush on no child left behind, the education program. he did not help himself. >> the latest gallup poll puts romney and santorum in a dead heat. tuesday's primaries, must-see tv. our special coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. eastern with the special edition of john king usa. we'll report the primary results as they happen. also, if you want to hear more from wolf blitzer and, you do, just comment on the candidates, check out

former white house hopeful rick perry energized the crowd yesterday when he used clint eastwood's superowl ad to describe the obama presidency. >> if it's halftime in america, i'm fearful of what the final score's going to be if we let this president start the second half as a quarterback. >> occupy d.c. says it's going to protest today and tomorrow outside the marriott wardman park hotel where this conference is

rick perry was the leader, he went after rick perry. newt gingrich was the leader, he went after newt gingrich. at no point has he gone after mitt romney, who is also intermittently the leader. it is illegitimate conclusion here that there is something going on, -- it is a legitimate conclusion here that there's something going on, that he wants something more than a speech. >> romney is the only consistent and record front runner. it makes eminent sense that you know what to go after him, you go after your rivals. >> there have been 11 changes in 2011 for the leadership in the polls. >> the only guy who is still there is romney. >> poor rick santorum. he fights for arlen specter and specter turns rocky the next day and says, but " that's not true." >> the art dusting off their three-point plan for $2 gas. >> the president uses strong language and says that those of us who believe we can get to $2 gas is just politics. that is baloney. it was $1.13 a gallon when i was speaker. that is a historic fact. it was $1.89 a gallon when he becam

rick perry was the leader, he went after rick perry. newt gingrich was the leader, he went after newt gingrich. at no point has he gone after mittomney, who was also intermittently been a leader. the legimate conclusion is that there is something going on, that it is deeper than wanting to give a speech outat the tampa convention. >> romney is the only one who is bindi consistent fodder and presumptive nominee. it makesense that y you don't want to go after him, you go afteyoyour rivals. >> there of the 20 changes of leadership in the p polls. >> the only guy who was still l there is romney. >> for rick santorum, he supports arliss sector and specter goes around the next day and says that's not true. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] from our nation's networks... ♪ ♪ ...to our city streets... ♪ ♪ ...to skies around the world... ♪ ♪ ...northrop grumman's security solutions are invisibly at work, protecting people's lives... [ soldier ] move out! [ male announcer ] ...without their even knowing it. that's the value of performance. northrop grumman.

and meanwhile, the cash trapped state capital is still out 55 grand. >> texas governor rick perry wills first public appearance since abandoning his run for the presidency a little later this evening. and correspondent shannon bream went down to austin to talk with governor perry and found a man with few regrets. >> i declare to you today as a candidate as president of the united states. >> he record into the race with the g.o.p. nomination last august, in less than a month, texas governor rick perry was atop the pack of the nearest competitor mitt romney. and took their toll debeats in iowa and new hampshire, he opted out and endorsed newt gingrich. >> a the lot of things i wouldn't have done different, but looking back, we would have got in the race substantially. >> and perry submits to a number of legal battles with the state's tough abortion law and latest round of redistricting and here in his home state faces an approval rating lower than president obama. >> i don't govern by polls. i didn't lower the polls before. >> first lady anita perry says she misses the campaign a great d

>> i think a guy like rick perry sees the same thing. they think a shake-up works for them.eard jeb bush, daniels, a guy like perry thinks there might be something that comes out of this if there is a brokered convention. he's just like sarah palin, he is not a realist, delusional most of the time but sees this as an opportunity and so the more shake up, the better for people like perry and palin. >> talk about buddy roemer could it shave a point or two in the general election? i don't think he would be a real strong third party, but he might peel a few people off, what do you think, the big thing is elect shun finance reform, what do you think? >> he could be. listen, he is the closest thing to a moderate gop candidate that has existed since george bush number one. he truly is a moderate. he was a democrat, changed to the republican party as governor in louisiana, they loved him down there. he was in favor of campaign reform, he gave teachers a big pay, he was considered a middle class governor. once he gets in front of the camera, ed, he is very effective, people relate to

rick perry at cpac. ron paul, the man who marches to beat of his own drummer, decided to campaign in maine. >> is that the best clip you could find? marco rubio did a william jennings bryan yesterday morning. all right, i will give you the benefit of the doubt, the lack of material here. it is going to be a big day for romney and santorum. romney has to show he can address a conservative audience and rouse them. santorum has a way to say that he is a player at the top level. what is most important is what is going to happen in the primaries at the end of this month, which will be michigan and arizona. michigan falls to santorum, i think that could be -- could really doom the romney race. >> president obama is on the super pac bandwagon. jay carney said at the white house that this administration has done more in his bid to prevent the lobbying of the government. >> they looked at florida and what mitt romney was able to do against newt gingrich. it concentrates the mind wonderfully. they realize that we

rick perry. newt gingrich was the leader, and he went after newt gingrich. at no point has he gone after mitt romney, was also intermittently been the leader. it is a legitimate conclusion here that there is something going on, that it is deeper than wanting to give a speech at the convention. >> romney is the only one among those who has been the consistent front runner, and the presumptive nominee. i think it makes eminent sense that you do not want to go after him and go after all of your rivals. >> there have been 11 changes in 2011 in leadership in the polls -- >> the only guy who is still there is from the. > -- romney. >> poor rick santorum. he cites his support for all inspector -- arlen specter and arlen specter turns right the next day and says that is not true. >> they are dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas. >> the president says that those of us who believe in $2 gas is just politics. that is baloney. it was $1.13 a gallon when i was speaker. that is a historic fact. it is

rick perry in town for this weekend's conservative political action crewe will fixr on the bag the beat of his owne yonext wee. instead. >> is that the best clip you could find? marco rubio did a william jennings bryan yesterday morning. all right, i will give you the benefit of the doubt of a lack of material here. it is going to be a big day for romney and>>ne at the statistict comes out at you, creep.hen u tk of the money spent by santorum has a way to say he is a player at the top level. i think he is not going to have -- what is most important is what is going to happen in the , which will be michigan and if michigan falls to santorum, that could really doom the romney race. >>opportunity or likelihood that president obama is now super pac bandwagon. i guess he cannot afford not to. jay carney has said that >> i more than any in history to prevent the lobg interest . florida and what mitt romney was able to do with money have to disclose ever gingrich,t concentrates the mind wonderfully. they realize that we are going to need these super pac money te onslaught from the conservative

rick perry in town for this weekend's conservative political action conference. ron paul, a man who marches to the beat of his own drummer, decided to campaign in maine instead. >> is that the best clip you could find? marco rubio did a william jennings bryan yesterday morning. all right, i will give you the benefit of the doubt of a lack of material here. it is going to be a big day for romney and santorum. romney has to show that he can address a conservative audience and rouse them. santorum has a way to say he is a player at the top level. i think he is not going to have -- what is most important is what is going to happen in the primaries at the end this month, which will be michigan and arizona. if michigan falls to santorum, that could really doom the romney race. >> president obama is now on the super pac bandwagon. i guess he cannot afford not to. jay carney has said that this administration has sent more than any in history to prevent the lobbying of government by interest . >> they took a good look at florida and what mitt romney was able to do with mo

what is rick perry up to now? politico briefing next. >>> and we have this breaking news right now in washington, to our bureau and pete williams, we understand that the fbi arrested someone for a suspected terror attack on washington? >> reporter: that is right, the fbi arrested a man they had under observation for several months i'm told. this is someone who plotted and talked about wanting to set off a bomb near the u.s. capitol and the arrest happened today after the result of a long undercover operation after the man thought he was dealing with people from al qaeda but was dealing with undercover fbi agents. he was arrested after receiving a vest that he thought contained explosives but in fact they were inert materials that were not explosives so the man was intent to carrying out a suicide bomb attack here in washington. >> do we know big the target or where he was planning the attack, according to the fbi. >> reporter: they have not said, but i don't know if the man had specifically picked out a spot. obvi

his slogan is faith, rick perry with the crosses in his ads, for rick santorum he has the slogan, faith, family and freedom. the name of his tour of the country this year, touring the country, talking about his religion, making the case that his religion is the first reason, faith, family and freedom, the first reason why you should elect him to be president, because of his religion. it has become political short-hand that democrats are godless and religious conservatives like rick santorum, they are doing god's work. they're motivated in their policy by what jesus wants them to do. here's what that looks like on the campaign trail now. yesterday rick santorum spoke in colorado, he gave what was touted as a big address on health care. when he was done, he opened floort to questions and a little kid, can't see him on camera, but you can hear him, ask rick santorum this question. >> can you please, um, help us, like, um, make medicine cheaper? so people can afford the medicine. >> the question, can we help make medicine cheaper. and i think -- i gave the answer to that. we can make medici

. >> the last one was in reference to rick perry and his forgetting of that third reason, the agencym mississippi sparked outrage early this week. the bill from democrat steve holland says, "for all official pu) mississippi, the body of water that is located directly south of hancock, harrison, and jackson counties shall be known as the gulf of america." no more gulf of mexico? really? his office was faced with a barrage of calls. holland is now telling the host of angry critics it was just a joke. apparently he came up with the ruse to draw attention to a number of republican-backed state bills he feels are too harsh on illegal immigrants. holland says he's tickled that his satire was lost on so many people. some of his republican colleagues were less than amused by the trick if it was a trick. >>> up next, how much did the fight between the obama administration and the catholic church hurt obama with catholic voters? we'll have the "hardball" strategists when we come back. you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. ♪ it's nice to be here ♪ it's nice to see you in my bed ♪ ♪ ♪ there

texas governor rick perry took part in many of these encounters. last-minute advice for all the candidates, including his choice, former house speaker newt gingrich. plus horrifying scenes of a rush hour train killing at least 49 people in argentina. >>> the obama administration is trying to get a jump on tonight's big republican debate, taking a page from every republican candidate's play book the president today proposing dramatically lower tax rates for wisconsi for businesses and corporations. jessica yellin, walk us through the president's plan. >> reporter: they call it a framework that begins the process of corporate tax reform. the big picture points of this plan, they propose reducing the current tax rate for corporations from 35% to 28% for most companies. but for manufacturing companies the effective rate for them would be 25%. it would also under this proposal create a new tax for companies that have overseas profits. the goal of that is to encourage companies to invest and hire here in the u.s. the administration also says it would sim

in fact, back when rick perry looked like the biggest threat to romney, ron paul attacked him in the very first negative ad of this entire campaign. >> al gore found a cheerleader in texas named rick perry. >> reporter: when gingrich was threatening romney, paul savaged him as a serial hypocrite. last night, amidst a crush of reporters, santorum suggested the two are in cahoots. >> you picked up the pattern here. but is there any hard evidence that paul and romney have reached some kind of a deal? >> reporter: not at all, george. there was a lot of conspiracy talk. mostly from their rivals. in the end, this may come down to a matter of family. the wives of the two candidates, carol paul and ann romney have become close friends since they ran for president four years ago. when, there's the matter of ron paul's son, senator rand paul, who said he would be honored to be considered as mitt romney's running mate. it's a little early to talk about that. >> if he does get the nomination, that paul doesn't run as an independent. thanks very much. >>> it's not every night the entire country f