nbc's luke russert and bill cohen -- william cohen, sorry.nk you so much for joining me. >>> next, we'll go to the bous for all of the last-minute detai details. for you... ♪white house for all of the last-minute details. inging the heartburn blues. hold on, prilosec isn't for fast relief. cue up alka-seltzer. it stops heartburn fast. ♪ oh what a relief it is! >>> this is the last friday of the president's first term, and prepses are under way right now for his second inaugural address on monday. it's been a busy day for republicans and democrats as they haggle over raising the debt ceiling or not. let's get the latest from kristin welker at the white house. hey, kristin. >> hey, karen. >> there's been some serious stuff, this back and forth today between the white house and john boehner and harry reid and nancy pelosi. is there any response that you're getting from the white house to this latest, quote, unquote pru unquote, plan that the republicans have put forward? >> reporter: the white house is sort of echoing what you're hearing from ma

escalate tension in the region jeremy salt of middle eastern history and politics professor from bill cohen university. will have no excuse to use them. there's no possibility at all no likelihood that syria will attack turkey the only circumstances in which those missiles would be used was would be if there were a nato attack initiated from turkey into syria and then of course syria would strike back the situation has changed i mean it's quite clear that from the beginning of this crisis that this anti syrian coalition did want to attack syria but i think that the sect this government stayed in place for the last two years despite everything being thrown at it the fact the syrian army has not disintegrate the fact that we've seen virtually every single day and years of most terrible atrocities being carried out by these armed groups the fact these armed groups have rejected the authority of the council formed in doha the fact the doha council has no support inside syria up to a kind of very clear message to the americans in particular that they have to kind of change the course in syria an

bit deeper into this now with jeremy salt a middle eastern history and politics professor at a bill cohen university and kyra good to see today sir thanks for joining us on this saturday with nato official saying the deployment of patriot missiles in turkey is for defensive purposes only how likely is it do you think these weapons might actually be used i don't think they're going to be used to tall i think this is where it is changed very much on the ground in syria it strikes me that the armed gangs very much on the back foot now i don't see any enthusiasm for the attack on the part of the united states saudi arabia might be caned might be king but they are simply the finance season armors of these groups. and there's no possibility at all no likelihood the syria will attack turkey the only circumstances in which those missiles would be used was would be if there were a nato attack initiated from turkey into syria and then of course syria would strike back but i think the atmosphere has changed dramatically i don't think the americans in particular like what they're seeing in syria. afg

for more, let's turn to my friend bill cohen.e is the columnist for bloomberg view and author of "money and power." okay. let's play a word game. you match what i say, appalling, outrageous. >> the year is only eight days old, but this is the largest corporate pr blunder of the year so far, without question. for aig to take all of this money when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, a board was in place and did it willingly, knowing exactly what they were doing, knowing that their choice was to have bankruptcy or take the loan, they took the loan. they paid it back. they paid it back with $22 billion of profit. and for now to them, to seriously consider joining this lawsuit is absolutely, to use your word, outrageous. >> well, the federal government went in. the lawmakers went in and said you got the take this deal, because if you go down, the ripple effect in the economy, we may not be able to recover. i mean, that was the conversation. >> absolutely. >> isn't this unamerican? >> well, it's some corporate lawyer's dream fantasy al

in 1996 i recall senator bill cohen approaching me, along with senator mccain, to help sponsor a burmaosened in july of this year. senator mcconnell later became one of aung san suu kyi's chief advocates in the senate, and we continue to work on behalf of the people of burma. in 2003 following an assassination attempt, senator mcconnell and i worked to pass an important ban that remains in place today. an effort to bring about further reform. and i must say burma is extremely lucky to have a champion like aung san suu kyi. in the face of violence, intimidation, harassment, she has never wavered from her principles or ceased her push for democracy and human rights. she celebrates the release of political prisoners, including approximately 90 released this week. but she remains true to those who remain behind bars, a number estimated to be around 200. this woman sacrificed many years of her life to bring about these changes. she is truly an inspiration to the world. you are so well deserving of this congressional gold medal, i can only begin to express my thrill and happiness that we are

here we in to talk about his bill and what he expects during president obama's second term, is congressman steve cohen "the war room"." >> thank you good to be with you. >> michael: do you think they would or could pass this bill. >> whether they would is doubtful but it's an important bill because we have gridlock and the reason for that is too many districts are concerned about the primary and the far right and far left and they don't have to work with the whole community or the center, because of the partisan redistricting which we have in most states are drawn up just to suit their people or make them overwhelmingly ohio. ohio went for the president. ohio went to sherrod brown but yet 12 of the 16 districts drawn up by the ohio legislature were republican. that's not right. it does not reflect the will of the people. it reflects the lines they've drawn. it makes it that those the republicans don't have to work with the center or with president obama at all. the agenda he set out which is an encouraging agenda concerning climate change and women having fair bay and gays having civil rights and othe

like hagel, william cohen was a republican senator before he was bill clinton's secretary of defense. same challenge in terms of people on the democratic side saying, wait, we have some pretty talented people that are -- could step in at a moment's notice and fill that spot. and the republicans will say, why are you helping out a democratic administration? >> reporter: one key republican already is challenging hagel. >> i am concerned about many of the comments that he made and has made, like reference to a jewish lobby, which i don't believe exists, i believe a pro-israel lobby exists. >> others insist hagel is not anti-israel. >> he belongs to a sort of tough minded -- in this case republican view of israel. that in fact accepts the reality that while the united states and israel are very close allies and will remain close allies their views on every issue cannot be expected to coincide. >> reporter: and critics in the gay and lesbian community have turned around their opposition to hagel. in 1998, hagel opposed james hormel an openly gay man to an ambassador's post. hagel now says

joining us is william cohen, a republican, i should point out, a former republican senator who bill clintonrought in. to bring a republican into his cabinet. you're the clear predicate for what the president -- this president, is trying to do with chuck hagel. what about chuck hagel and all the criticisms of past positions on iraq on the surge, his relationship with john mccain, obviously a troubling factor in terms of mccain's response. >> he is well quadfied. i have known him for years. the president has known him for years. he is entitled to have the people he wants for his cabinet, unless there's? fundamental character flaw or policy difference which would make that person unqualified. i think you have to start with that premise, and i think you start with that premise, then you will not find the disqualifying factors there. chuck hagel is well known to the president. he is very, very well founded in foreign policy, security policy. he is a substantive individual, serious-minded, tough-minded, and blunt. >> is he tough enough to cut the pentagon budget where you know in this era that it

cohen reporting live for us this morning. >>> we want to take a look at what you should know about the flu and its dangers. dr. billaffner is a professor in the department of preventative medicine. doctor, welcome. >> hello, carol. good to be with you. >> that story from elizabeth cohen is quite frightening. at what point do you take your kid to the hospital? >> well, it's exactly as elizabeth said, if you really think that your child is very sick, if they are lethargic and not responsive, if they are not eating, if they have a high fever, a persistent cough and an adult more likely than a child if that cough turns productive. if they are confused, any of those things that make you think this is a real serious illness. >> would a flu shot have necessarily saved him? >> the influenza vaccine is a good vaccine but it is no the a perfect vac ze perfect vaccine. it works better in young, healthy people than older persons. it is the best vaccine we have but there are cases that occur despite immunization. they are often of benefit because they can prevent some of the complications. it makes a more serious infection some

cohen. i think your friends will understand. oh no, it's actually my geico app...see? ...i just uh paid my bill. did you really? from the plane?an manage my policy, get roadside assistance, pretty much access geico 24/7. sounds a little too good to be true sir. i'll believe that when pigs fly. ok, did she seriously just say that? geico. just click away with our free mobile app. you know, "what are you thinking?" oh, i had a knot in my chest. i didn't really want her to go but...i knew she could do it. i felt like there were bigger and better things for me to do. [ mom ] she took what she was doing seriously. [ hosmer ] my self-confidence just went through the roof. [ dad ] it was awesome to see her transform from a girl, in a small town, to a soldier. [ male announcer ] you made them strong. we'll make them army strong. talk to your son or daughter about joining the army. find out how at goarmy.com/parents. i haven't thought about aspirin for years. aspirin wouldn't really help my headache, i don't think. aspirin is just old school. people have doubts about taking aspirin for pain. but they haven't experienced extra strength b

massachusetts governor patrick naming william cohen, his former chief of staff to the crary of state submitted his resignation last night. microsoft founder billout immigration. we'll hear from him next. campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it... in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. great taste. mmm... [ male announcer ] sounds good. it's amazing what soup can do. [ male announcer ] sounds good. can youlyric can.aid do this? lyric can. lyric can. lyric by phonak is the world's only 24/7, 100% invisible hearing device. it's tiny. but that might be the least revolutionary thing about lyric. lyric can be worn 24/7 for up to four months, without battery changes. call 1-800-414-5999 for a risk-free trial. cookie: there's absolutely no way anyone can see it even if they get right up to my ear. michael: wake up, go to sleep...showering, running, all your activities. lyric can also give you exceptionally clear, natural sound in quiet and noisy environments because of how it works with your ear's own anatomy. can your hearing aid do all this? lyric can. to learn more about lyric's advanced technology, call 1-800-414-5999 or vi

bills for premium workers. now that it is a law they want a second crack at the argument. joining me now is susan cohenio talk show hes. the unions were vocal in supporting this law looking back at a couple they said we are going to org niedz and honor ted kennedy's legacy by pushing for healthcare reform. actually wait this is going to be costly to us. it will make us less competitive and what we would like to do is sort of a sharing system where our unionized workers, michael, are going to get some benefits with us and to make the plan more lucrative for them we want the tax payer to subsidize healthcare and treat them like they are qualified federal subsidies in the plan which you normally wouldn't get except at a certain level. >> obviously they put the hell in healthcare. we have had obama care like in the beginning. our healthcare costs soared exploded premium costs have exploded. we were told emergency rooms could be empty if they no longer had primary care. they are more full than ever. the wait time for a doctor has almost doubled since the obama care went into place. every criticism they are

out, senator cohen's column i call it from delaware will be interested in hearing from him about this issue as well. >> thank you, senator rubio. in the last congress more than three bills we cosponsored were focused on how to create jobs and drive our economy forward. senator hatch, i'm grateful for your leadership and senator klobuchar us who serve together on the judiciary committee and the four of us introduced today the spill of which we are so proud the immigration innovation act of 2013. mr. president, for decades the united peace and joy to commanding advantage being home to all the world's top universities, particularly science and knowledge you come engineering and math in the so-called stem fields and we were the best place for the graduates of those universities and art than science programs to stay homogeny business. but today, that field has changed in our competitors are vying to more supportive environment for innovators, conventions and started companies. there's been a change in the field of opportunity back home for those foreign nationals who in increasing numbers are educated in the united states and whom we've been forced to return to the nation of