chris kofinis, this is just an identity crisis problem, isn't it?> well, i think it speaks to the fact that there are major divisions within the republican party seemingly on every issue. but on immigration no less, rubio has been out there speaking about immigration, the need for immigration reform. but there are members of his own party and other republican voices that have been condemning him for it. i think the problem here is the republican party has not come to terms with the fact that the president is president. president obama got reelected. he is going to be there for the next four years, and they have to come to terms with the reality of what are they going to address politically in order to solve their long-term problem. and one of their long-term problems is a demographic one. they're alienating hispanics. they play this game where they think they're going to position themselves in a smart way against the president. what they end up doing is further damage with a key demographic group that they need in order to be electorally successful

let's turn to democratic strategist chris kofinis. chris, great to have you with us tonight. >> thank you. >> it's just a good collection, isn't it? >> dr. ablow, i think he needs a psychiatrist. >> well, he would be interesting on the senate floor if he ever got that far. >> oh, not going to happen in this lifetime. >> all right. is this the republican party can do? or is there somebody really waiting in the wings and it's a timing issue and just hasn't stepped out saying hey, i want this seat? >> this is the best they can do. it's a reflection of where the party is. by the way, in the northeast of the united states, california, the republican party is a dinosaur. it's extinct. and it's becoming more so because their policies and their national message is alienating the very voters they need to win in places like that. but they're actually having bigger problems in places like iowa, which i would consider a toss-up, or places like alaska where in that senate race it looks like joe miller is going to run again. and you have -- he is go

chris kofinis, former chief of staff of west virginia senator joe manchin and msnbc contributor robertynham, a former bush/cheney senior adviser, working in georgetown now. chris, i'll start with you. gabby giffords said on facebook she'll be in that gallery again on tuesday and also said, "we'll be listening to what the president those say and are standing ready to support common-sense legislation in congress to reduce gun violence." how big a play can the president make in his speech for gun reform in the halls of congress tuesday? >> well, i think he's going to make a very strong, emotional argument. gabby giffords will be there, there will be members of the, you know, families from the newtown shootings, you know, other victims. i mean, the victims of these shootings become the emotional force behind legislation moving forward. so, i think the president is i think very clear about it in terms of what he wants. now, what he wants smacks in the face of what is politically possible. >> right. >> given the senate, you know, politics and given the house politics. but i don't think that'

. >> chris kofinis, jackie kucinich, john feehery, stand by.ng about the citizens medal next. recognized as the highest civilian honor of our government. we'll be back in just a bit. ♪ you know my heart burns for you... ♪ i'm up next, but now i'm singing 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! >>> it was like a post natural disaster but stuck on a boat with 32 hundred people and those poor workers trying to clean up after everyone and dealing with people freaking out. >> some were sharing mattresses if they could find one that was not so clean that somebody had already tossed because they had been soiled and so they would stack up blankets and towels used to lay on that. they were amazing. they just smiled and sang and danced. they were awesome. >> good to be on land. high price for the crew of the ill-fated carnival cruise ship. this is the scene once the ship docked in mobile, alabama, after being stranded in the gulf of mexico since sunday. the carn

. >> okay, liz mair, chris kofinis, richard wolffe, great to have you with us. >> thank you. >>> theinings playbook" is shedding light on the issue of mental health. director david o. russell is here tonight. looking forward to that. stay with us. ♪ [ male announcer ] why do more emergency workers everywhere trust duracell...?? duralock power preserve. locks in power for up to 10 years in storage. now...guaranteed. duracell with duralock. trusted everywhere. by the armful? by the barrelful? the carful? how about...by the bowlful? campbell's soups give you nutrition, energy, and can help you keep a healthy weight. campbell's. it's amazing what soup can do. ya. alright, another one just like that. right in the old bucket. good toss! see that's much better! that was good. you had your shoulder pointed, you kept your eyes on your target. let's do it again -- watch me. just like that one... [ male announcer ] the durability of the volkswagen passat. pass down something he will be grateful for. good arm. that's the power of german engineering. ♪ back to you. >>> and we love hearing from ou

. >> chris kofinis, great to have you with us tonight. thanks for coming. >>> coming up, house republicans held a hearing on immigration reform today. folks, it wasn't pretty. one of their ideas could create a whole new underclass of americans. i'll bring you the details. >>> and later, a look at the government document making the case for killing americans suspected of terrorism. our panel weighs in. robert greenwald just back from pakistan, joan walsh with us tonight, and lawrence korb. we'll talk about president obama's drone war. [ male announcer ] you know that guy who sells those remote control helicopters at the mall. buy 'em or don't. whatever man. either way, he gets to fly helicopters all day. i'm talking da vinci style flying machines! he's datin' kayla, the lotion girl. able, bodied, athleticism. here's his buddy marko, who's got the hot water for his velveeta shells & cheese. achieve your dreams. liquid gold! eat like that guy you know. we all work remotely so this is a big deal, our first full team gathering! i wanted to cal

kaitlin dawson, republican strategist and former chair chris kofinis, democratic strategist and former. good to have you with me. you know scott reid, ran the campaign in '96, quoted as saying in part, i want to get this right that the party is, his words, "irrelevant." he talks about the divide between the social and economic conservatives as well as demographic changes. how real is the threat that a frustrated republican, like a senator rand paul perhaps bolts the party and launches a legitimate third party campaign in 2016? >> that's a possibility enough to senator paul. i'm not as gloomy about the prospects of the republican party because let's back out of washington, where we just got beat and certainly scott's a friend and right and historically correct we're at a crossroads in the party and crossroads on not so much the message but who the messengers are going to be and if you take a look at our messengers, suzanna martinez, kninikki hale rick perry in texas we're doing pretty well. on the national stage we got beat. the last election cycle the social media and the younger ones,