republican darryl issa told politico he's preparing for 280 hearings in 2011. that's more than double the number held by democrats for a year under the bush presidency. topics include the bank bailout, stimulus, the mortgage crisis and maybe even health care. and issa has set up a meeting with vice president joe biden to talk about his plans. former congressman bob barr, randall lane and joy-ann reid. randall, let me start with you. what do you make of this as a strategy? >> certainly, there are a lot of areas in which oversight is necessary and you just tipped off a few of those. we have a government that for the last three years, really, has been spending out of control with very, very few, if any, oversight mechanisms. so, i think it's certainly consistent with good governance and with the results of the election to start looking into those things. >> let me ask you, as somebody who served in congress. i think a lot of folks sit back and they see these hearings one after the other after the other and they say, whatever comes out of it. >> hopefully what will

congressman darryl issa. . >>> republicans prepare to take control of the house of representatives andramatically strengthen their numbers in the senate. they are trying to get a handle on elected on support of the tea party movement and where their loyalties lie. and joining us now from bowling green, kentucky, dr. rand paul, republican. thanks very much, dr. paul, for coming in. >> good to be with you. >> i congratulated you last week so i won't congratulate you again. let's get to specific issues in the news right now. do you support or oppose earmarks for the state of kentucky? >> i'm opposed to earmarking and i won't use earmarks as a senator. i think that the earmarking process is showing the abuse of washington. people don't like things being stuck on unrelated bills in the dead of night by someone who doesn't have their name attached often. i think the appropriations process should go to committee and i've said that i will advocate for kentucky within the context of the committee process and the context of a balanced budget. two very important provisions. >> because in "the wal

darryl issa of california will be leading the oversight committee with the power to investigate the whiteouse. dave camp of michigan who will become the chair of ways and means will have control over tax policy and paul ryan of wisconsin, one of those self-proclaimed young guns you mentioned along with eric cantor will likely become chair of the budget committee. another very important committee. >> couric: nancy cordes, thanks so much. let's go to our republican and democrat strategists to talk about the new faces in the nation's capital. first, dan bartlett, what kind of speaker is john boehner likely to be? are we going to see gridlock on capitol hill or is he a bit of a compromiser? >> john boehner, the finely tanned man from ohio taking over as speaker of the house is well liked not only in his own caucus but behind the scenes he has great relationships with key democrats. that will be the key as they try to forge a coalition of the new entrants many backed by the tea party, there could be upwards of 60 republican freshmen -- that's a big bloc of voters who have come in with a mandat

this has to do with darryl issa. he will be the thorn in the side of the obama administration.rush limbaugh's show where he said that obama is one of the most corrupt presidents in modern times. he was talking to wolf blitzer last night and said that he doesn't think obama is personally corrupt but his point is when you have hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus money, that allows a president to make favors. he certainly was back pedaling. >> republicans getting set to take over the house, and they're sure making the tea party -- bringing up the tea party voice, rather. can you update us on that? >> reporter: we're seeing a lot of this. this will be on the ticker soon cupping from our veteran hill producer. she's working on a story as we speak. the gop transition team is gearing up to take over the house of representativess, and they had a meeting this morning. you can see the pictures, they speak volumes. that's greg walden in charge of the group but the others are new, incoming republican freshman. some of them associated with the tea party. the message here, the republ

. >> brian: there is one thing, chapman will be asked to help out darryl issa who says he wants 40 weeksfor what the obama administration did. i'm not sure the american people want them to do that. >> if the hearing is about what the regulation of carbon emissions really means, or their approach to doing that, why they're using the epa apparently to do an end around the voters and congress, that's actually interesting. i think people do want to know how that's going to affect the economy. obviously it turns into like witch hunts and goes on, i don't think people are interested. but substantive hearings about these issues, like our competitiveness with china, what we're doing, all that stuff is important and i think that will actually be a great education and a great benefit to the country if issa pursues some of that. that's good stuff. >> steve: there is an incoming republican from south dakota by the name of christine gnome and she's significant -- yes. >> dana: i think this goes to what you were saying a little earlier. the republican leadership has to do things a little differently.

issa. ohh. i really believe he's on a witch-hunt with all of these hearings that he's planning. it's about you, darryl and your other broth darrell. congressman dennis kucinich is going nose to nose with issa on this issue. he'll fire back on "the battleground" story in a moment. >>> caribou barbie should stick to reality tv. republicans they don't even like her. >>> plus michele bachmann waves the white flag and the tan man lies low and shooters in the playbook tonight. a lot coming up in the next half hour. you go next if you had a hoveround power chair? >>> welcome back to "the ed show." the "battleground" story tonight, darrell issa's witch-hunt against president obama. what is this all about? issa went on national television and accused the administration of using stimulus funds as, quote, walking around money. folks, he is flat out accusing the administration of improperly funneling federal funds, federal dollars, to political allies without any proof. congressman dennis kucinich is furious. he wrote a letter to issa asking him to put up or shut up. that term, "walking around money," he wrote, a

issa. ohh. i really believe he's on a witch-hunt with all of these hearings that he's planning. it's about you, darrylur other broth darrell. congressman dennis kucinich is going nose to nose with issa on this issue. he'll fire back on "the battleground" story in a moment. >>> careibeu barbie should stick to reality tv. republicans they don't even like her. >>> plus michele bachmann waves the white flag and the tan man lies low and shooters in the playbook tonight. a lot coming up in the next half hour. [ woman ] you know, as a mom, i worry about my son playing football. which is why i'm really excited. because toyota developed this software that can simulate head injuries and helps make people safer. then they shared this technology with researchers at wake forest to help reduce head injuries on the football field. so, you know, i can feel a bit better about my son playing football. [ male announcer ] how would you use toyota technology to make a better world? learn how to share your ideas at toyota.com/ideasforgood. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 if anything, it was a little too much. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 but t